Manufactured Homes Popular | Video

Jenny Castro | 8/2/2012

In the last few years, manufactured homes have been becoming more and more popular in the area. Since the flood, local contractors are so busy, then there`s the cost. So some people are looking to buying these portable homes instead.

Since the oil boom, they`ve been busy at Iseman Homes. But over the past year, things have really picked up.

"Since the flood, it`s done nothing but grow even faster. We`ve added sales people on staff here, we`ve added delivery crews and we`re doing everything we can to keep up,” said Sales Manager Mike Jensen.

Many local companies selling manufactured and modular homes are growing to meet the demand of people who just don’t want to wait on contractors. And some people are discovering that they may be getting a better deal this way, at least in this area.

"We`re a competitive business and if our competitors didn`t raise their prices with us of course we wouldn`t sell any homes. So competition keeps prices in line with our business here,” said Jensen.

Another advantage is the ability to customize your home and not just the floor plans but with some of the details like the cabinetry, appliances, and even the type of flooring.

"They used to say no to changes, now they say bring me your plan we`ll build it and of course even as the housing market is picking up elsewhere, they`re continuing to allow us to do that kind of customization to the point where if you came in with a napkin drawing, if it fit the box sizes of our houses we`ll do it,” said Jensen.

Flooded home owners, like Ronald Johnson are finding these homes to be a good alternative to rebuilding or renting.

"And some of these other people they were flooded out and just figured that they couldn`t afford the price of a house and the land and everything else so they just more or less went and found a modular home,” said Johnson.

Manufacturers for these homes also save money by purchasing supplies and appliances in bulk rather than for individual houses. But still, the time factor for having a home is a big influence for residents house hunting in Minot.

At Iseman Homes, it typically takes eight to ten weeks from the time the home is ordered to the time it is delivered. Then it`s about one week before the home is ready to move into.

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