Strengthening Housing Conversations with Senator George Borrello
Owl Homes of Fredonia welcomed New York State Senator George Borrello for a visit and tour of the model home campus. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the modular and manufactured home industry, upcoming regulatory considerations, and the growing demand for attainable housing across Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania.
During the visit, the team walked Senator Borrello through several model homes, highlighting the differences between modular and manufactured construction, current build radius capabilities, and the unique requirements that towns and municipalities place on new home projects. The conversation also touched on the proposed NYS all-electric requirement, which has recently been lifted, and how evolving regulations continue to shape project timelines and budgeting for buyers.
The Owl Homes team also shared updates on new community developments starting soon in Brocton and Collins, along with insights into how buyers are approaching land selection, site prep, and long-term planning. Senator Borrello offered helpful perspective and resources that can support buyers and builders navigating these challenges.
As always, the goal of these conversations is simple: clear information, better guidance, and a smoother path for families planning a new home.
Serving Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania
Owl Homes of Fredonia builds modular and manufactured homes across Buffalo, Erie County, Chautauqua County, Cattaraugus County, and into Northwestern Pennsylvania. With nearly two million dollars in fully furnished homes on display, the campus is one of the largest in the region for comparing layouts, features, and construction options.
As a turnkey builder, Owl Homes helps coordinate the full process, including:
• Site and land evaluation • Foundation and utility coordination • Home delivery, set, and finish work • Design selections and planning support
Whether a buyer chooses a HUD-code manufactured home or a state-code modular home, the process is designed to be clear, efficient, and personalized.
Why Winter Is the Smartest Time to Begin a 2026 Home Project
Many people wait until spring to begin planning, but industry timelines actually work in reverse. Starting in winter gives families a major advantage.
• Better access to production schedules • More availability for planning and design decisions • Quicker alignment on permitting and land requirements • A smoother transition into spring foundation and set seasons
Planning now puts families in the best position for a 2026 move-in.
Did You Know? Modular and Manufactured Homes Are Not the Same
Manufactured homes • Built to the federal HUD code • Offered in single- and double-section formats • Efficient timelines and customizable layouts
Modular homes • Built to state residential building codes • Installed on a permanent foundation • Engineered for strength and long-term durability
Owl Homes is one of the few regional builders specializing in both.
FAQs
Can I start planning even if I have not chosen land yet? Yes. Many buyers reach out while comparing properties. Early guidance helps avoid delays later.
Are modular and manufactured homes suitable for winter climates? Yes. Homes are engineered for transport, set, and long-term performance in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania.
What is the first step? Most families begin with a model tour or a conversation with the planning team.
Start Your 2026 Home Plan
The winter season offers an ideal moment to explore options, compare floor plans, and begin shaping your timeline.
Call716-673-1366 Contact Form: Request information or ask a question Visit: 3752 East Main Road, Fredonia NY
A quiet front porch, a fresh wreath, and the perfect moment to begin
Fresh snow on the steps, a bright red bow on the door, and warm light just beyond the glass. A front entryway in December has its own kind of promise. It is the season when families across Buffalo, Western New York, and Northwestern Pennsylvania pause long enough to ask a big question:
What do we want life to look like next year?
For many, the answer is a new modular or manufactured home that finally fits the way they live. And what most people never hear from the industry is simple: early winter is the single best time to start that journey.
Owl Homes of Fredonia has been guiding families through modular and manufactured home projects for decades. Whether you are dreaming about a single-section or double-section manufactured home or a state-code modular home on a permanent foundation, they act as a full turnkey builder that carries the project from first conversation to final walkthrough.
If you are thinking about building in 2026, the smartest move you can make is to start a conversation now. Call716-673-1366or send a note through thecontact formto get the planning process started. Or just stop into the campus at 3752 East Main Road in Fredonia NY to tour nearly 2 million dollars in homes on display.
Why December is the most underrated time to start a home project
Most people circle spring on the calendar when they think about construction. Behind the scenes, though, the work that makes a smooth spring or summer build possible begins months earlier in the quiet of winter.
1. Winter planning secures better timelines
Permits, engineering approvals, land reviews, and factory scheduling are all handled more easily when you are early in line. Starting in December gives Owl Homes more flexibility to reserve the right production window and coordinate every step for your 2026 schedule.
2. You get more personal time with experts
When you reach out now, the team has more bandwidth to answer questions in depth, walk through options, and help you weigh modular versus manufactured for your specific property and goals. That extra guidance is especially helpful for first-time buyers.
3. Design decisions feel calm instead of rushed
From exterior colors to kitchen layouts and bathroom upgrades, a modular or manufactured home includes many important choices. Winter lets you work through those decisions at your own pace instead of racing the spring clock.
You can even explore layouts and finishes from home using theOwl Homes design toolbefore you visit the display center.
4. Spring becomes your action season
By the time the weather breaks, families who began in winter already have plans, permits, and selections ready to go. That usually means foundations, delivery, and set can happen sooner and in better weather windows.
Modular, manufactured, and turnkey: one builder, many options
A lot of buyers begin their search with a simple phrase like “modular homes near Buffalo” or “manufactured homes in Erie County.” Underneath those searches are two distinct construction paths, and Owl Homes is unusual in the region because they offer both as a turnkey builder.
Manufactured homes
Manufactured homes are built under the federal HUD code and arrive at your site as either single-section or double-section homes. They are:
Designed for efficient construction timelines
Offered in a wide range of floor plans and sizes
Surprisingly customizable with today’s finishes, fixtures, and energy-efficient packages
Modular homes
Modular homes are built to state residential building codes, the same standard as traditional site-built homes. They are:
Engineered in modules that are assembled on a permanent foundation
Known for strong structural performance because of how they are designed to travel and set
A great fit for long-term residence in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania climates
What “turnkey” really means with Owl Homes
With some companies, buyers are left to coordinate site work, foundation contractors, and other pieces on their own. Owl Homes operates differently. As a turnkey builder, they help manage:
Land and site evaluation
Foundation and utility coordination
Delivery, set, and finish work
Final details that get the home ready for move-in
Families can focus on choosing the right home and making design decisions, knowing that experienced professionals are managing the technical side.
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Where Owl Homes builds: Buffalo, WNY, and Northwestern Pennsylvania
Owl Homes is based in Fredonia, but their service area stretches across:
Buffalo and the greater Western New York region
Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties
Surrounding Southern Tier communities
Erie County and Northwestern Pennsylvania, including many rural and small-town settings
Whether you are searching from a city neighborhood, a lakeside lot, or country acreage, there is a strong chance you are inside their service area. A quick call or message through thecontact pagecan confirm what is possible for your location.
Facts about modular and manufactured homes
Winter is a good time to learn, not just plan. Here are a few things that surprise most people when they begin researching factory-built homes.
They are built indoors away from the weather
Because modular and manufactured homes are constructed in controlled environments, materials are protected from repeated rain and snow during framing. That can contribute to consistent quality and efficient building practices.
The strength is engineered for travel and set
Modules and sections are built to handle transportation and crane placement. That engineering often results in robust framing and strong structural connections once the home is set on its foundation or support system.
Floor plans and finishes have come a long way
If you have not toured a display campus in the last few years, the variety is eye-opening. Open-concept kitchens, large primary suites, modern siding combinations, and energy-conscious features are now common options.
A front door that could be yours next year
The wreath on the door, the fresh snow on the porch, the feeling of warmth waiting inside. This year, that scene might belong to someone else. Next year, it could belong to you.
By reaching out to Owl Homes of Fredonia now, you are not just browsing homes. You are putting a real plan in motion for spring and summer of 2026 in Buffalo, Western New York, and Northwestern Pennsylvania.
How early should I start if I want to move into a new modular or manufactured home in 2026?
The earlier you start, the more control you have over timing. Beginning in early winter lets Owl Homes line up permitting, design selections, and production scheduling so spring and summer can focus on building, not paperwork.
Can Owl Homes help if I do not have land picked out yet?
Yes. Many buyers contact Owl Homes while they are still comparing properties. The team can help you understand what to look for, which sites are easier to build on, and how different locations in Buffalo, WNY, Erie County, or Northwestern PA may affect the project.
Are modular and manufactured homes a good fit for snowy climates?
They are designed with regional conditions in mind. Owl Homes works with homes built to appropriate codes for Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania, and can guide you toward rooflines, insulation packages, and layouts that perform well in winter weather.
What tools can I use to start planning from home?
You can review floor plans and photos on theOwl Homes website, try layout ideas with theonline design tool,and watch video tours onYouTubebefore you ever step onto the display campus.
The warm, hopeful season when planning ahead pays off most.
There is something powerful about this time of year. A single ornament, a quiet snowfall, a warm light in the window. Winter invites people to imagine life the way they want it to be. And for many families across Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania, that dream includes a new modular or manufactured home built exactly the way they envision it.
Owl Homes of Fredonia has spent decades helping homeowners turn winter dreaming into spring and summer building. And what most people don’t realize is that right now, in early December, is the best possible moment to begin planning a 2026 home project.
Starting now puts you ahead of schedules, ahead of the thaw, and ahead of everyone who waits until spring to begin building.
If you want to explore floor plans or begin a personalized planning conversation today, call716-673-1366or reach out through thecontact form.
Why Winter Is Quietly the Best Time to Start Your New Home Project
Owl Homes builds modular and manufactured homes across all of Buffalo, WNY, and Northwestern PA. Winter is the smartest time to start, because early planning sets you up for an ideal spring or summer build in 2026, with every detail tailored to your lifestyle.
Most homebuyers assume spring is the natural time to begin, but industry experts know winter is the real strategic advantage. Here is why:
1. Earlier planning means a better spring build position
Permits, land coordination, customization selections, engineering reviews, and factory scheduling all run smoother when started in winter. Getting ahead means your chosen timeline is far more likely to be locked in.
2. Model home tours are less busy
Owl Homes operates the region’s most comprehensive modular and manufactured home campus at 3752 East Main Road in Fredonia NY with nearly 2 million dollars in homes on display. Touring in winter gives you space, time, and clarity to compare models and ask detailed questions.
Winter is the ideal season to make design choices without spring-time urgency. Experiment with finishes using the interactivehome design tool.
4. More availability for personalized guidance
Builders, designers, and planning teams traditionally have more open scheduling in early winter. You get deeper insight and a smoother path to construction.
5. Getting ahead means moving sooner
Families who begin in December often enjoy a spring production slot and a summer or early fall move-in.
Did You Know? Modular and Manufactured Homes Are Not the Same? Owl Homes Specializes in Both
Many homebuyers search for “modular homes,” “manufactured homes,” or “prefab homes” and assume they’re interchangeable. Winter is a perfect time to learn the differences so you can choose the option that fits your goals.
Manufactured Homes (HUD Code)
• Built to federal HUD standards • Available in single-section and double-section formats • Affordable with efficient timelines • Customizable with modern layouts and finishes
Modular Homes (State Code)
• Built to the same codes as traditional site-built homes • Engineered in modules and assembled onsite • Strong, durable construction • Fast installation once the foundation is ready
Owl Homes builds BOTH as a true turnkey builder.
Turnkey means Owl Homes handles everything: land prep, foundation, delivery, set, finishing work, and all required project coordination. Few companies in the region offer this level of complete service.
What Starting Now Really Means for Your 2026 Move-In
Starting during the winter doesn’t mean building in the snow. It means planning early so that:
• Your design selections are finalized • Your permitting is ready before the spring window • Your foundation work can begin at the earliest ideal time • Your home can be placed into the production schedule sooner • Your set and finish stages occur in optimal weather
Winter planning is the hidden advantage most homebuyers never consider.
5 Helpful Winter Planning Tips for First-Time Modular or Manufactured Homebuyers
1. Tour at least two model styles
Seeing layouts in person helps you select the floor plan that truly fits your lifestyle.
2. Review your land or potential land early
Owl Homes can help evaluate feasibility, utilities, setbacks, and more.
3. Explore modular vs. manufactured based on long-term goals
Both offer unique advantages — the right choice depends on your vision.
4. Use the design tool to experiment with features
Winter is perfect for planning your preferred finishes before spring arrives.
5. Start conversations now, even if you’re not ready to commit
Early guidance builds confidence and clarity.
Your Next Step: Connect With Owl Homes of Fredonia
Whether you’re comparing models, exploring the differences between modular and manufactured homes, or preparing for a full turnkey project, starting now sets up a smoother 2026.
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FAQs
What makes Owl Homes of Fredonia different from other builders in Western New York?
Owl Homes is one of the only turnkey specialists in the region offering both modular and manufactured homes. They coordinate land preparation, foundation, installation, and design as one integrated process.
How long does it take to complete a modular or manufactured home project?
Timelines vary, but winter planning typically leads to the smoothest spring and summer builds, and earlier production opportunities.
Can I customize my home?
Yes. Both modular and manufactured homes offer a wide range of customizable options including layout, cabinetry, finishes, exterior styles, and more.
What’s the best way to get started?
Begin with a model home tour, then explore the online design tool, and finish with a planning conversation with the Owl Homes team.
