Buying a manufactured home new

[Elaine Ellis]

We would like to know who is a quality builder of mobiles. Also looking for a double or tripple that would look quite a bit like a stick built home. Also are there any dealers in the Oregon & northern Calif area. Any suggestions would be most appreciated

Elaine

[Kathy Muchka]

Please send some pictures and prices of your homes and locations. I live in northern N.J also close Milford PA.Would also like to see houses set up on a lot with sales rep. Thank you.

[rmurray]

I have a question....you use a term that I hear often..."that would look quite a bit like a stick built home."......Just what does a stick built home look like????...When I drive around through new home neighborhoods...all I see for affordable housing are patio homes...whick look a lot like apartments too me...of course...when I go through neighborhoods that cost about 3 times what we sell...i see homes that look a lot like many of those in our business...then I go through neighborhoods (if I can get past the guards) that cost 7 to 10 times what we sell and see all different sorts of looks....From what I can see...this is all in the eye of the beholder..

[JohnnyJ]

You hit the nail on the head RM. We all live in boxes.... some are bigger, some
are smaller; some have prettier wrapping paper and bigger ribbons. Some have
2X4 exterior walls, some have 2X6. Give me one that is well made and we will
discuss the wrapping paper later.

[Dan F.]

Where I am there is a noticable difference. You can drive through a neiborhood and spot every MFD home there is. This refers to homes on land not in parks.

1. Eves, most mfd homes have little if no eves, here sitebuilt homes have an average of 18 to 24 inch eves.
2. Distance of floor from grade. Here the sitebuilt homes are always 8-16 inches from grade meaning one or two steps to the door. Mfd homes are 32-36 inches above grade with 4 or 5 steps.
3. Roof pitch. Site built have a steeper pitch at least 5/12 the majority of mfd homes are 3/12.
4. Siding, site built homes have stucco or horizontal wood siding, even cedar shingles. Most mfd homes have vitical siding. (in my area) I know vinyl is popular in other regions.
5. Ends of home the close up is obvious on most homes.
6. Portch or front door overhang. Site built homes have some sort of stoop or covered portch, most mfd homes do not.
7. Garage, most site built homes have an attatched garage. Alot of mfd. homes do not.
8. the front facade of the home. Most site built homes have some deapth or change in the front of the home (see #6 above). Mfd homes regularly have a flat plain front.

This list is not to bag on mfd homes but to give you Murray and other dealers an idea of what consumers mean by "site built or stick built look". Most of the good mfd home builders can option all these things and look just like a site built home. These are all the things I made sure my home had before I ordered it in addition to all the structural goodies. And remember this is how homes look in my area if yours is different right on. I have heard many times even on this forum how the northwest is building the most attractive homes. Well I am in the northwest and this is how the homes look IMO. my $.02

[Dan F.]

Sorry one I forgot to mention that is important, placement of home on the lot. Here especially in subdivisions the mfd homes are placed with the end facing the street becase of the shape of the lot, long and narrow. Where Site built are facing the street because they were designed specifically for the lot. There are other things Im sure I missed.

[rmurray]

As you said....everyone of those listed items can be in your manufactured home if they are important to you....It seems that some of those in your area must not think them important enough to pay for...

If your area is anything like the rest of the country...the NEW stick built you describe is at least 2 or 3 times the price of the manufactured home you did get....Good Luck with your home..

[Art Rigsby]

Dan,

I aggree with most of the points you listed. As you now, I live in Lake County where 30% of the homes are MH. I purchased a Silvercrest last year and I do have a front porch, 4/12 pitch, 16" eves, and horizontal siding. However, things fall apart after that. I wanted a dug out foundation but was conned by the contractor into not doing it (standing water). I later found out that was no problem and more than likely the contactor just didn't want to do it because they are harder to do. My garage is also detached.

Lot placement in this area is not a problem as land is cheap and lots are very large.
My neighbor has a new Kartsen with an attached garage but because he is off the ground, it is easily seen as a MH. I have seen MHs in this area that look close to a stick built but I have never seen one that totally faked me out.

Art

[Dan F]

Hey Murray,
You are correct about the cost. Sitebuilt will cost 1 1/2 to 2 times the price of a mfd unit initially (including land). Mfd homes are doing well against them once they are placed thats the beauty of it. Part of the problem here is the price of a lot. In town you have to spend between 250,000 to 400,000 for a lot. Most folks that have that kind of budget to begin with thumb their noses at mfd homes. But If they knew how well they were built (the right one) and how much more you can get for your dollar they would be foolish not to go mfd.

Hi Art, I am aware of your contractor. I am watching him like a halk. I too wanted a pit set foundation and was told by him the "water" issue. I was told by one more contractor it would be an issue also only because my home backs up to a hill. I also found out the dealer never asked him to bid a pit set only a stem wall with concrete footers. So I see why he is trying to talk me out of it because cost wise he will take a hit. The Dealer is also trying to recover other costs in my constuction, my setup is supposed to be included in the price of the home but ironically I am being charged (for constuction) about 6500 over what our contractor bid (the price of a tripple setup). When I questioned the Dealer about it I got the run around. I did however come up with a solution with the contractor to get the home lower to grade. We are digging down just 6 inches to keep down dump truck costs (fill dirt) and then he is putting a taller than usual stemwall in. He is then going to back fill six inches or more (with the dugout dirt) up the stemwall putting the home approx. 15-18 inches off the ground(two steps). We are currently waiting for delivery so I will let you know how it turns out. The weather is killing me right now. As soon as it dry's up enough to drive a backhoe on the lot it rains again. My construction loan ends in march so we are worried about having to get an extension.

Murray you need to come to the land of milk and honey, open a dealership here and make some serious money. Plus we need some trustwothy dealers over here. All we have now is basically carsalesman mantality folks.

[rmurray]

Thanks for the invite...You mentioned "All we have now is basically carsalesman mantality folks"....
Actually a good saleperson has to adapt to the style that the customer wants to see...He/she should always be honest...but style will very with the customer...
I am afraid that we are still at a stage that consumer information is lacking and consumers are not usually interested in detail.....Therefore many sales persons never learn to deal with the few like you who do..Truthfully...a consumer like you scares them and they just as well you leave...so they can get back to the average person they deal with...
If consumers where more informed and interested...all sales persons would adapt or starve....but...those you mentioned are thriving...That is why sites like this interest me...books like Randy's are helpful...I only wish more would spend a little time like you...
Good Luck with your home...