oakwood

[kathy roberts]

does anyone have any info on oakwood homes, we live in oregon and are very close to purchasing a home from oakwood unless we are given good reason not too!! i've read they have filed chapter 11 but i am not quite sure how that could affect us. thanks anyone who can help!! kathy

[John Grissim]

Kathy,

For a capsule look at what a number of industry insiders think of Oakwood, please see this site's link to the 25 Top Manufacturers rated, and mouse down to Oakwood. The ratings are excerpted from Chapter 10 of my consumer's guide to MH, published just this past spring by Rainshadow Publications (and available here in the bookstore).

Oakwood gets a mixed review. If you connect with a solid, reputable dealer who will go to bat with you, you can get a good home. But, my research uncovered a few pockets of anger, frustration and resentment on the part of some Oakwood home purchasers, mostly over failures to correct significant warranty issues after move-in.

The situation may have changed, but rumors persisted in the late 1990s that Oakwood, to save costs as it began a grim slide toward bankruptcy, began cutting back on warranty work, which infuriated many owners. One even started a website called screwedbyoakwood.com.

This said, with the arrival of financier Warren Buffet, whose Berkshire-Hathaway investment group has rescued Oakwood, the turnaround to come, and Buffet's good reputation, could correct many, if not most, of Oakwood's shortcomings.

John Grissim

PS. The book's title is The Complete Buyer's Guide to Manufactured Homes and Land. How to find a reputable dealer and negotiatiate a fair price on the best-kept secret in American housing.

[rmurray]

A few facts....Berkshire Hathaway will only be a stockholder..like thousands of others...they will hold 40% of the outstanding shares...but will not be running Oakwood in any way..

The web site you mentioned...was started by a former service representative of Oakwood...not an upset consumer..

[John Grissim]

Thanks for the input.

Re Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway, while they of course will not be running the company, with a 40% stake in Oakwood, I would not be surprised to see them exercise a positive influence in helping Oakwood's management.