The Manufactured Housing Forums

Hello,

So glad to find this forum.

I have been reading messages and doing research on Manuf. Homes for my parents in South Carolina.

I keep seeing people use mobile and modular. I thought mobile and modular were the same? What is the difference? I'm thinking manufactured is the highest quality, right?

I'm looking at Champion and Clatyon Homes. My aunt just purchased a Horton Home and had horrible service, is this normal for them or does it vary from sales office to sales office.

Thanks.

The difference is that Modular homes are built to the state building code and designed to be delievered to one sitre and never moved again.
Manufactured (mobile) homes are built to the HUD code, which is not near as strick and are transportable for there entire life.
Modulars generally increase in value over time, Manufactured homes are like cars and lose value. (Some people will comment, and disagree, but they are the exception).
Typically all manufactured home comanies are bad with service. It is a big industry problem.
For your best bet, go with a modular.

Eugene: WHAT A CROCK!!!!!

Rhonda: Manufactured homes and modular homes are often built in the same plant.The construction quality can vary from product to product just as it does with traditional stick-built homes.Manufactured homes must at a minimum comply with hud standards and most greatly exceed this standard.

Modulars in the south conform to the southern building code and can be placed anywhere you are zoned for similar site-built housing.

The quality of either home varies greatly from manu. to manu. and also depends on constuction features you can option in.

Many times modular housing is not an option to everybody because of the cost.The foundation,set-up,crane,and finish cost can add an addtitional 20k to the cost of the same home in a hud model.

Many of the people that seem to be so biased against manufactured housing did not take the time to do the research that you are obviously taking the time to do.Horton builds an excellant home.Unfortunately they do not have factory service and rely on their dealers to take care of their customers.Maybe if your Aunt woud contact Horton Homes they could put pressure on the dealer she bought her home from.

It is a proven fact that manufactured homes, on the average, appreciate at the same rate as site -built homes. The latest extensive study was performed by consumers union and can be found at www.consumersunion.org-pdf-mh-appreciation.pdf .

All manufactured home companies do not have bad service.However the best service will come from a dealer that protects his reputation by attempting to satisfy all of his customers needs and service on thier homes is high priority.

Well said Dave..

Sorry guys,
I have no personal interest in either product, but totally disagree. I do agree it is possible to get a great manufactured home, but it is a gamble and the odds are against the home owner.
Most states receive only a handful of consumer complaints against modular homes while receiving 100's against manufactured homes.
I have seen way too many horror stories over the past 10 years to feel otherwise.

Amen Dave.
Rohnda, I'm no expert on MH's but I've been looking for a couple of years and will by one for retirement in another 18 to 24 months. The wife and I have finally narrowed it down to three manufacturers. We know what we are looking for is within our price range because we know how much we want to spend, and we have ask the sales lot to give us a "ball park figure" or price range on the homes we have been very interested in. (We never ask "How much is it?" as there are to many variables.) We know what features are "must have" and what features are "like to have" so we are now working on finding the floor plan we want.

My advice to you is research, research, and research. This forum is an outstanding starting place. Get some of the books on this site and read them. Ask lots of questions of the differet manufacturers, sales lots, and this forum. Find out what construction features you want first, then look at the floor plans.
Good luck and happy hunting.

Thanks. I finally have it.

With respect to my aunt and Horton Homes, we sent letters to the sales office, Horton's main office in Georgia and the loan company. We called the main office and received no return call. She is very unhappy, but should have used a little more caution when purchasing. She does however have a lovely retirement home.

Manufactured homes cannot be shopped like a product off a shelf.Price does not assure you of any of these most critical parts of what you are purchasing:

CONSTRUCTION QUALITY
SET-UP QUALITY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
QUALITY OF SERVICE
COMPETITIVE FINANCING

And yet many purchasers of manufactured homes would list their reasons for buying as follows:

PRICE
PAYMENT
"FELL IN LOVE WITH FLOORPLAN"
GOT "HOUSE FULL FURNITURE AND A WASHER/DRYER"
"THEY GOT ME FINANCED"
AND ON AND ON

I'll be the first to admit that there have always been unscroupulous dealers in manufactured housing ready to take advantage of anybody they can .They are a blight and a scourge to our industry.

There have also always been dealers dedicated to selling a great product and backing it with great service.

CUSTOMERS HAVE A CHOICE!!!

How many times do you read in the responces on this forum,EDUCATE YOURSELVES! This is the most important purchase of your life.Set your standards, know what you are doing,if you need help,let someone that is happy with their manufactured home purchase help you.Buy the books.Your far better off renting than stepping into a housing disaster.

Next time you are out for a country ride, take special notice of all the lovely, well landscaped manufactured homes scattered out in the countryside.Do these look like they are falling apart?Manufactured homes are an affordable alternative to other chices of housing.You play a major role in determining how satisfying your housing choce will be.

Eugene...

First...manufactured (HUD) homes outsell local code (modular) homes 5 (up to 10)to 1..More sales will have more problems...I am sure that Ford has many more complaints than Audi..just because they sell more cars..

There is a good reason for this...HUD has an organized compliant resolution system in place for defects that threaten health and saftey...In the states that I deal in or have dealt in..there is NO organized procedure to complain about a modular home and no enforcement capability for the individual consumer...

Most folks do not understand that there is no time limit on HUD violations...a local state contracted HUD inspector was telling me about a 8 year old home that he had just ordered a complete new roof for because it did not meet the code..He also mentioned that his agency is getting many calls about modulars...but the folks are turned away and told to go to the courts...

Rhonda,
go to the MH Owners forum and read the message titled "NO ONE WILL LISTEN"
It is exactly why I said to but modular.
If you are a gambler, by a manufactured home. If you want to live in a good house, go modular.