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| Author reveals insider manufactured home secrets in Marco Island, FL
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At those jobs he learned why manufactured Marco Island homes are so popular that one of every three new U.S. residences is a manufactured home built in a factory and put on a foundation at the home site.
In the book's introduction, Taylor explains manufactured Marco Island homes cost buyers about 50 percent less than the cost of a comparable site-built house. "These sturdy structures have superior insulation, are dimensionally exact and cost practically nothing to maintain," he adds. "Is there a down side to all this? You bet there is!" Taylor emphasizes. Then he explains why he became a salesman with several dealerships to "earn while you learn."
"I placed these Marco Island homes in areas ranging from low-rent mobile home parks to picturesque estates. Plus, I arranged all of their financing and service. Throughout this experiment I couldn't help but notice the huge gap between truly good and bad dealerships that exist out there" he explains.
What makes this new book amazing are the photos of manufactured homes. Many of the pictures show luxury dwellings, which, if you didn't know they were built in a factory, you would think they were custom built at the home site.
There are even photos of the early 1950s single-wide trailers, plus older double-wide models, which look utilitarian with tiny windows. But then the book evolves to triple-wide and even a two-story quadruple-wide, which looks like a luxury home, and it is.
After explaining the evolution of the manufactured home industry, and debunking some of the myths, such as these Marco Island homes somehow attract tornadoes and fires, Taylor explains the importance of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) inspection standards and tags affixed to every manufactured home. Taylor then shows how manufactured Marco Island homes are built. He gives his opinion the U.S. steel I-beam is preferable to the Asian I-corrugated beams. Photos emphasize how good and bad "outriggers" are installed, as well as showing insulation installed beneath the flooring.
Throughout the book, Taylor warns buyers about inferior materials some manufacturers use, such as plastic water shutoff valves. The photos show how the Marco Island homes even arrive with wallpaper installed. Unfortunately, the wallpaper design used in many of the photos looks like big bugs crawling on the walls.
Much of the book is devoted to options that buyers should consider, such as carpets. Taylor warns to avoid foam pads (which he says turns to powder after a few years). Buyers should insist on rebond padding, he advises. Then the author explains extras, which add value and utility, such as skirting, decks, and porches.
Considerable emphasis is placed on the finance options which are different than for traditional houses. Taylor warns buyers not to put a foot into a sales lot until they are fully pre-approved for a manufactured home mortgage. He implies the financing obtained from the dealers is far more costly than what buyers can obtain on their own.
Taylor also warns buyers to have a location to put their manufactured home before they start shopping. "It's a great temptation to look at all those nice manufactured Marco Island homes first and then hope to find a place to set it up, but don't do this," he advises. "Knowing where to place your home should provide you with essential information that will aid you in determining which home to buy and how good a deal you're getting," Taylor adds.
Along the way, Taylor's new book is filled with lots of details. He lists the 25 biggest home manufacturers, their Web sites, and how much these Marco Island homes cost in different states. The nationwide average is $48,800. A single-wide costs $30,700 average but a double-wide is $55,100. State statistics are included. Surprisingly, New Jersey has higher average costs than for any other state.
Chapter topics include "The History of Manufactured Homes"; "How Good are Manufactured Homes?" "The Way They are Built"; "Understanding Warranties"; "Selecting a Floor Plan"; "Financing Your Home"; "Where to Put Your Manufactured Home"; "Before You Buy"; "Shopping for Your Home"; "The Closing"; and "Customizing Your Home."
This great little book, packed with insider tips about the pros and cons of manufactured homes, should be required reading for every buyer. It emphasizes the mistakes to avoid, based on the author's knowledge gained while selling these Marco Island homes for good and bad dealers. On my scale of one to 10, this new book rates a solid 10.
"Manufactured Homes; The Buyer's Guide," by Steven Taylor (Cycle Publishing Co., San Francisco, Calif.), 2003, $14.95, 123 pages; Available in stock or by special order at local bookstores, public libraries,
Before writing "Manufactured Homes; The Buyer's Guide," Steven Taylor was a salesman for several manufactured home dealers. At those jobs he learned why manufactured Marco Island homes are so popular that one of every three new U.S. residences is a manufactured home built in a factory and put on a foundation at the home site.
In the book's introduction, Taylor explains manufactured Marco Island homes cost buyers about 50 percent less than the cost of a comparable site-built house. "These sturdy structures have superior insulation, are dimensionally exact and cost practically nothing to maintain," he adds. "Is there a down side to all this? You bet there is!" Taylor emphasizes. Then he explains why he became a salesman with several dealerships to "earn while you learn."
"I placed these Marco Island homes in areas ranging from low-rent mobile home parks to picturesque estates. Plus, I arranged all of their financing and service. Throughout this experiment I couldn't help but notice the huge gap between truly good and bad dealerships that exist out there" he explains.
What makes this new book amazing are the photos of manufactured homes. Many of the pictures show luxury dwellings, which, if you didn't know they were built in a factory, you would think they were custom built at the home site.
There are even photos of the early 1950s single-wide trailers, plus older double-wide models, which look utilitarian with tiny windows. But then the book evolves to triple-wide and even a two-story quadruple-wide, which looks like a luxury home, and it is.
After explaining the evolution of the manufactured home industry, and debunking some of the myths, such as these Marco Island homes somehow attract tornadoes and fires, Taylor explains the importance of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) inspection standards and tags affixed to every manufactured home. Taylor then shows how manufactured Marco Island homes are built. He gives his opinion the U.S. steel I-beam is preferable to the Asian I-corrugated beams. Photos emphasize how good and bad "outriggers" are installed, as well as showing insulation installed beneath the flooring.
Throughout the book, Taylor warns buyers about inferior materials some manufacturers use, such as plastic water shutoff valves. The photos show how the Marco Island homes even arrive with wallpaper installed. Unfortunately, the wallpaper design used in many of the photos looks like big bugs crawling on the walls.
Much of the book is devoted to options that buyers should consider, such as carpets. Taylor warns to avoid foam pads (which he says turns to powder after a few years). Buyers should insist on rebond padding, he advises. Then the author explains extras, which add value and utility, such as skirting, decks, and porches.
Considerable emphasis is placed on the finance options which are different than for traditional houses. Taylor warns buyers not to put a foot into a sales lot until they are fully pre-approved for a manufactured home mortgage. He implies the financing obtained from the dealers is far more costly than what buyers can obtain on their own.
Taylor also warns buyers to have a location to put their manufactured home before they start shopping. "It's a great temptation to look at all those nice manufactured Marco Island homes first and then hope to find a place to set it up, but don't do this," he advises. "Knowing where to place your home should provide you with essential information that will aid you in determining which home to buy and how good a deal you're getting," Taylor adds.
Along the way, Taylor's new book is filled with lots of details. He lists the 25 biggest home manufacturers, their Web sites, and how much these Marco Island homes cost in different states. The nationwide average is $48,800. A single-wide costs $30,700 average but a double-wide is $55,100. State statistics are included. Surprisingly, New Jersey has higher average costs than for any other state.
Chapter topics include "The History of Manufactured Homes"; "How Good are Manufactured Homes?" "The Way They are Built"; "Understanding Warranties"; "Selecting a Floor Plan"; "Financing Your Home"; "Where to Put Your Manufactured Home"; "Before You Buy"; "Shopping for Your Home"; "The Closing"; and "Customizing Your Home."
This great little book, packed with insider tips about the pros and cons of manufactured homes, should be required reading for every buyer. It emphasizes the mistakes to avoid, based on the author's knowledge gained while selling
these Marco Island homes for good and bad dealers. On my scale of one to 10, this new book rates a solid 10.
"Manufactured Homes; The Buyer's Guide," by Steven Taylor (Cycle Publishing Co., San Francisco, Calif.), 2003, $14.95, 123 pages; Available in stock or by special order at local bookstores, public libraries,
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