Building Definitions

Park Models are small cabin style homes, much like Manufactured Homes. A fully functioning small home limited to under 400 sq.ft., with a full kitchen, full bathroom, bedroom, and front living area. Originally designed for recreational living in the outdoors, they are becoming popular with the alternative ‘Tiny Home’ movement as well as for ADU’s. Built on a solid double I-beam chassis, with axles/wheels and a towing hitch, these well-built Parks are easy to transport and set-up. A wonderful comfortable small home, remember to talk with your local contractor for proper and legal set-up. Unfortunately registered as RVs under DMV, it restricts permanent property placement.

Manufactured Homes are federal (HUD) regulated factory-built homes (they are not mobile homes). A sectional floor plan built on a double I-beam chassis with removable axles/wheels/hitch for transport, the homes are nearly the same as most site-built homes. Built in a controlled factory setting, assembly style, the homes are built just as if on site but protected from the elements. The Manufactured Home is one of the most affordable options for home ownership! Talk with your Rep to make sure the home is deliverable!

Modular Homes are very similar to site-built homes, but built to the same standards in a factory, on a flatbed trailer to be transported to the building site for placement. Built in ‘modular’ units, each are craned onto the foundation and configured together. In general, the overall cost, and logistics will be about halfway between a Manufactured Home and a site-built home. Talk with your Rep, there are many different styles, and to make sure the home is deliverable.

Steel Buildings are the future of the building industry. Known primarily for simple structures from sheds, garages, barns, commercial buildings, exciting home plans are also in the mix. In short, the steel columns are replacing standard wood framing, very easy to assemble. New software allows for exact engineering plans actually no different than standard home plans. This is a huge savings and will be the most affordable home option entering the market today. Remember to talk with your local contractor for proper and legal set-up.

ADU or Additional Dwelling Unit, is generally considered the second home on the property, the first being the main residence. This home is often restricted in size, location, style, etc. Remember to talk with your local contractor for proper and legal set-up.

Tiny Homes are essentially small homes built on truck/trailer chassis, meant to be mobile and easy to set-up but still look and feel like a house. Generally considered by most States in the same category as a ‘travel trailer’. Though mobile, this handcrafted home is not meant to be hauled around. The cost is not as ‘low’ as one may think. Finding a semi-permanent parking site will be a challenge.

Site built is a term for construction on property. Construction on property will follow a UBC/IRC universal building code. This is defined regulations for legal, safe, and proper construction of almost all site built buildings.

Land Use Regulations exist on all land in all the United States! Even at the local level there are a range of restrictions, exemptions, nuances, that require the homeowner to navigate. Please exercise due diligence. Patience, persistence, knowledge will reward you…a healthy dose of skepticism will keep you grounded.

Mobile Homes the precursor to Manufactured Homes is not built anymore beginning in 1976. These generally single-wide homes are essentially a glorified travel trailer. In most places they are not allowed or accepted for property placement, even in mobile home parks. They cannot be remodeled to meet any new building codes including the HUD code for Manufactured Homes.

Shipping container conversions are the steel shipping containers used for freight, often seen stacked on ocean container ships, and semi-trailers transported on our roadways. Though inexpensive to purchase, other than a creative novelty, to convert to a habitable (and comfortable) home, ultimate cost for installing windows, doors, plumbing, electricity, insulation, etc., may not be any more of an advantage than other home options. Talk with your contractor in regard to conversion and proper legal set-up.