Need help understanding order of the steps in buying a manuf. home.

[Ariana]

I'm really puzzled.
1. Do I pick a house and spend hours selecting all the options I want in order to get a final cost and then find financing or do I secure a loan first and then go find a house?
2. I've been told that a loan pre-approval is not very meaningful, that basically it was a quick review and not assurance that a loan would be approved. If I go through the actual loan process to see if I can be approved or not , can I then decide not to put the loan into effect if I don't like the loan?
Thank you.
Ariana

[rmurray]

1) Probably the BEST place to start is in the book store here...The buyers guides sold here will make buying a simple, pleasant process..plus they will help you avoid potentially thousands of dollars in mistakes...
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2)...You have gotten some good advice...Mortgage "pre-approvals" are about useless....If you apply for a mortgage..You have no obligation to close on this mortgage...This web site is great for learning about mortgages...

Check it out http://www.mtgprofessor.com/

[The Loan Guy]

Ariana, I have been in the Manufactured housing industry since 1983. Please give me a call and I would be more than glad to give you some advice and what steps you should take.


Brad Smith
CountryPlace Mtg.
1-800-918-2045

[Ariana]

Thank you very much. I'll follow your advice.

[admin]

Here are a few places you can click thru that will help you in your housing decisions.
Financing your manufactured or modular home isn't as difficult as you might think. You may be surprised to see the variety of loan options available. Your retailer can help arrange financing for your new home, or if you prefer, you may contact a lender of your choice, by clicking here
Gather the information you need to start the purchase of your manufactured home NOW! You can know before you leave home which local sellers have the homes, locations and even finance programs that best suit your needs. Just fill out the form you will find HERE
Manufactured Housing Multiple Listing Servicehas emerged as the web's number one most popular destination for buyers searching for a manufactured home You can get a very good picture of the prices for various homes in your area. The MLS includes listings BY OWNER, BY DEALER, BY BUILDER and BY FINANCE COMPANIES Listings are searchable by city, state, number of bedrooms and baths, manufacturer, year built and price. Each listing also auto-interfaces with Yahoo Maps. There is a MAP link included each listings individual page. When clicked it will auto-generate a map of the location of the home for sale and the surrounding area.
The Complete Buyers Guide to Manufactured Homes and Land - E-Book Edition  is a no-nonsense, highly readable guide explains just how the manufactured home industry operates, exposes its secrets, and teaches you how to find a dealer worthy of your trust, how to make the right home selection, how to accurately determine the fair price of a home. Exhaustively researched, with extensive input from both industry insiders and consumer advocates, this guide contains much information that retailers, even the good guys, don't want you to know.
The Grissim Ratings Guide to Manufactured Homes Provides at-a-glance listings with key information home shoppers need to make an informed decision. This is the essential buyer’s resource, listing every builder in the U.S., their histories, products, price ranges, construction ratings, need-to-know information and much more. This guide will serve you well as a stand-alone reference for up-to-date information on the companies and the products they build. Plus!, an annotated construction rating chart with 56 criteria you can use to evaluate any home — before you buy. The Ratings’s Guide includes evaluations for All 79 U.S. builders including:
Company background/history
States where sold
Retail price range before tax (price includes transportation & set-up)
Construction rating on a 1-to-10 scale (with 10 being the highest quality)
What distinguishes brand from its competition
Availability of in-house financing and in-house insurance
Warranty structure and length ... AND MUCH MORE

GET MORE DETAILS
"How To Buy A Manufactured-Mobile Home And Save Thousands Of Dollars" is another good place to start and it is available in our book store in both hardbound and e-book editions The author recently combined both of his best selling books, " How To Buy A Manufactured Home And Save Thousands" with his, "Manufactured Home Comparison Guide" into one book. It seemed many readers where interested in both subjects. Now consumers can learn how to save thousands when purchasing a manufactured home along with Randy Eaton's comparison guide, which rates over 50 of the most popular builders in the United States.
If your considering A modular home. Do some independent research. Read the    Modular Home Buyers Guide   You can get it in print or E Book versions
Home buyers MUST take responsibility for their home installation. If you want to enjoy your home for years to come the site prep and installation must be handled properly. Even if you're not planning on doing the work yourself, it is critical that home buyers understand the entire process.
The most effective way I have found to learn about the step by step process involved in properly installing a manufactured home is a great five-part video series with George Porter, the industry's most respected installation specialist. Mr. Porter leads you through a two hour viewing experience that will prepare you for the numerous operations and complexities involved in the installation of the modern manufactured home.
If your reading this and you are about to purchase a manufactured home Don't assume that the retailer or the installer are watching out for your best interests. take this crash study course now Click Here for More Details This will give you an edge when choosing sub-contractors and help you make sure the site preparation and installation is done right and to your expectation.