All Forum Posts by: Federico Morales

@Branden Bestgen and @David Edwards - thanks so much for your inputs. 

I am most similar to David in terms of prior exp and current aspirations... trying to get a medium-ish project (44 residential townhomes, arranged in mostly fourplexes, plus 1 clubhouse) off the ground in Cali on some land I own but it is very embryonic, as yet, haha. 

After looking for about a year at S2A, I am also leaning away from them. After researching quite a bit, I decided that finding architects and a modular build consultancy and arranging the GC myself is probably the way to go. I liked the idea at first that S2A would do everything in-house since I am not a big developer, but then you are beholden to one group... convenience and profit are always inversely related, after all. So probably best to just get your site work arranged, get your own plans and shop around to different factories... 

S2A had popped up for me a couple times in research. I'm a millennial, so stuff like environmental impact, waste, affordability, etc. matter to me. Then I also heard their co-founder speak on the pre-fab review podcast. I was impressed by the general philosophy. 

I am working on a townhome development project in SF Bay Area, California of about 45 units set up as duplex, triplex, and fourplex on 1.5 acres of land. We already own the land. I'm not a big developer so I was attracted by their A to Z approach in California. It would require some zoning changes. 

I reached out to them in April, but didn't get an immediate response by filling the online form, so I emailed their marketing guys or something. We had several phone calls in May and June and I sent them some documentation on the project.

My project has developed to the point that I can make first submissions to the city for preliminary review. Once I am finished with that process in about two months and see the results, then I'll reach back out to S2A. 

If not them, then I'll probably go with another modular group, but I'll have to figure out grading, utilities, foundations, etc. I had originally reached out to Guerdon, based out of Idaho, but they only handle orders of fifty units at a time, so I probably wouldn't have something that big. 

Since I am doing mostly fourplexes one or two at a time, I might be able to do it with lots of different modular groups. Unfortunately, most of what I have seen in modular is super custom, high end stuff. I want something that is multifamily and affordable. Cali has a housing crisis. 

S2A seemed legit, so I hope they will be operational soon. 

@Eric Teran, thanks for the note on pricing. Do we have any references on what you think would be appropriate pricing? 

Hey Mark,

I have been looking at S2A as well. I have a piece of land that I grew up on in San Jose, CA on which I'd like to put some 4-plexes for a build and hold strategy. I thought their price points were excellent, but I don't know much about it... Maybe $180 to $250 /SF, including soft costs, but excluding land is not so good? 

I think they are planning to put a factory somewhere near Denver. 

I'm in Castle Rock, so if you want to grab a coffee some time, let me know. Would love to compare notes. 

I still have family out in bay area and was planning to make a trip out to check their factory some time soon, too. 

Thanks, 

Federico 

Thanks for the catch-up and also the tip on lumber liquidators. 

Awesome! 

Federico 

Hey Allen, who did you find? I'm searching for same. 

Thanks for all input guys 

Hi Terre, 

Have you had any success in the last two months? My family is moving to the Denver area in December and we'll be in corporate housing for a couple of months, but I'm hoping I can find a house hack in a short time frame. 

I'm considering doing an FHA 203k to build some equity on a fixer upper - if I can rent out part of it, that would be ideal.

Thanks, 

Federico 

Thanks Antoine! Have you had any construction done in modular and would you recommend anybody out there? Have you done any deals involving modular?

Hello guys,

I have read varying arguments online, but i am wondering what the wisdom of BP has to say: what are your opinions on stick/site built vs modular home (built in factory). 

In my case, I am talking modular as in the house will sit on  a real foundation - not a mobile home. The advantages are that the house is built in a controlled environment, so the build time is much faster and many say the build quality is better and cheaper. 

I am considering this for a small granny unit as well as for a larger project i am planning on 1.5 acres in San Jose. 

Thanks,

Federico