Posted prices--what a great idea! Posted by mitcka at 04/06/05 05:27 PM

Buying a house is a lot easier if you know the price. Manufactured homes sit on the lot with no posted price information--and consumers can get shafted.

When I last went to buy a car, I went from lot to lot and looked at the sticker prices on the car I wanted. That sticker price varied considerably--and when I saw a sticker price that started out way too high with lots of unwanted add-ons, I walked straight off the lot.

Similarly most home buyers enjoy plenty of available price information. The seller has an asking price. The market value as estimated by the taxing district is readily available along with Multiple Listing Service information.

But a manufactured home buyer--someone buying a home that is made in a factory like a car--has no readily available pricing information. Just the word of the salesman on the lot. Consumers Union examined the price paid for identical homes (they really are identical in this case) and found that consumers can pay a considerable premium for ignorance.

If you have ever tried to buy a manufactured home and been befuddled by the pricing, tell us your story!

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