PALM HARBOR, HART HOMES, AND FINANCING

[LINDA]

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR OVER A YEAR FOR THE RIGHT HOME. I PURCHASED BOTH OF RANDY EATON'S BOOKS AND FOUND THEM VERY INFORMATIVE. BUT, BEING A WOMAN SHOPPING FOR A HOME AND MORTGAGE I FEEL AS IF THESE HOME SALE CENTERS WHO DEAL WITH FINANCING SEE A WOMAN COMING AND TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION. I THOUGHT I FOUND THE RIGHT HOME AT PALM HARBOR, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO GETTING SERIOUS WITH THE PURCHASE AND TALKING MONEY IT WAS AS IF THE FINAL PURCHASE PRICE WAS A MYSTERY. PALM HARBOR COULDNT GIVE ME A "TURNKEY" COST. I HAVE AN EXCELLENT CREDIT RATING WITH NO DEBT AND THEREFORE I WOULD THINK A LENDER WOULD BE WILLING TO WORK WITH ME WITHOUT DEALING WITH 8 PT BUYDOWN, 2 PT ORIG.FEE ETC...I WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING 11 POINTS BESIDES MY 10% DOWN. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I TOLD PALM HARBOR TO SEND MY DEPOSIT BACK.
I FEEL PALM HARBOR MAKES A QUALITY PRODUCT BUT, WITH THEM ONLY DEALING WITH COUNTRYPLACE MORTGAGE AND CHASE THEY ARE VERY LIMITED TO WHAT THEY CAN DO AS FAR AS THE "LOWEST RATE".
I AM NOW CONSIDERING A HART HOME.I HAVE TWO CONCERNS. ONE IS, THAT IF THEY ARE MFD IN WAKARUSA, IN. AND THERE IS ONLY 1 SALES CENTER CLOSE TO NASHVILLE, TN, IF ANY REPAIRS OR PROBLEMS ARISE HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO HAVE THE ISSUES RESOLVED AND WOULD THE FACTORY SEND SOMEONE FROM WAKARUSA TO NASHVILLE?
ANOTHER CONCERN I HAVE IS THE NOVADECK FLOORING. SHOULD I HAVE IT UPGRADED TO PLYWOOD?
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS REGARDING HART HOMES, AND FINDING THE BEST MORTGAGE RATE AVAILABLE? I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP.
THANKS!

[Chuck]

Sounds like you have been dealing with a Palm Harbor factory owned dealer. I found them to be less than ideal to negotiate with. Try an independent Palm Harbor dealer. PH makes a good home but seem to be overpriced.

[LINDA]

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP CHUCK. I APPRECIATE IT.

[rmurray]

In your area...one of the best mortgage souces is Regions Mortgage...You can go to them and arrange your own finance and not depend on the dealer...There are mortgage sources listed on this web site as well..If your credit is as you say...you should be able to get 7% +/- 1/4 percent for 1% origination fee and no buydown points..That is the rate today..

The other post is right..you will get much better service from a locally owned dealership instead of the corporate store..Unfortunately these stores seem to treat all customers (not just women) the same way..

I agree with your concern about warranty service from a plant so far away...Especially since there are no other dealers..therefore very few of their homes in the area...they will not likely run service more than once..especially for the smaller items..which is the most of the problems in a new home..You might try calling the plants service manager and find out how they handle service in your area.....If they have a contract service person in your area..it might be ok..

Good Luck...you are doing it right...all will work out for the best..

[LINDA]

HOW ABOUT HART HOMES?

[LINDA]

WILL DO..MUCH THANKS