Most modular homes are trucked to the homesite and hoisted by a crane in sections onto a standard stem-wall or pier foundation that was built before arrival of the home. They do not have a steel I-beam frame underneath, and are called “off-frame” modulars.

    Some manufacturers also produce “on-frame" modular homes that are built on a steel I-beam undercarriage like a manufactured/mobile home, and trucked to homesite  on  removeable wheels attached to the undercarriage. They are essentially a premium mobile home, because—above the undercarriage—on-frames are built to local building code standards for site-built homes instead of the mobile home HUD-code. Some jurisdictions allow them to be installed on a stacked blocks on a pad type foundation, with tie-downs, similar to a mobile home. Depending on the guidelines used by the particular appraiser and lender, an on-frame may be treated as either a mobile or modular for appraisal and lending purposes.

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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about MODULAR HOMES:

• What are the tie down requirements for a modular home? 

• How safe is a modular home in a hurricane?

• How can I tell the difference between a manufactured home and a modular home?

• Does a modular home have a serial number?

• What is the life expectancy of a modular home?

• Does a modular home have a HUD tag? 

• Does a modular home depreciate in value?

    Visit our MODULAR HOMES page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.