How Do I Find Land for a Modular Home?

As you explore the process of buying a modular home, one of the most important steps is finding land for your future home. So how do you go about buying property for a modular home? Let’s dive into the key aspects of finding land!

Before you start looking for land, we recommend you take a little bit of time to think about what you need in a modular home. Clarifying the aspects that are most important to you as an individual or family will streamline the process. When you’re equipped with that knowledge, you can then find a piece of land that will fit the kind of home you’re looking for.

There are two essential aspects of modular homes to consider: the type and size of the home. 

Starting with modular home type, there are three main categories:

• Ranch (single-story) modular homes
• Cape Cod modular homes (single- or one-and-a-half-story homes with steep, side-gabled roofs that often have an unfinished bonus area upstairs)
• Two-story modular homes  

When it comes to modular home size, some questions to consider are:

• How many bedrooms do you need?
• How many bathrooms do you need?
• Do you need additional spaces like a home office, playroom, or separate laundry/utility room?
• Do you want a garage added to the home?

It can be overwhelming to think about all the options. A local, independent modular home retailer can help you identify the home type and size that’s right for you. Contact a Champion retailer in your area. 

Once you have a general idea of the kind of modular home you’re looking for, you or your independent retailer can make an informed estimate of your eventual home’s dimensions (ex. 56’ x 28’). You’ll also get a better sense of your future home’s footprint, which is the shape and size of the space that the home takes up on the ground.

You don’t need an exact figure, but having an outline of your future home’s dimensions and footprint will be helpful when you’re evaluating land options. Some specific things you might encounter are:

• Are there setback, easement, or minimum property size requirements in the local building code you’ll need to meet?
• If you find a parcel of land with an existing well or sand mound, can your home footprint accommodate that?  

In addition to thinking about your future modular home, consider what you need in a piece of land. Some questions to think about are:

• How much space do you want on your property in addition to the land that your home will take up?
• Do you need room for additional structures like a shed?
• If you have pets or farm animals, how much space do they need?
• How much mowing are you comfortable taking care of?

Something that’s unique to modular homes is they’re delivered to your property with a semi-truck and set on the foundation with a crane. We recommend keeping in mind that your land will need to have road access for the semi-truck and crane during the delivery and setting process.

Working with a real estate agent or a local, independent modular home retailer can speed up the process of finding land. To find a real estate agent who’s a good fit for you, research agents in your area with positive reviews or ask your community for referrals. Look for agents who have experience representing buyers and who are familiar with the area where you’re looking to purchase land.

In addition to helping you evaluate modular home options, some local, independent retailers can help you find land. Make sure to work with a retailer who has a real estate license in the state where you’ll be purchasing property. These retailers keep track of the land that’s available in the area they service, and they can help you with the purchase process. 

You can also look for land for your future modular home on real estate websites. Use the filters to narrow down the type of land you’re looking for by location, size, and price. Some sites even have filter options to show vacant lots compared to land that currently has a house on the property.

Are you ready to start looking at land for your future modular home? We wish you all the best in your land-buying journey.

To check out modular homes from Champion, you can find the best Champion home for you, or contact a Champion retailer in your area.