|
The world of prefab and modular homes. |
|
| http://www.rdamodularhomes.com/model.htm |
If you are considering a modular home and live near Boston, MA or Providence, RI:
- Learn What A Full Service Builder Does For You.
- Discover The Benefits Of Modular Construction.
- Understand The True Cost Of "Drop Ship" Homes.
- Permitting Process
- Tear Downs & Rebuilds
- Popularity of in-law-additions
- Free Mortgage & Financial Information.
A little more info on the company:
RDA Inc. offers full real estate, permitting, financing and construction services to handle the new home building process from concept through completion.
Interesting to note, they build only 
Westchester Modular Homes.
Their site offers additional information:
- homes offered
- "All In One Day" - photos of installing the modules by crane
- an overview of modular construction
- company background
(Hat tip: Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA)
|
| michellekaufmann.com |
Last week, Michelle Kaufmann Designs released a white paper on "nutrition labels for homes":
Green homes are in demand. Buying a green home, however, can be a mystifying, exasperating process. With all the various green home labels and certifications available, buyers want for a way to compare the sustainability of one for-sale home to another. Applying a universal sustainability label to homes, just as we apply nutrition labels to food, would answer this need and further encourage the growth of the green housing market...
By coincidence, we just read an article in Green Building Elements that suggests France already has a good start. The article covers the EvolutiV house by designer Olgga Architectes:
The media in France AND the architecture firm who designed the house feel compelled to advertise efficiency in terms of a single number that is easy to understand and can be used to compare this home to others one might choose. I’ve rarely if ever seen that in discussion of US prefab options (or other green homes) - outside of a LEED rating, we’re often left to guess exactly how eco-friendly that home is. We’d love to see this become more widespread in the US - information is power, and simple, objective numbers like this can help us separate the truly eco-friendly from innovative designs that are green in name (or advertising) only.
|
| nytimes.com |
On the New York Times' Freakonomics blog, Annika Mengisen wonders whether prefab will ever catch on. For answers, she questioned two authors of prefab books, Allison Arieff and James Trulove.
Here are the questions posed; read the full post for their answers.
- Where do prefab houses stand in the U.S. real estate market?
- What, if anything, is the housing crisis doing to prefab?
- What would push prefab beyond a niche market?
- If prefab did catch on, what would the economic implications be?
- What does prefab do for the environment?
- What could prefab do for storm-prone areas?
Just a reminder:
There will be a Marmol Radziner Open House in Venice, CA this Sunday, October 12, from 2pm - 5pm. Free but reservation required.
Next week you can hear firm principal Leo Marmol, FAIA. Wednesday, October 15, 6pm - 8pm ($22).
|
| http://www.clayton-media.com/showcaseofhomes/greensboro.html |
Clayton Homes is holding a Showcase of Homes at the Triad Center in Greensboro, NC this weekend, October 10-12. From the press release:
Literally, Clayton Homes constructs a temporary neighborhood in the parking lot of The Triad Center, fully adorned with sidewalks, landscaping, mailboxes and street signs. The Showcase of Homes provides an opportunity for people to tour a variety of manufactured homes and see how dramatically the homes have changed in recent years.
What to expect:
- 20 new, fully-furnished homes on display
- on-the-spot financing
- hot dogs, drinks and popcorn
- $100 gas card drawings each half hour
Clayton CEO Kevin Clayton explains:
Our unofficial motto is 'Best Home -- Best Price' and we take that very seriously.
It has been his mission since taking over as CEO ten years ago to produce manufactured housing that surpasses site-built homes in look, quality, and value.
Clayton Homes produces both "manufactured" and "modular" housing. These terms have a specific meaning in the industry, part of which is covered on their website:
Manufactured Home: Built entirely in the factory under federal code administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).... Covers single or multi-section homes and includes transport to the site and installation.
The industry stopped using the term "mobile home" (and presumably "trailer home") when the HUD code became effective June 15, 1976. Not mentioned: manufactured homes do NOT qualify for a traditional mortgage, in part because the homes tend to lose value every year.
Modular Home: Built to state, local or regional code where the home will be located. System-built homes are transported to sites and installed.
These homes are built to the same standards as conventional "site-built" homes and qualify for a standard mortgage. (In fact they are often somewhat stronger in order to survive transportation and installation by crane.)
At least one home in the Showcase had 2 stories (see above), so it appears that a mix of both types will be shown.
More about Clayton Homes:
- owned by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway
- recent news coverage outlines how they've avoided the current sub-prime issues
Posts