What We Build & What We Don’t Build
California Modular Houses builds Factory Built Housing which is what the state and building code refer to it as while those of us in the industry refer to our homes as Modulars.
WHAT WE DON’T BUILD
We do not build or sell mobile homes, trailers, or manufactured homes. Those fall into a different category, they are built to the HUD code which is less stringent than the C.B.C. and therefore a cheaper product. For cost alone, these homes will cost less than our houses. There are other considerations though.
A manufactured home will always show up on the tax records as a manufactured home.
The manufactured home must always have the chassis (carrier that it is brought in on) attached to the home as that steel shipping frame is part of the structural requirements of the home.
There is a permanent identifying plate that has to stay on the home, like a license plate. This is a relic requirement from when it used to be a true mobile home pulled from place to place. This plate is to always remain on the home.
It is exceptionally hard to modify a manufactured home on-site with an addition or an attached garage. It is nearly impossible to tie a site built structure or edition built to the California Building Code to a structure that is built to an entirely different building code, the HUD code.
Manufactured homes tend to depreciate in value over time.
Interest rates are often higher on a manufactured home.
When selling your manufactured home, it has to be disclosed as a manufactured home.
‘PREFAB’ HOMES
PreFab is a term made up about 20 years ago. It is simple and has a nice ring to it but it can be used very loosely so it's hard to determine what you are getting for your money with this. For that reason, those of us in the industry try to avoid calling our homes "Prefabs".
This is the building code that we build our homes to, the same as a site built home.
STATE: CALIFORNIA
2025 California Building Administrative Code, Title 24, Part 1
2025 California Building Code, Title 24, Volumes 1 and 2, Part 2
2025 California Residential Code, Title 24, Part 2.5
2025 California Electrical Code, Title 24, Part 3
2025 California Mechanical Code, Title 24, Part 4
2025 California Plumbing Code, Title 24, Part 5
2025 California Energy Code, Title 24, Part 6
2025 California Fire Code, Title 24, Part 9
2025 California Green Building Standards Code, Title 24, Part 11
So, a modular home is built to the same building code as a site built home and therefore will appreciate at the same rate as a site built home.
For your tax records, your home will be listed as a "Single Family Residence" which is the same as a site-built home is listed as, since they are both built to the same building code.
Frequently, once I have explained the differences, frequently I get the response of "so it's like the same as a real home". My response is always that "when you purchase Factory Built Housing (Modular) it is in fact a real home."
Therefore, after many years in the industry, we have found what we believe is the greatest overall value for building your new home. The people that come to build with us aren't looking for something cheap but also don't have blank checks to write. If you are looking at a quality home with the best overall value, you need look no further, we can help.
All 5 of the homes shown on this page are CA Prefab Modular Homes. Three are Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and two are Single Family Residences.
