The Finnish prefab builder uses locally sourced spruce and pine, touting them for their performance in a range of climates.

But what if you’re buying all the parts and pieces to build an actual home? A kit home is like the IKEA version of building a home. Here’s why getting one might work—or not work—for you.

Between 1908 and 1940, Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold nearly 75,000 kit homes through its Modern Homes program, which featured 447 styles of houses, ranging from large multistory dwellings to tiny ...