Frequently Asked Questions

Prices range from around €7,400 for compact tiny houses to over €550,000 for ultra-premium architectural builds. The most common range for a full-sized prefab family home is €120,000–€350,000, covering manufacturing and assembly — but excluding land, foundations, utility connections, and planning permits.

Most manufacturers quote a supply-and-install price covering the structural shell, insulation, windows, doors, roofing, and basic electrical and plumbing rough-in. What is typically excluded: land purchase, plot preparation and earthworks, foundations, utility connections (water, electricity, sewage), interior finishes beyond standard specification, furniture, and landscaping. Always request an itemised quote.

Yes. Beyond the manufacturer's quote, plan for: land cost (varies enormously by location), topographic and geotechnical surveys (€1,000–€5,000), architect or technical architect fees if required (5–8% of build cost in Spain), building permit fees (0.5–3% of declared value), foundation and earthworks (€8,000–€30,000 depending on terrain), utility connection fees (€3,000–€15,000), and interior finishing if not included.

Typical delivery times run 3–9 months from contract signing to move-in. This covers factory production (usually 6–14 weeks), transport to your plot, and on-site assembly (1–5 days for modular systems, longer for panelised builds). Add 2–6 months for planning permits before you can sign a build contract. Total project duration including permits: 6–18 months.

Yes. A prefab home is treated identically to any permanent residential construction for planning purposes. You need a full building permit (licencia de obra mayor in Spain, permis de construire in France, Baugenehmigung in Germany) before installation. Your manufacturer can typically help you navigate the permit process and supply the technical documentation required.

The typical process: (1) find and buy a serviced plot with residential planning permission; (2) commission a topographic and geotechnical survey; (3) select a manufacturer and model, request a detailed quote; (4) engage an architect or technical architect if required by local regulations; (5) apply for a building permit (2–6 months); (6) sign the build contract and pay a deposit; (7) factory production (6–14 weeks); (8) foundation preparation on site; (9) delivery and assembly (1–10 days); (10) final inspections, utility connections, and handover.

Prefab is the umbrella term for any home built substantially off-site. Modular homes are built as 3D volumetric modules in a factory, then craned onto foundations and connected on site. Panelised homes are assembled from flat structural panels (walls, floors, roof) shipped to site and erected by a crew. Timber frame, CLT, concrete panel, and steel frame are all types of panelised or hybrid construction.

Timber frame — light wood framing, most common in Spain and Scandinavia, excellent insulation performance.

CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) — structural solid wood panels, premium aesthetic, high structural rigidity, popular in premium and ultra-premium segments.

Concrete panel — precast or sandwich panels, very common in Germany and Central Europe, highly durable and thermally massive.

Steel frame — light gauge steel framing, often used for container-style or industrial-aesthetic builds.

Hybrid — combinations of two or more systems, typically timber frame with concrete core or CLT with steel connections.

Prefab homes consistently outperform traditionally built homes on energy efficiency. Factory construction allows tighter tolerances, better insulation continuity, and elimination of thermal bridges that are common in site-built construction. Most modern prefab homes achieve A or A+ energy ratings. Many manufacturers offer Passivhaus-certified models, which meet the most demanding airtightness and insulation standards globally — resulting in heating costs as low as €100–€200 per year.

Yes, in most cases — provided the home is permanently anchored to land you own and meets your country's building code (CTE in Spain, DTU in France, etc.). Major banks in Spain, Germany, and France now offer standard mortgages for certified prefab and modular homes. Mobile structures, homes on rented land, or models that don't meet building code requirements are generally not mortgageable through conventional lenders.

Mortgage lenders typically finance the land and construction separately, disbursing the build portion in staged drawdowns aligned with construction milestones (permit granted, factory start, delivery, completion). You will need: proof of land ownership, a building permit, a signed contract with a certified manufacturer, and a technical valuation. LTV ratios for prefab are typically 70–80%, the same as conventional builds.

Use the directory filters to narrow by country, construction system, price range, and segment. Each model page shows starting price, floor area, bedrooms, delivery time, energy rating, and compliance badges. Save favourites using the heart icon in the top-right of the nav bar. Click "Request Information" on any model to contact the manufacturer directly.

CasitaLand lists manufacturers and distributors across Europe, with the strongest coverage in Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Scandinavia (Sweden, Finland, Norway), Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the UK. The directory includes both domestic manufacturers and cross-border distributors who deliver to multiple countries.

Yes — browsing the directory, comparing models, and contacting manufacturers is completely free for buyers. CasitaLand earns a commission from manufacturers only when a deal is successfully signed, so our incentive is to connect you with the best match for your project.