The Manufactured Housing Forums

Hello Folks,

I just wanted to share my experience with buying my FIRST manufactured home. I did a little research on different manufactured homes and looked at the different models and I settled for a Karsten Home 28x80. I read in this form list about Karsten Homes cared about their customers and their service was unbeatable. It was written by Terry. I would like to thank him for the knowledge he has in the manufactured housing industry, and as he stated not all companies are alike, and that's true. I visted the factory in Albuquerque, NM and they walked me through the manufacturing process and I was amazed how much they payed attention to every detail when the home is being built, and the strict qualilty control plant. I ordered my home in October and it arrived in mid November. The moving company who assembled the homes together did a fine job. I have no complaints or no problem with my new Karsten Home. I truly believe they go the extra mile in building quality homes, which I experienced myself. The company even called me last week just to know if everything was okay with my new home. I was just amazed at the service and the attention they gave me. I would recommend this company to anybody who is in the market for a new qualilty manufactured home. I also say they aren't just a standard HUD builder, they go the extra mile.

consider yourself one of a very small number that is satisfied with their home.

May I ask you which dealership you went through? Which town etc.

Charlotte,
I live in Northern Arizona, and I bought mine right from the factory. They have a dealer there that sells their homes for them. I was treated very well by the sales staff and the Karsten employees when I went for a factory tour. I looked at almost all the manufactures in Arizona, Schultz and Marlette, Cavco, Litchfield, PalmHarbor, Fleetwood and Clayton Homes, but none of the homes could match the Karsten home I have. I ordered it with R-38 in the roof with 30 pds.per. sq.ft roof load. Very nice home, it's set up in a residential neighborhood and blends right in the homes around mine. I looked at a Silvercrest home 28x70 and the asking price was 89,000.00 and it was overpriced! I bought mine for 89,599.00, 28x80 and it had a foundation ready prep. I am very pleased with the home, and they even threw in a onepiece raingutter for me.

Thanks Nancy,I think that Karsten will be the way I go ultimately.

I take it you've had problems? I'm looking at karstens now. What problems have you experienced?

Don't be sold a bill of goods people. Do your homework. It's a big purchase. Check out all the homes available, not just one. We saw the 2 hour tour of the Silvercrest homes and we were very impressed. Don't take my word for it or anyone else's, check it out for yourself. My problem isn't with the maker. We already did the research on many makers and we are far more impressed with the Silvercrest (Champion). Our problem is finding an honest dealer. Most dealers sell many different makes and they seem to be more like used car dealers. I wish we could buy from the factory but Silvercrest requires that we go through a dealer. Silvercrest is worth it but we have to be very careful and check out all the dealer costs.

Jody,
Silvercrest isn't only the best! Take a look at the HallMark SouthWest of Loma Linda, California. They make better homes than Silvercrest. They don't race the home thru like the Silvercrest Homes does. I toured the Silvercrest plant myself before. They only offer tours on Saturdays only. I am sold on Hallmark Homes due to the construction and how the homes are married together thru the factory during the building process. I know live in one and proud of it. Silvercrest is overpriced like what Nancy says.

Do you know if they have a website. We haven't seen this one yet and would like to before we sign for the Silvercrest. We really like Silvercrest but we want to look at ALL our choices first. Thanks!