shopping for single-wides

[Ralph]

I have started the process of shopping for a single-wide to be used as a vacation home. My wife and I have looked at a couple of dealerships near where we plan to put the home.
One of the dealerships did not have a single-wide on the lot at that time to go into and look at. The other dealerships did have some to look at but they all had only 2 bedroom models not 3 bedroom models we are interested in.
Would a dealership located near our normal residence understand if we said we just wanted to look at their 3 bedroom models to get a feel for them? We live 3 hours away from where we will put the home. Or is there fierce competition between two dealerships that sell the same brand? I feel that in the long run it would be cheaper and easier for followup maintenance to buy at a dealership near where we want to put the home. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks!
Ralph

[rmurray]

New singles are getting far and few between....Do not be afraid to go to any dealer and look at the homes...They probably would be very happy to sell you one and deliver it to you..

Remember most service is factory warranty...not dealer warranty...and most dealer can make long service calls if they have crews...Many dealers have no service department..So you will not be missing much buying from a distance..

There are many nearly new repo single in the market now...Competition has brought down the prices a lot...Have you looked for any used homes?? ..I would expect you can easily save 40%...

Good Luck

[Ralph]

I would buy a repo in a heartbeat, but I am moving it into a gated community and they require it to be brand new. Gosh, if there was a way to get around this and fool them, I would do it!
Anyways, as a follow-up question, would it not be more expensive to buy the home from out-of-town than someone local? Logically, it should be cheaper being it is a shorter distance to move it from the dealer's lot.

Thanks!

[John]

Most of the dealers in my area will deliver within 100 miles. Some of them have the home delivered directly from factory to the site so it is not coming from their location. With the downturn in sales I would imagine you can really bargin if they have a single you like on their lot and they would probably bend over backwards to sell it. I would think twice or more about getting a new single because if you don't like it you'll end up giving it away.

[rmurray]

The added cost of moving a single for a dealer with his own drivers and equipment is only a tank of gas or two and a few hours labor...that he has to pay anyway..even if the employees are doing nothing but hanging around waiting on something to do...

So the added cost is mil and it opens up much more shopping opportunities for you...

Sounds like a nice place....but...these places always have the "unofficial" rule enforcer....I would not try to slip a good used home in on them...Now you might go to the management or the homeowners association and ask for a waiver...This will cost nothing and might save thousands...

Good Luck