Sears Catalog Homes (sold as Sears Modern Homes) were ready-to-assemble houses sold through mail order by Sears Roebuck and Company, an American retailer. Over 100,000 of these were sold in North America between 1908 and 1940. Shipped via railroad boxcars, these kits included all the materials needed to build an exceptionally sturdy and well-designed house. Many were assembled by the new homeowner and friends, relatives, and neighbors, in a fashion similar to the traditional barn-raisings of farming families.
Sears helped popularize the latest technology available to home buyers in the early part of the twentieth century. Central heating, indoor plumbing, and electricity were all new developments in home design that "Modern Homes" incorporated, although not all of the homes were designed with these conveniences. For example, central heating not only improved the livability of homes with little insulation but also improved fire safety, which was a worry in an era where open flames threatened houses and even entire cities, as in the case of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
As demand increased, Sears expanded the product line-up to feature homes which varied in expense to meet the budgets of various buyers. Sears began offering financing plans in the 1920s. However, the company experienced steadily rising payment defaults throughout the Great Depression. The company's catalog home program became increasingly constrained as a result. 447 different models were offered over the program's 32-year history; the mortgage portion of the program was discontinued in 1934, while the Modern Homes program ceased production altogether in 1940.
Today, some communities across the United States feature clusters of the homes as unofficial historical sites, although the vast majorities are still in use as private residences. Popular with those engaged in restoring older homes, Sears homes are sought for having contemporarily better than average craftsmanship. An entire culture of Sears Modern Home seekers has emerged in recent years as individual buildings are located and identified.