The Manufactured Housing Forums

I posted back in March, but no one replied. We have started arrangements to purchase a 30x80 franklin. We live in NW Florida. It has 4 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths, living room, den, kitchen and dining room. It has R-11/19/30 and thermopane windows. 3/4 plywood, 2x6 walls, shingled roof. Stainless steel appliances & oak cabinet. It is taped and textured throughout and has flat ceilings with a very small attic crawlspace. The dealer has priced it out at 90,000 for the home & setup. We are setting aside 10,000 for improvements on our land. Does this sound like a reasonable price. It is zone 2. We are going with an FHA loan because we don't have a lot of savings for a down payment. The house we are living in is in terrible condition and we plan to tear it down.

I worry about every aspect of this process. I have been researching for over a year and I have probably read every post on this site. Now that we have the good faith estimate and are moving along with the financing, I am getting stressed. I guess that it is such a big decision that I need some reassurance.

Thanks for all of your helpful info.

The good faith estimate can be imposing...I hope the dealer or lender have explained every dollar of charges....Price does not seem bad...does it include the FHA foundation requirements????....Remember this factory is far from you..which will make it hard for them to service in a timely fashion....


GO FOR IT

Talk to the dealer about the distance from the factory and try to get a commitment from them to handle the service for the factory. I sold homes from a factory in the next state for several years with the understanding that if the factory could not respond to a service request within five days, our service department would be paid by the factory to make the call.

Sounds like you have done your homework. Your job is just starting. Use the information you have harvested here and from your reading, pay attention to the site prep and installation process. Over 80 percent of the problems that home owners experience after move in to a new MH result from poor installation or excessive settlement.

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Thanks for your replies. Yes, it does include the FHA approved foundation. I will check with the dealer about service from the factory as they are located in Russellville, AL which is a good ways from us. The dealer has been in business for years and I know many people who have dealt with them. I felt real comfortable until the paperwork started. It is such a big decision and a big committment. We are preparing our own site, so I know that will be done right. I will get my husband on the installation process, I am very unmechanically inclined!

Thanks again!

Make sure your hubby speaks to the foundation and footer crew...to be sure your preparation is exactly what they need...GO FOR IT...