Can I really get a complete modular home for under $40,000?

Someone sent me a listing for a modular home that is only $37,545. That is really inexpensive for a modular home! But it is still an awful lot of money to spend. She wanted me to tell her what I think. I do not know anything about this house.

Would you like to know how I do a quick check on something like this?

New Modular Home For Sale – $37,545
Welcome to the Bella model, priced at $37,525!This charming modular home is designed to offer a perfect blend of style, comfort, and functionality, making it an ideal choice for individuals and families alike.

Key Features:

• Inviting Design: The Bella boasts a beautiful exterior and a thoughtfully designed interior that creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
• Spacious Layout: With an open floor plan, this home maximizes space and provides flexibility for living, dining, and entertaining.
• Modern Amenities: Equipped with contemporary features and finishes, the Bella ensures you enjoy all the comforts of modern living.

This is not just a house; it’s a place where memories are made. Picture cozy family dinners, game nights, and quiet evenings spent in your own sanctuary.

Experience the joy of homeownership with the Bella model! Visit us at www.goldrhinopromo.com to learn more.

The listing says the modular home is in Louisville, Kentucky: New Modular Home For Sale $37,545 in Louisville, KY

The seller joined Facebook in 2015. That is nine years ago, which sounds good. It sounds like she is not fly-by-night.

But compare the profile to other seller profiles. This seller has no followers and there is no Follow button. There are no seller ratings and no seller reviews. There are no things in common.

And look at the listing locations. The listings say they are in Louisville, KY, Atlanta, GA, Orlando, FL, Boise, ID and Charlotte, NC.

If you click View profile, the only photos are the same items she is selling. There is no About information, no Friends, no Check-ins. There is one Like, StackSocial. The Intro says she is Program Manager For Gold Rhino.

The Gold Rhino website opens with a popup. Not a deal breaker. A lot of sites open with a popup. This one is a little too Temu for my taste, but that’s not really a valid reason to reject buying something. But spending tens of thousands of dollars?

The office address is listed as 7918 Jones Branch Dr, McLean, VA 22102. That address is Alliance Virtual Offices.

Our stunning McLean coworking space is perfect for entrepreneurs and creatives. Ideal place for companies looking to network and collaborate.

Gold Rhino also has a Facebook page. The address on this page is 4315 50th St NW # 100, Washington D.C., DC, United States, Washington, District of Columbia. That address is Davinci Virtual Office.

Reserve your virtual office address at 50th Street Executive Center. 4315 50th Street NW. Suite 100. Washington, DC 20016. Capital Workspaces.

If you are comfortable with all of this… here is something else to try. Save one of the photos, then search it with Google Lens or Google Image Search. (Just open Google Image Search and use your mouse to drag the picture you saved over to the search bar. A box will open for you to drop the image in.)

In this case, there are a lot of photos of this home. It is on Craigslist, Amazon and eBay. There are a lot of variations on Alibaba.

On Amazon it is listed as a Mobile Expandable Prefab House or Container House, a Portable Prefabricated Tiny House to Live in, and an Expandable Plastic Construction Portable Prefabricated Tiny Home. You can find it in a lot of variations.

Mobile Expandable Plastic Prefab Houses on Amazon

Modular Homes by Asymptech on eBay has eight listings, shipping from Hong Kong to anywhere. They are called Mobile Expandable Container Houses.

So… are they modular homes? A modular home can be put in pretty much any zoning. But if it is not, it can’t be built in my neighborhood and many other areas.

The Gold Rhino website calls these modular homes. The Process page says their Product Managers will “guide you through the feasibility of your project, address potential challenges, and help you determine if a modular build is the right fit. Our team will assess your land, explore delivery options, and outline any necessary permits.”

…the next step is to tackle permitting and site assessment. Our permitting services are optional – unrestricted land areas can skip this step. Permitting requirements vary, and understanding these early can prevent costly delays. Our Project Managers will conduct a permitting and site assessment study, including liaising with local authorities on your behalf. By allowing us to handle these discussions, we can streamline the process and help avoid potential setbacks that could arise from miscommunication with local agencies. During this phase, the property should also be evaluated on whether it is suitable for installation.

The site says they do not require a deposit until you confirm permitting requirements.

Optional Certifications and Final Approvals

In some states, additional certifications or stamps of approval are required at the final stage of your modular home project. These could include build certifications or compliance verifications to meet state-specific building codes and standards. If such certifications are required in your location, our team will assist in obtaining the necessary documentation, ensuring that your home meets all legal and regulatory requirements. We handle the process to streamline final approvals, making it easier for you to move forward with confidence.

There are actually quite a few of these Expandable Homes on Facebook Marketplace once you start calling them Expandable instead of Modular. I looked through the listings to see if any looked like they are actually here and to see if any are listed as sold. I found one marked sold that might be local. (There may be more, I stopped looking when I found this one.) I messaged the seller for more information. She doesn’t have any more of them listed, so she has nothing to lose.

Why are they called container houses? They are not made out of a container. They are made to fold up and fit into a container.

Asymptech’s eBay listings say, “Did you know that door delivery is 2-3x more expensive than pickup at the port?  There is so much we need to do to deliver this item to you at your address.” Do you have a way to get a container back to your house? It is not going to fit in the back of the pickup.

I have no idea whether these will work for the person that sent the listing to me. But now she can compare with a lot more similar houses and so can you.