Pre-fabricated Houses…a Good Investment?

For years, you’ve dreamed about having a little hideaway by a lake or in the mountains or even near the coast. Sure, you could buy a house or cabin or you could go the old timeshare route. Or you could do something more and more individuals in the United States and abroad are turning to: purchase a prefabricated house and anchor it on a small parcel of land. Just a pipe dream? Not by a long shot. The “prefab’ industry isn’t booming like it was several years ago, but for many potential first or second home owners, a prefab house is THE way to go. 

If I mention the word “prefabricated home” what is the first image that comes to your mind? A mobile home? You wouldn’t be entirely wrong, but a “prefabricated house” is simply a house that has “components manufactured in an off-site industrial facility”. In layman’s terms it’s a ready-made modular home. Either in one complete piece or in sections, the soon-to-be-owner purchases the model he or she desires and the manufacturer ships the home to the owner’s location - which more often than not is a piece of land prepared with a concrete slab and outfitted with a power sources and sewage outlets.
It’s easy to see the benefits of buying a prefabricated home: speedy construction, lower costs, less waiting. It’s not an exaggeration when I say that a prefabricated home can be put up in a few days to include wiring, heating and plumbing. 

The question is - are prefabricated homes a good investment? The prefab house of today goes far beyond the trailer homes of yesterday. And whether or not it’s a good deal really depends on where you want to establish your home.