With a variety of prefab and modular Colonial-style homes to choose from - selecting the perfect house for your project may be a difficult decision. To help buyers figure out which options exist for their new home build, we have put together a list of some of the best prefab and modular colonial-style homes. Additionally, we have answered some of the most common questions around choosing the right home for your project, such as: how much does a prefab colonial home cost? What is the difference between a prefab and a modular home? And how long will it take to build a prefab home? If you would like assistance building your own prefab colonial, speak with a member of our prefab concierge team.

Understanding Prefab and Modular Colonials

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

A colonial-style house is characterized by characteristics such as simple, traditional designs, multiple stories, and symmetrical exteriors. Technically speaking, a prefab colonial refers to any colonial that is built using prefabricated construction techniques. This includes modular construction, kit home building, panelized home construction, and manufactured construction.

Modular colonials 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 colonial.

How much does a prefab colonial home cost?

The colonials included in our list have turn-key costs ranging from $553,000 to $1,108,000. 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 colonials beyond those that are included on our list, depending on your budget and preferences.

To determine what it will cost for your own prefab colonial, 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 colonial?

Like other styles of prefab and modular homes, a prefab colonial 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 colonial can be move-in ready anywhere between 9-16 months.

Prefab and Modular Colonials For Sale

Bellmeade by Champion Homes

The Bellmeade by Champion Homes is a 2,420 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction. With 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, the Bellmeade is an efficient floor plan with space for a larger family. Champion Homes’s home has interesting features such as a traditional, colonial exterior, a first-floor master suite, and both first and second-floor living areas.

Champion Homes is based in Troy, Michigan, and can work with buyers throughout the entire U.S. though they operate via a network of regional sellers and builders. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Bellmeade, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $605,000. Because Champion Homes operates via a network of regional dealers, however, there may be significant regional price differences to build the Bellmeade colonial by Champion Homes.

Varm by Unity Homes

The Varm by Unity Homes is a 1,518 square foot cottage that is built using a structural panel system. With 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the Varm is a floor plan that is well suited for smaller families and can be modified to have up to 4 bedrooms and almost 3,000 square feet of living space. Unity Homes’ house has interesting features such as traditional colonial and modern barn aesthetics and enrgy-efficient construction.

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 Varm, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $475,000+ to build the Varm colonial by Unity Homes, not including land.

Hampstead by Nationwide Homes

The Hampstead by Nationwide Homes is a 2,212 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction with modules arriving on site up to 80% complete. With 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, the Hampstead is a mid-sized single-family home that arrives on-site in a highly-finished state. Nationwide Homes’ house has interesting features such as a first-floor living area made up of a study, living room, dining room, and kitchen, and bedrooms on the second floor, including a master suite.

Nationwide Homes is based in Martinsville, Virginia, and can work with buyers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. via a regional network of builders. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Hampstead, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $553,000 to build the Hampstead colonial by Nationwide Homes, not including land.

Heritage Colonial by Affinity Building Systems

The Heritage Colonial by Affinity Building Systems is a 2,352 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction which is distributed and managed by a local builder. With 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, the Heritage Colonial is a mid-sized home that is well suited for families. Affinity Building Systems’ home has interesting features such as a large first-floor living area and a master suite, all with traditional colonial architecture.

Affinity Building Systems is based in Lakeland, Georgia, and can work with buyers throughout the Southern and Southeastern U.S. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Heritage Colonial, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $588,000. Because Affinity Building Systems operates via a network of regional builders, however, there may be significant regional price differences.

Classic Colonial 1A by Davis Frame Company

The Classic Colonial 1A by Davis Frame Company is a 2,464 square foot cottage that is built using either timber framing or panelized construction. With 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, the Classic Colonial 1A is a spacious floor plan with plenty of room for a growing family. Davis Frame Company’s home has interesting features such as traditional colonial design elements, a first-floor master suite, and well-designed storage areas and closets.

Davis Frame Company is based in Claremont, New Hampshire, and can work with buyers throughout the entire U.S. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Classic Colonial 1A, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay around $1,108,000, not including land.

Key Takeaways of Building a Prefab or Modular Colonial Home

Just like site-built colonials, prefab and modular colonials are characterized by: simple, traditional designs, multiple stories, and symmetrical exteriors
As with most types of residential construction, the turn-key cost of your colonial 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 colonial 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 colonial is move-in ready is often between 9 - 16 months
There are a number of builders that sell prefab and modular colonial homes including: Champion Homes, Unity Homes, Nationwide Homes, Affinity Building Systems, and Davis Frame Company