The Grissim Buyer's Guide to Manufactured Homes & Land
Book Review
In the world of manufactured housing, unbiased information can be difficult to find. Much of the available literature is produced by manufacturers or dealerships with a vested interest in the sale.
This is why I often refer clients to “The Grissim Buyer’s Guide to Manufactured Homes & Land” by John Grissim.
Grissim is a journalist and consumer advocate, not a salesperson. His guide has become a standard reference for understanding the industry because it focuses on the structural and financial realities of buying a factory-built home.
In the video above, I review the key sections of the guide, including his explanation of construction standards and the dealership model.
Key takeaways from the book include:
The Rating System: Grissim provides a method for evaluating the construction quality of a home on a 1-to-10 scale, looking past cosmetic finishes to the structural components.
The Profit Margin: The book offers transparency regarding how dealerships price their units and where there is typically room for negotiation.
Site Preparation: One of the most valuable chapters details the complexities of preparing land, suggesting that buyers often benefit from managing the site improvements (like septic and foundations) independently rather than bundling them into the home purchase.
If you are researching this market, this guide provides the technical baseline you need to compare different manufacturers objectively.
Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.