Anybody have any good feedback on who makes/sells the best quality manufactured homes available in the NW? Looking to put one on our lake lot & want a nice home that is built right.

 

i have a few rental manufactured homes. I think i have had the best luck ( and for sure the best service) from Four Season Homes.
They are also high on the list for fewest repo's, witch i think speaks volumes for them

 

Thanks for the reply, unfortunately they don't market this far west

 

in that case i would go to a lending institution that finances these (or sometimes dealers will show you if they are ranked high) and ask to see the repo statistics for these type units in your sales area

 

Repos aren't always a good deal . They made Conseco bankrupt . I looked at quite a few of them . Banks have so many of them they try to get full market value for them to recoup their losses . Then finance rates are so high for used homes it ended up being cheaper for me to buy a regular house . Ever think about checking out log homes or Jim Walter homes ?

 

my intent is not to buy the repo's --my intent is to look at the market and see witch brands are leading the pack in repo's. This can be an insight to the quality of the homes.

 

Jim walter homes are not worth the time the are pathetic and if JW finances it your really going to get screwed a 100,000 dollar house will cost you about 300,000 by the time they get done.They hire any jackleg carpenter and pay 1970's wages and they use the cheap stuff not to mention they cant build a square house.

 

Hey Wild Bill we have a Palm Harbor & love it. 1580 sq ft. Fit & finish is good, no problems in almost 6 yrs now. I went to a home show in Salem & they had a cutawy of how the house is constructed. What sold me is no particle board, no strap hinges on doors (3 1/2 x 3 1/2 square corner butts), brass shut off valves instead of plastic, duct work is insulated & wraped so it doesn'r expand 7 contract every time the furnace kicks on.
Not sure where in Washington you are but if you come down to Albany Or. you can tour the factory & see how they are built. They are right off I-5 I think exit 242.
Hope this helps
Glenn

 

Yeah Palm Harbor are real popular here, we looked at some several years back and they were real nice.
With a handle like tankeryanker I have to ask who you drive for? I drive for Sealy out of Portland.
Eric

 

Glenn, thanks for the info! A trip to Albany would be well worth the time when you talking buying a house.

 

I work for General Manufactured Housing in Georgia, I do the Enginerring for them. No matter what manufactured hom you buy, they will all have their qwarks. Try and find one that has 2x8 floor joists, and 2x4 walls. Where I am, we build with 2x6 floor joists, and then only have 2x4 in exterior walls. everything else is 2x3. Any house that is built on a frame, and not a jig, will be out of square. The mobile home frame starts out with a huge hump in the front from all the reverse camber that is added to carry the weight. The rim rails of the floorjoists take the shape of the frame until enough weight is added to reverse the camber. In my humble opinion, modular homes are well worth there costs. you get a house at lot lower price than stick built, and they appreciate in value just like your regualr home, versus the depreciation of the mobile homes. Just be sure to walk the entire house if you decide to buy a mobile, and make a list of the things that need to be fixed. Yes even on the new ones, and present it to the retailer before you purchase. That way they do not skimp out on yah..

 

we have had two Golden Wests and Loved them both but not sure about the Company now the one we are still in is over 11 years old now.

 

If you're putting it on your own land, contact a few foundation contractors prior to bidding. See what their opinions are on the various models they've installed. They might be eager to offer advice if they think your gonna take a bid from them. A lot of them are getting built better now because most Zoning has been stepped up to try to keep a lot of them out. Plus, your in a northern state so they have more insulation and snow load requirements to meet than models built down south. Look at window and door quality and kitchen and bath components. If it looks like garbage, then they probably put the same emphasis in building it.

 

I have a Chelsea Home and am very pleased with it. They only serve the northeastern states though, but you could use it as a guide. They're built for cold weather and snow loads; 2X6 outer walls, insulated between floors, 5/8" sheet rock, 2X8 floors, 4 2x10's with a 1/2"x10" steel plate sandwiched between them for a central beam.

 

I second the thoughts on the Modulars. Here in the Mid Atlantic (less Rural areas) Mobiles are frowned on. I know the more Rural you get, the harder it is to find skilled labor for the masonry and such. Modulars on the other hand keep right up in price with ANY other homes. Matter of fact, we have seen 2500 Sq. Foot Colonial with the ever popular Two Story Foyers, decked out with hardwood/ceramic flooring and 9 foot ceilings.