Thinking of buying Modular Home???

hearingimpared

Last week I posted a thread about how my wife and I got screwed out of the sale of a new home. :mad: Last Wednesday we went down to Dover DE to check out some other homes for sale. Disgusted with what we saw in our price range we were starting to head home and saw a gas station (I replied to the GAS PRICE thread about this) that had really good prices. While gasing up my wife and I almost simultaneously noticed that across the street was a pre-manufactured home dealer. Just for kicks we checked it out.

We looked at 5 models. I gotta tell you we were both flabbergasted. :eek: These homes were over 2100 sq ft (which is one of our criteria for a home) and absoutely beautiful and well built. These homes looked liked homes we saw that were in the $350 K to $400 K price range which is way out of our league. They all had cathedral ceilings, 2 x 6 contruction, sheet rock walls, heavy joist ceilings, vinyl siding, huge rooms, wood floors, etc etc. We were totally blown away. As I jumped up and down and pounded the walls in each unit to check out how solid they were (I weigh about 270 lbs) I kept saying to Phyllisann, "I can't think of one reason why we wouldn't want to live here." We spoke to the saleman (I know that is what he is) and he told us that when we order the home the manufacturer will contact the municipality where we own the land and find out the insulation code and will install 15% more than the code as normal operating procedures. He also informed us that we could make additions, add decks, steps, garages etc after the home is planted. The only thing is that we could build out, NOT UP because they weren't made to hold that additional weight.

We have been approved for a 5% mortgage and the broker informed us that the home would have to be a "Modular" home. Meaning that the home would have to be crane lifted onto the permanent foundation, and the builder has to connect all the utilities and sewer etc and then build the foundation up around the bottom of the home, this in the mortgage provider's eyes makes the "modular" a "stick built" home. We can get stainless steel appliances, knotty pine fire place, with wainscoat the list goes on for $95K to $97K. The crane work and builders work would be $25K and that leaves us with just the cost of the prepared land which we are seeing for as low as $20K.

Keep in mind that we are not looking to do any moving after this purchase for the next 15 to 20 years, if I live that long.

We realize that these types of homes have been stigmatized as tin can mobiles but I can tell you what we saw and felt were not cheap pieces of ****, they were very well built, we are going back down Wednesday to look at more and check with a realtor that specializes in buying the appropriate land.

Any of you folks have experience or opinions on this? The name of the manufacturer is Summit Crest Homes.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joe

Frank Z

I used to live in a mobile and my mother-in-law currently lives in a "Modular," which is a fancy way of naming a mobile home. Her's sucks, mine sucked.

No matter how much perfume you pour on a ****....it's still a ****. I've gotten to the point that I won't even stock parts for, or go on service calls (HVAC)to any mobile/modular homes.

Let's face it, it's always going to be a mobile home, even if you put it on a foundation. You'll never get you're money out of it like you would a stick built home. Ask Russman, he's in the real estate biz. The land your sitting on may increase in value, but the modular is a really lousy investment.


Besides, they attract tornados.

disneyjoe7

How about the land price and or restrictions on putting one up on it?

BTW home sales or resales are all about location location location.

disneyjoe7

Frank Z wrote:

I used to live in a mobile and my mother-in-law currently lives in a "Modular," which is a fancy way of naming a mobile home. Her's sucks, mine sucked.

Are we talking about mobiles are modulars? I think he was talking about companies who build homes at their factory to be much like a stick home built on site. They are better built then some stick homes. IMHO

billbillw

They may look real nice in the showroom, but things fall apart as they go down the road and get lifted by a crane. They have come a long way, but the others are right about the value of them.

hearingimpared

disneyjoe7 wrote:

Are we talking about mobiles are modulars? I think he was talking about companies who build homes at their factory to be much like a stick home built on site. They are better built then some stick homes. IMHO

You are correct in your assumption. This is not your typical mobile.

disneyjoe7

Ok something like this

http://www.chelseamodular.com/

hearingimpared

disneyjoe7 wrote:

Ok something like this

http://www.chelseamodular.com/

You got IT Joe I mean Steve I mean . . .

hearingimpared

disneyjoe7 wrote:

How about the land price and or restrictions on putting one up on it?

BTW home sales or resales are all about location location location.

We have found land in the same locations that we have been looking for homes in Dover, Wilmington, Smryna, etc Delaware.

Some have restrictions most don't. Some sites are in neighborhoods other are in rural areas. Our concern is the school district which is a biggy when considering location, location, location.

Early B.

Modular homes could quite possibly be the wave of the future for folks with low and moderate incomes. They are being built better and better these days. There's no reason not to seriously consider it. Hell, today's stick built homes are POS anyway, so what's the advantage? Besides, the same building materials are being used for modular homes.

I'd suggest you look around for modular homes that have been assembled for a few years and see what they look like now. Talk to the owners, maybe get a quick tour, then make up your mind.

hearingimpared

Early B. wrote:

Hell, today's stick built homes are POS anyway, so what's the advantage?

What is POS?

Frank Z

Piece of Shizzle!

hearingimpared

You are correct!!! We've been looking at homes for quite a while now and even the older ones that are 20 years and more are not holding up that well.

hearingimpared

A piece of advise we got from the salesman was to buy land with a POS single wide mobile on a permanent foundation. This way the mobile can be torn off and all the utilites, sewer/septic are already on-site. The guy told us that this is the perfect senario to install the modular on. Less work and less money to install.

venomclan

Hi Hearing,
I just cannot see how this is a good investment. While you plan on staying there for a long time, $hit happans and may force you to sell sooner than planned. People usually buy homes as long term investments, this mudular home will not hold value and appreciate as well as a standard house. Also consider who yor neighbors are going to be.
Venom

hearingimpared

I admit that due to the stigma attached to these homes they may not go up in value like houses built from the ground up. However, I find it hard to believe that companies like this link http://www.chelseamodular.com/ are making these huge, stick built like homes and no one is buying them???? Houses are only worth what people are willing to pay for them and a good bit of that is definitely location, location, location. If I can live in a home that looks like a $400K home has the amenities of a $400K home, in a great school district in a nice neighborhood for $175K to $200K and I plan on living there for a long time, why would I buy something a lot smaller without the amenities I wish for, more money, built from the ground up because it MIGHT increase in value down the line. What makes sense to me is to live in what I would like to live in for a price I can afford. This is what the modular allows me to do. Now if the damned thing is going to fall apart around me during the next 10 to 20 years then I would say, NO WAY!.

Something else my wife brings to my attention. . . of the many many homes we've looked at every single one of them is something we would have to SETTLE FOR LESS on for more money each month than we are comfortable spending. Plus we get to live in someone else's filth with someone else's headaches. The modulars look more and more attractive when we look at it from this stand point.

billbillw

hearingimpared wrote:

A piece of advise we got from the salesman was to buy land with a POS single wide mobile on a permanent foundation. This way the mobile can be torn off and all the utilites, sewer/septic are already on-site. The guy told us that this is the perfect senario to install the modular on. Less work and less money to install.

The only problem I see with that is the possibility of drug lab waste out back! Just make sure you don't buy a potential hazardous waste site (this is the work I do in Georiga and its more common than you think!). Due diligance my man!

Polkersince85

If the salesman is any good, ask him for referrals from about 10 clients and go look and talk to them. A well built modular can be a reasonable alternative to the high price of a prestigious address. The mod homes are jig built with supervision on quality. Visit the actual factory where they are built and look at the assembly. I'm sure they will allow this if you are serious. The key to the longivity of the home is the foundation. Don't skimp on this because it will keep everything straight for a long time. Also upgrade on the roofing if possible. Don't lowball the estimates because the actual costs may go up. Get your agent to look up resales of modulars in the MLS. The original sale/mortgage of these may be online at your tax commision office. Do your home work, and think your way through it. Don't give up on other options also, the mod may or may not be your best option. It gets frustrating so don't just throw your hat in and buy anything just to be buying.

hearingimpared

Polkersince85 wrote:

If the salesman is any good, ask him for referrals from about 10 clients and go look and talk to them. A well built modular can be a reasonable alternative to the high price of a prestigious address. The mod homes are jig built with supervision on quality. Visit the actual factory where they are built and look at the assembly. I'm sure they will allow this if you are serious. The key to the longivity of the home is the foundation. Don't skimp on this because it will keep everything straight for a long time. Also upgrade on the roofing if possible. Don't lowball the estimates because the actual costs may go up. Get your agent to look up resales of modulars in the MLS. The original sale/mortgage of these may be online at your tax commision office. Do your home work, and think your way through it. Don't give up on other options also, the mod may or may not be your best option. It gets frustrating so don't just throw your hat in and buy anything just to be buying.

Thanks for the feedback . . . I'm taking all this stuff very seriously!

hearingimpared

billbillw wrote:

The only problem I see with that is the possibility of drug lab waste out back! Just make sure you don't buy a potential hazardous waste site (this is the work I do in Georiga and its more common than you think!). Due diligance my man!

Aren't these things supposed to be in seller's & municipal disclosures and wouldn't the realtor know about "potential hazardous waste" sites?

VR3

Coming from a framer whos done both...

Modular homes arnt built nearly as well as stick built houses from the ground up...

Stick built houses are only as good as the framers. Ive seen some "roofers" put together a stick built house and you could sway it side to side... when we put it together, it was very sturdy... of course, if I was building my own house Id do it a bit differently... bracing, more glue, etc...

But, IMO - Modular homes arnt built nearly as well...

billbillw

hearingimpared wrote:

Aren't these things supposed to be in seller's & municipal disclosures and wouldn't the realtor know about "potential hazardous waste" sites?

Most of the time, this isn't a problem with the average residential property, but when you were talking about a POS singlewide, that draws an image (to me) of a rundown property with junk piled up out back. Those are the properties that you want to be careful with. In that type of situation, you just never know. The title owner may not even have a clue, especially if they were renting the trailer to someone. The renters could have dumped stuff, and the seller nor the realator would know squat. Either way, disclosure wouldn't really cover all your bases.

hearingimpared

Vr3MxStyler2k3 wrote:

Coming from a framer whos done both...

Modular homes arnt built nearly as well as stick built houses from the ground up...

Stick built houses are only as good as the framers. Ive seen some "roofers" put together a stick built house and you could sway it side to side... when we put it together, it was very sturdy... of course, if I was building my own house Id do it a bit differently... bracing, more glue, etc...

But, IMO - Modular homes arnt built nearly as well...

Just curious, how long ago did you do the framing of modulars?

According to American Architectural Review series hosted by Morey Shaffer on National Public Television, the frames and overall construction of modulars are much better because the building takes place in a controlled environment rather than being exposed to the elements and off and on construction work plus their using higher quality materials such as 2' X 6' s. Plus the bottom frames are steel etc, etc.

opus

Here is my .02.

This came up in a converstation the other day with 2 carpenters at work. These are serious, no **** ****'s that I would trust with anything that I own or want to own. One said that he would not be caught dead in one and the other said that you would be stupid to not buy one. I'm a painter so wtf do I know but this does point out the differences in opinion that even usually like minded people can have. Good luck on you purchase whatever it is. Make sure you have your terminology right when you are shopping.


kevin

hearingimpared

opus wrote:

Make sure you have your terminology right when you are shopping.
kevin

Thanks Kevin . . . terminology????

hearingimpared

ANYBODY KNOW WHY RUSSMAN HASN'T WEIGHED IN ON THIS YET???? I am waiting with my mouth open for his feedback.

Joe

opus

hearingimpared wrote:

Thanks Kevin . . . terminology????

All I meant is that one persons modular home is another persons mobile home. When comparing opinions make sure that everyone is coming from the same place.

disneyjoe7

Anyone catch that TLC or Discovery show on the couple who built their "Dream Home" what a 5000sq ft home from Modular design...

So what wrong other then Location Location Location. Always the rule.

Holydoc

Be interesting to know if the salesman lives in one or if one of his close friends live in one. How many of the salesmen live in them? That would also give you a good indication if the salesman actually believes in what he is selling.

I wish I had some advice to give but I have never owned any of the new modular homes. Had a trailer I rented out but it was several years old. Had almost no insulation and creaked in the wind. Utility costs were outrageous. My house is just the opposite.

My only worry is the resale value due to the stigma placed on modular homes. But then who knows... in 15 years if you decide to sell, that prejudice may be gone.

hearingimpared

disneyjoe7 wrote:

So what wrong other then Location Location Location. Always the rule.

That is what I keep thinking . . . if the home is in a good school district, in a nice established neighborhood, very low real estate taxes, has exactly what we want in a home, no sales tax in Delaware, low cost of living overall, low mortgage and the house is not going to fall down around us in 20 years, I can't think of any reason why I wouldn't want to live in this home.

hearingimpared

Holydoc wrote:

Be interesting to know if the salesman lives in one or if one of his close friends live in one.

That was my first question to the salesman. His reply was that he can't afford to live in one yet and is currently renting a 3 bedroom home for $900/month. If nothing else I had to give him credit for his candor.