Manufactured home questions

[Harley]

My wife and I are planning to buy either a manufactured home or a modular soon. Can someone tell me the top three brand of homes available here in Indiana? What price range would be be looking at in the 14-1500 sq foot range? Do you think it's possible to buy a new home that is good quality for around $60,000 (just the home)? What does a typical basement cost to add onto a 1400-1500 sq foot home?
Any advice would be much appreciated.

Please don't direct me to purchasing some book. I'm looking for responses from people that have bought and lived in these homes and not just an authors point of view.

Thank you

Harley

[Mac]

You are wanting to spend $60,000, but don't want to invest what - $40 - to get more info? This isn't a heavily traveled forum. You may get some good info, but also, you may not. No, I don't sell the book...I live in a Karsten home in NW Oregon.

[Harley]

No, I don't want to spend $40 or even $1 for ONE persons perspective. I would rather have several - and for free.

[rmurray]

Would you want a surgeon who was too cheap to buy his text books???...

I saw your next post about FREE info....In this world most advice is worth about what you pay...Pay 0 get 0 value...

You asked if a quality home can be had for 60K in 1500 feet...Not by my standards of quality...The better quality homes sell for plus $50/ sq.ft. in this size.. That would be at least $75K plus another $20K for a basement..Of course that is only my free opinion...The buyers guide will help you to define what you call quality in the way of features and basic building techniques.....

[John Grissim]

Harley,
I gotta tell you, I agree with the guy who lives in a Karsten in NW Oregon. I live in a Silvercrest in NW Washington (could us Left Coast MH owners be on to something?). I'm also the author of two guides to MH, the most recent being The Grissim Ratings Guide to Manufactured Homes, just published.

It took me 18 months of full time work to research and write, during which time I received nary a penny for my labors. I spent quite a few thousand of my own dollars to produce and print the book. The idea behind this project was, prudent home shoppers who are looking to make one of the largest investments of their lives would be willing to invest in one or two guides specifically written to help them.

I believe in the Ratings Guide, and that it can help you. OK, you don't want to pay even $1. Here's my offer: give me the name and phone number of your local library and I will donate a copy of the Ratings Guide to their reference desk. Then you may read it for free. Good luck with your home hunt.
John

[Harley]

Like I said, I don't feel that I need to read a book about homes to learn about them. I figured since this was a chat room for modular/manufactured homes I could post my questions and get some live feed back from people with personal experience.. Maybe I was wrong in thinking that there are people here that could answer my questions with some real world knowledge on these homes.

I used to build homes long ago so I know what quality construction is. I was looking for someone to point me towards some quality homes in my area so I didn't waste my time with brands that were known to be of lesser quality.
I was wondering if I could get into a quality home for around $60,000 that way I could still have a basement, land improvements and a garage added and come in under 100K. So I guess I got that question answered.
I had no intentions of offending anyone just because I don't believe in gaining my knowledge from some book.

I will seek my knowledge elsewhere.

Thank you

[David Oxhandler]

Harley -

There are thousands of posts here. use the search field at tht top of the page to find what ever you think your looking for. It is very patriotic of you to follow in the foot steps of our great leader and refuse to learn throught reading.

[rmurray]

I hope by now you have taken John Grisham generous offer..I am sure your library will appreciate the offer and you will be able to get the most current well researched info in the industry...Most of us remember your very first post here in which you mentioned the stick built home you had 5 years ago...The one you had to give up on..We just want to be sure your construction experience and expertise does not let you down again..We also know the industry can be and is wrought with pit falls...Those of us who post here regularly know knowledge is power when you are a home buyer...

Good Luck...

[Tim]

Well we bought a Palm Harbor home and just love it. we looked at several different manufactures and decided to buy Palm Harbor. Take a plant tour and you can see for yourself. Good Luck

[Deb]

I too bought Palm Harbor and am very pleased with it. The dealer and manufacturer were close, and they offered a lot of upgrades. Check 'em out!