There are many decisions to be made when building a home, many of which are balancing quality vs. cost.  But that does not always need to be the case.  For example, you can help to minimize costs for plumbing by designing a floor plan where bathrooms, the kitchen and laundry facilities are all relatively next to each other, requiring less pipes.  In addition, PEX tubing is now standard because it is cheaper and easier to install compared to copper pipes for water.  You may want to consider lower-cost heating systems, such as air source heat pumps, hydronic radiant heated floors, or efficient wood heating systems (e.g. EPA-rated wood stove, masonry heaters, etc.).   

Modular vs. Manufactured Home?

A manufactured home – often referred to as a mobile home – is built on a permanent chassis and meets the HUD Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. A modular home is generally the same as site-built homes, but it is built-in parts in a factory, then shipped and assembled on site.