For sale by (1st time) owner...in need of advice.

[kristie]

Hello. 4 years ago a childhood friend and I went into a MH park in Metro Detroit to only *Look* around. Next thing I knew. I left the park office holding the title to a 1994 Skyline 3bd/2b MH! Over the next 4 crazy years, both the friend and I met the men of our dreams. While she gets to move onto her happy ever after, with a new husband and home of her very own. I find myself again holding a MH title and feeling a little dazed, while my future ever after is in TX (im)patiently waiting for me.

The MH park wants 12% to help me sell my $26,000 home ($3K in commission!). I'm a poor 20-something, so that option is a last resort. I am now considering the daunting option of FOR SALE BY OWNER!

I've fixed and scrubbed down everything I could, researched *how-to's* till my fingers ached, and now have narrowed down the 4 main points for the buyer: Park approval, financing, insurance, and title. (To sweeten the deal I'm tossing in first's months rent ($399 - plus a few other cost-saving jumpstarts to moving in), and only asking the loan/tax/fee/title buy-out price).

Before I launch into an all-out supermarket/newspaper/street corner advertizing blitz. Is there anything I'm overlooking? Remembering the hour or two spent signing away my life in the park's office getting the MH. I know there has to be something missing.

Thanks,

Kris

[David Oxhandler]

The Manufactured Housing Multiple Listing Service has emerged as the web's number one most popular destination for buyers searching for a manufactured home and the easiest place in the world to sell. The Multiple Listing Service includes listings BY OWNER, BY DEALER, BY BUILDER and BY FINANCE COMPANIES Thousands of manufactured housing shoppers from across the country browse through the MLS every week searching for the home of their choice. Listings are searchable by city, state, number of bedrooms and baths, manufacturer, year built and price. Each listing also auto-interfaces with Yahoo Maps. There is a MAP link included each listings individual page. Almost like magic, When clicked it will auto-generate a map of the location of the home for sale and the surrounding area. Sellers can easily upload as many as 5 photos of the interior and exterior of their home(s). When you sell your home on the MH MLS there is NO SALES COMMISSION. Thousands of people can see your ad it is available 24/7 . Online Changes are FREE. There is no charge to edit your ad text or photos at any time. There is NO TIME LIMIT on your listing and no re-listing fees. Your home stays on line for as long as long as it takes to sell. All this for a one time listing fee of only $29.95! At a price that low how could you go wrong It is very easy to put your homes on line. Go to http://mfdhousing.com/portal/fsbo/user_signup.php and set up a user account. It takes less than five minuets.

[Jim Chesky]

What is so wrong with paying the commission to the MH park. That said, are they going to completely handle this sale, advertising, financing, and of course getting the buyer to the table. Now with a professional handling this for you, properly. Move on and do your thing.

[kristie]

I would go thru them, but it would jack the price back up to where I bought it 4yrs ago. Just around $30,000.

Not to mention the horror stories I've been hearing on how they mishandled quite a few For-Sale cases. Such as not posting, mislaying key information, lack of advertising. Seems they were pushing their repo's over paid commissions. One of the people I've talked to has been trying to sell for over 2yrs. The first year was tied up with the park's sales division. They were under contract for 6 months (active), then another 6months (inactive) ...meaning they get the commission if you sell by yourself 1-6 months afterward.

I went into the office myself and was told (under the table) not to bother trying to sell anytime soon, since they can't even push the units they have for sale now.