Small or large? Modern or traditional? Standard or custom? There are a lot of questions that buyers interested in a prefab home in Los Angeles must answer before they can get the home of their dreams. Luckily the greater Los Angeles area is home-base to some of the best prefab home builders in the nation. This gives buyers a wide variety of home options to choose from, making budget the biggest constraint. Despite such variety, one thing is common for prefab homes in this area - they feature beautiful and sustainable designs. Throughout this guide to buying a prefab home in Los Angeles our goal is to help address the questions you may have as a prospective prefab home buyer based in the Los Angeles area.

Why Might You to Want to Build a Prefab Home in Los Angeles?

• Fast construction - homes are manufactured off-site in climate controlled facilities and later assembled on-site. This often leads to quicker construction times than traditional, site builds.

• Lower cost - due to the highly controlled nature of the build process, unforeseen cost overruns can be better managed leading to reduced overall cost

• Ultra modern - many prefab builders offer home designs that are net-zero (in-line with California’s 2020 Zero Net Energy “ZNE” mandate) and feature modern, energy efficient features such as insulated panels and renewable energy technology.

Key Decisions to Make:

• Where to build - areas that are more expensive may be better long-run investments. When buying land you should pay attention to a few key things that could affect your prefab home build:

  • Slope of lot

  • Set Backs

  • Floor area ratio or other zoning protocols that can impact the size of the home

  • Whether or not your neighborhood requires a design review

• Standard vs. Custom - Most builders offer a range of predetermined floor plans while only some offer options for either partial or totally custom homes. If you live on a tricky lot (Hilly, small-lot size, etc.) your options for standard home plans may be limited

• Modular vs. Kit Home v.s. Panelized - Prefabricated home is a broad term and refers to a home that has sections of the structure built off-site in a factory and later assembled on-site. Types of prefab homes include:

  • Modular - homes consist of a series of box-like modules which are fully assembled units consisting of walls, ceiling, floor, wiring, plumbing, and internal fixtures. Once these modules arrive on site they are joined together and connected to the foundation. This is one of the most affordable options for prefab buildings.

  • Kit Home - all of the components and materials necessary for building the home are shipped to the site and assembled. In most cases, an owner builder can assemble the home as a cost-saving method.

  • Panelized - the structural components of the home: walls, floor, ceiling, are manufactured off-site and then later constructed at the final site like a traditional build.

• Architect vs. All-in Company - There are multiple stages to the prefab home build process spanning land acquisition, home design, manufacturing, and assembly. In some cases the company you choose may only offer a home design and therefore sub-contract out the manufacturing process. This leaves you responsible for acquiring land and later finding a builder to assemble the home. In other instances, the company may be a one-stop shop and assist you in all stages of the home build process.

Common Questions

• How much will a prefab house cost me in the greater Los Angeles area?

  • While factors like location, builder, and floor plan will affect the all-in price of your home, we’ve found that the final cost of your prefab will typically be between $300-$500, with a few companies below that

• Can a prefab home be a good investment?

  • Yes.  In areas where the cost of land + building a house is less than the average dollars per sqft sale price. In L.A., that includes areas where the average price per square foot is $700 per sqft or higher. This includes the neighborhoods of: Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Beverly Hills and San Marino.

• Can I finance a prefab home in Los Angeles?

  • Yes. A common way to finance a prefab home is a temp to perm loan. This method of financing starts out as a loan for the duration of the construction period and converts to a mortgage once your home is completed.

• What are the economics behind an investment in a prefab home?

  • Our spreadsheet (below) is an example of what the economics behind a prefab home investment might look like. While there may be high up-front costs, there is still a sizeable return on your investment.

• How long will it take?

  • The answer to this question depends a lot on your particular location. Your town’s permitting and building process will play a large role in determining the timeframe for your build. Total, the build process can take between 1-2 years and maybe longer if there is a design review process.

  • Planning Departments of Los Angeles:

  • http://planning.lacounty.gov/agenda/rpc

  • https://www.newportbeachca.gov/government/departments/community-development/planning-division

  • http://www.beverlyhills.org/citygovernment/commissions/planningcommission/

  • http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/cityhall/cd/planning/default.htm

  • https://www.malibucity.org/355/Planning

  • https://www.citymb.info/departments/community-development/planning-zoning

  • https://www.smgov.net/Departments/PCD/Boards-Commissions/Planning-Commission/

Reputable Companies that Serve the Los Angeles Area:

• Method Homes

  • Offers over 200 designs of sustainable homes, options for zero net energy upgrades with energy efficient appliances and passive solar design.

  • All-in-cost: $300 - $400 per sqft

  • https://methodhomes.net/

• Connect Homes

  • Has 13 models ranging from 640 sq ft to 3200 sq ft, all of which are modern and boxy

  • All-in-cost: $250-$400 per sqft

  • http://connect-homes.com/

• Clever Homes

  • Offers fully-custom homes with sustainable features and recycled materials where possible

  • All-in-cost: $350-$500 per sqft

  • https://www.cleverhomes.net/

• Proto Homes

  • Has 120 floor plans from 2,000 to 4,000 sqft, all of which have a modern rectangular look

  • All-in-cost: $200 - $300 per sqft (Only build the shell of the home)

  • http://www.protohomes.com/

• Dvele

  • Newer home builder with 9 models of luxury homes to choose from, ranging from 624 sqft to 3900+ sqft.

  • All-in-cost: $410 - $500+ per sqft

  • https://www.dvele.com/

• Plant Prefab

  • Makes 11 high-standard home designs as well as custom prefab homes. All homes are made at their factory, Plant Prefab

  • All-in-cost; $300 - $400+ per sqft

  • https://www.plantprefab.com/

If you are interested in Building an ADU in Los Angeles, see our list of the Best Prefab ADUs in Los Angeles