comp on new mh

[Ginger]

I live in southern OH and have been looking at manufactured housing for awhile. I would love to build but I dont think I can afford it for the size I would need. My question is this: I have looked at several homes and my top two manufacturers seem to be redman and clayton. I was trying to figure out which home would be the best quality wise. I'm concearned with construction more than anything. The redman I was looking at is a montery or new moon and the clayton was norris ( the cambridge or century) I have to pay extra for 2x6 on the norris-Standard on redman, are they about the same quality other than that? I feel that most dealers will tell you whatever they need to to sell the home.
Thanks in advance.

[rmurray]

You said.."I feel that most dealers will tell you whatever they need to to sell the home.
Thanks in advance."...

Smart experienced sales persons never lie...A good walk around for an individual home with an experienced sale person could easily take 3 hours...Most customers are not interested in that much detail...so sales person will emphasize the points that will interest you...If you think the sales person is lying to you move on to another one..

When you buy a new manufactured home..it can be a confusing task...You are buying about 5000 individual parts...a set up..steps..a/c..underpinning...land prep...and money...Every single component of the sale is very important to your satisfaction..Every detail should be reviewed and detailed..all should be documented..

Many folks find one of the books from the bookstore here are VERY useful in making the decision..

Be sure to spend a lot of time comparing finance offers..they will be quite different on these products..

Good Luck..be truthful to your sales person..and he/she will be so to you..

P.S...plant tours are a very helpful way to see everything about the home..

[Ginger]

Thank you for the reply...I didn't mean to offend anyone. I simply meant when asking about their product compared to another...Believe me, I am one of those careful shoppers who will spend hours checking things out and asking questions that even surprise the dealer, and I have met two guys who are very well informed, honest and great to work with; but they carry different homes and each explain why theirs is better.
They seem to have the best on the market...everyone cant be the best. I know they are not going to sell themselves as second or third (I wouldnt expect them too, they wouldnt be in business) but when discussing construction issues (which concern me most) they seem to say that their walls are just as strong or the flooring is parallel to others...it is just hard to know which one would be the best.
. I am just having some difficulty trying to figure out just where the construction differences are for such a cost varience. I wonder if it is possible to sometimes be paying for a name rather than the product itself.

[C Yeary]

Ginger!
Don't apologize too soon...YOU ARE CORRECT!! There are alot of dealers & salesman out there that will tell you what you want to hear as long as they you to buy! The previous reply was correct in telling you that there are alot of individual parts to buy a manufactured home, HOWEVER there are also just as many "bait & switch" going on too. FOR EXAMPLE: (1) The price is $65,000 BUT that doesn't include a heat pump. I've talked to dealers that tried to sell me an AC unit instead of a heat pump thinking that I didn't know the difference! (2) The roof trusts are 16" inches on center, then after you go home and read the brochure you find out that the trust are 24" on center! (3) One salesman told me that I could buy down my interest rate at 6% another salesman from the same lot told me the true rate was 4%. The first salesman could have easily added about $1,200 on his commission.

To make a long story short. Mobile home lots have alot of ways to "pump" you at closing. So, don't worry about offending anyone. It's best to ALWAYS get everything in writing before you sign. And make sure you read over EVERYTHING before you sign especially costs.

We're buying a larger manufactured home this spring and I've been doing my home work for a year! You can save thousands if you will be patient and visit more than one lot!

C. Yeary

[rmurray]

The best is most often all in the eye of the beholder..Actually niether on of these homes are the VERY best in the industry..at any price..There are homes available in your area that well might be more expensive..and better yet..

The best for the dollar might be a different question...

We all have to make the decision just how much we wnat to spend..

A plant tour could be very helpful..

[rmurray]

It is true that often times sales folks can truthfully tell you what you want to hear..

Your interest rate story is a good example here...The only 4% loans available today are for variable rate loans..without a buy down this would be a libor loan..one that adjusts rates every 6 months..with no cap on the increses...There are some 4.5% variable rate loans available with adjustments every year..caps..1% per year with an overall cap at 5%...

The 6% mortgage is probably a fixed rate loan for as long as 30 years...A completely different product..both salesperson were honest..and correct...My guess is the first person you talked to is rightly negative on variable rate loans for most customers in this time of very low rates...

The same is often done with pricing..often you will see a stock home with as much as 25K in options in it...go to another salesperson and ask for the same home..list the options you are aware of..and get a "better" price...but..you miss many options...When you order..you do not get the same home you saw..one with the options you asked for..missing all those you did not..

When shopping be sure you are comparing apples to apples..

[Kevin C]

I am also in the process of looking for the "right" MH. I highly recommend you read Randy Eaton's books. They explain construction etc. I also recommend "Buying a Manufactured Home" by Kevin Burnside and "The Complete Buyer's Guide to Manufactured Homes and Land" by John Grissim. All three are excellent books and well worth the $$$.
Kevin C

[Ginger]

Could you please tell me what brand homes are the best (construction wise) in my area?
Like I said, I have looked at quite a few within a 50 mile radius, I havent came across the ones you must be talking about. My parents home was site built in the 60's and looks and feels as solid as the day it was built. Many folks say that a QUALITY built manufactured home is the same as a site built, I would like to find one that still feels that way 40 yrs from now. Is this possible? This will be my permanent home for the rest of my life, as far as I'm concerned and I would like to think that it will be a stable home like my parents.

[Ginger]

Thanks for all the replies. You all have been a great help and I appreciate it.

[rmurray]

Since I am not fully aware of all the product in your area..I have only a couple of suggestions..

Marlette out of IN...has been a top of the line product for years..and is now owned by Clayton..

Palm Harbor..built right in your area..

Maybe even some of the top of the line modular product avaiable in your area...

All depends on the money you want to spend..