Jim Walter Homes
Have any of you guys ever gotten a home from Jim Walter Homes? Someone told me that they are realatively cheap to build (I'm looking at the Affordable line). I'm wanting to buy some rental property and was thinking of going with some mobiles, but I'd much rather have something that appreciates in value. You guys got any comments on Jim Walter Homes? How much do you think a nice one would cost to build?
Thanks,
Mitchell
Any takers?
Jim Walters has a web site. My inspector said that because they can be "assembled" by the owner or a GC, they can either be poorly made or decent. I definately discount when the house is a Jim Walters. It is something that you will always have to disclose.
Brenda
ZaZu448,
Thank you for posting that warning. We appreciate that you are speaking from sad experience and are sorry that this had to happen to you.
That said, let me welcome you to the forum. Sorry that your first post had to be a downer.
Let us know a little about yourself, and also chime in wherever you can contribute to the conversation.
Again, welcome.
[addsig]
ZaZu448,
Thank you for posting that warning. We appreciate that you are speaking from sad experience and are sorry that this had to happen to you.
That said, let me welcome you to the forum. Sorry that your first post had to be a downer.
Let us know a little about yourself, and also chime in wherever you can contribute to the conversation.
Again, welcome.
[addsig]
I am a developer and builder with25 years experience. Because of the difficulty during the boom in finding good subcontractors in SW Florida, I put up some modular houses. A good friend of mine of, who is a licensed contractor and finishing carpenter turned developer, decided to try two Jim Walters houses. Mainly because of their finance deal. He owned the land, they finance the construction. He threw them off the jobs and finished the houses himself. They used unlicensed contractors. Incompetent, they have no interest in the quality or managing the sub contractors they use. The company really is just a finance operation run by managers since Jim Walters died. Stay away. If you really want, I can give you my friends number, if you have a couple of hours to listen. You would be better using a modular home, which meets code and morgages like a site built house. DANGER STAY AWAY!
Let me say this, as there seems to be some misunderstanding as to what Jim Walter really is.
I was in management with Jim Walter, and I also have more than 25 years construction experience.
With that said, Let me begin by saying that Jim Walter is not a Modular home, nor are they kits. They are constructed board by board on the site.
They are like any other national homebuilder....some areas they may be crappy...some areas they are great. I would suggest you get a list of references from the branch you visited. They will provide you with them (its company policy). I dont think they are a bad move, but thats just my personal opinion.
And, just in case anyone wanted to know, I left because of a huge fight with upper management....so I personally cant stand most of the people there in upper management, but I wont lie against them either.
Let me say this, as there seems to be some misunderstanding as to what Jim Walter really is.
I was in management with Jim Walter, and I also have more than 25 years construction experience.
With that said, Let me begin by saying that Jim Walter is not a Modular home, nor are they kits. They are constructed board by board on the site.
They are like any other national homebuilder....some areas they may be crappy...some areas they are great. I would suggest you get a list of references from the branch you visited. They will provide you with them (its company policy). I dont think they are a bad move, but thats just my personal opinion.
And, just in case anyone wanted to know, I left because of a huge fight with upper management....so I personally cant stand most of the people there in upper management, but I wont lie against them either.
I tell all my clients who come to the web site at Foreclosure News that old adage-- "try and save a penny and waste a dollar." We all fall into that trap, life is not a piece of cake all the time.
My advice would be to find an expert carpenter who has a track record of building houses from scratch and pay him as a consultant. You might look for a retired senior citizen.
Use this expert and stick build the house. This is the cheapest and most cost effective way of building houses (in most cases).