manufactured home

[farmguy]

Our one daughter and her husband are looking for a home with a few acres. They found just what they wanted and in a good area. But it is a 2003 manufactured home. I have read that manufactured homes after 1976 and 1994 the specs for manufactured homes are the same as stick built homes. Of course manufactured home do have a certain look. Anyone have any insight? She called me and the realtor photos look great but this is a big investment for them and I said I would ask around and of course the cattle today folks may have some experience. thanks farmguy

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I’m in the mortgage business and lend on manufactured homes all the time. I would not hesitate buying one like you’re describing particularly if it’s in the right area and I liked the land. I’d recommend a home inspection and their lender will require a foundation inspection to ensure it has been properly tied down. If they are paying cash I suggest they have the foundation inspection done themselves. If it’s not currently on a permanent foundation I would not buy it. If it was set up elsewhere prior to this location it will not be lendable.

Feel free to PM me if you’d like to talk further. I’m not licensed in Minnesota so I’m not fishing for business but that’s also a disclaimer that I don’t know the laws up there either.

 

[farmguy]

It is a double wide with a full basement. The basement is just started being finished as far as family room etc. The furnace, water heater etc. are in the basement. There is a center beam with supports. There is a upgraded heat storage system also which I don't know much about. I do appreciate all your comments.

 

[snoopdog]

Thats real close to the lifespan of the plumbing fixtures and fittings, and of course the roof. What kind of siding, and is it guttered? They are notorious for not having enough overhang. Carpet padding is also notoriously cheap and would be near the end if its original.

 

[cowrancher75]

well.. things do need replaced.. people can't expect everything to be brand new in every house they buy for pennies on the dollar..


I sell a lot of houses and its amazing how perfect everyone wants one to be.. I had one walk away the other day because 1 window had a little haze.. insane.

 

[ga.prime]

If you ever get water in between double paned windows, it'll never go away.

 

[cowrancher75]

If you ever get water in between double paned windows, it'll never go away.

this is exactly what i'm talking about.


walking away from a 50-100 dollar window repair.. or worse yet a 200-400 replacement? like i said.. insane.

 

[sim.-ang.king]

Find out what material the floor decking is made of. If its particle board, tell them to run or plan on replacing asap. Single wides are hard to get financing on from my experience. Check underneath and make sure all the insulation is intact and not sagging. Heat tape on the plumbing lines, and check the breakers for any sign of charring.

From the houses I've seen the floors were the first to go. It's not fun replacing decking on a standing house.

 

[JMJ Farms]

If you ever get water in between double paned windows, it'll never go away.

Drill a hole in the bottom corner. Let it dry out. Fill hole with high quality clear silicone. Or just replace the sash or window.

From the houses I've seen the floors were the first to go. It's not fun replacing decking on a standing house.

Nope. Not fun. But it’s not as bad as some think. I’ve done a bunch of them. Just got to get there and do it. I’ve even replaced the seals under a house that were termite damaged. That was a chore. I guess things like these don’t bother me as much because I’ve done this type of work all my life. But not arguing with you. It’s still not fun.

 

[sim.-ang.king]

From the houses I've seen the floors were the first to go. It's not fun replacing decking on a standing house.

Nope. Not fun. But it’s not as bad as some think. I’ve done a bunch of them. Just got to get there and do it. I’ve even replaced the seals under a house that were termite damaged. That was a chore. I guess things like these don’t bother me as much because I’ve done this type of work all my life. But not arguing with you. It’s still not fun.

To make it even more fun, throw in a few warped or twisted joist. op:

 

[ga.prime]

If you ever get water in between double paned windows, it'll never go away.

Drill a hole in the bottom corner. Let it dry out. Fill hole with high quality clear silicone. Or just replace the sash or window.

Too late, I already replaced the whole unit. I'll try that "drill a hole trick" if it ever happens again. It won't happen again by me leaving a garden sprinkler dowsing water on it all night long.

 

[Bigfoot]

Not the answer you might want, but I’d pass. Buy or build a conventional home, that’s in their price range. You can always add on later. To me a manufactured isn’t a lifetime product. I especially wouldn’t want to be in during a storm. Might even sleep in tennis shoes during a tornado watch, so I’d have a running chance of getting out.

 

[Ky cowboy]

From the houses I've seen the floors were the first to go. It's not fun replacing decking on a standing house.

Nope. Not fun. But it’s not as bad as some think. I’ve done a bunch of them. Just got to get there and do it. I’ve even replaced the seals under a house that were termite damaged. That was a chore. I guess things like these don’t bother me as much because I’ve done this type of work all my life. But not arguing with you. It’s still not fun.

To make it even more fun, throw in a few warped or twisted joist. op:

I live in a double wide as of now I'll never have another. Cheap everything, and I just had to replace subflooring thru most of the house. Luckily I had a water leak so insurance had to pay for it. But I got mine as a foreclosure,after our house burnt down, so I should make some money on mine when we build next spring. Modular homes are quick fix that most of the time depreciates.

 

[True Grit Farms]

My wife is the queen of a double wide trailer and is pretty darn happy. She went from a very nice house with pool, garage and a breeze way - mud room to a trailer. We bought our trailer new and ordered most of the available upgrades. The quality of the craftsmanship stinks and the hardware is as cheap as it comes. But we've only had a few issues in 14 years. I paid a couple of thousand dollars extra to have the trailer built and tied down to Broward County, FL building codes. Everything ended up costing just less than $30 a square foot and we were living in Georgia in less than 5 weeks.

 

[callmefence]

About the turn of the century I got into a argument with a homebuilder over a atained concrete floor. After telling him to go hump a stump I stopped by a palm harbor lot on the way home. I ended up writing a check for 35,000 on a 2200 square foot double wide. Paid off the other 35000 in 5 years. It was a demo and discounted from 100,000 approx.
I poured a slab with concrete I beams that matched the I beams on the house. Tucked up in some huge oak trees. We pulled the thing in there sat it down on the I beams and welded it down. Then rocked it 3 foot up with limestone block. With slab and septic i had about 85,000 in it. Vs 220,000 for the custom home. The taxes are about 1200 vs 4000.00. do the math over 17 years. Anyone who thinks a mobile can't be a good investment can't ****ing count.
There gave been floor issues. But nothing you wouldn't expect with any building.
I live in my grandparents old house now. My son and Dil live in my old house. I pay a fair rent to my mom, my son pays a fair rent to me, which I pay to mom. Everyone gets what they need here as long as they pull their wieght and respect the hierarchy.

 

[greybeard]

My wife is the queen of a double wide trailer and is pretty darn happy. She went from a very nice house with pool, garage and a breeze way - mud room to a trailer. We bought our trailer new and ordered most of the available upgrades. The quality of the craftsmanship stinks and the hardware is as cheap as it comes. But we've only had a few issues in 14 years. I paid a couple of thousand dollars extra to have the trailer built and tied down to Broward County, FL building codes. Everything ended up costing just less than $30 a square foot and we were living in Georgia in less than 5 weeks.

Almost an 'instant house'.
I've lived in several "mobile homes" when I was moving often in the military and I owned one in La. One of my nieces lives in one now..it's not bad compared to the ones they used to build with 2x2 walls and exterior doors that seem to be always opening on their own. My brother once had a single wide that was so narrow, you had trouble carrying a clothes basket down the hallway to where the washing machine was. Really narrow hallway.

I won't say I'll never live in another one, I but sure don't want to.

 

[True Grit Farms]

My wife is the queen of a double wide trailer and is pretty darn happy. She went from a very nice house with pool, garage and a breeze way - mud room to a trailer. We bought our trailer new and ordered most of the available upgrades. The quality of the craftsmanship stinks and the hardware is as cheap as it comes. But we've only had a few issues in 14 years. I paid a couple of thousand dollars extra to have the trailer built and tied down to Broward County, FL building codes. Everything ended up costing just less than $30 a square foot and we were living in Georgia in less than 5 weeks.

Almost an 'instant house'.
I've lived in several "mobile homes" when I was moving often in the military and I owned one in La. One of my nieces lives in one now..it's not bad compared to the ones they used to build with 2x2 walls and exterior doors that seem to be always opening on their own. My brother once had a single wide that was so narrow, you had trouble carrying a clothes basket down the hallway to where the washing machine was. Really narrow hallway.

I won't say I'll never live in another one, I but sure don't want to.

My place outside of Cameron, LA was an old 70's single wide. There was no sign of it after Hurricane Rita passed through.

 

[cowrancher75]

you can get some with 2x6 walls.. upstairs.. basements..etc.. i've been in some really nice ones. they pulled one in next to my parents and its like 2400 sq ft 4 bed / 3bath

 

[greybeard]

My wife is the queen of a double wide trailer and is pretty darn happy. She went from a very nice house with pool, garage and a breeze way - mud room to a trailer. We bought our trailer new and ordered most of the available upgrades. The quality of the craftsmanship stinks and the hardware is as cheap as it comes. But we've only had a few issues in 14 years. I paid a couple of thousand dollars extra to have the trailer built and tied down to Broward County, FL building codes. Everything ended up costing just less than $30 a square foot and we were living in Georgia in less than 5 weeks.

Almost an 'instant house'.
I've lived in several "mobile homes" when I was moving often in the military and I owned one in La. One of my nieces lives in one now..it's not bad compared to the ones they used to build with 2x2 walls and exterior doors that seem to be always opening on their own. My brother once had a single wide that was so narrow, you had trouble carrying a clothes basket down the hallway to where the washing machine was. Really narrow hallway.

I won't say I'll never live in another one, I but sure don't want to.

My place outside of Cameron, LA was an old 70's single wide. There was no sign of it after Hurricane Rita passed through.

Cameron skeeters probably hauled it off into the marsh.......

 

[Brute 23]

I would stay away because of the resale alone. No matter what you do to it, right or wrong, when people see manufactured home they are done. If you buy one you better die there. It will have no resale value.