What is a prefab house anyway?

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Factory Built Housing Definitions

Many types of structures are factory built and designed for long-term residential use. In the case of manufactured and modular homes, the units are built in a factory, transported to the site, and installed. In panel and pre-cut homes, essentially flat subassemblies (factory-built panels or factory-cut building materials) are transported to the site and assembled. The different types of factory-built housing can be summarized as follows:

Premade houses:

These are homes built entirely in the factory, transported to the site, and installed under a federal building code administered by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards (commonly known as the HUD Code) went into effect on June 15, 1976. The federal standards regulate the design and construction of manufactured homes, strength and durability, portability, fire resistance, energy efficiency and quality. The HUD Code also sets performance standards for heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal, and electrical systems. It is the only national building code regulated by the federal government. On-site additions such as garages, decks, and porches often add to the curb appeal of manufactured homes and must be built in accordance with local, state, or regional building codes.

modular homes:

These factory-built homes are built to the state, local, or regional code where the home will be located. The modules are transported to the site and installed.

Panelized Houses:

These are factory-built homes in which the panels (a complete wall with windows, doors, wiring, and exterior siding) are transported to the site and assembled. Homes must meet state or local building codes where they are located.

precut houses:

This is the name for factory-built housing in which building materials are factory-cut to design specifications, transported to the site, and assembled. Pre-cut houses include kit houses, logs, and domes. These homes must meet local, state, or regional building codes.

Mobile homes:

This is the term used for manufactured homes produced before June 15, 1976, when the HUD Code went into effect.

Parking/RV Models:

This class of factory-built housing is not a manufactured home by our definitions. These homes are not built to HUD or local building codes. They are not eligible for conventional or FHA/VA loans whether they are on their own lot or not.

These definitions are important because they impact the mortgage programs that will be available to you. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email.

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