Manufactured Homes – A Popular Housing Option for 2023

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Jonathan Williams

Manufactured homes, also known as mobile homes, have come a long way in terms of quality and comfort over the years. They are now a popular housing option for millions of people across the United States. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of manufactured homes and why they may be the right choice for you.

Affordability

One of the biggest benefits of manufactured homes is their affordability. In general, manufactured homes cost less than traditional stick-built homes. This is because they are built in a factory setting, where costs can be controlled more easily. Additionally, they require less time and labor to construct, which reduces costs further.

Customization

Manufactured homes offer a high degree of customization. You can choose from a range of floor plans, finishes, and features to create a home that suits your specific needs and tastes. This means you can get the home you want without breaking the bank.

Energy Efficiency

Modern manufactured homes are highly energy-efficient. They are designed with energy-saving features such as low-E windows, insulation, and efficient HVAC systems. This can help you save money on utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint.

Durability

Manufactured homes are built to withstand the rigors of transportation and installation. They are designed to be strong and durable, with high-quality materials and construction techniques. Additionally, they are built to meet or exceed state and federal building codes, ensuring they are safe and secure.

Quick and Easy Installation

Manufactured homes are built in a factory setting and then transported to their final location for installation. This means that installation is quick and easy, often taking only a few days. This can save you time and money compared to traditional stick-built homes, which can take months to construct.

Community Amenities

Many manufactured homes are located in communities that offer a range of amenities such as pools, fitness centers, and playgrounds. This can provide a sense of community and access to amenities that may be otherwise out of reach.

Manufactured homes offer a range of benefits that make them an attractive housing option for many people. They are affordable, customizable, energy-efficient, durable, quick and easy to install, and often located in communities with amenities. If you’re considering purchasing a home, a manufactured home may be worth considering.

Jonathan Williams
Asst. GM/Sales Manager
DeTray’s Custom Housing

Meet Our New Sales Assistant

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Dana DeTray

Prior to working at DeTray’s Custom Housing, I had a very different view of the entire concept of manufactured homes. I viewed them as sub-par homes and a ‘cheap way out’. In my past perspective, I understood these homes as the cheaper option for potential buyers. As I entered the amazing world of custom housing, I quickly realized how wrong I was. While manufactured homes can be a less expensive option for buyers, the quality does not differ. I understood the stigma around buying manufactured or “mobile” homes, but after looking through a Skyline or Kit custom home, understanding the standard features of each, and learning the true quality of each house, I believe buying a custom manufactured home is definitely one of the best choices to make. With the houses coming standard with desirable and convenient features, Kit and Skyline also offer incredible optional upgrades, so you can truly make any floorplan your home. I’m glad I was introduced to all of the upsides and conveniences of building your own custom home, as I now have the opportunity to share this new perspective with potential buyers, particularly buyers coming in with the same skepticism I once exuded.

My first week at DeTray’s Custom Housing has been the most engaging, refreshing, and collaborative introduction to a work place I’ve experienced. As overwhelming as it is to become accustomed to a new job, especially with this level of complexity, the DeTray’s team creates a welcoming and patient environment for all, offering help where needed, as well as challenges designed for growth. With differing situations and scenarios, working at DeTray’s creates opportunity for substantial growth on a daily basis. The most rewarding aspect for me is being presented with questions or tasks that I’m not already knowledgeable about. This not only gives me the chance to clarify with questions to involve myself further, but also contributes to my ongoing education and drive.

In comparison to my first day, I’m more than proud of myself with the progress I’ve made, thanks to my amazing mentors, who maintain an enjoyable, yet professional place of work. I am extremely thankful to be given the opportunity to work in a surrounding as diverse and stimulating as DeTray’s, where there is room for significant improvement, and rewarding components. I can’t wait to see my further improvement in the future, and my further involvement in maintaining such an accessible and accommodating environment, for staff and customers.

Please stop and see me soon, I look forward to meeting you.

Respectfully,

Bronwyn Williams – Sales Assistant
Bronwyn@detrays.net

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Energy Star

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Dana DeTray

The Most ENERGY-EFFICIENT Homes in the Nation

Energy efficiency has always ranked at the top of home buyers’ features list. Good news – the Pacific Northwest manufactured home industry builds more ENERGY STAR® homes than anywhere else in the nation.

Energy Star® is a federal government certification that means the home has been independently verified to be at least 30% more energy-efficient than homes built to 1993 national Model Energy Code, or 15% more efficient than state energy code, whichever is more rigorous. These savings are based on heating, cooling, and hot water energy use and are typically achieved through improving five separate areas in the home:

TIGHT DUCTS

Ducts carry air from central heat and air conditioning equipment to every room in the home. In a typical American home, ducts leak 20-30% of the air being forced through them. Tightly sealed ducts in ENERGY STAR® Homes are the proper size, made from quality materials, located properly and insulated to ensure energy efficiency and maintain comfort.

TIGHT CONSTRUCTION

Air leakage accounts for 25-40% of the energy use for heating and cooling a typical home. ENERGY STAR® homes are sealed to reduce noise, moisture, and drafts – both in and out. Blocking outside air prevents dust, pollen, auto exhaust and insects from coming in. Stopping inside air from leaking out reduces escape of temperature-controlled air.

HEATING AND COOLING EQUIPMENT

More than 50% of a home’s energy use goes to heating and cooling. High-efficiency heating and cooling equipment can lower utility bills, require less maintenance and result in a quieter home.

IMPROVED INSULATION

To maintain temperature efficiently and effectively, insulation must provide a continuous layer of protection. This involves careful installation without gaps, crimps, or compression, and careful attention to fitting around obstacles like pipes, wiring and outlets.

HIGH-PERFORMANCE WINDOWS

Windows typically make up 10-25% of a home’s exterior, yet as much as half of a home’s heat loss and gain travels through them. Advances in window technology can reduce this loss through double glazing low-e coatings, low conductance framing materials, thermal breaks and insulated frames.

These features contribute to improved home quality and homeowner comfort, and to lower energy demand and reduced air pollution. ENERGYSTAR® also encourages the use of energy-efficient lighting and appliances, as well as features designed to improve indoor air quality. And don’t forget utility promotions and rebates on appliances used in the home!

I personally invite you to visit our ENERGY STAR® homes at our design center! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Michelle Dux
DeTray’s Housing Consultant

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

Feeling Thankful

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Dana DeTray

GRATITUDE

Word origin for gratitude; from Latin gratus, pleasing, thankful.

Grat-i-tude

Noun – the quality of being thankful, readiness for and to return kindness.

When you feel gratitude you are pleased by what someone did for you as well as pleased by the results.

Did you know that positive feelings of appreciation or gratitude may lead people towards “meaning” and “better health”?

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed should include all things in your gratitude.”

Quote- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gratitude is an emotion, a trait, a mood. A feeling of happiness that comes from appreciation.

Abraham Lincoln was 28 years old and a member of Illinois State Legislature. In one of his public addresses he said to his audience,

“This task of gratitude to our fathers, justice to ourselves, duty to posterity, and love for our species in general, all imperatively require us faithfully to perform.”

Quote-Abraham Lincoln

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Quote-Melody Beattie

“No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.”

Quote-Alfred North Whitehead

“Gratitude will shift you to a higher frequency, and will attract much better things”.

Quote-Rhonda Byrne

My many, many years in the manufactured home industry have given me much satisfaction to providing housing to all my clients. The industry has proven to be progressive in its building, with new and innovative ideas and materials. I am grateful to have chosen this as my career. May you have a prosperous New Year!

Marlene LeMoine, 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

Sugar & Spice Home is Here!

Posted on June 4, 2019 by Dana DeTray

Each year at the Puyallup RV Home with Featured Manufactured Housing, DeTray’s Custom Housing premieres a new manufactured home. This year’s home is SWEET!

This amazing home is now available to view at our Showplace in Puyallu p. It truly is a must-see with all of the space and amenities:

1,728 SF
·     Three bedrooms
·     4:12 Roof Pitch
·     2×6 Exterior walls
·     30 LB Roof load
·     Larger Windows
·     Energy Star Insulation / NEEM program
·     Fireplace with mantel and hearth
·     Solid surface counters with granite island
·     Living room and family room
·     Command Center Kitchen Island, featuring seating for 10

We are excited about this new home and hope you will be too. Stop by and see us or call to get more information.

Seven Common Mistakes…

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Dana DeTray

7 Common Mistakes After Financial Approval

THERE ARE MORE BUT THESE ARE THE BIG ONES…

Congratulations! You’ve found a home to buy and have applied for financing! Before you make any big purchases, move money around, or make any big-time life changes, consult your loan officer. They will be able to tell you how your decision will impact your home loan.

With that, here are the seven PREVENTABLE mistakes when getting financing for your home.

1. Don’t change jobs, quit your job, or change the way you are paid! Your loan officer must be able to track the source and amount of your annual income. If possible, you’ll want to avoid changing from salary to commission or becoming self-employed during this time as well. Getting a raise, well, that is always acceptable.
2. Don’t deposit cash into your bank accounts. Lenders need to source your money and cash is not really traceable. Before you deposit any amount of cash into your accounts, discuss the proper way to document your transactions with your loan officer.
3. Don’t make any large purchases like a new car or new furniture for your new home. New debt comes with it, including new monthly obligations. New obligations create new qualifications. People with new debt have higher debt to income ratios… higher ratios make for riskier loans… and sometimes qualified borrowers no longer qualify.
4. Don’t co-sign other loans for anyone. When you co-sign, you are obligated. As we mentioned, with that obligation comes higher ratios as well. Even if you’re not the person making the payments, the payment will count against you.
5. Don’t change bank accounts. Remember, lenders need to source and track assets. That task is significantly easier when there is consistency among your accounts. Before you even transfer money between accounts, talk to your loan officer.
6. Don’t apply for new credit. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a new credit card or a new car. When your credit report is run by organizations in multiple financial channels (mortgage, credit card, auto, etc.), your FICO score will be affected. Lower credit scores can determine your interest rate and your eligibility for approval.
7. Don’t close any credit accounts. Many clients have believed that having less available credit makes them less risky and more likely to be approved. A major component of your score is your length and depth of credit history (as opposed to just your payment history) and your total usage of credit as a percentage of available credit. Closing accounts has a negative impact on both those determinants of your score.
Finally, any impact on assets or credit should be reviewed and executed in a way that ensures your loan will be funded. Fully disclose your plans with your loan officer before making any financial decisions during the process, they will be happy to guide you.
For more information on financing, visit our preferred lender, 1st Security Bank HERE.

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.

DeTray's Custom Housing Blog

Tag Archives: manufactured homes