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<\/p>\nFading West, a modular homebuilder, is working to address the nationwide housing affordability crisis by providing affordable and efficient housing solutions. The company, founded in 2016 in Buena Vista, Colorado, utilizes a 110,000-square-foot factory to assemble modular homes, reducing costs by up to 20% and delivering finished houses in half the time compared to traditional on-site construction.<\/p>\n
According to Eric Schaefer, chief business development officer at Fading West, the company’s innovation lies in its manufacturing approach, which enables the production of high-quality, architecturally interesting designs at a lower cost. Fading West’s modular homes are built using lean manufacturing principles, which reduce waste and minimize environmental impact.<\/p>\n
The housing affordability crisis in the United States is a pressing issue, with the median price of a single-family home exceeding $422,000 and a nationwide housing shortage of nearly four million units. Modular housing, such as that offered by Fading West, can help address this crisis by providing affordable and efficient housing solutions. Modular homes are built in a factory and then transported to the building site, reducing construction time and costs.<\/p>\n
A notable example of Fading West’s modular housing is the Kilohana project in Lahaina, Maui, where the company produced 82 modular homes in just two months to provide temporary housing for victims of the 2023 wildfires. The homes, designed by DXA Studio, ranged in cost from $165,000 to $227,000 each and were paid for by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).<\/p>\n
Fading West’s modular housing development is not limited to disaster relief efforts. The company is also working to provide affordable housing solutions for individuals and families across the country. With projects in Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Texas, and New Mexico, Fading West is committed to making homeownership more accessible and affordable.<\/p>\n
Modular housing is often confused with manufactured housing, but the two are distinct categories. Modular homes are built to the same codes as traditional on-site homes, including the International Building Code and state and local codes. Manufactured homes, on the other hand, are built to a single national code administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.<\/p>\n
According to Tom Hardiman, executive director of the Modular Building Institute and the Modular Home Builders Association, modular homes offer several benefits, including reduced waste, lower costs, and faster construction times. Modular homes are also built in a controlled environment, which reduces the risk of weather-related damage and improves overall quality.<\/p>\n
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Experts in the field, such as Michael Neal, a principal research associate and equity scholar at the Urban Institute, agree that modular housing can help address the housing affordability crisis. Neal notes that modular builders can achieve affordable pricing through their production model, which reduces production time and costs. According to Devin Perry, assistant vice president at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), modular construction of single-family homes makes up between 1-3% of all starts, based on last year’s Census Bureau data.<\/p>\n
Jordan Rogove, partner and co-founder of DXA Studio, also highlights the benefits of modular housing, including reduced waste, lower costs, and improved quality. Rogove notes that modular homes can be designed to meet the needs of various income levels, from affordable housing to luxury homes.<\/p>\n
Fading West’s modular housing development is an innovative solution to the housing affordability crisis. By providing affordable and efficient housing solutions, the company is helping to make homeownership more accessible to individuals and families across the country. As the demand for modular housing continues to grow, it is likely that we will see more companies like Fading West emerging to address the housing affordability crisis.<\/p>\n