Manufactured Housing Offers a High-Quality Affordable Options for Hispanics
Manufactured homes offer Hispanics a way to own the “American Dream”

AUBURN HILLS, MI. (Hispanic PR Wire) March 1, 2004 - For the more than 17 million Hispanics –52% of all Hispanics living in the United States– who may seek to become homeowners in 2004, a manufactured home is an affordable and high-quality way to own the “American Dream.”

A manufactured home is a single-family house constructed entirely in a controlled factory environment by skilled craftsmen. Manufactured homes, be they single- or multi-section units, are built indoors and transported to and installed at the home site. Manufactured homes are popular and in demand because they offer flexible choices to families of all sizes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, manufactured homes accounted for more than one quarter of all new single-family homes sold during the 1990s.

Research conducted by Champion Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: CHB), the World’s Largest Homebuilder, revealed that Hispanics, in their quest for affordable housing, face a variety of challenges, such as being unaware of the concept of a manufactured home and the need to learn more about the financing process. The survey also revealed that Hispanics place a high priority on being a homeowner, having enough living space for the family and being able to locate their home in a good neighborhood.

Hispanic consumers also want permanency and quality, both of which are addressed by Champion homes. Roberto Kritzer, vice president of design for Champion Enterprises said, “Through quality design, construction and materials, our homes are built to provide decades of comfort, safety, convenience and pride. A manufactured home offers the Hispanic community a high quality, personalized and affordable alternative to site-built homes, often with a significantly lower down payment.”

“Our commitment to meeting the needs of our customers is reflected in the Customer Design Series, an exciting new concept in manufactured housing that gives buyers more design control of their homes,” said Roger Lasater, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Champion Enterprises. “Consumers interested in the series can use interactive planning materials that allow them to configure their home’s floor plan to fit their unique family and lifestyle needs.”

Customers also can personalize their homes by choosing from a variety of interior color schemes as well as multiple exterior materials and colors.

Depending on the region of the country, construction costs per square foot for a new manufactured home average anywhere from 10 to 35 percent less than a comparable site-built home, excluding the cost of land. Today’s manufactured homes offer quality construction and modern amenities at a price that fits any budget.

With over 50 years of homebuilding experience, Champion offers quality manufactured homes built with the same materials as used in site-built homes. Also, these homes are equipped with respected brand name appliances, plumbing, lighting fixtures, countertops, and carpet, among other features.

Champion homes range in size from 800 square feet to more than 2,800 square feet, and offer features like spacious kitchens, glamorous baths, vaulted ceilings, entertainment centers, fireplaces and custom cabinetry. Champion homes are built with brand name materials, fixtures and appliances bought in volume. When you combine the cost savings of volume buying with the efficiency of building a home under controlled conditions, the cost savings to the consumer can be significant.

According to the Texas A&M University Real Estate Center, an average house in the Dallas metropolitan area costs $186,900. The price of a home built by one of the Champion family of homebuilders is significantly less.

In Texas, the homes from Champion are sold under the brand names of Champion and Redman Homes. To locate the nearest retailer, visit http://www.championhomes.com.

About Champion Enterprises

Champion Enterprises, Inc., headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., is the industry’s leading manufacturer and has produced more than 1.6 million homes since the company was founded. Champion homes are produced in 30 homebuilding facilities. These homes are sold through 78 company-owned stores, by approximately 500 builders and developers, and over 600 independent locations that are part of the Champion Home Center retail distribution network. Further information can be found using the company’s Web site, www.championhomes.com.