Avalon Building Systems Blog

It is a new year and more people are starting to turn their efforts green and in a more efficient approach. One of these growing trends is the use of modular construction. Not only is modular being used for homes but also buildings and offices as well. There are many, many benefits and features we can list but to make it simple, we'll provide a short summary of why modular construction works for years to come.

Lower Cost: Modular homes are built in factories and take advantage of "volume" pricing. The assembly line process allows for maximum labor efficiency.

Quality Control: Modular homes are built in a controlled environment and engineered for trouble-free durability. Quality control is maintained by constant inspection throughout the construction process.

High Quality Materials Less Waste: To insure a safe delivery of your home, modular homes are built exceptionally well, using high quality materials. Typically, 20%-30% lumber is saved and used for other projects, so nothing is wasted.

Peace of Mind: Modular homes come at a guaranteed price.

Quicker Build Time: Modular homes are stick built, using the same components and techniques as site built homes, but in a controlled, indoor environment - there are no weather delays, and your home is not exposed to the elements during construction. Lower utility costs/higher resale value! as most are built today, using ENERGY STAR appliances and companies are building homes that optimize comfort and savings with features that include leading-edge heating systems, additional insulation, advanced air-infiltration preventions packages, high performance windows and more!
Choices: And lots of them! Carpeting, vinyl, ceramic tile, interior doors, counter-tops - any component in the home!

Functionality: Built with floor plans for today's lifestyles - Ranches, Colonial, Bank style, and Multi-Family. Modular building offers you the chance to purchase a high quality home, customized to fit your tastes, lifestyle, and budget.

For most of us, our home is the largest, single investment we will ever make. With a modular home purchase, you can set your modular home on your land anywhere in the US.

Once you have ordered your new modular home and have chosen all the features you wish to have, Avalon will be in contact with you every step of the way throughout the building process. Once your home is delivered to your site, they will be there to insure that the rest of the development of lifting your home by crane onto your new foundation, getting utilities to the house, finishing any features you may have chosen for your elevation, including any special windows, basement, garage etc., and the roofing of your home. Contact us today to learn more about modular homes and see how they can turn your dream home into a reality.

If your dream is to build a modular home on your land, you may be wondering what kind of mortgage you will need to achieve it. In this case a modular home loan is different from a typical mortgage. The most common mortgage for people building a new home on their land is a Construction to Mortgage loan, or Construction to Permanent loan. As the name implies, the loan starts out as a construction loan until the modular home has been placed on your land and it has been completed and inspected. At this point, the loan can be converted into a more traditional mortgage.

When looking for a lender for a modular home loan it is advisable to find an agent that has some experience in this type of mortgage. For one thing, there are still some lenders that are unclear on the difference between a modular home, manufactured home, or mobile home. Overall, many more agents have become aware of the difference and even point out to their peers that they have worked with modular homes and have found many to be superior to stick built homes. So even if you do run across a lender that is not familiar with modular home loans you should not be discouraged. There are plenty of qualified lenders that are very knowledgeable and would love to have your business.

One unique thing about modular home loans which makes it important to have a lender that has experience in this type of loan is that the payment schedule must include a payment to the manufacturer for the total amount of the home at the time it is delivered to the home site. This is only a portion of your total cost, but generally the manufacturer will not release the house to be set on the foundation until it is paid for in full. As long as the bank is aware of this and has provided for it in the payment schedule this should not pose any problems. There are many banks that have extensive experience dealing with modular home loans. Some seem to favor the builder more, some the home buyer. Ideally, the loan should allow payments to the builder in a timely manner so he has the money he needs to complete each step of the process, but still leave the builder with the proper incentive to finish the job on your timetable. If you have any questions about modular home loans or about modular homes in general, feel free to contact us and we'll be happy to help.

People downsize for a host of reasons.  The most common being the simple fact that our kids have moved on and we simply don’t need that much room to manage, clean, and pay taxes on.  Also, downsizing, particularly into an affordable custom modular home frees up investment dollars to improve the quality of your life.  Let us introduce to you three superb custom modular floor plans that serve as perfect downsizing options.  

First, consider our ranch style home. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 1263 total sq. ft. Our first ranch style home is called the Amherst. It is a very functional ranch plan with three sizeable bedrooms which all stem off a central living area and kitchen. The plan also features plenty of closet space and a functional layout.

For those of you who don’t want to give rooms of furniture away when you downsize, consider the Cape Cod style home, the Barnstable, with an unfinished 2nd Floor. It offers 1 bedroom, 1 bath and 650 sq. ft. The Barnstable is a cozy cottage which offers a living area and kitchen with a lot of natural light and charm. The proposed second floor offers one bedroom and a bathroom.

Finally, one home sure to please is our colonial style home, the Newbury. It offers 3 bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, and 1568 sq. ft. The Newbury is a lovely and efficient colonial home with a large living area. The plan also features three bedrooms and two and half bathrooms. There is also an option for a garage and bonus room above which flows perfectly with the home.

Feel free to inquire about any of these homes. If these are not your style home, then please take a look at our other inventory. Contact us today to find out how you can get into your dream style home today.

As you all know, Avalon Building Systems is in business to build the highest quality yet most cost effective home in New England.  We also want you to know that we know good land values when we see them, so we’ve created our new “Lots For Sale” web page.

During the normal course of our business, we come across literally thousands of undeveloped New England real estate lots.  On occasion, one or two will stand out to us as an exceptional value.  We’ve decided to build the new web page dedicated to “lots for sale” because there is great reward for us building your dream home while helping you find a lot considered to be a "diamond in the rough".  

If you haven’t yet chose your lot, take a look at the lovely properties featured on our new page and know that these lots can support even the largest Avalon Building System floor plan such as “The Montgomery” (3 Bedrooms / 2.5 Baths / 3350 square feet) and “The Nantucket” (5 Bedrooms / 3.5 Baths / 2700 square feet). 

Production Modular Homes are basic, efficient, dwelling units, ideal for housing in developing countries, emergencies, military, student housing, and camps.  It is very interesting to note the wide disparity between the various consumers of modular production home construction.  While first-time home buyers on extremely tight budgets rein, look out because here come the retirees. 

More and more retired and retirement eligible people are severely downsizing to accommodate a mobile lifestyle.  Many retired couples are shedding their old roots and setting up production home “Base camps”  as a temporary break from their live-aboard RV or boating lifestyles.  Others are selling their old home and establish two low-cost residences to support their new  “snow bird” lifestyle.  Hey who wouldn’t want to have the best of both worlds by living south in the winter and north in the summer.  Production homes make this an affordable and realistic option. 

Avalon Building Systems offer a host of small floor plans that can serve the same purpose.  Consider the quaint Cape Plan "The Barnstable", a 650 square foot get-away which offers a living area and kitchen with a lot of natural light and charm. The proposed second floor offers one bedroom and a bathroom. Also consider "The Amherst", our 1265 square foot Ranch. The Amherst is a very functional ranch plan with three sizable bedrooms which all stem off a central living area and kitchen. The plan also features plenty of closet space and a functional layout. 

Dream big by thinking small. Just imagine where retirement and downsizing into custom modular homes can take you.