Avalon Building Systems Blog

When shopping for a modular home builder, you need to be sure to pick the right one. It can be difficult begin the process so here are some helpful guidelines:

Many modular homes offer different levels of craftsmanship and service. Some offer environmentally friendly, EPA approved packages, while others offer different materials and building techniques. A wide variety of modular house plans and a package of choices and upgrades can render the decision-making process more overwhelming than enticing.

Find a modular home builder who is patient and can educate you on your responsibilities in the planning and building process.

Find a modular home builder who will carefully listen to your wants and needs-and your budget-for a new home.

A good modular home builder will provide you with a detailed list of costs, scheduled inspections, and schedule of construction. If you have just begun shopping, ask to see an example of a previous estimate. You should also attend a factory tour.

Later in the process, the modular builder should be able to give you itemized pricing that you can take to the bank. The estimate should be several pages long, with extensive detail and information to provide to a lender.

Most importantly, make sure the modular home builder you choose is attentive to your needs, wants and requests. For more information on the modular home process, contact Avalon Building Systems.

EzineArticles

Construction loans are not the same as a typical mortgage. Construction loans have different requirements and they are used when you are building a new home, either stick built or modular.
 
New construction home loan –

The bank provides the money to build your new home. The mortgage provider needs a detailed estimate of the costs to build the modular home; including how much you are going to spend and what it will look like after construction. The same credit check and earnings process is done as with a traditional mortgage.

The most popular new construction loan is a “construction to permanent loan". This type of loan is a two-in-one loan which mostly only requires you to pay closing costs once.  This loan is a combination of construction loan and permanent financing, and can help you save money and time.
 
As the process begins, the bank gives the builder installments of the loan to complete each stage of construction. You are required to pay monthly interest on the construction loan amount during the modular construction process. The amount you pay monthly depends on the amount you have used to date.

With new construction loans it is very difficult to lock-in a fixed mortgage rate because with traditional construction, you usually won't be closing the loan for six months to one year. However, with modular construction the build time is so much shorter so you can more often get a fixed rate.
 
For more information on modular construction or for information on our lenders, contact Avalon Building Systems.

There is very little difference in the look of a modular home compared to a traditional on-site built home.

The modules are built in a climatically controlled plant to exacting standards. Then they are trucked to the site and placed together on a foundation.

The concept of modular homes offer the same advantages to the owner of the typical home. Modular homes are built to rigorous standards dictated by local building codes. They are constructed in manufacturing plants involving stringent time lines of construction.

Manufactured homes are built to the highest standards of energy efficient living and can include high-efficiency furnaces and heat pumps to reduce your utility bills.

Factory manufacturing of modular home components means less transport of workers and materials, allows for effective use of energy and materials, and reduced waste. Designs can be easily customized.

All of these homes must meet all applicable state and local building codes.

When purchasing your next home, investigate the manufactured and modular housing options may be available you. Contact Avalon Building Systems.

The Province

Today, there are so many more modular home styles and floor plans to choose from. They are gaining in popularity and here’s why:

Always an affordable choice, today’s modular homes offer the same design features as traditional home choices, but for far less. Numerous studies have been conducted to show the cost-efficiency of factory built homes. The website, www.nest.com, published a report which stated, “the cost of a finished modular house in the Northeast is $90 to $125 per square foot, compared to $150 to $200 a square foot for stick-built construction.

Unlike traditional homes, the construction process for factory-built homes, or modular homes, takes much less time. Weather delays do not impact the process. The building supplies themselves are also not subject to weather damage or theft. Generally, the construction time for a modular home takes approximately 6 to 8 weeks after the design phase is complete, compared to the 6-12 month time frame typical with a site-built home.

For more information on Modular Construction, contact Avalon Building Systems.

American Financial Resources

A cold Massachusetts winter is no reason to delay building your dream home. A modular home can be built quickly even in the cold weather. You don’t have to wait until spring to build, you can actually take advantage of the low interest rates we have right now. Modular homes offer more benefits than just being able to purchase more home for your money, it offers the ability to build your home at any given time.

The revolution of  modular construction means that consumers can have a better built, lower cost home that is built in a climate controlled factory. The home is then delivered to a building site on your schedule. No longer are homeowners tied to the traditional seasonal cycle and seasonal demand of regular contractor’s schedule. A modular home can be built year round and takes advantage of the off season costs that are likely lower.

For more information on building a modular home, contact Avalon Building Systems.

SB Wire

A typical modular home built in 2010 has three bedrooms (71.6%), two full bathrooms (56%) and vinyl siding (83.9%).

On average, modular homes take about five months to complete, compared to 6.9 months for a traditional site-built home, and this average savings of roughly two months has been consistent over time.

Modular homes also tend to be slightly smaller, with an average of 1,902 square feet, compared to 2,387 for site-built, and less expensive, with average permit value of $76.80 per square foot versus $94.34 for site-built.

U.S. Census data show that modular homes are more often in the northeastern part of the country, with particular market growth in New York and Virginia.

For 2012, 12-month modular construction is projected to be about 13,300 homes, a 9.4 percent increase over 2011.

For information in building a modular home, contact Avalon Building Systems.

Reading Eagle Business Weekly

There are 4.4 million American households who have three generations or more living under one roof. There are also an estimated 51.4 million Americans that currently live in homes with more than two generations. Multigenerational households are a growing trend, up 30% between 2000 and 2010, a figure that will only continue to grow.

"We've seen a 25% increase in demand for multigenerational homes over the past two years and expect to see more," said the CEO of a company which specializes in building custom modular homes.

Though factors such as high unemployment, a battered economy and the recent housing crisis have pushed more people into multigenerational living, studies show that it's a trend that's circled back from days past.

The number of Americans living with their extended family has risen again -- spiking as the Great Recession hit in 2008. The Pew Research Center now estimates that 16% of Americans live in multigenerational households.

The Future of Housing

The rise in multigenerational households over the past few years has changed the landscape of modern home construction. Many families are now looking to either build a multigenerational-friendly home from scratch -- more informally known as the "in-law" setup; or retrofit their existing home with a modular addition to accommodate extended family.

The most common renovation would have to be adding entire wings to an existing house. If they're modular additions, they can take anywhere from four to six weeks to complete.

Usually the wings are 600 to 800 square feet, depending on the town and their guidelines. It's much more economical to add on, as you're able to customize the addition with high-end amenities.

For more information on multi family modular homes or modular additions, contact Avalong Building Systems.

Excerpts - AOL Real Estate

Avalon Building Systems would like to help families in New Jersey and Long Island who were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Hundreds of families are in need of replacement homes in New Jersey and Long Island and modular construction is fast, efficient and built in compliance with all local and state codes. There is no reason to settle. You can put your life together faster when you build a modular home.

We are reaching our directly to the affected families, insurance adjusters, insurance companies, and those providing aid, we want to help.  

With Avalon Building Systems, you know that you are dealing with an established and reputable modular home company that will provide you a quality custom modular home in 4 – 6 weeks, with a fixed price.  Contact us, or call our toll free number for more information 888-764-1297.

Early snow was no problem for the Josifovski family, or for their new modular home. With their three children, the couple relish the extra slope time. Instead of waiting for their house to be finished, they can spend that time skiing and having fun.

After the house was delivered, it took 15 days for it to be completely done. It is an incredibly fast process.

The new four- bedroom modular house came with all the energy efficiency and chic "green" design the family desired – in a fraction of the time. Helping to keep the family warm in winter are double-thick insulated walls, or SIP panels.

"We custom-built our last home, " Josifovski said. "It was three years of hell with constant overruns and overtime. I became so convinced that modular homes are the right way to build."

Amid the slumping housing industry, the popularity of modular homes is growing. Among their selling points: Energy (and money) savings come built in.

At Avalon Building Systems, our modular homes are LEED Platinum-certified with Energy Star-rated appliances and SIP panels.

All of those options were installed at the factory. Situated on a lot, the house is then delivered in pieces and assembled in hours.

Think of the modules like big Legos, but they have to comply with all local building codes.

Because the homes are built in a factory, there's less construction waste and there's also more quality control.

Green technology tends to cost more. But by factory-installing those options, the final price tag comes down. And as more people become interested, these sustainable options become more affordable.

The largest market for modular homes may be baby boomers that are looking for a modern easy-care but sustainable home for retirement.

The speed of installation grabs many customers. Modular Homes can be completed in the factory in a few months. Meanwhile, the home site is prepared and construction permits finalized. Then, installation seems almost instantaneous.

People love the speed. You get a custom built home with all energy-efficient extras, but cut way down on the build time. The people who buy our homes want a nice house, they want it green and to work in a real economy – and they want it fast.

For more information, contact Avalon Building Systems.


Sacramento Bee

Modular homes are built using an engineered approach to produce buildings in a more efficient and cost effect method of home construction. Modular homes can deliver lower home prices per square foot depending on the design additions.

Instead of the old-fashioned construction method, most of the work is done at an off-site climate controlled factory. As each module is finished it is transported to the building site and assembled. The finishing touches are then completed and your new modular homes looks just like a stick built home, but better.

Modular construction projects have grown in popularity over the last 10 years. Why? Because modular construction offers both time and cost savings. The modules for the modular homes are built as if in an assembly line, which delivers much higher efficiency and quality. Because they are built inside a factory, there are no weather delays which and labor costs are reduced.

For more information on Modular homes and the modular construction process, contact Avalon Building Systems.