We’re used to thinking of modular homes as houses that are nearly indistinguishable from their stick-built cousins, but technically, a modular home can refer to any home that is constructed in parts at an off-site location and then assembled at its final destination.

Take the home pictured below in Woodland, Utah. It was designed by Gigaplex Architects and is constructed from two metal grain silos, joined together to create one very cool 1,800 square foot house. The circular exterior creates circular rooms inside, and, like many modular homes, the silo house is extremely energy efficient.

Excel Homes doesn’t have any designs that use grain silos, but after seeing this home, we might ask our architects to look into it.

You might consider it, especially with rates being as low as they are. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell to 4.78 percent, the lowest rate since Freddie Mac began the survey in 1971. That means a lot of homeowners are refinancing their purchase in order to save some money in the long run.

Missouri based mortgage broker Tom Meacham offers a few tips, including not signing on the dotted line unless you’re getting a significantly lower rate. Meacham also points out that your credit score will affect your rates, but a mortgage broker can help you find the best deals.

The entire team at Excel Homes is proud to announce that Ray Cudwadie, Excel’s director of commercial sales, has just been appointed by Governor Ed Rendell to serve on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council. The Council is responsible for monitoring and reviewing all feedback and amended provisions to any of Pennsylvania’s building code standards for construction projects within the Commonwealth.

What makes Ray’s appointment even better is that he’ll be the sole representative from the modular home building industry. It’s no surprise Gov. Rendell chose Ray. After all, he’s got more than 25 years of experience in the commercial construction industry, including architectural design training, engineering management, and sales leadership throughout the entire Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

We know Ray will represent the modular industry and Excel Homes well during his tenure on the Council. Said Excel’s own president, Steve Scharnhorst, “I can’t think of anyone better than Ray to do it.”