The Finger Lakes are one of the places we are asked about most. Buyers want a year-round home or a lake house near Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga or Canandaigua, and they want it built without a two-year wait. Modular homes in the Finger Lakes make a lot of sense for exactly that reason: the home is built indoors while your site is prepared, then set on the foundation in a matter of days.
We recently set a home on Keuka Lake and talked with the homeowner on set day.
Why modular works well in the Finger Lakes
- A short building season. Winters are long and lake weather is unpredictable. Because the home is built in a factory, rain and snow do not hold up production. Modular construction can be 2 to 3 times faster than traditional site-built construction.
- Fewer trades on site. Good local contractors are booked far ahead. With most of the house finished in the factory, there is less work to schedule on your lot.
- Solid construction. Each section is built to travel by road and be lifted by crane, so it is framed heavily. Modular homes can use up to 30% more lumber than site-built homes.
- Cost control. Modular construction often costs 20 to 40% less than site-built construction, and you see pricing before production starts.
Lake lots need early planning
Many Finger Lakes lots are steep, narrow or reached by a tight private road. None of that rules out a modular home, but it has to be planned for. Before you buy, look at how a truck and a crane would reach the site, where the septic system and well can go and what the town requires for setbacks from the water. Our guide to buying land covers what to check, and we are glad to look at a lot with you before you commit.
Home styles that suit the lakes
Three styles come up again and again with our Finger Lakes buyers.
Chalets. Tall windows on the lake side, vaulted ceilings and a loft. The Austin Nordic Modular Chalet has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths in 1,228 square feet, the Bayview Chalet has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths in 1,312 square feet, and the Lake George Modular Chalet offers 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths in 2,186 square feet. Browse all of our modular chalet homes.
Ranches. Single-story living is popular with retirees and with anyone planning to stay for the long term. See our ranch modular home plans.
Barndominiums. For larger rural lots away from the shoreline, a modular barndominium gives you an open main floor and a distinctive look.
Every plan can be adjusted, so treat these as starting points. You will find the full collection on our floor plans page.
How the build works from Buffalo to the Finger Lakes
We are based in the Buffalo area and build across New York State, so the Finger Lakes are a regular destination for us. Our Turnkey Together approach pairs your factory-built home with personal guidance through design, planning and completion on site. You take an active role in coordinating local contractors for the foundation, utilities and finish work, and we guide you through each step. The building process page explains the stages from first drawing to move-in.
Building elsewhere in New York?
We work with homeowners across the state. If your land is further east, read about building a modular home in the Hudson Valley.
Plan your Finger Lakes home
Start with a budget and a plan you like. Our modular home pricing page explains what is included, and the financing page covers construction loans. When you are ready, call (877) 290-1846 or request a free quote and tell us where your lot is.
