A manufactured home, is a factory-built home constructed in a controlled factory environment and transported to a site for final assembly. These homes are constructed according to strict standards set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), ensuring durability, safety, and energy efficiency. No manufactured home may be shipped from the factory unless it complies with the HUD code and receives a certification label from an independent third-party inspector. Manufactured homes offer a modern, cost-effective, and high-quality housing option. With designs ranging from 500 to over 2,300 square feet, they offer a wide array of floor plans and customization options to suit different needs and tastes.

 Although the term “mobile home” is still used today, it does not apply to a manufactured home. A mobile home refers to a type of factory-built housing constructed before June 15, 1976, the date when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) established new safety and construction standards. Prior to the beginning of the HUD Manufactured Housing code in 1976, the term mobile home was the primary house type name associated with the factory- built housing industry. Many people still use the term even though the mobile home of long ago bears very little resemblance to the manufactured home of today.

While both manufactured homes and modular homes are built in a factory environment, there are some differences between the two. The main source of difference between modular and manufactured homes is the code to which they are built. Manufactured homes are built to a federal HUD code, while modular homes are built to state or local residential building codes.

 Factory built homes are built off site in a controlled manufacturing environment. Each home is built in sections, or modules, and then transported to the site where they are installed on permanent foundations, and completed by professional installers. Approximately 80% - 90% of factory built construction takes place indoors where materials are protected from the elements and a consistent workforce assembles the home in over 25 different stations.

 Simply put, a modular home is a home built using modular construction.  Modular construction occurs off-site and inside a facility rather than at the property where the home will be permanently located. Once the modules are transported via a carrier and assembled on-site, a modular home looks like any other house and becomes permanent to the property. Whereas manufactured homes are built on a permanent steel frame and moved using wheels and axles on that steel frame. Because the steel frame is integral to its construction, a manufactured home can be moved to another location.

Unlike manufactured homes, modular homes do not have titles. Like a site-built home, modular homes are appraised as a permanent fixture on the property, so do not require a title. Modular homes are also built to the same local and state building codes as a site-built home.

Modular homes are built to the same building codes as traditional site-built homes, offering affordable housing with lasting quality and value. Each module is constructed in a controlled facility, protected from weather delays and moisture, ensuring consistent craftsmanship and durability. Because modules are engineered for transport, modular homes are built stronger to withstand delivery and installation, making them more resilient than many site-built houses. Home buyers in Missouri can visit model centers to explore customizable floor plans, décor, and design options that fit their individual needs. Modular homes also provide flexibility for future growth, allowing new modules to be added as families expand. This combination of quality, efficiency, and adaptability makes modular homes a smart choice for modern home ownership in Missouri.

Mortgage loans are secured by either land or real estate. Since modular homes are placed on a permanent foundation, they can be treated as a latter. This means that once such a home is installed, you can finance it through conventional methods, like a mortgage.