Back then, a Sears home was a reasonably-priced alternative to stick-built, and pretty good quality too. Nowadays, a “modular” home is either going to be a bare step above a trailer, or a trendy upscale building that generally costs more than a comparable stick home. I wish I could still get a modest-priced, but good-quality house sent in on a trailer and put up on my own plot.
We own 2 acres on the big island, Hawaii. At one time was going to build on it and retire there. Kit homes are huge in the area and I looked at a ton of them. Now by the time they’re finished there as much as a regular built home. Sad.