Hi everyone,
I wanted to report our place is 99% complete and we get to move in on the 18th. Our place is awsome I will try and take pictures and post them if possible. I am waiting for our appraisal to come in but the realtor that live accross from me says $300,000 - %310,000 is what she would guess. Thats 75,000 in equity already! She also said everyone refers to it as the monster on the hill. We are so excited I could throw up on myself! Thank you to everyone here that has contibuted and especially Randy and Murray. Randy hepled me save close to $20,000 on this purchase and that is no lie. His books and personal guidence gave me the tools to be an educated buyer. Murray's honesty is extremely valuable, I wish we had a dealer of his calibur in CA or at least on the west coast. Shoot I traveled six hours to get the deal I received, for Murray I would travel at least 8. Where is Mrs. X I miss her topics they are very fun. I will still come back and pass on everything I learned from this project. Last words for new buysers are be patient the right deal will happen for you. If you rush, the whole transaction will suffer including your future home. Make sure you take care of structural integrity before you even consider that fireplace or clearstory window. You know what I mean.
Whew.... finally moving!
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rmurray
Re: Whew.... finally moving!
Congradulations and thanks for the compliment...Make that Real Estate neighbor envy...
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Mrs. X
Re: DID SOMEBODY CALL MY NAME?!!
Thanks, Dan. It's good to know that I've provided some comic relief (I guess) to the readers of this forum. But, I have a confession to make and I hope you won't HATE me because of it:
I'm buying a site-built home!
Yes, I know that's treasonous on this website but let me explain. I was - and still am - absolutely sold on the quality of manufactured housing. I would like nothing better than to buy a small piece of land and put a nice double-wide on it. In fact, I spent more than 18 months researching the industry and its product - and by the way - this forum is absolutely wonderful! It's not only informative but highly entertaining. I've had a lot of fun corresponding with various people here. (I don't know if Cheryl in California is still speaking to me, but I hope she and her fiance are doing well).
I looked and looked and looked and looked for a piece of unrestricted land in north Georgia that was within commuting distance of Roswell (a suburb north of Atlanta) where I work. I DID find a sub-division for manufactured homes in Dahlonega, GA which had lots that were absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I talked to the developer, I drove through the sub-division and talked to the residents to find out about any problems they might be having with the developer (there were none), I drove up there several times just to walk some of the lots for sale and convince myself that 50 miles was not such a long drive to work in the mornings. I finally had to admit that it wasn't really feasible, so I "graduated" to the idea of buying a modular home which could be placed anywhere that a site-built home could go.
My sister and I drove over to the factory lot in Columbia, SC and looked at several models. My sister had been dead-set against the idea but when she walked into the first model she completely changed her mind. I picked out the model I wanted and told the salesman at Fleetwood Homes (who was the dealer in Georgia for Mascot Modular Homes) and the search for a lot began. I looked at several lots that were within commuting distance to work, but for various reasons none of them worked out (i.e., unbuildable, too expensive or undesirable).
In the meantime, the war in Iraq was starting and I was afraid the interest rates were going to start going up. I knew I couldn't afford even a 6% interest rate on my budget and in my housing price range, so I knew I had to act quickly. I reluctantly decided that I didn't have the luxury of continuing the search for land, so I started looking at site-builts.
Fortunately, I have an excellent real estate agent (not pushy, good listener,,etc.) and the 3rd time we went out I picked out a house I could live with, I made a really low-ball offer, (which my agent said was "asking for the moon") and - lo and behold - the seller accepted it. I got a 5.5% fixed interest rate (I wanted a lower rate than that but was afraid to take the chance that it would go higher instead of lower) and we're closing on May 15th.
Although I'm very excited about starting a "new life" (I'm getting a divorce also ), I would have much preferred to live on a couple of acres in a brand new manufactured home, but I haven't ruled that out in the future. I'm hoping that when I retire (15 or more years from now), I'll be able to move out in the boonies because commuting to work will no longer be a consideration.
I could say a whole lot about the injustice of the Zoning Boards discriminating against manufactured housing but you've heard it all before so I won't repeat myself but, folks - private property rights are disappearing in this country and if we don't start putting pressure on our elected officials, they're going to disappear altogether! At the risk of sounding melodramatic - I see America crumbling around us and it's distressing, to say the least. ALL of our rights - not just property rights - are being given up by too many people who value safety over everything else.
I intend to keep on visiting this site but my manufactured home will have to wait a few more years. On the bright side - who knows what great improvements and options will be available in manufactured housing 15 years from now?
Yours for freedom,
Mrs. X
I'm buying a site-built home!
Yes, I know that's treasonous on this website but let me explain. I was - and still am - absolutely sold on the quality of manufactured housing. I would like nothing better than to buy a small piece of land and put a nice double-wide on it. In fact, I spent more than 18 months researching the industry and its product - and by the way - this forum is absolutely wonderful! It's not only informative but highly entertaining. I've had a lot of fun corresponding with various people here. (I don't know if Cheryl in California is still speaking to me, but I hope she and her fiance are doing well).
I looked and looked and looked and looked for a piece of unrestricted land in north Georgia that was within commuting distance of Roswell (a suburb north of Atlanta) where I work. I DID find a sub-division for manufactured homes in Dahlonega, GA which had lots that were absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I talked to the developer, I drove through the sub-division and talked to the residents to find out about any problems they might be having with the developer (there were none), I drove up there several times just to walk some of the lots for sale and convince myself that 50 miles was not such a long drive to work in the mornings. I finally had to admit that it wasn't really feasible, so I "graduated" to the idea of buying a modular home which could be placed anywhere that a site-built home could go.
My sister and I drove over to the factory lot in Columbia, SC and looked at several models. My sister had been dead-set against the idea but when she walked into the first model she completely changed her mind. I picked out the model I wanted and told the salesman at Fleetwood Homes (who was the dealer in Georgia for Mascot Modular Homes) and the search for a lot began. I looked at several lots that were within commuting distance to work, but for various reasons none of them worked out (i.e., unbuildable, too expensive or undesirable).
In the meantime, the war in Iraq was starting and I was afraid the interest rates were going to start going up. I knew I couldn't afford even a 6% interest rate on my budget and in my housing price range, so I knew I had to act quickly. I reluctantly decided that I didn't have the luxury of continuing the search for land, so I started looking at site-builts.
Fortunately, I have an excellent real estate agent (not pushy, good listener,,etc.) and the 3rd time we went out I picked out a house I could live with, I made a really low-ball offer, (which my agent said was "asking for the moon") and - lo and behold - the seller accepted it. I got a 5.5% fixed interest rate (I wanted a lower rate than that but was afraid to take the chance that it would go higher instead of lower) and we're closing on May 15th.
Although I'm very excited about starting a "new life" (I'm getting a divorce also ), I would have much preferred to live on a couple of acres in a brand new manufactured home, but I haven't ruled that out in the future. I'm hoping that when I retire (15 or more years from now), I'll be able to move out in the boonies because commuting to work will no longer be a consideration.
I could say a whole lot about the injustice of the Zoning Boards discriminating against manufactured housing but you've heard it all before so I won't repeat myself but, folks - private property rights are disappearing in this country and if we don't start putting pressure on our elected officials, they're going to disappear altogether! At the risk of sounding melodramatic - I see America crumbling around us and it's distressing, to say the least. ALL of our rights - not just property rights - are being given up by too many people who value safety over everything else.
I intend to keep on visiting this site but my manufactured home will have to wait a few more years. On the bright side - who knows what great improvements and options will be available in manufactured housing 15 years from now?
Yours for freedom,
Mrs. X
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Mrs X
Re: One more thing
I forgot to say - Good luck to you in your new home, Dan. That instant equity is fanTAStic! Keep us posted on your doublewide experience.
I agree with you that Randy and Mr Murray have lots of valuable advice and we all benefit from it.
I agree with you that Randy and Mr Murray have lots of valuable advice and we all benefit from it.
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Carol
Re: One more thing
Mrs. X,
How nice to hear from you! I, too, have missed your posts. I learned a lot from the good questions you asked here. Congratulations on finding your new home. I wish you much happiness there.
I confess that it looks like I might buy something else too. I just could not get the upgrades I wanted with my floorplan. For example, it just didn't make sense to buy a $90,000 + home with Novadeck flooring. So I am buying a modular (for quality and exterior) gutted - just four walls. Then I am having my builder build my MH floor plan inside. I realize this might seem a bit extreme, but I would never be happy spending all that money for something I would not love 100 percent, and worse, something I would worry about. (I welcome and greatly appreciate any suggestions and comments from the msg. board experts on this decision.)
You are wise to decline the long commute. I once drove 50 miles one way to work (all interstate, but 12 miles) and it was exhausting.
I hope the manufacturers learn that they have a market of informed consumers and work to become a little more flexible. (I only became informed thanks to the experts here. Thank you all!)
Dan,
Congratulations on your new home too. I trust you will find every happiness there.
How nice to hear from you! I, too, have missed your posts. I learned a lot from the good questions you asked here. Congratulations on finding your new home. I wish you much happiness there.
I confess that it looks like I might buy something else too. I just could not get the upgrades I wanted with my floorplan. For example, it just didn't make sense to buy a $90,000 + home with Novadeck flooring. So I am buying a modular (for quality and exterior) gutted - just four walls. Then I am having my builder build my MH floor plan inside. I realize this might seem a bit extreme, but I would never be happy spending all that money for something I would not love 100 percent, and worse, something I would worry about. (I welcome and greatly appreciate any suggestions and comments from the msg. board experts on this decision.)
You are wise to decline the long commute. I once drove 50 miles one way to work (all interstate, but 12 miles) and it was exhausting.
I hope the manufacturers learn that they have a market of informed consumers and work to become a little more flexible. (I only became informed thanks to the experts here. Thank you all!)
Dan,
Congratulations on your new home too. I trust you will find every happiness there.
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Dan F
Re: One more thing
Thank you for the kudos and enjoy your new homes Carol and Mrs.X.
Oh and we don't hate you Mrs. x for buying sitebuilt. That long of a commute would also deter me.
Oh and we don't hate you Mrs. x for buying sitebuilt. That long of a commute would also deter me.
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rmurray
Re: One more thing
Sorry...but your solution seems to confuse me...Most manufacturers offer upgrades from the pressboard floors to at least OBS..which is nothing to worry about...Also..there has to be other manufacturers with this floorplan..or who will build it custom...Your solution seems like it will cost substancially more money....
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Carol
Re: One more thing
Thank you for your response, Mr. Murray. And thank you for educating me these many months I've been reading this forum. The manufacturer would not upgrade to OSB and I could not find a manufacturer in my area who would change their floor plan to the extent I needed.
You are certainly right about the higher cost of a modular, but with my particular MH upgrades the cost is close. Also, modular companies invite buyers to custom design the interior, whereas the MH companies seem to discourage changes.
To me, the greatest value in a MH is the interior design. I have never seen a site-built house or a modular that comes close to the beautiful designs of the MH. If I can keep the MH design by translating it into a modular I have exactly what I want.
You are certainly right about the higher cost of a modular, but with my particular MH upgrades the cost is close. Also, modular companies invite buyers to custom design the interior, whereas the MH companies seem to discourage changes.
To me, the greatest value in a MH is the interior design. I have never seen a site-built house or a modular that comes close to the beautiful designs of the MH. If I can keep the MH design by translating it into a modular I have exactly what I want.
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Lyn
Re: One more thing
could you tell me the name of the subdivision in or near Dalonega for manufactered homes. I will be in the market soon.
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