As one of the most popular architectural styles for prefab and modular houses, it might be hard to decide which company and home might be best for your project. To help buyers discover their options, we have made a list of some of the best prefab and modular contemporary homes. These modern homes come in a variety of sizes, can be built with standard or custom floor plans, and are offered by a number of builders across the United States. In addition to highlighting some of the best contemporary prefab and modular homes, we have addressed some of the most important topics when considering a new home build - cost, timeline, and key terms. If you would like assistance building your own prefab contemporary house, speak with a member of our prefab concierge team.

Understanding Prefab and Modular Contemporary Houses

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

A contemporary house is characterized by modern architectural elements such as an open floor plan, geometric shapes, asymmetrical exteriors, and large windows. Technically speaking, a prefab contemporary house refers to any contemporary house that is built using prefabricated construction techniques. This includes modular construction, kit home building, panelized home construction, and manufactured construction. 

Modular contemporary houses 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 contemporary house. The only outlier would be manufactured contemporary houses 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 contemporary house home cost?

The contemporary houses included in our list have turn-key costs ranging from $520,000 to $2,261,000. 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 contemporary houses beyond those that are included on our list, depending on your budget and preferences.

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

Like other styles of prefab and modular homes, a prefab contemporary house 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 contemporary house 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 Contemporary Houses For Sale

Blanco River by Ma Modular

The Blanco River by Ma Modular is a 1,300 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction. With 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the Blanco River is a pre-designed modular home with options to customize the interior finishes. Ma Modular’s home has interesting features such as a modern exterior, a large deck, and an open living space. 

Ma Modular is based in Austin, Texas, and can work with buyers throughout the Western, Southern, & Mid-Atlantic U.S. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building the Blanco River, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $520,000 to build the Blanco River contemporary house by Ma Modular, not including land. 

Ray Kappe Living Home 1 by Living Homes

The Ray Kappe Living Home 1  by Living Homes is a 3,100 square foot cottage that is built using pre-constructed home modules. With 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, the Ray Kappe Living Home 1 is an energy-efficient and design-forward home. Living Homes’ house has interesting features such as steel framing, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and an interior garden. 

Living Homes is based in Santa Monica, California, and works with buyers primarily in California though they can work with customers outside of that area on a case-by-case basis. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a Ray Kappe Living Home 1, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $2,261,000 to build the Ray Kappe Living Home 1 by Living Homes, not including land.

2-2 A by Hygge Supply

The 2-2 A by Hygge Supply is a 1,601 square foot cottage that is built using home material kits. With 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the 2-2 A is a modern home with options for adding or swapping modules to achieve a custom design. Hygge Supply’s home has interesting features such as an open living area, large windows, and modern finishes. 

Hygge Supply is based in Lake Leelanau, Michigan, and can work with buyers throughout the entire United States. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building a 2-2 A, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $640,000 to build the 2-2 A contemporary house by Hygge Supply, not including land.

Olympic Village by Clever Homes

The Olympic Village by Clever Homes is a 3,200 square foot cottage that is built using a combination of prefab building techniques. With 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, the Olympic Village is a fully custom home that can be used as inspiration for your own contemporary prefab. Clever Homes’ design has interesting features such as large windows, a covered porch, a fireplace, and modern finishes. 

Clever Homes is based in San Francisco, California, and can work with buyers throughout the entire U.S. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building an Olympic Village-type home, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay $1,808,000 to build the Olympic Village contemporary house by Clever Homes, not including land.

Origin 1900 by Blu Homes

The Origin 1900 by Blu Homes is a 1,900 square foot cottage that is built using modular construction. With 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, the Origin 1900 is a smaller, modern home with an optional, add-on Junior ADU. Blu Homes’s design has interesting features such as an open floor plan, a large deck, and a compact footprint for urban infill lots. 

Blu Homes is based in Vallejo, California, and can work with buyers throughout California. Although regional cost differences will affect the cost of building an Origin 1900, we estimate that buyers in mid to high-cost areas can expect to pay around $855,000, not including land.  

Key Takeaways of Building a Prefab or Modular contemporary house Home

• Just like site-built contemporary houses, prefab and modular contemporary houses are characterized by: an open floor plan, geometric shapes, asymmetrical exteriors, and large windows

• As with most types of residential construction, the turn-key cost of your contemporary house 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 contemporary house 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 contemporary house is move-in ready is often between 9 - 16 months

• There are a number of builders that sell prefab and modular contemporary house homes including Ma Modular, Living Homes, Hygge Supply, Clever Homes, and Blu Homes

Additional Information for Building Prefab and Modular Homes in the United States

• Best Prefab and Modular Homes for Luxury Homes

• Reviews of Prefab and Modular Home Builders in the United States

• Understand the Financing Process for Building a Prefab Home

• Find Prefab and Modular Companies That Build in Your City & State