We are moving to the country this summer and plan to buy a mobile home to move there. I went and looked last weekend at a Clayton Homes dealership and let me just say I was floored! I had no idea how beautiful mobile homes were these days. I lived in an old single wide 80's model many years ago and man oh man what a change! I found one I just love but it is a bit more than we want to spend. It is much nicer and larger than my current home. It had two living ares, huge island kitchen, whirpool tub, 4 bedrooms all with walk in closets and came with all brand new appliances (dishwasher, oven/stove, mocrowave, washer and dryer!). For the price they deliver, set up, install ac and heat, put on the skirtting and build a 4x4 platform with stairs at all entrances. After I pick Sam up from school today we are going to another Clayton Homes dealership and then tomorrow we plan to go to 3 more in the area. My husband has not been able to come because of work so I am getting plans of all the ones I like to show him. We may also drive out to a country lot that is open on Sunday. It is a two hour drive from here but they advertise as having double wide repos and we have nothing else to do so we may just make the drive. I am excited about getting a new house!
I have looked at manufactured homes before, is this what you are referring to? They are very nice. In Ohio, they will also put in a basement and a garage. How is the sale of the business going?
My dad lives in one of those manufactured homes, they really are wonderful! His has 3 bedrooms, two living rooms, 2 bathrooms, dining room, kitchen, arizona room, and a carport. His came with all new appliances, curtains/blinds on all windows, and a sofa and love seat.
Have fun looking Tiff. When you are looking, make sure you are paying attention to QUALITY. Most mobiles and modulars are made with very poor quality material. My inlaws just paid a fortune for their brand new modular and it's made with really crappy materials... the counters are formica, the carpets are very cheap looking, the walls are paper thin, etc. They bought it because it looked pretty... I'm sure it won't be long till they regret it.
They do make them very nice now. Have fun shopping for your new home. Keeping my fingers crossed that you find the perfect home at the repo lot and get an incredible deal!
They really have come a long long way from the 80's! I have tried to talk my dh into buying some land and getting one of those...I would love to live out on some acerage away from city life. Good luck with your search!!
We looked at manufactured homes before we decided to build our own. My best friend bought a double wide about 6 years ago. Within the first year, almost all drawers and cabinets had broken--and they didn't even have kids yet. The carpet looks "smashed down". The walls are technically drywall, but they are so thin that they have easily gotten gouged. The price of manufactured homes practically doubled after huricane Katrina. We were able to build our new home for under $65,000. We hired the cement, plumbing, roof, siding and drywall done in that budget, too. We ended up with 1 1/2 story with a walk-out basement, 3 bed 1 1/2 bath home. Just something to consider.
We do actually plan to build on our property just not now. We can't build where we want to right now because that portion of land belongs to my unlce. He is willing it to us and is 84 years old so there is no telling when that portion will be mine. He is strong and healthy as anyone which is awesome! We are going the manufactured home route becuase I have a spot all set up for it already with water, electricity, sewer and a garage. Brooke I don't think there is any possible way that we could get what you got for that amount of money here. What you described would cost well over $100K. We want to buy a mobile home that we can live in for the next 10 years or so and then build. Even the old 1980 model I lived in back in the early 90s was nicer than whay you described. I had no problems with cabinets or carpet or anything of that sort. I am going to let dh worry about the construction and quality because I know next to nothing about that I am sad to say. I just know what I like as far as a floor plan. I find what I like then he comes to look and will let me know if it is total crap or not. The kids love going to look too. They imagine which room theirs would be and how furniture will go. They are so funny doing that!
The place we are moving is 200 acres total. I inherited 65, my brother inherited 65 and my uncle owns the other 70. He has no children and plans to will that to us one day. I can't wait until June! I want to move now!
Sounds like quality must run the gamut...or my friend is just really hard on things! We live in what my family calls the "armpit of America" :lol: It has to be less expensive to live here cuz nobody has jobs anymore! :roll: Have fun looking! We had dreamed of buying one for years just to have a hot tub in our bedroom! :lol:
Brooke I wish we could build what you described for $65k!! That would be a no brainer on what we'd do! We are actually going on a road trip Sunday to check out a lot that is supposed to have doubel wide 4 bedroom repos. I would consider buying used if the price was right.
Tiff... dh and I liked in one in the earlier 80's and loved it, they have come along ways. Have tons of fun... looking that is fun part..
What fun! It is so much fun looking at mobile homes. You get so much more for your money as in a lot more living space and amenities. I lived in a mobile home around 30 years ago and loved it. Have fun shopping.
Well bummer! I drove all the way over to the lot and they were closed!!! A business in Houston closed on a Friday afternoon????? Nuts!
My DH used to work for Palm Harbor Homes. They make some of the nicest manufactured homes I have ever seen. Not only double and single wides, but triple wides and multi-level homes as well. I don't know if they would be in your price range or if you even have a dealer in your area, but I highly recommend them and can attest from a first hand account, (as my DH was the one who had to do any repairs and such) that they are of very high quality. I would love to suggest that you take a look if you get a chance. http://www.palmharbor.com/
We bought our single wide 3 years ago and we LOVE LOVE LOVE it! It is VERY well made (down here they have to be a "zone 3" by law which means it has to withstand 150 mph winds). In our master bedroom, hubby and I EACH have our own bathroom and walk in closet (he has a bathroom with double shower, I have one with a garden tub and built in vanity) and dd has her own bathroom too! I tell everyone that if something happened to our home (God forbid!!!!) I would buy another one the next day!......now to get my darling hubby to build me that porch that runs the length of it............:lol Oh! Fyi~we stayed here for hurricane Ike where we got about 90-100mph winds, and we heard NOTHING in here!!! My mil house (built slab home) sounded like the roof was gonna fly off!
Yes! My momma is looking for a mobile home and the ones we looked at were so well made and so pretty!
Hey! That makes so much sense about the variations in how they are built depending on the wind rating. We have tornados here, but not anything that would cause it to be zoned for high winds. Well, word to the wise: buy your manufactured homes in hurricane country! :lol: Wonder if they would still have free delivery?
I'm down by the gulf too so I wonder if they are rated the same. We are heading out in an hour or so to look some more. The very first one I looked at last weekend is still my favorite but it is about $10K more than we want to spend. I am hoping I can find a better deal this weekend. The guy at the first place said they'd beat the price on anything I found. Wish me good luck and happy shopping today!
Have fun looking!!!! Manufactured, mobile, or stick built, you are going to get what you pay for. My brother recently bought a five bedroom mobile and it is GORGEOUS. It has custom cupboards, granite counters, tile floors, and many upgrades but this is what he paid for. So no, a mobile home doesn't have to be junk. Around here, a mobile home will drop in value as time goes by. A manufactured home will increase in value because it is "supposed" to be build under the same guidelines as a stickbuilt.