New House Cost

[hillcountrybuyer]

Okay, USDA financing for a modular home ended in failure, We were near closing on a Patriot Homes Corpus Christi modular home on a $5K lot for under $109K.

This time around, due to my spouse not being employed, I may have only $80K to work with. Assuming the same cost for the lot, I need to find out how much home I can afford. The Corpus Christi was $87K + $21K for land, utilities, and all other costs. So I guess that'll leave me with $60K for base price, options, freight, taxes, and set-up. A reduction of $27K from a modular, 1524 sq ft, very optioned-out Patriot Homes model to a HUD, 1400 sq ft,, with just the essentials.

Right now, my front-runners are a HUD-code, ranch-style, 13-1400 sq ft. Patriot or Solitaire. The standards from both manufactures fulfill most of my requirements. The options for Patriot would be around 300-3500, compared with $8000 in options I had for the Corpus Christi. Solitaire's standards leave nothing more to be desired.

There's a 1400 sq ft Solitaire model I'm looking at. Then there's the 1440 sq. ft. Sabine from Patriot Homes. I have yet to call around and price these out to my specifications. The price per square foot for these examples seem pretty low... $42 +/- with options. Is this somewhat in-line with common pricing for these houses?

[hillcountrybuyer]

I suppose I answered my own questions in that post. I think I've learned a lot from these forums and my past couple of dealer experiences that went south. We've spoken several dealers and priced out comparable models from Patriot and Solitaire... also considering Athens Park Homes' Pacesetter series.

So far, Solitaire seems to be the most structurally sound and well insulated standard, and the pricing can't be beat. I just think the inside is kind of drab compared to Patriot and Athens Park Homes... then again, that's cheaper and easier to upgrade later than subflooring, insulation, and exterior wall thickness.

Patriot Homes seems to be offering fewer and fewer models in the size/price range we're looking at. They've cut 2 of the 4-5 models that would fit well on our lot since we began looking several months ago. Athens Park Homes has 2x4 ext. wall standard, and 19/32 OSB flooring; compared to 2x6 ext. walls and 3/4 subflooring from Solitaire. The Alamo series from Patriot and Athens Park Homes has 20 year shingles, compared to Solitaire's 30 year shingles. It goes on and on. Hopefully we'll have this all sorted out soon.. I keep going in circles on which builder I prefer.

[David Oxhandler]

Often builders can option in the type of features your looking for. Talk to your dealer about ordering exactly what your looking for from the factory.

Check out the Patriot Homes Web Site to see what they have available and contact them if you have any questions about thier products.

Patriot Homes, Inc.
10440 CR 2
Middlebury, Indiana 46540
Phone: (574) 825-4334
Fax: (574) 825-4234
patriothomes.com

You can also visit the Solitaire Homes web site and contact them.

Solitaire Support Center
Phone: 580-252-6060
Fax: 580-252-6072
[email protected]

[andrew3d]

Who did you finally decide to go with? I am just curious about who won your business?

[hillcountrybuyer]

Well, I'm looking at a Legacy Housing model which would give me more features and the highest square foot per dollar. I haven't seen it yet, but will definitely give it a look over and probe for construction quality specs. A relative unknown but pending build quality, could be a front runner. Pics look good and I can have it T&T by the dealer.

Patriot's kind of out of the running due to cost, plus they just don't offer the level of quality materials Solitaire does for the price.

Solitaire sounds good too, superior construction materials and blows Patriot's Alamo series away in features. Probably the best deal but may be too expensive when all is said and done.

If Legacy Housing feels closer to Patriot/Oak Creek than Fleetwood/Clayton, they might have me.

[David Oxhandler]

Keep us posted