Buying mobile homes wholesale from manufacturer as developer?

[Patrick Sears]

Hello, Anyone here ever qualified as a retailer/developer with a manufactured housing company to buy directly from them vs. buying from a retailer and paying the retailer mark-up? Around 2010 I visited the Commodore plant in NC and they gave me their price sheets and qualifications to become a developer with them--much cheaper than paying retail. It doesn't look like they are doing that now (it was actually for an "on-frame modular" which was basically a doublewide built to state modular code).

[Frank Rolfe]

Yes, you can buy "factory direct" at most of the mobile home manufacturers as long as you're 1) a park owner and not the end user and 2) have a dealer's license (which is not hard to obtain). Clayton is the #1 mobile home manufacturer in the U.S. (based on both dollar volume and number of units produced) and they offer this program to park owners.

You can also see all the models each year at one spot at the Louisville Mobile Home Show in Kentucky. It's about 50 homes under one roof in the convention center, representing almost all major brands. The bad news is that you missed the 2019 event which is in the first quarter of each year. There is also a similar event (but outdoors) in Tunica, Mississippi each year, but that also was held a few weeks ago.

That being said, all manufacturers would want your business and be happy to meet with you, in my opinion. Just give them a call.