Building Codes Ensure Quality

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Dana DeTray

Manufactured Homes are built to strict, national building codes that regulate design, construction, strength, durability, transportability, fire resistance, energy efficiency and quality control. Performance standards for heating, plumbing, air conditioning, thermal and electrical systems are also set.

This code is the part of the National Manufactured Home Construction and safety Standards Act, otherwise known as the “HUD Code.” The familiar red seal attached to the exterior of the manufactured home is your assurance the home has been built to high standards and passed as many as 200 inspections during its construction.

Congress passed this act for three interrelated reasons:

To preserve access to affordable housing for all;
To facilitate interstate shipment of homes from factories all over America that would meet or exceed building codes no matter where located; and
States were not uniformly regulating home construction

An independent study by the University of Illinois Architecture – Building Research Council concluded that the HUD Code is comparable to – and in some areas exceed – commonly used local building codes. Where the HUD Code differs, results in important benefits to manufactured home buyers.

Local codes will tend to be “prescriptive.” The Hud Code is performance-based. The difference can be summarized in this manner:

Prescriptive codes tell the builder, “use this material, no matter what;”
Performance-based codes tell the builder, “here is the standard the materials you use must reach.”

Unlike local building codes, the HUD Code is specifically designed to be compatible with the factory construction process. Prescriptive codes, the HUD Code is specifically designed to be compatible with the factory construction process. Prescriptive codes often lag years behind materials and technology available to builders. Performance-based standards allow builders to take advantage of current technology, improved construction methods and superior raw materials.

And just like any other standard, a building code is only as good as its enforcement. HUD Code enforcement is more uniform and consistent because inspections take place in the factory under controlled conditions, and fewer inspectors have more experience inspecting more homes.

Michelle Dux
DeTray’s Housing Consultant

Attention Renters!

Posted on June 12, 2020 by Dana DeTray

There are 3 ways to handle money: Spend, Save, Invest. Money saved loses buying power as inflation raises all prices. You are already spending on rent. A beautiful DeTray’s home allows you to spend and invest at the same time. Instead of letting the landlord use your money every month, you can be building equity as the home goes up in value. A home is a great investment!

A man came to DeTray’s a few years ago, but didn’t move forward with a purchase. He came back a couple of weeks ago, ready to start. He was shocked at the price increases. His procrastination has cost thousands of dollars. He has lost the equity that would have been building. He could have been enjoying his new home all these years.

There is an old saying, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is right now.” Don’t let more time pass without the “Spend/Invest” power that comes with owning a beautiful DeTray’s Custom home.

Lora Whitemarsh

DeTray’s Housing Consultant

Protecting the BIG Investment

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Dana DeTray

A home is more than a house! It’s the financial security that comes from building equity in a good investment over time. When you buy make sure your home will meet your financial needs when it comes time to sell or refinance.

Manufactured homes are known for their value at the time of sale. How does this value translate to appreciation over time? Good question!!

Studies conducted by Seattle-based Elway research, University of Michigan and North Carolina show how that manufactured homes generally appreciate in value at the same rate as site-built homes in their neighborhoods. Location is the main factor determining long-term appreciation for both types of homes.

“When the location is good and the home is right for the location, manufactured homes appreciate in step with their neighborhood,” explained consultant and author Steve Hullibrger, who advises developers across the nation and tracks the long-term performance of a database of 1300 manufactured homes. “In my work with urban housing, it’s clear that manufactured homes do well if they are well made, sensibly selected for their neighborhood and blend in with existing houses.” He suggests that homebuyers use the same strategies that developers use when selecting houses for their home sites. “The first thing to look at is the neighborhood. Can we match the size and look of surrounding homes? The interiors of manufactured homes are often better than average site-built house, but don’t limit yourself to the standard exteriors. If the homes in the neighborhood all have garages, add a garage to your home. If they all have exteriors, add a brick facing. The initial investment will be worth it in the long run.”

Michelle Dux
DeTray’s Housing Consultant

Manufactured vs. Stick-Built Housing

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Dana DeTray

Manufactured homes like ours, are built using the same high-quality materials as stick-built homes. Their manufacturing process is also highly regulated by the federal government, meaning the home you buy is held to the highest standards of quality during its design and construction.

They are built entirely inside “home building facilities” that are climate controlled to avoid weather delays and typically offer many customizable options such as many choices of flooring, cabinetry and exterior finish, just to name a few. Each home is internally inspected multiple times throughout various phases of construction to confirm proper construction and quality.

If the home is placed on the post & pier foundation, perimeter material such as concrete blocks, or concrete skirting will be added to finish the home to code. Manufactured homes can also have a garage added just like a site-built home. Manufactured homes can be finance similar to site built, offering VA / FHA, or Conventional land-home, and Chattel type mortgages. The flexibility for you is unsurpassed. We will put you in touch with the largest manufactured home lender in the state. You can apply on line, or directly in our office.

You can choose from hundreds of designs, and you can also create your own manufactured home design by customizing any of our floor plans. A custom-built manufactured home begins with your ideas and how you want your home to be built, inside and out.

One advantage of the home built in a controlled factory environment, is every part of the home – from the front door to the bathroom sink – is protected from weather-related damage, vandalism and other hazards.

Our technicians, craftsmen and assemblers are well trained and professionally supervised, resulting in an excellence of build. Finally, all of our manufactured homes and modular homes undergo more than 35 quality inspections throughout the construction process to ensure they meet our high standards and meet code.

Provides Many Other Advantages

Interested in vaulted ceilings? We offer them. Modern kitchens with stainless steel appliances and perhaps spacious bedrooms with walk-in closets? Those, too. Like site-built homes, our manufactured homes and modular homes offer plenty of floor plans and amenities. You can also find stylish features such as tray ceilings, recessed lighting, custom cabinet applications, large family rooms with entertainment centers and more.

Manufactured homes must be durable enough to withstand transportation. They are built using jigs and other machinery that help increase the quality of the home. Lag bolts, for example, are better compared to nails or reinforcement straps, which on-site builders use.

These homes cost a lot less compared to stick-built homes of the same style and size. Since manufactured homes are built in a controlled environment, they are easier for workers to complete on time.

Selecting a manufactured home can also mean choosing a larger home because they come with more square-footage for the same price compared to smaller, traditional homes. If your budget is limited, purchasing a manufactured home can be a comfortable alternative to renting, and at a competitive price.

When it comes to stick-built homes, there are so many opportunities for delays. The materials – usually sourced from different parts of the country – can be delayed if suppliers are unable to distribute materials to the builder at the right time. However, because manufactured homes are built directly by the manufacturers, materials are readily available and in abundance to get the job done fast. If you have a time constraint in transitioning to a new home, a manufactured home will save you a lot of time. When placed on an engineered foundation, financed similarly to stick built homes, the value is unsurpassed. Remember, you ordered a home, customized to your standards, with the features, options, and your colors. It is a very enjoyable experience knowing you did it “your way”, and received the highest quality home available for you and your family. Congratulations, we hope to see you soon to guide you through every step of this project.

Respectfully Submitted,

Michelle Dux

DeTray’s Custom Housing Consultant

Remodel or Replace?

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Dana DeTray

You bought beautiful land in the 1970-1990’s and put a nice Manufactured Home on the property. You love the location, neighbors, outbuildings and gardens, but the house is dated and needs some repairs. You can keep the things you love about the property by remodeling the existing home, or removing and replacing it. Some thoughts:

Remodeling

Anyone that has ever started a remodel, has found that it is NEVER simple! There are always surprises: dry rot, bug/critter infestations, mold, foundation and roof problems. What starts as a simple kitchen counter remodel, changes into striping everything to the studs and replacing floor joists and decking. Then “If the kitchen is new, we had better do the bathrooms at the same time”. Repeat for both baths. Now the rest of the house is shabby, more updates. Besides the mess and inconvenience, the stress of choosing from zillions of cabinets, counters, flooring, knobs, lights, paints etc. can be overwhelming. Is it time to re-do the roof as well? Cha-ching! Want more energy efficient windows? Count on $10,000-$15,000+ for that cost alone. Need better insulation? The exterior walls are only 4”. Every stud needs to be added onto to hold R-21 insulation, and installing insulation is a hot, itchy, messy job! This can turn into a $70,000 major headache very quickly! Now for the worst news: When you are finished, you still have a 1970’s “trailer” on the county records. The home is already 30-40 years old. You have just invested months of time, money and work, and you will never get your investment back.

DeTray’s Has a Better Option

Let us remove the existing home, and replace it with a beautiful, new Skyline or Kit West home from DeTray’s Custom Housing. Your needs are different now. We can design a home exactly the way you want it, stretching/flipping floor plans, moving walls, adding windows. Our homes have energy efficient insulation, windows, pecs piping, safe wiring, new appliances, new wood cabinets, lots of drawers, granite or quartz counter tops, big closets, updated tubs, showers, sinks and lots of flooring options. Your electric bill will go down and you don’t have to worry about major repairs. We do all the work. You just move in and live happily ever after. Come see me so I can answer all your questions.

Laura Whitemarsh, Housing Consultant

Time Is Money…

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Dana DeTray

For over twenty years, I have stopped almost every day at Starbucks. I don’t want to calculate how much I have given to this company over the years, but it’s my one vice and I will continue to do it.

When I started visiting my favorite coffee shop, the cost of my “Quad Venti Non-fat Vanilla Latte” was $3.00. Today, while I order a different drink now, in a smaller cup, it’s $5.25. I think back to when I was a kid growing up in Sumner, I would swing by a local restaurant in the morning and get a to-go cup of coffee for less than a dollar.

Why am I sharing with you the price of coffee and what appears to be a severe caffeine addiction?

Prices on just about everything are going up, every day. In fact, I have never experienced a price decrease at my favorite coffee stand.

Just like Starbucks, the prices of homes are going up too, at times, several times a year. That’s why if you’re ready to make a decision, now is the time.

Last month a couple visited our sales center in Puyallup and mentioned to me that they had been in a year before and the home they wanted was $8,000 more than the last time they were in. I shared with them that the same home would be another $4,000 in the next twelve months. I said to them, “If you’re ready now, you should place your order.” They did and we helped them save thousands of dollars.

We would love to continue our conversations and see where we might be able to assist in your process and help you make the best decision possible for you. Feel free to call us at 253.840.6773 and let’s schedule a time to continue our discussions or have me answer any questions that you might have.

We are here and ready to serve you however we can, making sure your experience in purchasing a new home is a memorable one.

How to Get Rich Slowly – Rent or Own?

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Dana DeTray

Everyone needs a place to live. The options are to rent or own.

When you rent, it is easy to relocate, and someone else is responsible for upkeep. However, it can be difficult to get out of a lease. There may be neighbors above, below and beside you. You may not be able to have pets. Parking can be limited. You can’t paint or decorate your way. The Landlord could sell the property, or move in and evict you. You are paying the mortgage for someone else. Rent increases every year. Your payments will go up, up, up. At the end of 1, 3, 5, 10 years, you have nothing but a stack of receipts, and the rent will be much higher than it is now.

At first, renting or owning have similar costs each month. While rents go up each year, a Fixed Rate Mortgage will have the same principle and interest payment for 30 years! While your income increases, your housing costs will be a smaller and smaller portion of your expenses.

Each monthly payment acts as a kind of forced savings. As you pay down principle, your equity (the amount of your home you actually own) grows.

In addition, history shows that overall, homes become more valuable. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, home values have surpassed their pre-recession peaks by 16%. The overall trend is that home values and equity have gone up and will likely continue to do so. Think of what your parents paid for their home, and what it would be worth today!

It’s smart to build equity and financial stability while you enjoy your home. The equity in your home can eventually become liquid cash that you can access, either by selling your home, or borrowing against it. When you own a home, it is more than just a place to live; it’s also a financial asset. What is the leading wealth producer for average Americans? Home Ownership!

At DeTray’s Custom Housing, we design and build homes that are exactly suited to each family’s needs and desires. We can put together the whole package: land or community, development, and house. We have 8 furnished model homes to tour. You can have the joy and satisfaction of home ownership. Let DeTray’s staff show you how. Call, or come see us today.