Manufactured vs. Modular — here's how I tell the difference every single time. When I'm listing a home that might be a manufactured or modular, the first place I go? The crawlspace. Manufactured homes are built on metal I-beams. Modular homes are built on wood floor joists, just like a stick-built house. The second thing I check is the HUD sticker (sometime in the kitchen cabinets, sometimes in the master closet). That sticker proves the home was built to HUD standards - which is key for getting