Affordable To Lifetime Homes is not yet selling Modular Homes. We plan to begin in 2008.
Manufactured (Mobile)
Homes are different from
System Built (Modular) Homes!
1. First and foremost Manufactured Homes have two steel
beams under each ˝ of the floor system. These steel beams allow wheels and
axels to be attached to them for transport hence the term “mobile homes”.
2. Manufactured Homes are constructed to meet or exceed a
national code called the "HUD" code. The code regulates all home
design and construction. All mobile homes have a posted “HUD" sticker.
3. Manufactured Homes are usually of a ranch design, with
a shallow 3/12-pitch roof, and usually located in a mobile home community. This
is because local zoning may prohibit their location. So only sometimes are they
on private land with a basement. Also financing of Manufactured Homes is
specialized and limited to certain banks.
4. Finally Manufactured homes give you the most room for
the dollar. Homes cost from $45,095 to $99,900.
System Built (Modular)
Homes are superior to
Site built (Stick built) homes.
5. System built (Modular) homes are constructed to the
exact same state and local building codes as 100% site built homes (commonly
called stick built homes because they are built on site one piece of lumber at
a time). Consequently modular homes can “go anywhere and look like any other
home” and are not limited to a ranch style home. In this regard, modular built
and stick built homes are 100% equal.
6. The only difference between 100% site built homes and
system built homes is that system built (modular) homes are built primarily in
a climate-controlled factory and transported in “modules” on flatbed trucks to
the job site. They are then craned in place, assembled on site, and finished on
site just like any other site built home. As a matter of fact they must be
“stronger” than ordinary site built homes in order to be transported and craned
into place. For example, there is typically 20% to 30% more lumber used in
framing your system built home and most factories glue in addition to nailing
and screwing the components of the home together.
7. Lifetime modular homes “cost less” than ordinary stick
built homes. Modular homes are built in factories and benefit from the assembly
line production process. The factories buy huge quantities of lumber, sheet
rock, carpet, paint, etc. They pay much less for these materials and can have
large quantities delivered at one time. Labor is used with maximum efficiency,
with skilled craftsman moving between workstations on the factory floor. Also
labor rates are lower at most factory locations than in many markets. Additionally
material waste is much lower. Consequently
System built Home costs start at only $99,900.
8. System built homes can be easily financed with
construction loans at most banks. Competition between banks offers you the very
best interest rates so you can get the “lowest monthly payments”.