As one of the most common home styles in the United States, there is no shortage of prefab and modular Cape Cod-style homes to choose from. Below, we have created a list of some of our favorite cape cod-inspired prefab and modular homes. That way, when considering which home may be best for your new home build, you are aware of the options that exist, in terms of size, style, design options, and even construction method. Additionally, to help you better understand the best prefab and modular cape cod homes, we have answered some of the most common questions surrounding your new prefab Cape Cod home build, including cost and pricing, project timeline, and key terms. If you would like assistance building your own prefab cape cod, speak with a member of our prefab concierge team.

Understanding Prefab and Modular Cape Cods

What is a prefab Cape Cod? What is a modular Cape Cod house? And what’s the difference between the two?

A cape-style house is characterized by characteristics such as small, rectangular footprints, a symmetrical appearance, and steep roofs with side gables and an overhang. Technically speaking, a prefab Cape Cod refers to any Cape Cod that is built using prefabricated construction techniques. This includes modular construction, kit home building, panelized home construction, and manufactured construction.

Modular Cape Cods are a subset of prefab construction where box-like module(s) are built off-site, shipped, then set, and finished at the final build site. So, there is very little difference between the two as both will have the design elements of a cape cod. The only outlier would be manufactured Cape Cods which are built to a different building code than traditional, residential buildings. And while manufactured homes may be cheaper, they sometimes can not be financed like other site-built or prefab homes and their value appreciates differently over time.

How much does a prefab cape cod home cost?

The Cape Cods included in our list have turn-key costs ranging from $310,000 to $490,000. These estimates are based on the all-in costs to build each home, not including land. It is worth noting that there are both more affordable and higher-end, fully-custom prefab Cape Cods beyond those that are included on our list, depending on your budget and preferences.

To determine what it will cost for your own prefab cape cod, there are a number of factors to consider:

Land
Permitting fees
Site preparation - site assessment, excavation, utilities, foundation
Home cost - modules, panels, kit components from the builder
Delivery - many prefab companies serve large areas of the U.S., if not the whole country. It is worth inquiring if they have regional manufacturing facilities or if they ship materials from their headquarters, in which case, long-distance shipping costs can add-up
Installation/set - setting modules on a foundation & tying them together, or the assembly of the materials kit or panels
Finishes - depending on the company and your project’s needs, some modular homes can be delivered in a highly-finished state (around 90% complete). This means homes can arrive on-site complete with flooring, cabinetry, electrical, and plumbing; this requires little on-site work for the home to be move-in ready. Kit homes and panelized homes require significantly more on-site work to assemble and finish, increasing the local cost section of your budget

How long does it take to build a prefab or modular Cape Cod?

Like other styles of prefab and modular homes, a prefab Cape Cod can often be built quicker than a site-built home. While the exact timeline of your project will be determined by the length of the design/engineering process, permitting approvals, off-site build times, and on-site assembly & finishing, it is our experience that a prefab cape can be move-in ready anywhere between 9-16 months. If you are in a hurry, however, there are some companies (particularly for tiny homes and ADUs) that list build times as short as 3 - 4 months.

Prefab and Modular Cape Cods For Sale

Tradd by Unity Homes

The Tradd by Unity Homes is a 2,064 square foot cottage that is built using a structural panel system. With 2 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms, the Tradd is a flexible floor plan that can be scaled up in size to up to 4 bedrooms and 2,700+ square feet. Unity Homes’ house has interesting features such as an exterior that combines cape and saltbox aesthetics and a rustic interior with exposed beams.

Unity Homes is based in Walpole, New Hampshire, and can work with buyers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Tradd, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $545,000+ to build the Tradd Cape Cod by Unity Homes, not including land.

Little Diamond by BrightBuilt Home

The Little Diamond by BrightBuilt Home is a 1,510 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction with options for fully-custom designs. With 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the Little Diamond is a modern take on a New England Cape with options to expand the home to up to 1,980 square feet. BrightBuilt Home’s home has interesting features such as lofted ceilings, exposed beams, and plenty of windows.

BrightBuilt Home is based in Portland, Maine, and can work with buyers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern U.S. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Little Diamond, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $490,000, not including land.

Martha's Vineyard Guest House by Vermont Timber Works

The Martha's Vineyard Guest House by Vermont Timber Works is a 1,000+ square foot cottage that is built using a design from a third-party architect and Vermont Timber Works manufactures the structural timber frame. With 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the Martha's Vineyard Guest House is a fully-custom floor plan that can be used as inspiration for your own custom Cape. Vermont Timber Works’s home has interesting features such as vaulted ceilings and a timber interior.

Vermont Timber Works is based in North Springfield, Vermont, and can work with buyers throughout the world. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Martha's Vineyard Guest House, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $375,000.

Hemlock by Huntington Homes

The Hemlock by Huntington Homes is a 1,259 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction. With 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the Hemlock is a smaller floor plan that would be well suited as a home for a small family. Huntington Homes’ design has interesting features such as a first-floor master suite and second-floor bedrooms.

Huntington Homes is based in East Montpelier, Vermont, and can work with buyers throughout New England with options for turn-key building services in northern Vermont and New Hampshire. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Hemlock, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $400,000.

Brentmore by Stratford Homes

The Brentmore by Stratford Homes is a 1,120 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction with options for customization. With 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, the Brentmore is a simple, yet comfortable floor plan. Stratford Homes’s home has interesting features such as an open layout floor plan with a first-floor master suite.

Stratford Homes is based in Stratford, Wisconsin, and can work with buyers throughout the Northwestern and Central United States via a network of local dealers and builders. We estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $310,000 to build the Brentmore Cape Cod by Stratford Homes, not including land.

Key Takeaways of Building a Prefab or Modular cape cod Home

Just like site-built Cape Cods, prefab and modular Capes are characterized by: small, rectangular footprints, a symmetrical appearance, and steep roofs with side gables and an overhang
As with most types of residential construction, the turn-key cost of your cape cod will be heavily influenced by several factors: location & local labor cost, standard vs. custom, site work costs, and degree of finishes. That being said, buyers with mid to high-end costs can expect turn-key pricing from $400 - $600 per square foot, while low-end costs can range from $200 - $400 per square foot
Similar to cost, the timeframe to build your cape cod will be largely determined by factors like permitting time, standard vs. custom, and whether or not your selected company has a backlog of orders. While some modular homes can be built in as little as a few weeks, the entire process: from the time you put your deposit down until your cape cod is move-in ready is often between 9 - 16 months
There are a number of builders that sell prefab and modular cape cod homes including Unity Homes, BrightBuilt Home, Vermont Timber Works, Huntington Homes, and Stratford Homes