My family of 6 live in a 16' x 74' mobile home on a mini farm outside of Berger, Mo. approximately 85 miles west of St. Louis. Last year in
July we bought this place, rented out our nice ranch home in New Haven, Mo., to live our dream on a little farm. We could not sell our home due to the housing market. There used to be a log cabin on our property but it burned down 10 years ago so the family that was here decided on the mobile home. It also has a big barn, chicken house and several out buildings. This has been my dream since a child on my Grandmas' farm. When we purchased this place we wanted to build a house and let someone else take care of all the details of hiring of contractors. We have heard many horror stories of people not showing up to do the work, getting inspections etc. We live in Franklin County and the codes are strict. I, the man of the house, decided to look at a double wide manufactured home on a basement with the consent, as always, of my wife. I would be unable to take care of any plans, permits or contacting contractors due to my business consuming a lot of my time. She was reluctant at first because the first seven years of our wonderful marriage of nineteen plus years were lived in a small mobile home. Clayton Homes seemed to be reputable so we decided on them. They are in Villa Ridge at hwy 44 and 100. When we went to look at them my wife fell in love with an almost 2000 square foot home. Very spacious with four children and it seemed to be a lot of bang for the buck. In March of 2007 we started our venture of a new home. The no down and low interest, as advertised, was very appealing to us. We were told, by Clayton Homes, it would take 90 days tops.
The first process was financing. We decided to go through Clayton Homes for that since they did offer the no money down option. An appraiser was sent out to look at our property; actually, it was not the appraiser herself, but the appraiser's sister who was doing the appraiser a favor. Approximately $25,000.00 was what the appraisal was done at. I would like to be able to find property like ours for that much in Franklin County. Ronnie, the manager at Clayton Homes, said that they had had problems with this appraiser before and would no longer be using her after our incident.
They sent another appraiser and went with another bank to do the financing, as Clayton Homes, for some reason said they could not finance our project after the first appraisal. They then referred us to Southwest Bank in St. Louis, with whom we applied. When they sent us forms to fill out, it was for an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage). That was out of the question for us. We went as far as to cross out the space where it said 'arm' and wrote in 'no arm' and initialed it. We called the bank and Clayton Homes and they both stated that was a mistake and it could not be an ARM with this type of purchase. That was great so we waited. And we waited. More paper work came and we did the same thing. We crossed out where it said 'arm' and wrote 'no arm'. After waiting for five months, closing date was on July 31, 2007. We were very excited on our way to the closing. When we sat down to sign we found that it was indeed an ARM. We had already put down $1000.00, at that time; we were indecisive and debated on whether or not to just walk away. It had been five months and a long, hot summer, in our 16' x 74' mobile home with four children. At closing, we were told by Sheri, from the title company; that the bank would roll the loan over to a 30 year fixed mortgage after all of the building money was spent. Again, we debated, but trusted what they were telling us and we reluctantly signed. We went home not too excited. I (Bill) felt like we had made a big mistake.
The loan officer at the bank which handled our loan is no longer there and we recently told they will not roll our loan over to a 30 year fixed. We will now have to refinance and put out more money for refinance charges but there is much more to the story. This was supposed to be a turn key operation. In September they finally got started. This was not by the contractor who gave the first quote because he did not have time. So they hired a plumber, John Boston, as general contractor to hire all the necessary people. He to took his time but the third week of October the digging began. Week after week the project was put off, promise after promise turned into lies they were all to "busy". We were told 30-60 days, 90 tops to build the home. That turned into 14 weeks. Another lie. I became so frustrated; I fired the general contractor and told Clayton homes I would take over. They agreed. I had to hire people for the electric, septic, and plumbing, that was not problem, as I know a lot of people in those fields. The septic is now complete, the electric and plumping until the home is on the basement. It is now the 9th of December, the contractor Clayton Homes hired to set the home on the basement promise to complete the job before the rains. Many days passed with fair weather, but they had families waiting for their homes that Clayton Homes told us began before us. It has been almost 10 months, something is wrong here. I was told by the project manager, at Clayton Homes, in Villa Ridge they needed to hire someone, to overlook all these jobs because they were way behind on all the promises they had told the other families, waiting on their homes. It is now the rainy season. My property is now a mud bath, and my basement is filling with water and mud. It has been raining for several days now. Last Thursday, I was told by the installer of the home they would be here Thursday to complete the home. Thursday evening at 5-5:30 pm, here they come in the snow, sleet, and rain. The weather man was right again. It was quite a sight, I just shook my head. I was I could express our frustration in the paper but that is in possible. Half the home is on the basement, and half sits in the mud. Oh but there is more. I received a call on Thursday from Linda at D & L Contract, stating they are putting a lean on our property as they have not been paid the full amount. Nor has anyone been paid except John Boston, the second general contractor. He has been paid 19,000 dollars and did pay the excavator what was owed him. John Boston also said he was not paid by Clayton Homes enough money to pay everyone. On paying the 19,000 a lean waver was not exchanged with the money at least not the correct lean waver. As a matter of fact, we do not have any lean wavers from anyone and were told that all those not paid, by John Boston, are pursuing liens on property. At the end of December it will be five months since closing, if the weather man is correct, as he usually is, Christmas will come and go and no new home.
It is now the 13th day of December and the home is on the basement but has a bent frame from installation. I also received a call last night from the regional office of Clayton Homes and was told they would not pay twice on any of the work completed and it's my problem if the contractors put a lien on our property. I was also told if I didn't accept the home the would buy it back and take it off the basement
Would a lawyer do any good? Thanks, Billy J.
July we bought this place, rented out our nice ranch home in New Haven, Mo., to live our dream on a little farm. We could not sell our home due to the housing market. There used to be a log cabin on our property but it burned down 10 years ago so the family that was here decided on the mobile home. It also has a big barn, chicken house and several out buildings. This has been my dream since a child on my Grandmas' farm. When we purchased this place we wanted to build a house and let someone else take care of all the details of hiring of contractors. We have heard many horror stories of people not showing up to do the work, getting inspections etc. We live in Franklin County and the codes are strict. I, the man of the house, decided to look at a double wide manufactured home on a basement with the consent, as always, of my wife. I would be unable to take care of any plans, permits or contacting contractors due to my business consuming a lot of my time. She was reluctant at first because the first seven years of our wonderful marriage of nineteen plus years were lived in a small mobile home. Clayton Homes seemed to be reputable so we decided on them. They are in Villa Ridge at hwy 44 and 100. When we went to look at them my wife fell in love with an almost 2000 square foot home. Very spacious with four children and it seemed to be a lot of bang for the buck. In March of 2007 we started our venture of a new home. The no down and low interest, as advertised, was very appealing to us. We were told, by Clayton Homes, it would take 90 days tops.
The first process was financing. We decided to go through Clayton Homes for that since they did offer the no money down option. An appraiser was sent out to look at our property; actually, it was not the appraiser herself, but the appraiser's sister who was doing the appraiser a favor. Approximately $25,000.00 was what the appraisal was done at. I would like to be able to find property like ours for that much in Franklin County. Ronnie, the manager at Clayton Homes, said that they had had problems with this appraiser before and would no longer be using her after our incident.
They sent another appraiser and went with another bank to do the financing, as Clayton Homes, for some reason said they could not finance our project after the first appraisal. They then referred us to Southwest Bank in St. Louis, with whom we applied. When they sent us forms to fill out, it was for an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage). That was out of the question for us. We went as far as to cross out the space where it said 'arm' and wrote in 'no arm' and initialed it. We called the bank and Clayton Homes and they both stated that was a mistake and it could not be an ARM with this type of purchase. That was great so we waited. And we waited. More paper work came and we did the same thing. We crossed out where it said 'arm' and wrote 'no arm'. After waiting for five months, closing date was on July 31, 2007. We were very excited on our way to the closing. When we sat down to sign we found that it was indeed an ARM. We had already put down $1000.00, at that time; we were indecisive and debated on whether or not to just walk away. It had been five months and a long, hot summer, in our 16' x 74' mobile home with four children. At closing, we were told by Sheri, from the title company; that the bank would roll the loan over to a 30 year fixed mortgage after all of the building money was spent. Again, we debated, but trusted what they were telling us and we reluctantly signed. We went home not too excited. I (Bill) felt like we had made a big mistake.
The loan officer at the bank which handled our loan is no longer there and we recently told they will not roll our loan over to a 30 year fixed. We will now have to refinance and put out more money for refinance charges but there is much more to the story. This was supposed to be a turn key operation. In September they finally got started. This was not by the contractor who gave the first quote because he did not have time. So they hired a plumber, John Boston, as general contractor to hire all the necessary people. He to took his time but the third week of October the digging began. Week after week the project was put off, promise after promise turned into lies they were all to "busy". We were told 30-60 days, 90 tops to build the home. That turned into 14 weeks. Another lie. I became so frustrated; I fired the general contractor and told Clayton homes I would take over. They agreed. I had to hire people for the electric, septic, and plumbing, that was not problem, as I know a lot of people in those fields. The septic is now complete, the electric and plumping until the home is on the basement. It is now the 9th of December, the contractor Clayton Homes hired to set the home on the basement promise to complete the job before the rains. Many days passed with fair weather, but they had families waiting for their homes that Clayton Homes told us began before us. It has been almost 10 months, something is wrong here. I was told by the project manager, at Clayton Homes, in Villa Ridge they needed to hire someone, to overlook all these jobs because they were way behind on all the promises they had told the other families, waiting on their homes. It is now the rainy season. My property is now a mud bath, and my basement is filling with water and mud. It has been raining for several days now. Last Thursday, I was told by the installer of the home they would be here Thursday to complete the home. Thursday evening at 5-5:30 pm, here they come in the snow, sleet, and rain. The weather man was right again. It was quite a sight, I just shook my head. I was I could express our frustration in the paper but that is in possible. Half the home is on the basement, and half sits in the mud. Oh but there is more. I received a call on Thursday from Linda at D & L Contract, stating they are putting a lean on our property as they have not been paid the full amount. Nor has anyone been paid except John Boston, the second general contractor. He has been paid 19,000 dollars and did pay the excavator what was owed him. John Boston also said he was not paid by Clayton Homes enough money to pay everyone. On paying the 19,000 a lean waver was not exchanged with the money at least not the correct lean waver. As a matter of fact, we do not have any lean wavers from anyone and were told that all those not paid, by John Boston, are pursuing liens on property. At the end of December it will be five months since closing, if the weather man is correct, as he usually is, Christmas will come and go and no new home.
It is now the 13th day of December and the home is on the basement but has a bent frame from installation. I also received a call last night from the regional office of Clayton Homes and was told they would not pay twice on any of the work completed and it's my problem if the contractors put a lien on our property. I was also told if I didn't accept the home the would buy it back and take it off the basement
Would a lawyer do any good? Thanks, Billy J.
