Throughout the United States, individuals looking to purchase a new home may want to look for prefab homes for sale or consider building a prefab home of their own. Because prefab home construction allows for quicker build times and more control over the project’s final cost, all the while maintaining the same characteristics of a site-built house, it is increasingly more common to see prefab homes for sale. For individuals looking to buy or build a prefab home, continue reading below for our list of key things to consider when looking at prefab homes for sale as well as our list of companies that sell prefab homes, including modular homes, kit homes, and shipping container homes.

What is a Prefab Home?

Simply put, a finished prefab home is like any traditional, site built home however, it utilizes components that are prefabricated off-site rather than at the final project site. This includes: modular homes which utilize home modules that have been built off-site and are later connected at the final site, kit homes which are made up of the exact components necessary to construct a home and are assembled on site, Panelized homes which are similar to kit homes except they are made up of more complete structural insulated panels (SIPs), and shipping container homes. The only type of prefab home that is not similar to a site built home, both in terms of financing and future value appreciation are module homes. Below, we list some of the top companies that sell prefab homes throughout the United States. The prefab homes that are for sale range in size and style from tiny home cottages to 5,000 square foot modern homes.

How Does a Prefab Home Compare to a Traditional, Site-Built Home?

A newly-built prefab home has all of the same characteristics of a site-built home, with the exception of Manufactured homes. Compared to site-built homes, prefab homes like have equivalent resale values, are built to the same building code, and offer the same design and aesthetic elements. In most cases, a newly-built modular home can be completed quicker and with a more predictable budget than a site-built home due to the fact that a majority of the work is completed off-site, in a climate controlled environment all the while the building site is being prepared for the home modules to arrive. Similarly, individuals looking for already built modular homes for sale should note that once finished, there are no significant differences between a modular home and a site-built home. 

How Much Are Prefab Homes?

For the most part, a new prefab home costs similarly to a site-built home. Depending on the company that builds and sells the prefab home and your location, costs can range anywhere from $80 - $600+ per square foot. While Manufactured homes cost less than other types of prefab homes, they typically do not increase in value over time like other types of prefab or site-built homes. Additionally, the same prefab or modular home built in two different cities can cost dramatically different due to the costs of local labor, permitting and shipping. For example, it is often cheaper to build a prefab home in the Southern and Central U.S. than it is to build in Coastal areas or major Urban areas like the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Seattle, or the New York Metro Area.

Where Can I Find Prefab Homes for Sale?

The table below highlights a number of companies that have prefab homes for sale. For a list of prefab homes for sale in your state, we have created area specific lists for:

• Prefab Homes for Sale in California

• Prefab Homes for Sale in Colorado

• Prefab Homes for Sale in Florida

• Prefab Homes for Sale in Massachusetts

• Prefab Homes for Sale in New York

• Prefab Homes for Sale in Oregon

• Prefab Homes for Sale in Texas

• Prefab Homes for Sale in Virginia

• Prefab Homes for Sale in Washington

For individuals looking to purchase a completed prefab home, a local realtor may be able to assist you in finding newly completed prefab homes that are for sale. Alternatively, you may want to check with local real estate developers and general contractors, as many may utilize prefab construction for their homes.

What Else Should I Consider When Looking at Prefab Homes for Sale?

• Construction type - buyers should pay attention to the construction type of their home, specifically whether the home is modular/kit/panelized home or a manufactured home. While both types fall under the category of a prefab home, modular, kit, and panelized homes are built to the same standards and building code of a traditional, site-built home while manufactured homes are built to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code and are classified more like mobile homes rather than a traditional home. As such, manufactured homes may not be available for the same financing options as a modular home.

• Foundation type

  • Slab - this is often the cheapest and quickest option for a prefab home foundation. It is built relatively close to the finish grade of your property. One major drawback is that plumbing utilities are often located below the foundation, making it difficult and potentially expensive to access these utilities to make repairs.

  • Crawlspace - compared to basement foundations, this is a cheaper option however, crawlspace foundations take longer to complete than a slab foundation. These foundations raise homes a few feet above grade, offering for better insulation and easier access to utilities below the home but offer limited protection in the event of a flood.

  • Basement - this foundation type is often built 8 feet, or more into the ground and rests on a concrete slab. While this is the most expensive and time consuming foundation type, this affords homeowners increased protection from potential floods and if finished, can potentially increase the amount of livable space of one’s home.

• Who is the manufacturer or builder?

  • Both in the case of purchasing an already finished prefab home for sale or building a modular home from scratch, it may be worthwhile to check past reviews of the company or builder that you plan to work with. In addition to ensuring that the manufacturer or contractor is trustworthy and offers a reliable modular home, in the event that you have issues with your modular home after moving in, the manufacturer or builder may be able to help solve the problem.