Q: What is the difference between site-built, factory-built, and manufactured homes?
A: A site-built home is a home that is built on the job site at the location where they will be lived in.  This may include wall panels that are fabricated elsewhere, but are built with the majority of labor on the job site.

A factory-built home is a home that is manufactured in any combination of sections, panels, or modules that are prefabricated and assembled in a factory separate from the job site where the homes will be lived in.  These homes are indistinguishable from site-built homes in appearance, but are more tightly built due to regulated factory conditions.

Manufactured homes refers to a specific classification of homes defined by HUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) as a home that is built off-site on a permanent chassis to be installed either on a permanent foundation or the chassis upon which is was delivered.  These homes benefit from their designation as HUD approved homes: a nationally approved engineering standard allowing them to forego local inspection requirements, however, their size and design is limited to what can be delivered on a “permanent chassis”.

Q: Then what is a modular home?
A: A modular home is a home built off-site from pre-assembled units that are pieced together to form a complete structure: these were previously defined as“manufactured homes" and built according to HUD approvals, these homes have a tendency to attract tornados.

Q: And a panelized home?
A: A panelized home is a home built from flat wall panels prefabricated off-site and transported to the jobsite where they are assembled to form a complete structure.

Q: What are Pacific Star Homes?
A: Pacific Star Homes is a fusion between panelized and modular homes.  We use modular units to build the most labor intensive construction areas of the home, and enclose the more area-intensive sections of the home with panelized sections.  Our strategy makes the most of our factory-built approach to housing, while maximizing our ability to provide high quality homes with a wide range of design options.

Q: How are these different from trailer homes?
A: Trailer homes may be classified as modular or factory built homes, but are generally HUD quality “manufactured” homes limited to simple designs and target low price points.  Pacific Star Homes offers luxury homes with modern design features and high-quality materials built in a factory controlled environment and ready to be shipped anywhere in the world in standard size containers.

Q: How does steel frame compare to wood frame housing?
A: Steel framing is now equally cost-effective as wood framing.  It offers termite/mold/fire/water-resistance, and a stronger, lighter frame that is built from a more consistently controllable material.  It is more durable and dependable, and gives our homes frames that last up to 3 times longer than wood equivalents.

Q: How much do Pacific Star Homes Cost?
A: This question is highly subjective to the design requirements of the project involved.  Base price including smart-home and solar power configurations starts at $75 per square foot and includes the complete “envelope” of the home and most design features such as cabinets, fireplace, and interior moulding.

Q: How much money will I save with Pacific Star Homes?
A: Regardless of the design elements of your home, most developers will save roughly 20% on materials and labor costs alone.  Additional savings will occur in reduced clean-up costs and faster repayments of construction loans. 

Q: Can you build a home from my plans?
A: Pacific Star Homes can custom engineer and manufacture most design plans according to any local building codes at an additional costs.  Clients may also wish to purchase from our pre-designed homes.

Q: How big are Pacific Star Homes?
A: Pacific Star Homes can be designed up to three-stories tall, and have been designed up to 9,000 square feet. However, the average home is 2,400 square feet, with homes being designed as small as 550 square feet.

Q: How long will it take to order a Pacific Star Home?
A: Depending on your design and local government schedules, it should take about 45 days to properly engineer your designs for our building method and for you to have these checked by your local review board.  Once these plans are finalized, materials will be ordered to build the home that usually takes 20-30 days to arrive at our factory. From then it will take about 30 days to manufacture and deliver your home to America: a total process of usually 3-4 months.  Selecting on of our pre-designed house plans can reduce this process to about 2-3 months.

Q: How long does it take to build a Pacific Star Home on site?
A: This varies according to the size of the home, but in most cases a 2,500 square foot home can be completely assembled in about 2-5 days.

Q: Will banks finance Pacific Star Homes?
A: Yes. Most banks, appraisers, and insurance companies treat modular homes the same as a house that's constructed entirely on your property. Consult a mortgage broker and banker and ask them to explain financing of factory built homes.