Here's a quick defination of different pre-fab homes:
http://www.claytonhomes.com/our_homes/w ... /index.cfm
Manufactured Home:
Built entirely in the factory under federal code administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which became effective June 15, 1976, and has been upgraded numerous times. Covers single or multi-section homes and includes transport to the site and installation. Regulations include: design & construction, strength & durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency & quality.
Modular Home:
Built to state, local or regional code where the home will be located. System-built homes are transported to sites and installed.
Panelized Home:
Built in factory, where panels that include windows, doors, wiring & siding, are transported to site and assembled. Codes are set by state or locality where sited.
Pre-Cut Home:
Materials are factory cut to design specifications and then transported to the site and assembled. Examples are: kit, log and dome homes. Standards are set by state and locality.
Mobile Home:
The term mobile home used for homes built prior to June 15, 1976, when HUD code went into effect. Voluntary standards were previously in effect.
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I think most of the major home builders today use pre-cut homes, where the materials are pre-cut and transported to construction site for assembly.
I have NO experience in buying or selling pre-fab homes. Here's an article that may be useful to you:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Premanufactur ... &id=680164
Premanufactured Homes - Sometimes Referred to as Prefab Homes
They are houses which are manufactured in advance and shipped in sections to be assembled at the customers place of residence.
Many of the current pre-manufactured homes have a fairly marketable design and décor, yet they have not been extremely marketable until just in recent years.
There are several reasons why the demand for this type housing was lower than the current supply. The homes were not produced in a cost effective way, and they were not considered a real home by many consumers who were accustomed to the brick and mortar, or wood alternatives. They felt them to be substandard in makeup and didnt take the time to really look into the alternative because they believed it would not be to their liking.
In many cases, the customer is not familiar with the concept of a prefabricated home and does not know a great deal about them. In recent years, architects have been exploring with prefab homes as a way to help offer well designed but still massively produced housing alternatives. The housing situation in many cities is clearly inadequate. Manufactured housing would help to alleviate a great deal of this in that they are able to be put together in a far lesser time than it may take to build a custom home to suit a client.
A premanufactured home can mean, in todays market, a modular home, a manufactured home, a mobile home, or an site building home. The term is nearly interchangeable and can be used to describe any type home which is built prior to being ordered by a customer
Pre manufactured homes are becoming more popular just recently because the material is less expensive, they are fast to build, and are durable if they receive proper care.
They require a great deal less labor than a normal, or conventional home and the cost will be a great deal less for roughly the same amount of floor space. Most of the companies are selling absolutely complete pre manufactured or modular homes, mobile homes or manufactured homes. This means that the homes will come complete with appliances and furniture in many cases.
These homes aer becoming a great deal more popular in Europe and the United States as they are far cheaper than a conventional home. or houses called "mobile homes" or "manufactured homes".
In some communities and neighborhoods, manufactured housing is not acceptable and this should be checked prior to purchasing one.
