“Prefab” covers very different things
People use “prefab” for everything from mobile homes to high-end modular houses. That’s where most of the worry comes from. A manufactured home is built to a federal code and can sit on a chassis. A modular home is built as boxes and craned into place. A precut home, the way we build, is framed on site from parts cut to an exact plan. It’s a traditional house; only the preparation is different. See the comparison.
Will it last?
Durability comes from materials, workmanship and maintenance, not from where the wood was cut. Precut framing is often more consistent than framing cut by hand on site, because every piece matches the plan. Our partners have built more than 160 homes in Los Angeles this way, and the ones built 10 to 15 years ago still look new. We’ll arrange a visit so you can ask the owners.
Fire
One home built the same way in Pacific Palisades was still standing after the January 2025 fire. Fire resistance comes from the materials and details: roof class, vents, siding, windows and eaves. Here’s what California requires. [Confirm the specific fire rating and materials of the Palisades home before publishing.]
Mortgage and appraisal
Because it’s a permanent house on its own parcel, it’s financed like one: conventional, FHA, VA or jumbo loans, subject to your lender’s normal rules. The appraiser compares it with nearby sales of similar homes.
Insurance
California’s home insurance market is tight, and insurers price heavily on wildfire risk. What helps: a Class A roof, ember-resistant vents, non-combustible siding, tempered windows and defensible space. A new home with these features is generally easier to insure than an older home without them. Get quotes early in your purchase.
Resale
Buyers later see a new, code-built house on its own land. Nothing on the title or the listing says “precut”, because legally it’s simply a house.
Join the interest list for the first project, or read how buying a new-build home works.
Questions people ask
Will it hold up for decades?
It's built with the same lumber, fasteners and finishes as a custom home. Our partners' Los Angeles homes built this way 10 to 15 years ago still look new.
Can I use an FHA or conventional loan?
Yes. A precut home on a permanent foundation is real property, so it qualifies for the same loan types as any single-family home, subject to normal lender rules.
Does it appraise lower?
Appraisers compare it with nearby sales of similar homes. The way the frame was cut doesn't change the comparison.
Is it harder to insure?
Insurers in California look at location, fire risk, roof, construction materials and age. Fire-resistant materials and a new roof work in your favor.