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"Wes Johnson combines personal experience with extensive research in a powerful 'must read' for anyone considering buying a manufactured home or currently living in one. The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook really is a wealth of information." -- Peter Tabak, Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings Considering how interest rates are going to affect your bottom line? Financing is often the most important factor when you buy a new home, and financing for manufactured homes often differs radically from that offered for site built home sales. The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook covers finance options and predatory lending more thoroughly than any other guide. Here's a handy little tool that can help you, too: Find today's mortgage rates on this page!
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If you're a current manufactured home owner who has experienced home problems please click here! Welcome to The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook Home Page. The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook is the ultimate consumer guide for manufactured / mobile home buyers who are searching for a quality home at a reasonable price. It's the one book the dealers and the manufacturers don't want you to read. If you are in the market for a manufactured home (or "mobile home") this is the resource that will save you thousands of dollars, and help you avoid buying a very expensive lemon. At this web site you can learn more about The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook and how to obtain it. This Home Page describes The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook's Mission, tells a little about the Author, gives Contact Information, and provides links to the rest of the web site. If you are considering a manufactured home, check out our Housing Links page while you're here. It has terrific consumer web links (like HADD, TAISMHO, and Consumer's Union), a listing of all major mobile home manufacturers' internet addresses, and a great Manufactured Housing Bookstore which covers modular homes, repairing mobile homes, financing, societal ramifications and much more. We have the best manufactured housing web sites list on the internet! Once more, if you're considering buying a manufactured home, there are lots of other pages you will find valuable on this web site including discussions on forced arbitration (1), forced arbitration (2), predatory lending, and our picture gallery of wall studs. If you think that transportation of a manufactured or mobile home to the final site has a negligible effect on quality, that latter picture gallery can be a real eye-opener. There's a good reason why the Manufactured Home Buyers Handbook website is number one on the Internet for the search term “manufactured home problems” on both Google and MSN. The consumer's best friend (and the salesperson's worst enemy) is accurate information, and that is exactly why The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook was written! No other book on the market comes close to the comprehensive coverage The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook gives manufactured home construction, mobile home insurance, or mobile home financing. Yet another major consideration of any prospective home buyer in these times is Energy Star certification or energy efficiency. That's also a major emphasis throughout The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook. Manufacturers have taken note of this trend and have been offering energy efficient Energy Star homes or select Energy Star options more often. Energy Star and other energy efficient options can save you hundreds of dollars per year in utility bills, can qualify many home buyers for tax savings and special lower utility rates, and can have a major impact on Mother Earth. Few people realize our homes can have a more severe impact on the environment than our cars. Since Energy Star solutions save you money while they save the environment, it's a win-win proposition for the new home buyer. To get a feel for how energy efficiency is covered in The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook, you can read part of the Preface, read overviews of each of the book's chapters (Chapter 2), or browse our consumer links (Energy Star Official Website and Change a Light, Change the World in particular). As one reviewer (Kelly Garbato) pointed out: "Wes Johnson devotes a good deal of attention to energy efficiency. While consumers may opt to 'go green' primarily for environment reasons, building an energy efficient home isn’t just the eco-conscious thing to do - it’s also easy on the bank account! An energy efficient home, while more expensive to build up front, will also save you money in the long run, a point that Wes Johnson covers in detail. Since this is an issue that, too often, is glossed over in home buying guides, I was delighted to see the author point out the many benefits of energy efficient planning and materials throughout the book." Another consumer tool has now been added to The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook website: a complete Mortgage Glossary! Are you unsure what escrow is, or how to raise your FICO Score? Do you understand construction loans? (Critical knowledge if you're seeking your own financing for a manufactured home, and you should be in the hunt for your own financing!) The crucial explanations are here, all in an easy to access format. Learn about Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) and Good Faith Estimates. Does your state protect you by requiring an anti-coercion letter? It could mean the difference between being able to source out your own insurance, or being forced to buy it from your mobile home dealer! Understanding your home loan is critical if you want to save money, so do your homework. The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook devotes 35 pages to the topic of manufactured home mortgages, and the critical differences between them and the loans typically offered for traditional homes! A great price on a new home won't help your personal bottom line that much if you get a bad loan, and relatively high percentage of manufactured home shoppers wind up with just that. Don't be one of them!
Our MissionThere are quite a few mobile home
manufacturers operating today. Fleetwood Homes (actual corporate name is
Fleetwood Enterprises), Palm Harbor Homes, Champion Homes (or
Champion Enterprises),
Clayton Homes, Oakwood Homes (which is actually owned by Clayton Homes), Skyline
Homes, Redman Homes (which is actually owned by Champion Homes) . . . there are
dozens of manufacturers out there with hundreds of plants operating from coast
to coast. Virtually every book written for mobile home consumers has been penned
by manufactured home industry workers (typically salespersons or former
salespersons) or speakers for the Manufactured Housing Institute, which is the
industry's official ambassador. They basically tell you how great manufactured
home quality is, and they promote home sales by perpetuating the "Dream Home"
myth. The "ratings guide" book proposes that you can simply determine home
quality by picking a particular manufacturer for your new home. It's simply not
true. Quality varies greatly among different plants within Shelterforce noted in their review of the leading author (Grissim) of this group of industry representatives that his "basically sunny outlook on manufactured housing is most apparent in the discussion on warranty service, which he says is the shortest chapter in the book because of the ‘terrific quality’ of a manufactured home." AARP surveys and Consumers Union research are not so sanguine, and point to an unacceptably high proportion of complaints, many of them unresolved by warranty service.” (Shelterforce Book Review, “Helping Consumers Become Swindle-Proof," Richard Gen, Issue #129, May/June 2003) Don't fall for industry propaganda; learn the ins and outs of manufactured housing from a consumer point of view. Multiple consumer surveys consistently show that most manufactured home buyers encounter at least one major problem with their new home, and many have more. Consumers Union’s December 2002 survey of manufactured home buyers founds: (1) one third of respondents were more dissatisfied than satisfied with their new manufactured home, (2) 17% were completely dissatisfied, (3) a whopping 79% had experienced significant problems. What’s more, Consumers Union found 30% of homeowners were completely dissatisfied with warranty work on their new homes, and "largely ineffective regulation of the manufactured housing industry." (www.consumersunion.org/other/mh/paper-pr.htm) Even though 95% of homeowners in an AARP study reported having warranties, only 35% of major problems were fixed under warranty – the rest were either fixed at the homeowner’s expense (31%) or not at all (30%). Consumers Union, AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), and insurance company reports are also remarkably unwavering in these findings. The bottom line is, you can believe the Dream Home sales pitch, or you can buy The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook and learn the truth. As Dirty Harry might say, "Are you feeling lucky?" There is nothing quite like taking on a 30 year mortgage, only to find your new home has a major deficiency . . . You don’t have to gamble on what may be the biggest financial decision of your life if you’ve done your homework and you take charge of the process as opposed to being conducted through it like a sacrificial lamb. The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook grew out of a real requirement for consumers and personal experience. No matter how committed the observer, no one can fully appreciate the trials and tribulations associated with purchasing a manufactured home unless they've been through the process. I’ve spent the last four years investigating this topic. That research has encompassed the study of government, realty association, and manufacturer financial reports, as well as in-depth conversations with industry employees and customers. I became convinced that excellent manufactured homes are available, despite the literal treachery and horror stories I often encountered. Finally, I put my hypothesis to the ultimate test: I purchased a manufactured home myself. A sacrificial guinea pig, I documented quality problems using my notepad and camera throughout the process so others won’t have to learn by error. To appreciate the nightmare that Clayton Homes put my wife and I through, please read the Clayton Homes Ordeal. At every stage of the process, there are financial pitfalls that can devastate the unwary consumer. Many of these traps are intentionally set by unscrupulous mobile home dealers who do everything they can to maximize profits at their customer’s expense. The result is that instead of saving money and realizing the American Dream dealers promise, numerous customers soon face foreclosure - which have soared to record levels in recent years. (By now we are all seeing the cost of pushing loans on unwary consumers which they can't afford: the recession which was set off by the housing crisis. I was writing about such predatory lending in 2005, before it was part of everyday vernacular.) Part of the problem with manufactured homes results from the fact that areas of your home are permanently sealed from the scrutiny of the average customer. For instance, how do you know that you are getting the insulation you paid for in your roof cavity when there is no access to it - when it's permanently sealed from your view? (For a potentially enlightening illustration of one example of hidden problems, click here and read about the insulation upgrade Clayton Homes didn't install.)
There is a way to level the playing field, however; you can get a good price on a great manufactured home. For every dirty secret and potential pitfall, there is a solution. This book has them, whether the consumer is shopping for their new home, negotiating contracts, arranging financing, or setting up their mobile home. The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook is the ultimate industry expose and a step by step buying guide for the millions of consumers who are exploring this option. Throughout the book, financial and economical alternatives will be stressed, and guidance will be offered on how to get the absolute best deal for your money. Quite frankly, buying a manufactured home without some sort of primer on the in and outs of the industry can be like playing Russian roulette with your life savings. If you are considering the manufactured home option, this book will save you thousands of dollars, and it will help to assure you purchase a well-made home. So now you know the bad news: if you go this route, and with the average price of a new home in the United States now reaching $305,900 (in 2006 according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development) many people almost have to if they want a new home, you are swimming with sharks, and they think you are their next meal. They don’t care about you or your needs – their one goal is to make as much money as possible. There is good news, though. For the first time, the major banks are offering traditional mortgages for manufactured homes at competitive rates. (According to the US Commerce Department, 28% of new manufactured homes were titled as real estate as opposed to personal property in 2006.) Furthermore, as I write, interest rates for 30 year mortgages are near their lowest point in fifty years. Surplus factory capacity and a flourish of repossessed homes have also combined to suppress prices. The bottom line is that right now, you can get an exceptionally nice home for a very affordable price. The manufactured housing industry is currently in a relatively devastating slump. Consider the numbers. In 1973, 579,900 new manufactured homes were shipped out to customers in the US. By any stretch of the imagination, that is a pretty incredible number of homes sold. In 2006, however, the Department of Housing and Urban Development indicates that number had fallen to 117,300, almost exactly 1/5 the previous number! Manufactured home dealers only have about 7% of the new home market and are in a position where they have to make more sales to survive. Given the current uncertain economic uncertainty, many home buyers don't want to assume a $300,000 mortgage. The economic climate is perfect for manufactured housing to soar back to its heyday, when over one in three of new homes sold were manufactured units. The incentive for consumers to purchase manufactured homes versus traditional homes is simply cost. The US Commerce Department has found that the average sales price of a new manufactured home is $64,200. The average square footage of these homes is 1,600, which comes to an average cost per square foot of $40.13. Compare this to the average cost per square foot of site built homes: $91.99. The average "doublewide" manufactured home costs $71,400, and has 1,750 square feet at an average cost of $40.80 per square foot. The average single mobile home costs $35,900, and has 1,100 square feet at an average cost of $33 per square foot. Because of the confluence of changes in this industry (increasing overall quality, more loan options, soaring site-built home prices, etcetera), manufactured homeowners are a reflection of society as a whole more than ever before. There is no stereotype that adequately fits this group of consumers. A very diverse array of people in many different regions have decided that manufactured housing makes sense for them. They include college graduates, professionals, and every other walk of life. About three quarters of these new home buyers are placing their new manufactured homes on private property as opposed to moving into manufactured home communities or "trailer parks." The need for a consumer guide regarding manufactured housing has never been more intense. By far the most comprehensive book on the subject, The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook features thorough chapters on how to option out your home, what features to look for, energy efficiency options, making the deal, financing options, the home's physical set up, and what to do when things go wrong despite your best efforts. Sample checklists and website resources are liberally included, along with ample illustrations and contact information for all of the Manufactured Housing Board / State Administrative Agencies. To learn more about The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook, please visit our Annotated Table of Contents. You can click on detailed descriptions of each chapter. Feel free to explore and enjoy our website. If you're ready to buy, you can click here to receive a special promotional offer (15% off with inexpensive shipping for an autographed copy) or check pricing through Amazon and other sources.
Why Buy The Manufactured Home Buyer's Handbook?
Special Note about and for Hurricane Katrina victims:
Author ProfileWes Johnson lives in the scenic Piedmont area of South Carolina. Dr. Johnson served as a Contributing Editor to both the Charlotte Metro Computer News and the Palmetto Computer News, writing how-to articles and reviews (both book and software reviews) for each of these regional newspapers. Dr. Johnson also owns and operates a computer business in York, SC. AAA Computer Services is a Member of Rock Hill’s "Clean and Green" business community, and has worked for several Fortune 500 companies. Dr. Johnson has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, from Winthrop University, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, from Columbus University. He was presented with the Tillman Award, Winthrop’s highest academic honor. In addition to writing in the field of psychology, he also writes other non-fiction and poetry. In his spare time he volunteers at a psycho-social rehabilitation center and a children’s home. At one social rehabilitation center, Dr. Johnson trained group members in computer and newspaper skills which enabled clients to produce their own newsletter, thus enhancing both their social and job skills. Dr. Johnson also enjoys sharing his passion for motorcycles with his wife Amy.
Contact Information
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The photo of the 1930's vintage trailer in the morph at the top of the page was taken by Dr. Juergen Eichermueller. You can find more fascinating trailer photos at the Atlas Mobile Home Directory website.
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the same brand mobile home. Quality also varies within those plants according to
which crews and supervisors are working, and even by which day of the week it is
(read the Home Buyer's Handbook to learn about Friday Houses)! To
make matters worse, even when your new home arrives in great shape, a bad set up
or dealer fraud can still ruin your new home or even your life regardless of
brand.
