Noting that it’s often less expensive in the long run to buy an MH than to rent, Eddie Thomas of Cavco in Albuquerque, said most of his recent buyers had been renters.
Duran said you see more manufactured homes in rural areas because site built home builders are rarely nearby. As MHProNews understands, a site builder needs fairly prompt access to suppliers to avoid driving long distances just for, say, two hinges and a bag of nails that will hold up production until the materials arrive.
He added that the 2010 U. S. Census reported that 18 percent of the NM population lives in a a manufactured or modular home. Duran stated the state’s two manufacturers of MH–Karsten Homes in Albuquerque and Solitaire Homes in Deming—will produce 1,200 to 1,500 homes this year with many going to northern Colorado where there is strong demand. Some will also go to the state’s 30 retailers.
The median home price in Albuquerque is about $180,000, according to abqjournal, while the average sale price of a manufactured home nationwide is $65,000, although new manufactured homes start at $30,000 to $40,000.
“Production is often up to six days a week,” said Chris Starace, general manager of the Karsten facility. He added that business moved from breaking even to becoming profitable in one year. “Most of the homes are shipped to parts of the U.S. where the economy and job markets are better, and where housing is much costlier than New Mexico.” ##
(Photo credit: Solitaire Homes, Deming, New Mexico)
