The Manufactured Housing Forums

With all the changes Im seeing in the industry, ie. Champion closing 7 plants, Conseco all but dead, ARC communities buying up all the Oakwood Repos in parts they own across the US and the floor planning being dropped, what direction is the Manufactured Housing Turning? I own a business here in Colorado that repairs both new/used from the Manufacturer and Repos from dealers. I have went to great lengths to make sure we stand out in what we do differently as a company. I spent 10+ years before starting this business as a service tech in the field and with all I hear/see happening I just wonder what I need to look at doing to stay in business. So, Im asking for anyones insite on what they see today and tomorrow in the Manufactured Housing Network.Feel free to visit my site at http://www.mbqc.com to see more about us and what we do..

Tracy,

I sure wish I could give you better news. I have spent the majority of the last 30 years selling manufactured homes in Ariz. Currently I am out of the buisness and enjoying the RV. industry.

I was the gm at one of the champion retail locations that recently closed. That turned out to be a blessing for me. I stayed in it two to three years to long.

We have noone to blame but ourselves. Far to many dealers falseified their loan docs and the lenders failed to do anything about it. This has been going on for many years and finally it has caught up on us all. You said it yourself, with few lenders and even fewer flooring agents we no longer control our industry.

The lenders are now afraid to death to approve a loan and so many small dealers have gone under by not having a floorplan source. Her in Ariz land has gone up so high and most of our factories have upgrated their homes that the mix just does not make any sence. Average lot here is $50,000 average home at cost is $48,000, infrasrutcure is $20-25,000----thats a $123,000. Try to understand at 15 to 18% and we wonder whats going on in our industry???? We are no longer a affordable housing.

Tracy, if you haven't yet I suggest you start doing something different. I honestly believe the manufactured housing industy is in for a long rough road. Some markets may be ok for a while. Now even the big boys like Champion and Oakwood
are trying everything they can think of to keep from going under.

I do wish you the best of luck and I apologize for such a bleek outlook, I as of this time do not have any hope for manufactered homes. Or any answers other than the factories might try getting back to good cheap homes.

Good luck to you
Steve Cullen