There are independently owned retailers and corporation owned retailers.  When buying from an independent retailer, in most cases, the owner is a part of the day-to-day operations and decision making.  The owner will be easily accessible to help solve problems, address concerns or answer questions.  There is no corporate delays or next level decision making from afar.   

 In the State of Oklahoma, each retail dealership must be licensed with the State.  The licensing, compliance and regulatory agency who oversees our industry in Oklahoma is the Used Motor Vehicle, Dismantler and Manufactured Home Commission.  If you chose to purchase a home from and out of state dealer, not licensed in Oklahoma, you do not have any consumer protection through the State of Oklahoma.  So, if there is a problem with your contract, home or other, there is no help from the State.

 Supporting local business is very important, especially in small town Oklahoma.  Buying from an Oklahoman owned dealer is the best way to support your local economy.  Manufactured Home Retailers buy more than just homes.  They provide jobs, purchase items from local stores, HVAC units, lumber, etc. which all helps the local economy and supports the overall ecommerce of the local community.

There are lenders out there who will offer lending terms for LOW credit scores.  In most cases these lenders will require a larger down payment.  This down payment can be cash or land in lieu of down payment money OR a combination of the two.  If your credit score is mid range or upper range, you should have several offers from lenders with varying terms and down payment requirements.  Conventional loan types mostly require a minimum of a 5% down payment. 

As an intendent retailer in the State of Oklahoma, we always recommend buying from an independent retailer before purchasing from a corporation owned dealership.  Once you have located a few independent Retailers, we recommend reading their reviews.  Of course, nobody is perfect, but a potential buyer can get a good idea of how that company does business by researching reviews.  The best independent dealer in the State of Oklahoma is Mid-State Housing centrally located in Purcell, OK.  Mid-State has been in business, family owned and operated,  and serving generations since 1982.

There are two types of Modular Homes, on frame and off frame.  Most dealers have access to both while most do not stock modular homes.  One of Oklahoma’s largest on and off frame Modular Home Dealers is Lifeway Homes in Tulsa, OK.   Lifeway is an independent Retailer owned by a local family in the State.

If you are wanting to trade in your current manufactured home for a new one there is some information that will be needed.   Locate and/or obtain your current home title.  If a lien holder is listed on the title, locate the lien release.  If the lien is still in place, get a current payoff.   Next you will need to know the manufacturer or the home, the home model name and home size so the home can be “booked” on line by the Retailer.  Of course, pictures help a lot.  You should get inside and exterior pictures of the home to provide for analysis.  Checking to see if the hitch or home tongue is on site (maybe under the home) and/or axels on site or under the home is always good for the purchaser to know in advance of home value. 

 You can show your old home on your new purchase contract as trade in allowance OR the Retailer providing you with your new one could simply just purchase your current home.