Prefab homes vs traditional stick-built homes ( in Los Angeles )

[Alvin Uy]

I’ve started to build ground-up multi-units for myself and its been a painfully long to get to completion with all these new requirements.  So I started looking for other options if I want to keep doing this.  A new friend suggested looking into prefab homes...   So i did!

Over the weekend, I had a chance to check out a presentation of PROTO HOMES at their headquarters in Los Angeles. ( www.protohomes.com )   I was always skeptic about prefab (offsite-built) homes before my visit.   I was concerned about quality and the appraisal value.  But this particular builder had me convince this might be a good option to consider for new developments in Los Angeles... especially for multi-family.  Unlike traditional modular/manufactured homes that have to be craned in... this company’s process is almost the same as traditional where they custom design your house the with their inhouse architect and the same materials as traditional built homes.. The only real difference is the process of being built offsite... and assembled onsite using their proprietary method.  They claim to get new construction completed in 4mos... and more cost effective ($170/sqft) compared to your traditional stick built homes.  They also claim that their homes will appraise the same as stickbuilts.   

That said, Im not a fan of their exterior modern designs but the process looks promising for future projects.   Anyone here have any experience working with this company or have bought one of their homes?   Are there other better prefab home builders/companies like Proto Homes that you can recommend in Los Angeles or in CA?