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The world of prefab and modular homes. |
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| http://www.clayton-media.com/showcaseofhomes/greensboro.html |
Clayton Homes is holding a Showcase of Homes at the Triad Center in Greensboro, NC this weekend, October 10-12. From the press release:
Literally, Clayton Homes constructs a temporary neighborhood in the parking lot of The Triad Center, fully adorned with sidewalks, landscaping, mailboxes and street signs. The Showcase of Homes provides an opportunity for people to tour a variety of manufactured homes and see how dramatically the homes have changed in recent years.
What to expect:
- 20 new, fully-furnished homes on display
- on-the-spot financing
- hot dogs, drinks and popcorn
- $100 gas card drawings each half hour
Clayton CEO Kevin Clayton explains:
Our unofficial motto is 'Best Home -- Best Price' and we take that very seriously.
It has been his mission since taking over as CEO ten years ago to produce manufactured housing that surpasses site-built homes in look, quality, and value.
Clayton Homes produces both "manufactured" and "modular" housing. These terms have a specific meaning in the industry, part of which is covered on their website:
Manufactured Home: Built entirely in the factory under federal code administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).... Covers single or multi-section homes and includes transport to the site and installation.
The industry stopped using the term "mobile home" (and presumably "trailer home") when the HUD code became effective June 15, 1976. Not mentioned: manufactured homes do NOT qualify for a traditional mortgage, in part because the homes tend to lose value every year.
Modular Home: Built to state, local or regional code where the home will be located. System-built homes are transported to sites and installed.
These homes are built to the same standards as conventional "site-built" homes and qualify for a standard mortgage. (In fact they are often somewhat stronger in order to survive transportation and installation by crane.)
At least one home in the Showcase had 2 stories (see above), so it appears that a mix of both types will be shown.
More about Clayton Homes:
- owned by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway
- recent news coverage outlines how they've avoided the current sub-prime issues
