Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Modular Homes for Under $50k

boxabl.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

161–170 of 343 posts

Re: Modular Homes for Under $50k

#161

Post by bluedino »

lftl wrote: post #141
ryanar wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you think new home construction is $150 / sq ft. (in the US), you haven't been keeping up with the times. It was $220 / sq ft. before COVID, now its $300+ for stick built. Modulars are $200-$250. When material prices tripled, the cost got offloaded to the customer, and given the demand hasn't changed.. it probably isn't going to regress to the mean anytime soon.

Are you quoting prices including the cost of the land? Around here there's plenty of new construction being sold at well under $200/sq. ft., and even a fair amount at or under $150 / sq. ft. This is even when you include the price of the land.

Even with current materials pricing? I live in a new development and the price went from $180/sqft to $300/sqft for the lowest end builds. We were all set to build our 'forever house' but we'd either spend 50% more or have to build a much smaller house, so we're just going to wait for a bit.

Re: Modular Homes for Under $50k

#162

Post by Ensorceled »

jmcgough wrote: post #121

How does this compare to mobile homes in terms of price and use case? Many mobile homes are only "mobile" in the sense that it's delivered and installed somewhere - 90% are never moved again, because it's costly and complicated to do so. The modular idea is neat, but I'm not sure how practical it is, and there are laws in many states that prevent you from moving homes without a licensed professional.

It looks like the delivery crane does the unboxing, so I would presume the delivery would be done by some one licensed to move it. I think this is also not considered mobile.

Not sure how you would even have this as a "take out" option.

Re: Modular Homes for Under $50k

#163

Post by DVassallo »

lftl wrote: post #141
ryanar wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you think new home construction is $150 / sq ft. (in the US), you haven't been keeping up with the times. It was $220 / sq ft. before COVID, now its $300+ for stick built. Modulars are $200-$250. When material prices tripled, the cost got offloaded to the customer, and given the demand hasn't changed.. it probably isn't going to regress to the mean anytime soon.

Are you quoting prices including the cost of the land? Around here there's plenty of new construction being sold at well under $200/sq. ft., and even a fair amount at or under $150 / sq. ft. This is even when you include the price of the land.

There’s a big difference between spec houses and custom houses. I’m building a custom home in King County, WA right now, and it’s almost impossible to build under $300/sqft. And no, doesn’t include cost of land or land preparation costs.

Re: Modular Homes for Under $50k

#164

Post by grumblenum »

ryanar wrote: post #134
thesausageking wrote: post #4

This house is 375 sq ft and uses low end materials, and it doesn't include setup, so it's going to cost ~$100k, or $266 / sq ft. Most new home construction is more like $150 / sq ft. And with this system, you're very limited in what you can build. Who's the target customer for this?

If you think new home construction is $150 / sq ft. (in the US), you haven't been keeping up with the times. It was $220 / sq ft. before COVID, now its $300+ for stick built. Modulars are $200-$250. When material prices tripled, the cost got offloaded to the customer, and given the demand hasn't changed.. it probably isn't going to regress to the mean anytime soon.

Where I live the market rate was $100-125/sqft for single-family before the lumber supply squeeze. I think you just happen to live somewhere where inflation effects are ahead of the rest of us.

Re: Modular Homes for Under $50k

#165

Post by hellbannedguy »

thesausageking wrote: post #4

This house is 375 sq ft and uses low end materials, and it doesn't include setup, so it's going to cost ~$100k, or $266 / sq ft. Most new home construction is more like $150 / sq ft. And with this system, you're very limited in what you can build. Who's the target customer for this?

If you can get this contraption on your property (foundation, plumbing hookup, electric, all permit fees.) for under 100k in a desirable area, like the Bay Area, it's a great deal.

If I had a flat lot that was accesssble, I would look into this further.

In my town, even with the protections Gov. Neusome provided, getting an ADU is still a hassle.

In my town, rich people are using ADU's to add square footage to their existing houses. Some are actually successful with getting a variance, if they kiss enough ass. Or, know someone on that council, but I can't prove this alleviation now. I could a few years ago. Variances are over $1000, and until recently very few, like less than 1 percent, were granted. The town kept those fees though. Gotta keep those fees, and fines.

That said, it's still a rich man's game:

1. Council members go over every aspect of your ADU.

2. They even had the gall to ask an older homeowner whom will be living in the ADU. The guy said it would probally be a attendant, but felt he didn't need to discuss his medical history on tv. (San Anselmo tapes their meeting. I guess it's for litigation fend offs? If that's the case, they are not doing themself's any good. They are obviously biased.)

3. The town has a right to tell you what color paint your addition will be.

4. The town tells homeowners to go to their neighbors, and basically beg for their remodel.

5. The town can determine where you place windows.

6. The town can tell you what kind of roof they will approve.

7. The town can tell you what kind of siding to use. Better not use stucco, if they want wood?

8. The town can dictate what plants you use around unit.

(I'm conflating an ADU, and a remodel--a remodel usually requiring a variance. I'm not sure how difficult is is to just put in an ADU. If any town signed off on these modular units, they are quite a buy. I have my doubts.)

Re: Modular Homes for Under $50k

#167

Post by RickJWagner »

thesausageking wrote: post #4

This house is 375 sq ft and uses low end materials, and it doesn't include setup, so it's going to cost ~$100k, or $266 / sq ft. Most new home construction is more like $150 / sq ft. And with this system, you're very limited in what you can build. Who's the target customer for this?

Looks great for movie sets.

Re: Modular Homes for Under $50k

#168

Post by lftl »

bluedino wrote: post #161
lftl wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you quoting prices including the cost of the land? Around here there's plenty of new construction being sold at well under $200/sq. ft., and even a fair amount at or under $150 / sq. ft. This is even when you include the price of the land.

Even with current materials pricing? I live in a new development and the price went from $180/sqft to $300/sqft for the lowest end builds. We were all set to build our 'forever house' but we'd either spend 50% more or have to build a much smaller house, so we're just going to wait for a bit.

Yep:

https://bit.ly/3w3XyeR https://bit.ly/3hmGBak

Re: Modular Homes for Under $50k

#169

Post by amelius »

chris123 wrote: post #133
amelius wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We need a better way to distribute land than the one we use now (=based on money and inheritance). This is the problem which smart people should be working on, not some prefab home.

People should be free to buy the land they want with the money that they've earned or otherwise legally acquired. It's just a basic principle. The principal below that principle, is that you have autonomy over your own body, and your own labor, and you have a choice as to how you apply. And you have a right to the fruits of your labor and creativity and entrepreneurship. And you can spend those fruits, and all the wa…

Land is different from consumer goods.

How would you feel if companies started to divide the available drinking water or breathable air? That rich people controlled who can drink or breathe? And that inheritance determined your odds of survival, not based on genes but on access to basic resources?

It is OK if hard work is rewarded with money.

However, it is not OK if people use that money against the rest of us, who made different life choices.

Since land is a limited resource, there is a problem there.

Re: Modular Homes for Under $50k

#170

Post by ctdonath »

benjohnson wrote: post #31
coderintherye wrote: post #30

I imagine the margin isn't there for it, but I wish someone would target the I'd have to guess the market just isn't there for it, maybe everyone else just doesn't mind dealing with the building codes and permit requirements for larger units?

There's an economic problem with well made smaller homes - they have all the detail of a larger home without the square footage. Hence the cost per square foot is much larger than you would expect.

I’ve heard an aphorism to wit: length is cheap, corners are expensive.
Post reply on HN