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What is a “container house”: it is sold on Mercado Libre and can be paid for in installments - La Nacion Propiedades
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www.lanacion.com.ar
June 11, 2025
This is the housing model that is gaining popularity and offers an environmentally friendly alternative.
Shipping containers are reused and converted into homes.Shutterstock
In a world where everything can be purchased online and is just a click away, products that would seem impossible to sell in this format are also joining the e-commerce scene. These are "container houses," homes made with a structure based on shipping containers or recycled containers , producing eco-friendly housing units that can even be found on Mercado Libre.
Yes, these homes repurpose shipping containers and can be purchased through the e-commerce site created by Argentine entrepreneur Marcos Galperín. The platform features homes starting at US$2,400, others averaging US$24,200, and others reaching US$35,000.
Among the advantages that stand out for this type of housing are the short delivery times , as they can be ready in six months or even less. Also noteworthy is the fact that they are recycled structures , which reduce environmental pollution, as they give a second use to an existing structure that would otherwise be discarded. Furthermore, their durability, as they are made of steel , prepared to withstand inclement weather during sea voyages, and their transportability are notable . No less important is the fact that other modules can be added to the original, making it possible to expand the home when needed; also, they weigh less than a normal concrete or steel house.
Currently, listings on Mercado Libre range from $12,000,000 to $23,000,000, and in dollars, listings are posted from US$2,400 for a standard, customized 20-foot container, up from US$24,000 for a 30 m² container, to US$130,000 for a 70 m² container with two bedrooms.
Mercado Libre isn't the only one selling them ; Amazon also offers prefabricated homes made from shipping containers. One of them is Rainmule , which sells for €15,000. But in the case of this e-commerce platform, the cost of shipping and entry into the country must be taken into account.
Container homes. Shutterstock
However, industry experts warn that the container was designed to transport products on a ship, not to live in. "It's a metal shell that reflects the sun, allows water to enter, and accumulates heat. It's not structurally approved or verified by calculation standards, so using it as a home is not a good option ," explains Lucas Salvatore, president of Idero.
In this scenario, modular homes (but not those based on a shipping container) are once again gaining prominence . These homes are built through mass production, similar to the automotive industry. In other words, instead of going to the site and gradually building the house, almost everything is built in a factory, with different processes ranging from the creation and assembly of the structure to the final finishes. Once finished, it is transported in parts, by trucks and carts, to the site where it will be located .
Modular constructions are transportable
According to specialists consulted by LA NACION , the costs of building a house using modular technology are on par with traditional construction. However, given the volume they can acquire when mass-produced, in some cases they are 20% to 25% lower than a traditional, budget-friendly house , while still offering all the advantages of this technology.
Although there is a wide variety of options, models, and prices within the modular home universe, many of their advantages are shared: they offer more controlled quality , since they are manufactured in-house, allowing for a precision of 2 mm; they are faster to build (in some cases, they are erected in two months) ; they use a more sustainable process with a lower environmental impact ; and they can be made with almost entirely recyclable materials . In this case, unlike container homes, they have walls designed to achieve good thermal insulation and are sized to be inhabited.
www.buysellba.com
Source:
Qué es una “casa contenedor”: se vende en Mercado Libre y se puede pagar en cuotas
Este es el modelo de casas que está ganando popularidad y que ofrece una alternativa amigable con el medio ambiente
www.lanacion.com.ar
June 11, 2025
This is the housing model that is gaining popularity and offers an environmentally friendly alternative.
Shipping containers are reused and converted into homes.Shutterstock
In a world where everything can be purchased online and is just a click away, products that would seem impossible to sell in this format are also joining the e-commerce scene. These are "container houses," homes made with a structure based on shipping containers or recycled containers , producing eco-friendly housing units that can even be found on Mercado Libre.
Yes, these homes repurpose shipping containers and can be purchased through the e-commerce site created by Argentine entrepreneur Marcos Galperín. The platform features homes starting at US$2,400, others averaging US$24,200, and others reaching US$35,000.
Among the advantages that stand out for this type of housing are the short delivery times , as they can be ready in six months or even less. Also noteworthy is the fact that they are recycled structures , which reduce environmental pollution, as they give a second use to an existing structure that would otherwise be discarded. Furthermore, their durability, as they are made of steel , prepared to withstand inclement weather during sea voyages, and their transportability are notable . No less important is the fact that other modules can be added to the original, making it possible to expand the home when needed; also, they weigh less than a normal concrete or steel house.
Currently, listings on Mercado Libre range from $12,000,000 to $23,000,000, and in dollars, listings are posted from US$2,400 for a standard, customized 20-foot container, up from US$24,000 for a 30 m² container, to US$130,000 for a 70 m² container with two bedrooms.
Mercado Libre isn't the only one selling them ; Amazon also offers prefabricated homes made from shipping containers. One of them is Rainmule , which sells for €15,000. But in the case of this e-commerce platform, the cost of shipping and entry into the country must be taken into account.
Container homes. Shutterstock
However, industry experts warn that the container was designed to transport products on a ship, not to live in. "It's a metal shell that reflects the sun, allows water to enter, and accumulates heat. It's not structurally approved or verified by calculation standards, so using it as a home is not a good option ," explains Lucas Salvatore, president of Idero.
A distant cousin: modular homes
Other properties that are built in modules, although specifically designed for housing and offering some major advantages, are modular homes. In a context where the possibility of owning a home is once again on the agenda for Argentines, given the resurgence of mortgage lending, many are wondering what type of home is worth purchasing. Furthermore, at a time when construction costs have increased by 126% since October 2023 , concerns arise about what can be purchased or built at affordable prices while maintaining quality.In this scenario, modular homes (but not those based on a shipping container) are once again gaining prominence . These homes are built through mass production, similar to the automotive industry. In other words, instead of going to the site and gradually building the house, almost everything is built in a factory, with different processes ranging from the creation and assembly of the structure to the final finishes. Once finished, it is transported in parts, by trucks and carts, to the site where it will be located .
Modular constructions are transportable
According to specialists consulted by LA NACION , the costs of building a house using modular technology are on par with traditional construction. However, given the volume they can acquire when mass-produced, in some cases they are 20% to 25% lower than a traditional, budget-friendly house , while still offering all the advantages of this technology.
Although there is a wide variety of options, models, and prices within the modular home universe, many of their advantages are shared: they offer more controlled quality , since they are manufactured in-house, allowing for a precision of 2 mm; they are faster to build (in some cases, they are erected in two months) ; they use a more sustainable process with a lower environmental impact ; and they can be made with almost entirely recyclable materials . In this case, unlike container homes, they have walls designed to achieve good thermal insulation and are sized to be inhabited.
www.buysellba.com
