Can a fully furnished 70-square-meter prefab house in the U.S. really cost no more than a car? Buying Chinese prefab houses online has recently become a viral trend on overseas social media.

A U.S. couple purchased a fully fitted 40-foot prefab house through a Chinese e-commerce platform for US$15,800. Including shipping and customs duties, the total cost came to about US$29,000. Delivered by sea, the house was installed with the help of a telehandler and has withstood heavy rain and strong winds. The couple's YouTube video documenting the experience has attracted more than 3.1 million views, highlighting growing overseas interest in Chinese prefab housing.

According to the manufacturer, production takes 25 to 30 days, followed by 45 to 50 days of sea freight, allowing delivery within about three months. Fully finished units typically cost under US$40,000—around one-third to one-half the price of a comparable U.S. home. The company has sold about 3,000 units, mainly to the United States, Australia, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Indonesia.

In the first half of 2026, cross-border transactions of Chinese prefab houses rose by more than 50% year on year, with U.S. buyers accounting for over 20% of purchases. The boom reflects a broader shift in China's foreign trade, as overseas buyers increasingly source products directly from manufacturers through integrated online platforms covering design, production, shipping, and installation.