Recently a home inspector commented to me that in many cases he though that modular homes now had superior quality to traditional stick-built homes. That comment surprised me! And I'm sure I'm not the only one. So I've been doing some research on what's new with modular homes and how they compare to their stick-built predecessors.

First of all, I should say that modular homes are NOT the same thing as manufactured or mobile homes. Modular homes are homes built using a system according to the Modular Building Systems Association. Modular homes come in all shapes and sizes including beautiful two story, 3000 square foot colonials! To most consumers driving down the road, you'd never know the difference between the modular and the stick-built homes.

Modular homes have a number of advantages. One obvious one is the time involved. These homes are built in sections in a factory and then shipped to the home site and assembled there. This means that the entire factory process is unaffected by weather and many of the other delays so common on building sites. And despite most of us thinking assembly line means cookie cutter sameness, modular homes are highly customizable. The average time from beginning to end of the process for a modular home is roughly three months. The average time from beginning to end for a home built entirely on-site is 6 months to a year.

Modular homes may also be significantly stronger than stick-built homes. They are typically built with 20-30 percent more materials in order to withstand transport from the factory to the site. A FEMA study following Hurricane Andrew in 1992 found that modular homes in Dade County, Florida stood up to the winds better than stick-built homes.

A side note here: Having lived in Miami when Andrew hit, I would mention that which builder builds a home has a tremendous amount to do with how they survive in a hurricane. Habitat for Humanity homes fared much better than most builders!

The use of more materials typically also means greater energy efficiency. As energy costs, in terms of dollars, environment and national security continue to be an issue, I believe we'll see more modular homes.  Right now modular homes account for only about 7 to 8 percent of all new home sales.

Building the sections of the home in a factory can also be a big help in reducing the cost. This can be money in your pocket. I've seen estimates anywhere from 5 to 25 percent savings. Obviously that's going to vary based on both the manufacturer and the design involved.

If you're thinking about buying land and building your own home, modular may be worth a look. If you live in a modular home now or have in the past, what have your experiences been?

Mojitos and Tapas is an exciting new restaurant in Warrenton. As a big fan of Cuban food, I've been eagerly awaiting this opening and I was there with bells on for lunch on its first day.

There was a crowd there to try out the newest spot in town. It's so nice to have something new that's not a chain!

While the wind was cold and blustery outside, you feel warm as soon as you step in the doors. The decor immediately tells you you're in a warmer climate than the outside thermometer indicates! The bold red behind the bar immediately grabs your attention!

The menu is extensive, with much of it made up of tapas, small savory bites meant to be shared. Bring your friends and try a few of these. Tapas originated in Spain and seem to now have made their way to almost every corner of the world. The tapas I tried were terrific and I especially enjoyed my garlic fix! Enjoy your tapas with Cuban bread and a glass of wine, beer or sangria. Or, of course, you can try their signature drink, a mojito, from Cuba. They've got a larger variety of mojitos than I've ever seen and I lived in Miami for 13 years!

The service is warm and friendly. And there were surprisingly few first day glitches for a new restaurant.

You can find more information on their web site http://www.mojitosandtapas.com

I definitely recommend the food and will be going back soon with friends!