The Manufactured Housing Forums

Hi Everyone. New home shoppper in Mississippi. After several months of shopping awe ran across a Franklin Home called Benchmark, beautiful home with top of line accessories, etc. I really liked the floated sheetrock paitable walls a lot. It really felt like a "real" house. The question is before we spend 80,000 on it , is it worth it?

2nd: which floor is better for damp rainy places like Natchez, OSB or Plywood floors?

Oh, well 3rd: Is a conrete foundation or skirting actually beneficial? This is bad termite area, and flood area. We plan to stay in this house forever and ever!

Franklin builds a nice home and the Benchmark is a series of homes they make not a specific model. Is 80k worth it? How many square feet is the home, what are they including for that price. If the home is 2000 SF than you are paying $40 per foot for the home plus footers/runners/foundation. A site built home will run between $65-$75 psf for a nice home for the same 2000 sf home will be 130-150. With a MH there are a lot of things included like drapes, all appliances including refrig. You are not far from the plant and it would be worthwhile to take a plant tour.
OSB and plywood are both good material and should not give you problems. Any wood product that is exposed to standing water will have problems but as long as you stay away from particleboard (no matter what the name) you should be fine.
The foundation would be a slab, next double footers next runners and the price will go in that order as well from most expensive to least. The most important thing is to not let water stand. If you go with a slab than you will have a base for skirting if you go with the other choices have them do a perimeter pour for your skirting and since termites are a problem go with a non wood skirting.

The other post here is quite good....understand the skirting...block, brick, hardi board, vinyl..what ever is not the foundation..they are all only decoration...be sure you have at least poured concrete footers under the home for long term stability...also make sure the ground is leveled such that no water flows under the home..

Pick a skirting because you like it..It is not structural...

OSB is a good floor...but if I were spending 80K..and the plywood option was 3/4 Inch tongue and groove floor..I would pay for the option...Mostly because I like it better..not because it will last longer..

As far as price is concerned..Most large high quality homes are in this range..Remember what ever home you buy..you will be financing for 30 years..Be sure it is a VERY good home and you like it a lot..The payment difference between this home and the cheapest homes are less than $100 per month..From my experience..if I could not afford the $100..I would buy a smaller high quality home before the least expensive large homes..