What’s the difference between modular homes and conventional homes?

The major difference between modular homes and conventional homes is the way they are built. While conventional homes are built 100% on site, modular homes are built in a factory environment and then delivered to site for installation and fit-off. Plus, as the name suggests, modular homes are built in ‘modules’ for ease of transportation.

Are modular homes the same as kit homes?

No. While the end result may be similar, the way that modular and kit homes are purchased is quite different. When you purchase a prefabricated modular home, you are buying a complete home, installed onto your site and ready to move in to. When you buy a kit home, you are essentially paying for the working drawings and the raw materials – the owner is then required to handle the labour aspect of the build, including project management.

Where do you deliver your homes?

Our modular homes can be transported and installed almost anywhere within our area of service, which covers Victoria and parts of southern New South Wales. Please refer to the map on our home page to see if your land falls with our service area or contact our team directly to discuss.

How much does it cost to transport the home to my site?

The cost of delivery for your home to site is included in the base price. This is based on the most common route from our facility to your site, however, occaisionally it’s not possible to take the most common route as our trucks must take the over dimensional route. In these cases there may be additional delivery fees.

Are the permits and legal requirements the same as conventional homes?

Yes – the permit process is very similar whether you’re building a modular or conventional home. Depending on your circumstances you may require a planning permit – from our experience they are required in around 70% of builds. A building permit is required for all new homes that are built – both modular and conventional.

How long does it take to build a modular home?

Modular homes are fast to build – from the time construction starts in the factory until you move in usually takes around 14-18 weeks. This timeframe includes the factory building phase (8-10 weeks in the factory) and the on-site fit-off phase (6-8 weeks on your land).

Why should I consider building a modular home?

There are many benefits to building a modular home. They are faster to build, are often more affordable and have less of an environmental impact on your site. You have flexible options when it comes to design and it’s easy to up the energy rating and create a sustainable and eco-friendly home. You also get a complete package – your home comes with many inclusions and will be ready to move in and enjoy on completion.

Will I need to hire a local builder to complete the process or do you take care of this?

You won’t need to hire a local builder – our site team will take care of everything. While the production team are constructing your home in our factory, our site team will prepare the footings and connections on your site. They’ll get your home ready for delivery and when it arrives will spend 4-6 weeks on-site finalising the installation and adding the finishing touches.

How do I go about connecting electricity and other utilities?

This will depend on your site and is an important factor when choosing your land. If the block is serviced, consider the distance from your where your home will be built to the connections. If the land has no connections in place, you’ll need to include the added expense of connecting in your budget. Our team can visit your site to offer advice, and connections to services can be included in our scope of works.

Can I get finance on a modular home?

Yes. More than half of our clients require finance when building their new home. There can however be some challenges to obtaining finance for modular homes. Lenders can find it hard to progress payments while the home is being built off site, and may not want to release funds until the house is completed. This often comes down to a lack of understanding of modular homes, and can be overcome. Our team have helped hundreds of customers in a similar situation and are happy to share our knowledge, chat to your lender or recommend a broker who has experience with financing modular homes.

Can I alter or change standard plans?

Yes. While there are certain design parameters that need to be considered with our modular homes, we have over 40 standard modular homes designs that can be modified to better suit your requirements if required.

Do you build custom design homes?

Yes. We can custom design and build your dream home or adapt your existing design to our prefab modular home building system.

Are installation and footings included in the price?

Yes. Installation onto concrete footings up to 600mm depth is included in the base price given that your site is flat +/- 300mm over the building footprint.

What permits do I need for my home?

All new homes require a building permit and some will also need a planning permit. Planning permits, which are known as development applications in NSW, are compulsory in certain situations and must be obtained before construction begins. If your property is subject to any planning overlays, is within a bushfire zone or an area that is prone to flooding, has more than one dwelling on the block or has heritage considerations, it’s likely that you’ll need a planning permit. Building permits (or Complying Development Certificates in NSW) are issued once your home is built, inspected and found to be safe and built in accordance with the building code. All new homes, whether modular, kit or conventionally built, must have a building permit.

What is a 7 Star Energy Rating?

As part of the process to obtaining a building permit, new homes must have a minimum 7-star energy rating. Energy ratings on homes range from 1 to 10 – 1 being the least energy efficient, and 10 being the best. An approved energy rating consultant calculates the rating based on a number of factors including size, building orientation, insulation, shading, windows, and energy efficient lighting. Our homes are all built to a minimum 7-star energy rating, and there are many building sustainability upgrades that you can choose to include to further increase this rating.

What is a BAL Rating?

If you’re building a new home in Australia, it’s highly likely a BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating will be required. There are six BAL categories ranging from low to extreme. A BAL report can be completed by a fire assessor or engineer and they’ll base their findings on the Fire Danger Index, slope of the site, the type of vegetation surrounding the property and how close it is to your home. Your rating will impact on a number of factors when it’s time to build – if the BAL is over 12.5 there will be special requirements relating to materials used. Our standard modular homes are built to a BAL 12.5 rating – if a higher rating is required further upgrades can be added to meet the BAL rating for your site.

Can you build on BAL 40 & Flame Zone rated properties?

Yes, we can build to BAL 40. BAL 40 construction levels are achievable with modular homes, with substantial upgrades to construction materials, which are compliant with the provisions of the Australian Standard for construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas, AS 3959. No, we are not able to build to BAL FZ (Flame Zone).

What is a Bushfire Management Statement?

A Bushfire Management Statement (BMS) is a document required for building in areas at risk of bushfires. It outlines how your home and property will meet safety rules to reduce the risk of bushfire damage. This includes things like building materials, vegetation management, and access for emergency services. It’s an important part of the planning process to help protect your home and meet local council and CFA requirements.

A Land Capability Assessment (LCA) is a detailed assessment and report that is applicable if your property is located in an area that is not connected to sewerage. It identifies site features that will assist you in developing a management plan for your on-site wastewater management that will enhance long-term sustainability and minimise environmental impacts. The LCA will determine the best place for the installation of a waste water treatment system including the location of an effluent field.

How do I know if I can get a modular home onto my property?

Our friendly team are available for advice on access and location, plus, planning and reporting requirements too. We can perform a desktop assessment from our office or physically visit your property to report on its suitability. Assessment pricing is site-specific, and you can contact our team for a quote for your property.

Do you build on concrete slabs?

Unfortunately, because our homes are prefabricated in a factory, our building system requires our homes to be built on a steel floor frame therefore we cannot build a modular home in a concrete slab.

What type of warranty do your homes have?

All Anchor Homes come with a 7-year Home Owners Warranty. Plus, we also offer a 3-month building maintenance period after handover.

How do I know if I am eligible for the First Home Owners Grant?

To be eligible for the first home owners grant you must not have previously received a grant in Australia, not owned residential property before 1st July 2000, the property must be occupied as a home for a continuous period of 12 months within the first 12 months, plus, you’ll need to meet the residency requirements. If you have a partner or spouse, they must also have not received a grant or purchased property previously.

How do I choose the best facade for my project?

When choosing a façade, focus on harmonising with your home’s interior style while also complementing the surrounding environment. At Anchor Homes, our skilled team will help guide you when selecting your façade, cladding materials, and colour scheme to work with your overall vision for your dream modular home.

Can Anchor Homes create a custom facade for my project?

If you have a few creative ideas of your own, we can work with you to bring your own unique facade to life with our in-house architect.

What is the standard ceiling height for the Cubehaus facade?

The Cubehaus facade allows for 9ft ceilings throughout.

What is included in the Hamptons facade upgrade?

The Hamptons façade is an optional upgrade for the Avoca 12, Avoca 14, and Avoca 18 modular house designs. This upgrade includes: Double aluminium French doors, upgraded front door and handle, fretwork with cement sheet backing, painted timber window trim and ledges (3 sides of the home), additional area to home (1.8m2), additional gables, a portico, unlined skillion verandah, stacked stone piers, merbau decking (90mm) and linea cladding to all external walls (180mm).

Are your facades compatible with solar panel systems?

Yes, at Anchor Homes, all our standard facades are compatible with solar panel systems.

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Article

Fresh Look: Prefab Modular Home Designs - Portsea Range

Modular designs

December 11, 2025

Written by

Alana McNab

At Anchor Homes, we’re excited to reveal our new visuals for the Portsea design range of prefab modular homes. For the first time, each design can be viewed with all available façade styles, giving you a clear look at the architectural character and proportions of every option, including Modern Gable, Skillion and Cubehaus.

The Portsea range has long been admired for its balanced layouts, refined detailing and timeless simplicity. These updated visuals highlight those strengths more clearly than ever, making it easier to see how each design can evolve through materials, colour and façade choice.

Let’s take a closer look at the first design in the range...

Portsea 12

• Bedrooms: 2 • Bathrooms: 1 • Area: 121.8sqm • Dimensions: 17m x 11.5m

The Portsea 12 is designed around simplicity and flow. Its compact footprint is carefully arranged to create openness where it matters most, supported by generous glazing options that invite natural light and the ability to capture outdoor views.

In the new visuals, you’ll see how each façade can completely transform its look. The Cubehaus version feels crisp and modern, the Skillion introduces a sense of movement and height, and the Modern Gable creates a sleek barn-style look with it's symmetrical roofline.

Portsea 14

• Bedrooms: 3 • Bathrooms: 2 • Area: 138.1sqm • Dimensions: 17m x 11.5m

The Portsea 14 builds on the strengths of the Portsea 12 with a little more room to breathe. The H-shape layout is perfect for creating two wings, providing privacy between the master bedroom and the other bedrooms. The optional decking area is a great option for outdoor entertaining where you walkout from the open plan living area to enjoy and indoor-outdoor feel.

With the new visuals, it’s easy to see how façade choice shapes the personality of the home. The gable feels timeless and elegant, the skillion introduces a bold architectural edge, and the cube-inspired façade gives the design a streamlined, minimalist presence.

Portsea 16

• Bedrooms: 4 • Bathrooms: 2 • Area: 161.9sqm • Dimensions: 20.3m x 11.5m

The Portsea 16 is the most spacious design in the range and offers a beautifully balanced layout. Every area feels intentional: the main living zone is bright and generous, the bedrooms feel private and restful, and the internal circulation flows effortlessly from one space to the next.

Because of its size and proportions, the Portsea 16 really highlights how façade style, material selections, and window upgrades can elevate the overall architectural feel—from serene coastal to bold contemporary.

Customisable Options

The new visuals also explore the interior and exterior colour options, materials, finishes, and upgrade pathways available across the Portsea range. From soft coastal palettes to bold contemporary contrasts, the designs now showcase the true depth of what’s possible.

🏠 For more interior inspiration, download our free inspiration guide >

One popular upgrade that consistently stands out in the Portsea range is the addition of gable windows to the Modern Gable façade. These windows dramatically enhance the home’s presence, adding height, detail, and beautiful natural light to the interior.

Because gable windows increase glazing area, achieving 7-star energy rating compliance may require additional adjustments. This can include upgraded improved insulation, window glazing, or enhanced shading (to balance the extra sunlight and heat transfer). Our expert design team will be able to advise you on the best pathway to maintain both energy performance and the striking architectural look you’re aiming for.

Portsea 16 Project – Clifton Springs

A wonderful example of the Portsea range brought to life is the Clifton Springs Project, which is based on a modified Portsea 16 design. This home showcases how the Portsea layout can evolve to suit site conditions, design preferences, and material selections.

With thoughtful adjustments and a beautifully cohesive palette, the Clifton Springs home demonstrates just how refined and versatile the Portsea series can be.

🎥 Watch a video walk through of this project >

Love the Portsea Design Range?

If the Portsea range aligns with your design vision, we’d love to help you explore the possibilities. Whether you’re refining façade choices, considering window upgrades, or ready to begin your design journey, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Contact our experienced team to take the first steps to building your new modular home today!