Modular Homes. Same as Mobile Homes?

Modular Homes or Mobile Homes? What's the Difference? Lets define the term Mobile Homes. They are so called because they are built offsite and then are moved by truck to the location where they will reside. Thus the Mobile in the mobile home.

modular homes are also built offsite and then moved by truck to the location that they will reside. Using that broad definition, a modular home is indeed a mobile home. For most other purposes, e.g. insurance and mortgage, they are also considered to be a mobile home.

This is a little silly and really should be updated. There are some very significant differences between the two. The first and most important is that a modular home is always placed on a foundation. In some cases, they have a basement as well. Only in a few permanent and rare cases are mobile home placed on a foundation. Instead they can usually be found still on their wheels with a skirt around the bottom of them.

Another difference is in construction. A modular home is built exactly the same way as a conventionally built house. The only difference is the location that they are built. That and they are built in a way that will allow for transportation easily and for connecting the two sides. Once connected, the two sides rarely come undone. Mobile homes on the other hand are a little less stable. They almost always are lacking in the insulation and wall thickness department. And the construction methods are completely different.

In the end, if you're thinking of buying an economical home, you'll be better off with a modular vs. a mobile and only slightly better off with a house built on site. I've lived in all three and while there is a perceivable difference between a mobile home and the other two, it's difficult to tell the difference between a modular and a on site house.

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