| Characteristic |
Modular Home |
Manufactured Home |
| Transportation Method |
Transported on a removable transporter. Transporter frame is not a part of the home and provides no structural support. Home must be placed on foundation with crane. |
Transported on a non-removable steel chassis which remains a structural part of the home. |
| Regulatory Codes |
Local and State Codes |
Federal Codes only (HUD) |
| Restrictive Covenants |
Modular homes rarely have restrictions on their placement in the community. |
Some communities have restrictions on the placement of manufactured homes. |
| Common Placement |
Modular homes are permanent in nature and once in place are never moved. Therefore, they are normally place on private property. The exception might be a townhouse, condominium or apartment style modular building. |
Manufactured homes are often placed on property owned by others such as in parks. The land where the home is installed is normally leased by the property owner. |
| Lender’s View |
Modular homes are considered the same as single family stick built dwellings. |
Manufactured homes are considered in a separate lending category for loans and mortgages. |
| Permanence |
Modular homes are not re-locatable and are considered a permanent structure once finally placed upon the foundation. |
Although required to be secured to the ground, manufactured homes are considered removable and re-locatable. |
| Cost |
Usually more expensive than manufactured homes. |
Manufactured homes are typically less expensive than modular homes. |
