Benefits of Living in Manufactured Home Communities

Manufactured home communities are not what you may think! You’ll be surprised to find out that many communities attract all types of lifestyles and offer  luxurious amenities. We’ve included a short video on what you can expect to find in these wonderful communities!

Benefits of Living in Manufactured Home Communities

For more information on communities in your area visit our website or call 888 874 8692! 

How is Your Credit Score Determined?

First of all, what is a credit score?

A credit score is a number that lenders use to estimate a borrower’s risk. When it comes to purchasing a home, a credit score plays a huge role in determining the interest rate a lender is willing to offer. Whether you’re a first time home buyer or looking for another home, it’s a good idea to obtain copies of your credit report, that way you know what you can qualify for. Now that we know what a credit score is, what factors affect it and how can you improve it? By understanding the 5 factors that can help or hurt your score you will be on your way to building a healthier credit.

 

1. Payment History (about 35%). This is the largest portion of your credit score. Make sure that you make payments within 30 days as this can negatively affect your overall credit score. Always pay your bills on time. Late payments are probably the worst thing you can do.
2. Amounts Owed (about 30%). Borrowing is certainly not a bad thing, but being in a lot of debt is. Make sure you don’t charge over half the limit on all of your credits.
3. Length of Credit History (about 15%). Having a long payment history shows lenders you have paid your bills on time and will be likely to do so in the future. So, if you’re thinking about tossing your old credit cards you may want to think again. Keeping your credit cards are important in order to keep your credit history associated with each card.
4. New Credit (about 10%). The fourth portion of your credit report has to do with the amount of accounts you have. Each time you apply for a new credit card it appears in your credit report. Applying for too many credit cards in a short period of time is seen as risky.
5. Types of Credits in Use (about 10%). Spread out your debt among different types of loans. So for example, having some debt in car loans, student loans, and mortgage is better than having all debt on only your credit card.

Take a breath! It’s not all that bad. When it comes down to it it’s all about sticking to a budget and making payments on time.

Our in-house Finance Department will advise you on credit issues you have. We strive to make the home buying process simple and stress-free! Call us today at 888 874 8692!

The information provided is obtained from an article, What Determines My Credit Score? from Trulia.com.

Looking for a Home, But Don’t Want to Change Communities?

Ever thought of upgrading to a new home?
Don’t want to leave your neighbors or community?
Is your home too small?
Looking to save on energy bills?

If you answered “yes” to all these questions, then a trade-in is the perfect solution!

This is your chance to trade to a new home. There are many benefits associated with trading in your older mobile home for a new, more energy efficient one such as lower interest rates, increase in equity, and an improvement in lifestyle. You can also experience green features such as superior insulation systems, high-performance windows & doors, tight construction and ducts, quality heating and cooling equipment, and ENERGY STAR Qualified appliances. Plus, you don’t have to worry about moving to an entirely new community. We have plenty of floor plans to fit your lifestyle and budget. You can choose from any of our customized features from our contemporary floor plans to interior upgrades.

So if you love your neighbors and your community, but would like the comfort and lifestyle that comes with a new home and value that is unrivaled on the market for any type of residence, now is the time to trade up. We will make the process a stress free one. Any of our highly reputable agents can assist you and answer any questions you may have at (888) 874-8692. Your dream home is one call away! Why Compromise?

New Year, New Home!

For many, a new year means a new you! That new you can be in the form of anything from physical changes up to purchases. 2012 can mark the year of that dream home you have always wanted!  If you have been hesitant about listing your home, or are interested into looking at new or used homes, now is prime time to list with Alliance Manufactured Homes! Let us find you the home of your dreams!  All 20 of our sales agents are more than happy to meet with you, answer questions, and show you different homes that best suite your lifestyle! Check out our website at www.alliancemh.com to learn more about our experienced agents who can find that home you have waited so long to call your own!  We can be your ally for a better future!

Merry Christmas!

Can you believe it? The most widely celebrated holiday is just days away! Christmas has become a traditional holiday where family and friends gather to create unforgettable moments and share home cooked meals. Children anxiously await for a popular figure known to have many names such as Santa Clause, Saint Nicholas, and Kris Kringle to stuff their stockings and place gifts under the Christmas tree. This highly anticipated federal holiday is celebrated by many around the world. Christmas trees, house decorations, wreaths, Christmas music, caroling, gift exchanges, and card exchanges are just some of the many traditions that have become associated with the holiday.

Alliance Homes would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! We hope your holiday is filled with peace, love & laughter!

How to Winterize Your Home!

     

Along with the holiday season comes chilly weather and high electricity bills, now is a great time to prepare your home for this winter.

During these cold Winter months it’s important to have a warm and cozy living environment. There are many things you can do to increase the energy efficiency of your home.

Investing in quality insulation and windows are just some of many ways to do so and here are some great benefits to consider:

Saves energy. Our new homes are complete with Energy Star rated windows that feature advanced technologies such as glass coatings, vacuum-sealed spaces, and better weather stripping. This reduces the amount of energy used by nearly 50%! The energy efficiency of your home increases while the amount of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere decreases.

Saves money. Say good-bye to high energy bills! Great insulation and windows pays for itself in the long run. This will drastically lower the amount of money spent on heating each month and makes a huge difference year round.

Improves overall comfort. Keeping your home properly insulated and having energy star rated windows ensures stable temperatures throughout your home. Heat is better kept indoors and will keep your home much warmer.

Our Installations department is more than happy to answer any of your questions or concerns. Call (888) 874-8692 for more information!

 

Meet April Dawn!

April grew up in Sanger, California and later moved to the Bay Area where she has lived for the past 20 years.

Following high school, she registered for the military in the Marine Core and soon after attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) where she studied Design for 3 years. When her husband accepted a job for Yahoo!, she decided to find work in Sunnyvale.

In 2006, she began a career in the manufactured housing industry for Advantage Homes where she performed administration and warranty work, as well as handled service issues. When Alliance Manufactured Homes decided to open their doors later that year, she became a sales agent and has been with the company ever since.

According to April, the most rewarding thing about being a sales agent for Alliance is helping families find their dream home. With experience in design she is able to help her clients custom design beautiful new homes. Her familiarity with construction and factories helps her excel in new home design. April loves and respects people and it shows in the customer service she delivers. She strongly values the friendships made in sales with her clients and because of this she has been recognized as the top Sunnyvale New Home Agent for four consecutive years. April looks forward to helping you find or custom design your dream home!

For more information on April or any of our experienced agents, visit our website!

Do You Feel The Shaking? Have No Fear Your Manufactured Home Will Be Safe!

California is known for many hot topics, one of those hot topics being earthquakes. For a few years now, many have wondered when the next big earthquake will strike California. In recent weeks earthquakes having been striking and causing damage all over the world. These recent earthquakes have led many potential buyers to ponder how well a manufactured home will fair during one.

In an interview with Ara Sarkisian, a partner in Alliance Manufactured Homes, with an extensive background in engineering, architecture, and construction, addresses the safety features of manufactured homes.

What are some common misconceptions about the safety of manufactured homes?

“The biggest misconception is that manufactured homes are flimsy and fall apart easy. This is due to the videos we see on television about old mobile home parks in hurricanes. The fact of the matter is that the new manufactured homes are built as strong as or stronger than conventional homes.”

With the recent earthquakes hitting all over the world, how would manufactured homes fair in earthquakes?

“Manufactured homes fair very well during earthquakes. They are built with a high percentage of shear walls, which offers great structural support during any shaking or rattling from an earthquake.”

Do manufactured home parks have an emergency drill in place when earthquakes hit?

“Manufactured home parks have emergency procedures including evacuation procedures for any type of natural disaster. Here in the Bay Area, we would mostly be dealing with earthquakes, floods, or power outages. The manufactured home parks are required by the state of California to have on file Evacuation Procedures for their residents.”

 How big of a magnitude does an earthquake need to cause major damage to manufactured homes?

“The answer to that remains unknown. We had an earthquake in 1989, that was 7.9 magnitude and the manufactured homes made it through that shake just fine.”

What is the difference between manufactured homes in mobile home parks versus residential homes foundation wise?

“Manufactured homes in mobile home parks are constructed onto a non-permanent foundation. They are not installed on a concrete foundation like residential homes are. They are installed onto a series of steel support piers. These piers offer structural foundation support as well as seismic support for any lateral forces caused by earthquakes. In some cases, this is actually preferred over a rigid concrete foundation system.”

Can older manufactured homes withstand earthquakes? If not, how often are manufactured homes replaced or upgraded?

“The newer the home the greater the structural integrity. The new manufactured homes are built to upgraded codes and higher engineering standards. These new homes replace the old manufactured homes every day throughout the area.”

Is there any reason you can think of that would cause someone not buy a manufactured home due to the threat of an earthquake?

“No. My experience is these homes are completely safe.”

Hopefully the interview shed light on the stability of manufactured homes and how well they withstand natural disasters. The foundation that manufactured homes stand on is one of the positives in purchasing a home! Safety is always a concern so – Why COMPROMISE? If you want more safety information of our homes call (888) 874-8692 to speak with one of our field agents today!

Positive Outlook for the Manufactured Housing Industry!

More and more people are purchasing manufactured homes and for a good reason, too! Over the last two years, shipments of manufactured homes have greatly increased and now over 19 million Americans live in one. Not only are they 10 to 35% less expensive than site built homes, but they offer greater amenities, better quality construction, and are more energy efficient. No wonder why more people are switching to manufactured homes!

According to the CEO of Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), Thayer Long, the industry is “a key economic solution for present and future home buyers”. He further states, “the manufactured housing industry is very much alive, and very much here to stay”.

To read more about the promising outlook for the manufactured housing industry visit, http://www.manufacturedhousing.org/admin/template/brochures/1000temp.pdf.

Alliance can help you find the perfect dream home you’ve always wanted! Call (888) 874-8962 to speak with any of our friendly and experienced agents for more information or visit our website!

Karsten Homes: Built to Last!

Karsten, one of the factories that Alliance Manufactured Homes works with, takes pride in the high quality manufactured homes they build. Every home is built to follow exact standards and include a variety of extra features to fit your needs and lifestyle. To find out about how Karsten builds their homes click below to take a tour through their California home building facility. You may be surprised at what you find!

http://www.karstenhomes.com/brands/karsten/flash/ca_factory/main.swf