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6. The Forest Lake Times _ Scandia man plugs modular home system for middle class5/7/2015 The Forest Lake Tim es | Scandia man plugs modular  home system  for middle class http://forestlaketimes.com/2015/02/20/scandia­man­plugs­modular­home­system­for­middle­class/1/4 Loesch Community Scandia man plugs modular home system for middle class By Cliff Buchan February 20, 2015 at 7:57 am Ivan Loesch has never been shy about using his mind to come up with new ideas. As a kid growing up on the plains of South Dakota, Loesch says he was an “inventive kid” who liked to tinker. Building things became a passion. He recalls fondly his construction of a nine-room house built with sunflower stalks at the country school that he attended when he was 10. In the winter, he would build igloos from snow blocks. He’s still the same today. Loesch never forgot those early projects and he has spent a lifetime using his mind to good purpose. Now retired after more than 30 years as a barber and hair stylist in Missouri and South Dakota, the 5/7/2015 The Forest Lake Tim es | Scandia man plugs modular  home system  for middle class http://forestlaketimes.com/2015/02/20/scandia­man­plugs­modular­home­system­for­middle­class/2/4 78-year-old Scandia resident believes he is on the verge of launching a housing concept that will be of significant help to a middle-class still struggling with achieving the dream of home ownership. For the past decade, Loesch has been developing TruMod LLC for a launch. TruMod is a pre-engineered structurally insulated panel component home that is designed small in scale with units of equal size that allow for easy expansion of home size. Loesch has received a patent on the unfolding aspects of the house components. Due to final development steps, he did not want to publicly display a model of the finalized design. “I had visions of this back in the 1980s,” Loesch said. “This is something that just kept growing.” The idea for the modular home project was partly fueled by Loesch’s interest in pre-planned communities. In 1999 he wrote and published “Unisonia, A Do-Able Global Village.” The 220-page book explores the author’s interest in designing communities that make city life more organized and less threatening and forming a mutual enterprise system designed for the protection and advancement of humankind. TruMod’s goals Loesch believes he has struck a sweet chord on many of the goals of “Unisonia” with the new affordable housing concept. “Everyday people will like the idea,” he said. 5/7/2015 The Forest Lake Tim es | Scandia man plugs modular  home system  for middle class http://forestlaketimes.com/2015/02/20/scandia­man­plugs­modular­home­system­for­middle­class/3/4 TruMod will offer a housing opportunity that offers flexibility in size and components while providing owners with a chance to utilize “sweat equity” to achieve their goal of home ownership. TruMod units are all designed to 256 square feet, meaning a four-unit home would span 1024 square feet, and all are complete with kitchen, bedroom, living room and bathroom spaces. Homes can be built with one, two, three or more of the modular components. A half-unit component is also available. Loesch, the company founder and president, believes the housing design is perfect for small lake lot cabins and may be a nice fit for Habitat for Humanity projects. He is also targeting Indian Reservations where improved housing is in demand, he says. The design requires a foundation that must meet building code requirements. Loesch believes the engineered design of the modular home will meet building codes. TruMod offers a variety of interior and exterior finishes. He has secured a patent on the building system. Individuals will have options on heating and ventilation systems. A solar heating system is optional. How affordable are the units? Loesch says construction costs are likely to range from $60 to $80 per square foot, depending on labor and cost of materials. “Basic housing is what it has to be to be affordable,” Loesch said. Next steps 5/7/2015 The Forest Lake Tim es | Scandia man plugs modular  home system  for middle class http://forestlaketimes.com/2015/02/20/scandia­man­plugs­modular­home­system­for­middle­class/4/4 Loesch has a preliminary agreement in place with a manufacturer in western Minnesota.  The company is ready to begin building the structurally insulated panels. But first must come a model unit that will be used to help stimulate sales. As 2015 opens, Loesch is exploring options for online fundraising ventures that can generate the capital to build the model unit and launch the initial sales efforts. The crowdfunding effort could involve GoFundMe, Indiegogo or Kickstarter platforms. He is also exploring angel investor options if a small group of individuals can be found that share his dream for his affordable housing option. Loesch believes TruMod touches on the “tiny house” phenomenon of today but offers much more. “The bottom line is that more families are needing more affordable homes,” he said. “The reality is that the situation is critical. The TruMod method through owner and group building of homes produces a labor cost savings and the sweat equity investment makes housing more affordable.” For more information, Loesch can be contacted at 605- 691-4406. Filed Under: TruMod