pre-fab homes / affordable housing

[ZACHM]

That was for just the house, not the property, utilities, etc.. He was trying to sell it for $135k.

I agree even $135k sounds good for a new house, but not for a house that is only 300 sf.
Maybe for a 800sf to 1000sf house.

[WEB slicer]

i know 50K was just for the house. he also bought a lot for 40K in an urban area and spent another 25K to hook the utilities up traditionally. i've seen lots rent for $250 a month. depending on location and if you buy or rent the land there is alot of flexibility and 40K isn't necessarily an additional expense all buyers would be subject to.

the home wasn't 300 SF, it was 672. i noticed you keep comparing these to a house. maybe you should look at this a different way. look at them as a home instead of a house. if you keep comparing it to a house then yes 672 SF doesn't seem like much. but when you consider how many people live in a studio or 1 bedroom apartment and call it home then 672 SF is more than enough for a single person or a couple.

[ZACHM]

Yes, agree 600-700sf is great. I was just looking at the price per sf.

So at $135k / 672 sf = $200 per sf

Around here to build a typical house it cost around $150 per sf. This includes property, utilities, etc.

$200 per sf is usually a more high end house with granite countertops, stone fireplaces, etc.

[WEB slicer]

where do you live? build brand new for $150 x SF seems unusually cheap. i live in chicago. prices "start" at $200xSF / 250K and climb rapidly. most people are looking at a 300K price tag for a "used" home. i just got done watching something about how housing costs in california are causing people to leave the state cause a small "fixer upper" in a shitty area sells for 300K.

[DIX]

The price is good, and the land would be better owned, I agree

[ZACHM]

I'm in NY state.

[WEB slicer]

do you know anything about codes for trailer homes? i'm "assuming" since it's not fixed to the ground and mobile it would not be subject to the same regulations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McliXXlg9Vg

[ZACHM]

In NY they are still subject to the building code.
They are also "fixed" to the ground, you need to place them on a concrete slab and they are anchored to the slab.

[WEB slicer]

so i briefing played with google to discover the proper terms regarding mobile homes, modular homes, manufactured homes, trailers homes, etc. seems they all have different regulations. i did find this information though and based on the little bit that i have read mobile homes are not subject to the same building codes. i'm not trying to have this legality conversation since local laws will differ. but since you are an engineer was just curious what your response would be regarding your state. you were right on the dot about the anchoring part. but i noticed it says "can require" anchoring as if not every zone will require it.

Unlike modular homes whose constructions are regulated by state and local building codes, mobile homes, double-wides and trailers, are regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), via the Federal National Mfd. Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974.

This national regulation has allowed many manufacturers to distribute nationwide because they are immune to the jurisdiction of local building authorities. There are, however, windzones adopted by HUD that home builders must follow. Depending on where a mobile home is located, these wind zone regulations can require special anchoring or tie downs to reduce the chances of the home being overturned in a storm.

[ZACHM]

So I guess I was wrong on them needing to meet state building code. 
I guess that is the new thing I learned today. 
I rarely get involved in Manufactured Homes other than design for the slab that they sit on.

Here is what NY says about them: https://www.dos.ny.gov/dcea/manufinfo.htm

Since you are looking at Montana here is a useful page: http://bsd.dli.mt.gov/building-codes-permits

[WEB slicer]

learning is good, and fun!!   

so kinda curious what role you play as an engineer? do you do designs, blueprints, etc. do you do the actual construction? or both?

[ZACHM]

I am partners with another Engineer, our firm does mostly residential design and some small commercial. I mostly design septic systems, stormwater controls, drives/roads, subdivisions, campgrounds, potable water systems, etc. Mostly site work. My partner mostly does the architectural and structural building plans. We all do a little of everything at times.

We do all the plans required and go to planning/zoning board meetings to help people obtaining their building permits and approvals. Often we also go and do inspections during construction.

[WEB slicer]

sounds like you lean more towards planning and designing than construction.

lets say an individual or another company approached you and is looking for somebody to design these modular or mobile homes. would you be interested?

[ZACHM]

Yes, we are planning and design.

Individuals and companies come to us all the time for design work, however, we do not do design work for modular/pre-fabs, other than foundations for those to sit on or the septic system, stormwater, etc..

Additionally, we are only licensed in NY state.

[WEB slicer]

i am aware you currently don't do designs for modular and mobile. not interested in expanding to new areas? are you not able to design something that will be built in another state?

[ZACHM]

We are not legally allowed to stamp drawings for projects in another state.

I am willing to help and can do some drawing/design, but I just can't stamp anything for outside of NY state.

[WEB slicer]

gotcha, i will keep you in mind.