The Manufactured Housing Forums

Hey folks,

Thanks for taking the time to read this. From the looks of it, you're all pretty much on the ball on this stuff. I have a fairly quick scenario to throw at you:

We are selling our stick (okay, concrete) house in AZ and taking perhaps $100,000 with us to the coast of Oregon. We looked at small houses, lots and so on and came up with a 1200SF 2004 Silvercrest (never lived in) already installed in a park in Waldport for $55,000. The rent's not bad ($325) and in comparison to ratty old models on some real land the cost didn't look that bad and we put an offer in tonight (contingent on selling ours, inspecting and whatnot.)

However, we were trying to figure out the layout based on our agent's layout drawing and took a look at the Silvercrest Web site to find our model. The odd thing was that the only model that looked like ours was only 933SF and it was just about identical (front door was in slightly different location) and that they don't have a 1200SF model.

So, first question is: Do they make an identical, but larger, model for some reason that they don't have listed now?

Second question is: Does this sound like a good price, assuming that the model is only 933SF and including installation.

Third question is: What is traditional installation cost?

Fourth question is: Would we be better off buying a used model and installing it on our own land? Would that be land cost + prep costs (including permits) + house cost + ship and install cost?

Thanks!

AB

Which website did you look at?
Oregon has a different website than CA.
www.championoregon.com

Fist read Private Property or a Land-Lease Community? This is a the classic comparison from Chrissy Jackson and still the best thought out article of the kind.


The best thing you can do is to go look at the house. The number of sq ft is important but just as important is the way the space is divided. until you see for yourself you will not real know.


Silvercrest is a top shelf product. I am in Florida and Silvercrest is only sold in the western US but I have heard and read quiet about their higher quality and attention to home owner satisfaction.


To get a good idea of price range for different sizes, brands and ages of MH visit the The Manufactured Housing MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE. The MLS includes listings BY OWNER, BY DEALER, BY BUILDER and BY FINANCE COMPANIES. . Listings are searchable by city, state, zip code, number of bedrooms and baths, manufacturer, year built and price.... crank in your target location and learn about your market.


You also get to see lots of MH exterior and interior photos. The Manufactured Housing MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE.

I am a manufactured home owner in a land-lease community in Iowa. May I give you the scoop on what I would do? LAND, definately! The value will appreciate, not depreciate. And if you want to refinance, forget the park. I have tried countless times to refinance mine, all to no avail. No one will touch it unless it is on private land. I have a 1991 14 x 70 3 bedroom 1 and 1/2 baths Carrollton Sabre. I am trading it in on a Wick home. And the restrictions about singles on land is even worse.
As to the size of the home, if they are like Wick, the maufacturer might have modified the original floor plan, i.e., stretched the home out, flipped the plan left to right, change the location of some walls, etc. And always remember, property taxes can be deducted, lot rent cannot.
And finally, you can do whatever improvements you want to do, not being stuck with restrictions like you are in a park. I have to drive to a church about 5 minutes away for a tornado shelter. Who says I will have that kind of time? Even with a double wide, I can get a shelter put in a garage or under a deck and it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb, either.
So-do yourself a favor, you will thank yourself down the road! And check out the new homes. Some have as long as 10 year structural warranties!

TLH