Modular Homes Could Help Solve the Housing Crisis—but They Need To Fix Their Image Problem First

The phrase "modular homes" may conjure up a boxy, barebones structure—or worse yet, a classic trailer park community filled with cookie-cutter mobile homes of dubious quality.But Scott Malouff, a longtime agent with Keller Williams in San Antonio and the head of KW's new Modular initiative, wants to change that perception.Malouff has been in real estate for over a decade and after a recent month-long trip to Asia, his eyes opened to the benefits of modular housing.Currently, only around 4% of U.S. housing is modular construction, compared with 15% in Japan. But Malouff believes the benefits of modular housing—the speed and quality modular assembly can bring—will become increasingly attractive to homebuyers amid a housing shortage and affordability crisis."You can build a house in seven days, compared to taking seven months," he says. Plus, he adds, "costs are way more predictable because it's more streamlined."Loading...Scott Malouff, a longtime San Antonio, TX-area agent with Keller Williams and the new head of KW's new Modular initiative, is working to change the perception of modular homesScott MalouffFor example, new-home construction is often weather dependent. Unpredictable s...