The idea of factory-built housing has been around far longer than most people realize. What began as an experiment in efficiency has grown into one of the most trusted and innovative ways to build a home. Today’s modular homes offer the craftsmanship, quality, and flexibility of custom-built homes with the added precision of modern technology. Rochester Homes has proudly led this evolution for more than 50 years. Find out more About RHI history.
The story of prefabricated homes in the U.S. starts in the early 1900s, when companies like Sears, Roebuck & Co. revolutionized homebuilding with Sears Kit Homes. Between 1908 and 1940, Sears sold more than 70,000 pre-cut home kits through their catalogs. These materials were shipped by rail and assembled on-site, one of America’s first successful examples of prefabricated construction.
After World War II, the nation faced an urgent housing shortage as returning soldiers sought affordable homes for their families. Prefabricated and “factory-built” homes became the answer. Factories could produce housing components quickly and at scale, helping meet demand across the country.
In the 1960s and 1970s, a new type of factory-built housing emerged: modular homes. Unlike manufactured or mobile homes, which are built to a national HUD code and often placed on steel frames, modular homes are built to the same local and state building codes as site-built houses. Each home is constructed in sections, or modules, within a controlled environment, transported to the site, and assembled on a permanent foundation.
Rochester Homes was founded in 1972 in northern Indiana during this period of innovation. The goal was simple: combine the efficiency of modular construction with the craftsmanship and flexibility of traditional homebuilding.
Over the next several decades, modular construction continued to improve. Climate-controlled facilities prevented weather delays and material damage, while innovations in insulation, drywall, and framing strengthened each home’s performance. Modern software allowed for more design flexibility, enabling homeowners to personalize their floor plans, finishes, and layouts.
At Rochester Homes, this evolution meant refining our systems without losing the personal touch. We build every home using brand-name materials like Andersen Windows, Merillat Cabinetry, and Raskin Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring. Each home undergoes multiple inspections by dedicated quality managers and third-party professionals to ensure every detail meets or exceeds expectations.
What began as an experiment in prefabrication has grown into a respected, high-quality building process trusted across the Midwest. Rochester Homes stands at the forefront of that tradition, delivering semi-custom modular homes that reflect each homeowner’s vision while maintaining efficiency, precision, and durability.
For more than 50 years, Rochester Homes has blended modern technology with timeless craftsmanship, continuing the proud American tradition of building better homes, faster, and smarter.
See How It Works at Rochester Homes.