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I am just throwing this idea out there. I am not saying I am buying one or that I am for or against them. I know the general opinion of them. You hear "modular" you think "trailer?".
In this thread I hope to hear from people who have either researched a modular home for themself, bought a modular home, known someone who bought a modular home, or have heard a recent news story on a modular home or the like.
I am possibly moving to a rural area where the only real homes available are typically one of 3 things in my price range...usually old, almost always small (compared to the 2,300 sq ft new home I enjoy now) and need updating and/or upgrading of systems. For this price I was considering all my options...to build a kit home (Lumber 84/Sutherlands sell these) but that didn't pan out...for the price they do not include the elec, plumbing or HVAC systems plus the time frame and potential headache of building and I am now wondering about the modular option on 1-5 acres so I can have a nice garden!
I have done some research and have not really found any negative aspects to them. However the few books written on them are very biased as they are written by people IN that industry. They say it's not hard to get financing on them at all as they "are like their sister site-built home" but I have already found two places that will not finance a modular (one also wouldn't finance a construction to build though either).
I emailed a county that I may be moving to and they said it depends on the appraiser if the home is listed on the records as being modular. But given people's general idea on what a modular is I imagine this would hurt your property value should you need to sell later. But perhaps, like with a trailer, you have real cheap property taxes? Or perhaps you dispute the taxes and have it just list it as a "traditional home"? You also may wonder, does it depreciate? According to what I have read NO, given a good location and maintained well like a site-built it should also appreciate. I have emailed my realtor his thoughts on this but doubt he has come across these for sale as only 5-8% of the US population is even estimated to own a modular. So even with asking a realtor how can one know for sure. I guess it is based on: will someone buy it?
I've seen some land in the rural areas, not many but some, say "no trailers/modulars" in places they want to create subdivisions. But you are allowed to custom build something. I am wondering why no modulars if it meets size and story requirements of the other homes. I mean you could just as easily have a shotty contractor build you a money pit, right?
I will leave this for more discussion, I have my reservations yet. Am posting an article I found online about modulars that will clarify what it is for those who do not know.
This message was edited Feb 16, 2007 10:38 AM
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