August 18, 2022August 25, 2022 Champion Homes Home Building

The Difference Between Manufactured and Modular Homes

Let’s Set the Record Straight on Your Options

So, you’re interested in factory-built housing, but don’t know where to start. We get it! The world of pre-fabricated homes is vast and full of options, so you’ll definitely want to know which of those options work best for you and your lifestyle. When it comes to manufactured homes and modular homes, knowing the difference can take you a long way. So, let’s get into it!

Manufactured Homes

Manufactured homes have actually been around longer than you might think. You’ve likely heard manufactured homes referred to as mobile homes in your day-to-day conversations. Before 1976 when the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) code was developed, they were referred to as mobile homes. After the HUD code was developed, they were and still are referred to as manufactured. Same type of home, but manufactured homes of today meet the regulations of the HUD code.

Check out our manufactured homes blog for more detailed information if you’re interested.

Modular Homes

A modular home is a home that is also built in a climate-controlled indoor factory, but to a local state code, such as the International Residential Code, or IRC. You may often hear modular homes described as “prefabricated homes.” A modular home is built in sections, or modules, which are then delivered to and assembled on the home site. A modular home is more comparable to a site-built home in details like its available financing through more traditional mortgages and the local codes to which it is built.

Check out our modular homes blog for more detailed information if you’re interested.

Similarities & Differences

The main similarity you’ll find between manufactured and modular homes is that they’re both built in a climate-controlled factory by skilled craftspeople who do the same thing every day. All of our scrap material is used somewhere in the home instead of being piled and thrown away like in site-built homes.

The main difference you’ll find between manufactured and modular homes is the codes to which they are built. The HUD code can differ from the code of a specific state, town or county, and this all helps to determine what kind of house can be built and where. For example, a home built to the HUD Code for delivery in Massachusetts could be very different from a home built to local the Massachusetts modular code.. And that’s just one state!

Bottom line: we’re building homes to the right code for the right regions.

Whether you’re looking to go the manufactured route or the modular route, factory-built provides the advantages you’ll want and need as a new homeowner. Browse our floorplans today and find the home of your dreams.

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August 18, 2022September 9, 2022 Champion Homes Home Decor

The Light Choice

Choosing the right lighting for your home

It’s time to shed light on something important in the realm of home design: lighting! Choosing lighting fixtures for your home can really make a difference. In this blog, we’ll discuss some of the details and thought processes that will help you make the best decision for your home, room by room.

**The Advantage 3276 211 is a fashion forward example of how lighting can make all the difference in a room.**

Finishes are key.

The material used in a lighting fixture can add a special touch to a room and should be considered when thinking of your overall design. When it comes to choosing a finish, you want to let current trends guide you but not anchor you, so that you won’t bring in a finish that’s going to date the product.

These days, you see a lot of mixed finishes. This helps because if one fades, the other will keep it from being considered outdated. Brushed nickels, matte blacks, lots of gold (champagne for example) — those are metal finishes. You’re seeing a lot of wicker, tan, basket weaving textures paired with metals. As for textures, cane is very popular. Terrazzo, which used to be huge in flooring in the 60s/70s, is now making a name for itself again in lighting.

Paint and application are huge because you can have one material, but it can look something totally different. People are really exploring new approaches to classic touches, which means lots of mixing.

Go big AND go home.

The size of lighting has changed over the years, and larger than life lights are more popular than ever as lighting becomes more and more of a talking point in a home. “Oh, I LOVE these lights over your island” has become much more common of a conversation. At Champion® Homes, we are always trying to find the best in lighting with our customers’ best interests in mind, that includes both style and affordability.

**What are your thoughts on the lighting options in the Titan Extreme 3276F?**

Lighting is important now because it’s so much easier to change the lighting out instead of trying to change the structure of your home. If you select something that allows for flexibility, and allows you to be eclectic, that decision will allow you to make changes down the road more easily.

Want to see a visual representation on the importance of lighting? Be sure to check out our models, including the Advantage 3276 211, the Titan Extreme 3276F and the Magazine. Interested in illuminating your path to homeownership? Contact us today.

August 18, 2022September 9, 2022 Champion Homes Home Building

What is a Manufactured Home?

Here are all the details you’ll need to begin your manufactured home experience

You might be seeing a lot of media about the benefits of manufactured homes and why you should consider one if you’re in the homebuying market. But you may be confused to know: what IS a manufactured home? What sets it apart from a stick-built home and why is it a smart purchase? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

The first thing you should know about manufactured homes is that they’re factory-built. This means our teams work indoors, in climate-controlled facilities, with no dependence on weather fluctuations like your typical site-built home. Because manufactured homes are factory-built, they provide assurance for details such as:

Quality control
Weather-protected construction materials
Construction speed
Energy-efficient structures
Less waste

So, you’ve likely heard manufactured homes referred to as mobile homes in your day-to-day conversations. That’s a historical reference that has changed from the past perception.

Now, let’s move on to why we call them “manufactured” homes. From the early 50’s to the mid 80’s manufactured homes were referred to as single-wide and double-wide mobile homes. In 1976, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) federal building code was developed to bring oversite to the growing mobile home industry and that lead to the new product type “Manufactured Homes.” The (HUD) federal building code continues to evolve and is updated by various government committees on a regular basis to ensure all the latest standards regarding safety, energy, structural integrity, and indoor air quality are maintained at a high level.

The Transitions 20727 makes saying "yes to the house" so easy. — The Transitions 20727 makes saying “yes to the house” so easy.

Why Should You Care? Manufactured homes offer many advantages, including:

Affordability
An independent engineering plan review and inspection process
Governed by the federal HUD code who sets quality standards for manufactured housing
Insulated for the right climate, wind and seismic criteria

With a Champion® Homes manufactured home, you get quality all-around – a premier homebuying experience paired with an elegant product. Our homes will have you thinking “premier” and “elegance” from door to door. We aim to upgrade the manufactured home buying experience by improving construction processes and providing innovative design so that you can worry less about other details and spend that time on what matters: enjoying your home. We’re all about changing things for the better and in more ways than one!

Luckily, we’ve got decades of experience doing just that here at Champion Homes. We have an array of floor plans and design options the modern shopper will love. Ready to give the manufactured life a try? Let’s build your ideal home today.

August 18, 2022September 9, 2022 Champion Homes Home Decor

The Champion Approach: How We Set Industry Design Trends

When you think “ahead of the game,” think Champion® Homes.

When it comes to design standards in the factory-built housing industry, it’s no secret that Champion Homes sets the curve. Whether it’s color combinations, texture choices or interior features, innovation has become part of the Champion name.

But how are we able to predict trends and execute them sustainably? Well, a large part of it is the same reason you trust us to build your home: experience. Our team members know what they’re doing, because they’ve been doing it for a while now. We got a chance to talk about The Champion Approach with Tammie D., our Interior Designer who’s been working in the industry 20+ years. Keep reading to learn how we bring you the best aesthetics, season after season!

Tammie D., our Interior Designer, keeps us ahead of the curve

Staying Ahead of the Game

Champion Homes supports interactive research, which means we prioritize working with suppliers to not only see and touch emerging materials, but also develop entirely new materials. We utilize our experience and reputation in the industry to navigate important relationships, which allows us to participate in inventive conversations.

We approach home design holistically, and that’s what sets us apart. This is key to, for example, making sure the flow of the home from room to room is sensible and complementary. We make sure the kitchen complements the bedroom, etc.

Tammie’s Way

See your environment (the home and its features, the neighborhood, etc.) and think of it with every decision you make
Remember we mentioned the flow of a home from room to room? Think of this as ‘movement.’ Try to gauge the movement within a house and correspond materials to said movement
Have a balance of new and old! Too much innovation could scare people off, even if it’s beautiful
Never underestimate the importance of complementary colors

The Ultimate Kitchen 3 is a show stopper

It’s Important to…

Grow past bias against factory-built homes (remember: it’s high quality materials used in a site-built home)
Be rightfully picky, keeping the customer in mind

Now that you know The Champion Approach, you’ll be able to point it out more easily. Take a look at some of our most notably designed models, such as the Odyssey and the Glenwood.

August 18, 2022September 9, 2022 Champion Homes Home Buying

Choosing The Right Manufactured Home Floor Plan

The Layout Decisions That Make a Difference

Ah, yes. The floor plan. Not only is it key to the way you’ll be navigating your home, it also heavily influences other details such as design and routine. The floor plan is very important, so choosing the right one for you and your lifestyle will make all the difference. Sounds like it could be a lot of pressure, but thanks to Champion® Homes, it doesn’t have to be! Here’s how to choose the best floor plan for you.

First Things First

Think about the details that will determine the general format of your home. These details include:

Whether your home will be single-section or multi-section
Who will be living in the home
Number of beds & baths

Do you spend most of your time cooking in the kitchen? Consider that when choosing a floor plan!

Second Things Second

Consider your lifestyle! Are you the ultimate home chef? Do you need alone time, such as reading time, to function? Do you work from home full-time? These are all things to consider when going into the process of choosing your floor plan. Through answering these questions, you might discover you’d like a home with a sizable kitchen island and pantry area, a den, an office nook and more!

Other things that can determine your lifestyle:

If you love entertaining guests – open flow from kitchen to living room might work best!
If you have or plan on having a large family – consider how many bedrooms and who sleeps where!
If you love the great outdoors – consider a patio or outside porch option!

A living room that openly flows into the kitchen is great for entertaining guests

The Grand Finale

Okay, so you’ve thought about general format needs, and you’ve considered your lifestyle, what now? Well, now comes the fun part: looking at plans! Are we the only ones that get suuuper excited at the thought of looking at floor plans? It’s basically a justification to daydream about the life you want to live, and how! You’ve likely heard floor plans referred to as “the map of the home,” and it’s true! Floor plans really do a great job of showing you the natural “flow” of the home.

Get into the details and remember, it’s perfectly fine to have an idea of what you want in mind while also being flexible. Things like “How much space do I need for entertaining?” or “How close should the bathroom be to the kids’ bedrooms?” will make a difference in your choice.

Details of a home that might reflect your lifestyle preferences:

Split bedrooms (where the master is on the opposite side of the home as the kids’ rooms)
Half baths
Large utility / mud rooms
Extra living space (2 living rooms, living room + family room, etc.)

Take a look at some floor plans and mark down which ones you really like. Eventually, you’ll find your pick!

Floor plan for the Beckley, built in our Topeka, IN plant!

Choosing the floor plan for you isn’t too much pressure when you remember that all you really need to do, ultimately, is trust yourself. Go with what feels right. And when you’ve done that and are ready to turn that perfect floor plan into that perfect home? Don’t worry, we can help with that too.

August 18, 2022August 19, 2022 Champion Homes Featured Homes

The Odyssey™

In the search for your dream home, there can be a lot that comes to your mind: the perfect kitchen features, number of beds and baths, space to fit your lifestyle, and of course design style. The Odyssey checks off a lot of boxes for many home shoppers. This model is built by eight of our factories across the country, and is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom, multi-section ranch home. With a total of 1,813 square-feet and an open concept design, the Odyssey will allow you to create an atmosphere you and your family will love.

FEATURES YOU’LL LOVE

One great feature of the Odyssey is the built-in entertainment center. This spot is great for both entertaining or enjoying a night in cozied on the couch. With the push of a button, you can enjoy the warm ambiance of the fireplace while catching up on the latest game or binge-watching your favorite show. This feature is built with a contemporary design that features shiplap and floating shelves.

*The Odyssey has top notch features including a dream kitchen*.

As you step out of the living room, you will find the chef’s kiss of an ideal kitchen. Its most impressive feature? A large island with a range hood over a stovetop. A modern design that elevates the style and functionality in this gorgeous kitchen.

Enjoy a massive amount of storage with ample overhead and base cabinets. Personalize this kitchen with designated areas for a wine or coffee bar. This kitchen will help you achieve your dream of creating the perfect meal for family while being the perfect environment for entertaining.

Special design features of this home include accent walls of shiplap, modern white tile backsplash, And stainless-steel appliances by Whirlpool® in the kitchen. You’ll find spa-like features including LED back-lit mirrors in both baths and a rainfall showerhead in the primary bath. A designated nook is also an option for your home office or a creative studio.

There is more to love about the Odyssey, and you should see it for yourself. Click here to view more photos and immerse yourself in a virtual walkthrough.