Consumer Report Rates General Manufactured Housing
After a big but unsteady start in the early 90’s, General downsized their market. With this move as well as downsizing from 300 floor plans to just 55, they managed to survive the industry downturn and emerge as a contender in the market for the basic manufactured home. Taken from their website, “General Manufactured Housing operates out of multiple facilities in Waycross and employs over 200 people. Founded in 1989, General has produced and delivered over 30,000 HUD-code manufactured homes to satisfied homeowners throughout the Southeastern United States. General is the largest independently owned manufacturer of HUD homes in the Southeastern United States.”
Modular Home Book Resources Popular Buying Guides for Modular Homebuyers
When trying to select a modular home the first place to start is at the factory level. Knowing which factories deliver to your area is the first step in understanding your options. The second and most important step is determining how the factories compare to each other in the areas of: Quality Construction, Design/Style, Appraised Value and Price.
The manufactured housing industry has made some serious improvements in recent years regarding quality construction and residential appeal. With modern day technology and assembly line techniques, the industry is overcoming the misconception that manufactured homes are poorly built and don’t measure up to stick-built homes.
Knowing your financing options is the first step to securing a good deal. We have spoken with hundreds of modular home lenders and Mr. Eaton the author has gone through the process himself. Learn from his insight and you can avoid some common mistakes people make when financing their home.
On average 80% of homebuyers pay too much for their modular home. Not surprising with all the choices one must make from negotiating with your builder to purchasing property and site-improvements. This resource will reveal important negotiating secrets and dealer profit margins that will give you an edge when negotiating with your builder.
Most modular home builders have display models for potential home buyers to walk through. These models are professionally decorated to impress buyers with elaborate decorations, elegant furniture and dazzling floorplans. Aesthetics are important but would you purchase a modular home based on looks and compromise structural integrity? Don’t be fooled by appearances and miss what really matters; “Quality Construction.”
Systems Built Construction The factory built housing idea is not new. Sears Roebuck offered a prefabricated modern home in their spring 1908 general catalog, which was shipped by train. Sears sold around 100000 of these homes from 1908 to 1939. The use of production line techniques really kicked into high gear after World War II and made a sizable contribution to reducing the housing shortage at that time.
Systems Built Construction Advocates of pre fab homes have long maintained that the building system produces homes that are much stronger than traditional site built structures. For example, the modual sections are well built to withstand the stresses of highway travel, containing up to 30 percent more building materials than a comparable conventional site built home.
New York Modular Homes A manufactured home is built entirely in the factory under a federal building code administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD and is classified as a Manufactured Home. These homes are constructed to meet the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act, which has been in effect since June 15, 1976. The Federal standards regulate, manufactured housing design, construction, strength, durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency and quality. The HUD Code also sets performance standards for the heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal and electrical systems.