05/28/2026
Why did Sears stop selling homes in 1942?
These home kits were wildly popular in the early 1900s. When Sears released its “Sears Modern Homes” catalog line, it was complete with 40 ready-to-build homes. Eventually, it was expanded into over 400 different designs and layouts, with the option to add on plumbing and electrical for an additional cost.
(For cities without municipal water systems, you could add-on an outhouse for just $23!)
The prices ranged from around $650 to around $6,500 for the complete kit, which included pre-cut lumber. They advertised that you could build your own home in 90 days.
Most of the history of these homes was lost due to the destruction of sales records during the move to Sears Tower in the 1970s.
However, it is estimated that they sold between 70,000 and 100,000 homes between 1908 and 1940. It is hard to say how many homes are still standing today. At least 5,000 of them have been identified, but most are still undiscovered.
Experts believe around 70% of them are still standing - some of them right here in Boise!
The phrase “they sure don’t build them like this anymore” is a direct reference to Sears homes. (Okay, that part might not be a fact, but it feels true.)
In 1911, Sears opened their own mortgage company, in an effort to make the process streamlined for its customers. But this was likely their downfall.
The company faced a public relations disaster when the Great Depression hit. They ended up having to foreclose on many of their own customer's homes. The final nail in the coffin was the lumber shortage in the early 1940s, due to the preparations for WW2.
They halted residential construction from fulfillment issues and had to refund deposits on homes that were made. They discontinued the catalog in 1940, and completely closed their sales offices in 1942.
Check out some of the most popular models that were sold in the photos.
If Sears made a comeback and released their Sears Home Kit catalog today, would you buy one?
- Anngela
P.S. I included a photo of their school house kit at the end, it was only offered for one year in the catalog and it is unknown whether one was ever purchased
