The Fleetwood buyout..........

[Bill]

Hello all. My wife and I have been approved for a home from CountryWide with a good rate, the appraisal is finished and our double wide is in the process of being built. Things were looking good..... Then, I came across the post here that says Clayton has purchased Fleetwood. Fleetwood is where our home is coming from. I called the lady from the Fleetwood office that is working on our deal. She is 'in training' this week. I have questions!!! Will this buyout mean anything to us? Will our home be built at the same plant by the same people? Will the same people who we've already met be the ones to deliver and set the home? Will this affect our 10 year warranty? I am kind of upset that no notification whatsoever was given. I feel that since this has happened right in the middle of our purchase, they could have least mentioned it. Anyone have any feedback as to how and if this might affect those of us who are in the process of buying from a company that has changed hands?

Thanks everyone!

Bill

[David Oxhandler]

DON’T PANIC!

Fleetwood has sold only their retail stores NOT their factories. Fleetwood will still be a strong builder and competitor to Clayton.

[Bill]

Thanks for responding, David. But now, I'm really confused. How could they buy their retail stores but not their factories and why would they compete with themselves? They've changed their names from Fleetwood Homes to Freedom Homes in our area which made us think Fleetwood no longer exists. Sorry if this is a stupid question but I'm sooo in the dark on this one! lol
Again, thank you, David, for responding. I have learned so much from you on this forum.

Bill

[David Oxhandler]

Good question Bill.

They have not shared the game plan with me but.... I would guess that many of the old Fleetwood retail locations will sell off the homes they have and start to carry the Clayton brands as they re-inventory. While Fleetwood will return to the practice of supplying independent dealerships.

Anyone who works/worked at a Fleetwood Retail Center out there ???

[rmurray]

Fleetwood built homes will all be sold by independent dealers..some owned by Clayton...If youer sale person told you that Fleetwood had a 10 year warranty..they,,needed training..Fleetwood warranty is only 1 year.......Ask to see one and read it...The dealer will have a complete copy.....If you were dealing with a Fleetwood owned strore..you will likely be seeing all new folks....Clayton will keep some of the old ones but probably change most...

[Bill]

Rmurray,
As I understand it, manufactured homes financed through an FHA loan in WV must have a 10 year warranty. I have seen the paperwork on this and we were also told this by dealers other than Fleetwood when we were looking at homes. While we were going through the loan process, we were read a list of all the things that were required for an FHA loan on a manufactured home--permanent foundation, sidewalks, driveway, etc. as well as the home must have a 10 year warranty. We also qualified for a good conventional rate and were told that we would have a one year warranty only. We decided to go FHA and were then told of the 10 year warranty during the loan process. I didn't know this wasn't the norm and I gather from your repsonse that it isn't. So far, the same people are at the newly named Fleetwood place. We sure picked a bad time to buy a home!!! Again, thanks for your responses.