confusion

[sally]

I have been combing these web sites and I so confused...

Are modualr homes and manufactred homes the same?

What is a mobil home?

Please help.

Thanks,
Sally

[JohnnyJ]

A modular home has things like walls, roof trusses, etc. constructed offsite. Things
like doorways and windows are pre cut. The subassemblies are delivered to the
building site where the home is put together. These homes are usually built using
established plans and design specs so that they can be readily assembled by
an experienced crew.

A manufactured home is built and assembled offsite, and brought to the building
site already complete. Of course a double wide or triple wide units will be joined
together at the building site.

In short, if it has wheels mounted on it during delivery, it is a manufactured home.

hope this helps.

[rmurray]

Sorry Johnny your are not exactly correct...
Actually modular homes are substancially constructed offsite and tranported on wheels just like manufactured homes...

The exact difference by definition...

Mobile Homes are homes built prior to 1976 in factorys...mostly single section..but there were a few doubles in the market in the 70's...

Manufactured Homes are those built since 1976 and certified to be built to the HUD code...They are monitored and controled by federal inspectors (or federal contractors)...The code is national with a few differences for regional needs...such as the wind zone requirements of the East coast area...

Modular homes are built by manufacturers to state building codes...the homes are inspected by state inspectors....each state has its own building code and often they cannot be transported over statelines..Many states have cooperative agreements with the neighboring states..but not all have...I could not buy a modular from IL and deliver it into GA for instance..Although GA has agreements with SC, FL, TN..and maybe others for all I know..

The kind of home you mention is called a panalized home...Another creature all togather...All inspections are done by the local building department and the home will have to be constructed to the local building code..Often I use and example...If a normal stick home could be related to a 5000 piece puzzel...panalized homes are the 500 piece version of the same home..

There is MUCH urban legend about modulars...Construction can very much..as much as basic stick homes do...For instance..in GA these homes can well have 7 foot side walls, low or flat pitch roofs, basic metal exteriors, galvanized roofs, panaling, plastic fixtures...on and on..Remember..all portable classrooms are modular construction..most are very basic..Some modulars as some manufactured homes can be very delux...I read about a $8 Million modular home in a magazine last month...A little out of my range..

[rmurray]

I answered your question in my other post...
But I did not mention the reality of folks language...

Exact legal definitions can be found here..

http://www.manufacturedhousing.org/lib/ ... d=74&cat=1

BUT...these definitions were placed into law in 1975...there is no way for the government to contol the language people use...

Here in the deep South...Trailor is a term that still is common with my customers...As a matter of fact..when they are looking at the most delux versions..they might even call it a mobile home...much better than a standard trailor in their eyes...

Many of us in the industry have tried for 30 years to help change the terms used...It just has not worked..Manufactured Home probably will never get into the Southern vocabulary...
In the South..there are a lot of terms like that...for instance Gopher...I grew up in the North where a Gopher was a furry little animal...Here in the South it is a land turtle...When I first moved South...many, many years ago..I thought my friends were just plain dumb...They are not...it is just the language of the area..

A quality manufactured (mobile home, trailor) can serve you for all the rest of your life if that is what you need...Do not let the terms bother you..check out quality, construction features and goodies..Then move on and get your dream home...Call it a HOME ...That is the best term...no matter how it is built.