Buying a new home is a big deal. For many homeowners, it's one of the most important decisions they ever make. When it comes to such a substantial choice, there are a lot of factors to consider, like:
Getting the answers to those questions can be hard but finding a trustworthy manufactured home company can be even more challenging. Sure, you could settle for a fly-by-night company or a shady mobile home dealer. But if you're like most folks, you want to work with a reliable company that has been in business for years. You need a team of professionals who can answer your questions, address your concerns, and sell you a quality home that will keep your family safe and sound.
Welcome to Ken-Co Homes Inc. - your premier choice for mobile home sales in DeKalb, SC. Ken-Co Homes has been Lake City's go-to manufactured home since 1974. With several locations in South Carolina, we're the first choice for manufactured homes in the state. As longtime locals in the community, we pride ourselves on honesty, hard work, and running a manufactured home business that you can count on.
There's no secret sauce that makes Ken-Co Homes successful. We work hard, sell the finest Clayton, Destiny, Scotbilt, Homes, and treat our customers like we would like to be treated. That's why, when you meet our team for your home tour, you'll be treated with respect and greeted with a warm smile. Whether you have questions regarding financing or the fit and finish of a floorplan, we'll maintain that same level of kindness, courtesy, and honesty. That way, you know for sure that you have invested in a top-notch manufactured home that your family will love.
Unlike other manufactured home dealers, we have a full selection of Clayton Homes for sale with attractive floor plans to fit your unique lifestyle. When you choose Ken-Co Homes, you're also choosing:
We offer our valued customers a $500 guarantee that we will meet or beat ANY competitor who has a lower price on one of our homes with the same options. Don't believe us? Contact our office today!
With decades of combined experience, our team has the tools and know-how to make your buying process smooth and stress-free.
Buying a home can be challenging, especially with travel logistics and other factors at play. Our team can help answer any questions you have about buying a home and transporting it to a park or piece of private land.
When you buy from Ken-Co Homes, you're investing in a high-quality product that your family will love for years to come. With more than a dozen home choices, you're sure to find a new home that matches your lifestyle.
We'll work with you one-on-one to ensure you get the home of your dreams. If you have questions or concerns once you move in, give us a call - we're here to help.
We offer detail-oriented, experienced set-up crews that make living life in your new home easy and efficient.
At Ken-Co Homes, we offer flexible financing options to help make buying your dream home a reality.
Whether you're looking for a smaller two-bedroom manufactured home or a large, luxurious four-bedroom manufactured home, our friendly consultants are ready to help you build the home of your dreams.
"Is there a difference between a mobile home and a manufactured home?" is one of the most common questions we get online and in person. Today, many people use mobile home and manufactured home interchangeably. That's understandable because both types of homes share similar features and benefits for homeowners. However, understanding the minor differences can be valuable when searching for a new place to call home.
Unlike site-built homes, manufactured homes are built in a factory. Once completed, they're shipped to a specific location where the homeowner will live. The term "manufactured home" refers to any factory-built home constructed after June 15, 1976. That date is when the HUD or U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented guidelines centered around manufactured home construction.
HUD code requires manufactured homes to be constructed on a base frame with wheels with a minimum of 320 square feet.
Thanks to fast build times and lower material costs, manufactured homes for sale in DeKalb, SC is often more cost-effective for home buyers. Compared to traditional site-built homes, many manufactured homes can be up to 35% less than more traditional houses.
Any mobile homes built after June 15, 1976, are considered manufactured homes today, though many people use the term mobile home casually. In the past, these homes were used to travel and were more like the expensive RVs that people use today than true manufactured homes. Back then, mobile homes received a bad reputation due to poor build quality, but they've come a long way since that time. Today, mobile homes are safe, comfortable, and structurally sound, with many types of amenities and floor plans.
Manufactured homes are more popular in the U.S. than ever, and for good reason: prospective homeowners are looking for affordable, quality alternatives to traditional homes. That's especially true today, with inflation on the rise, necessitating more budget-friendly options for anyone who wants to put a roof over their heads.
If you're used to living in a traditional, site-built home, you may be wondering what the advantages are of buying a manufactured home. Here are just a few of the most common benefits of buying a manufactured home:
When you boil it down to the basics, buying a new home is all about the money. One of the most attractive reasons for buying a manufactured home is that they are often much less expensive than traditional site-built homes. Today, manufactured housing is considered a crucial part of the housing shortage solution and a viable option with inflation rising. According to statistics, the average square-foot cost of a site-built home is $107, while the average price is only $49 in a manufactured home. Whether you're sticking to a strict budget or your finances have changed due to poor economic conditions, going manufactured might be your best choice.
Owning a manufactured home gives the homeowner long-term living options. Because basic manufactured homes are usually very affordable, families with enough land can start with a small home and add additional units as their needs change. Manufactured homes are also great as starter homes, especially for families that plan on building a permanent structure on their land in the future. Though it could be logistically challenging, manufactured homes can also be moved to a different site if the initial one was on rented property.
Manufactured homes have received a bad rap over the last few decades. In reality, most manufactured homes are purpose-built for longevity with structural integrity. Every manufactured home built today is subject to the HUD code adopted in 1976. This code is the only federally-mandated code in existence. It was designed to ensure that manufactured homes meet strict standards regarding fire safety, structural design, energy efficiency, transportation to home sites, and overall construction. All manufactured homes sold in the U.S. have a permanent red seal to confirm they meet HUD standards.
When you buy a manufactured home, you may be able to move in faster than you would via traditional routes. Some manufactured homes are even move-in ready in less than 45 days. Compared to a traditional home, once a new manufactured home is built in the factory, buyers usually find that installation is a quick process. Once the manufactured home is delivered, utility work usually moves quickly, regardless of whether you're moving to a park or transporting your home to a piece of land. Before you know it, you're eating, sleeping, and enjoying life in your new manufactured home.
When asked about the pros and cons, many buyers cite energy efficiency as one of the most significant benefits of owning a manufactured home. In general, manufactured housing is more energy efficient than traditional because HUD mandates ensure that homes have high energy efficiency ratings.
These ratings are achieved through upgraded insulation installation, on-demand water heaters, and energy-efficient windows. These upgrades often make entire manufactured homes Energy Star certified. It's no surprise that manufactured homes are 27% more efficient than they used to be with other additions like energy-saving appliances in kitchens and bathrooms.
If you've ever lived in an apartment complex before, chances are you heard sounds and noises through your walls that you never wanted to hear. If you hate hearing your neighbors and despise thin walls, looking for mobile home sales in DeKalb, SC is a great idea. Why? Manufactured homes are typically built using separate modules, which reduces sound transference from room to room. When two or more modules are combined and insulated separately, buyers enjoy an even quieter, stronger home with less outside noise.
If there's one disappointing aspect of manufactured homes, the stigma seems to surround them. Yes, mobile homes from 30 or more years ago aren't exactly marvels of construction and deserve to be criticized. However, modern manufactured homes are cut from a different cloth and are often every bit as safe and luxurious as site-built homes.
Here are some of the most common (and annoying) mobile home myths debunked:
Modern manufactured homes are factory-built homes crafted with quality materials that meet comprehensive federal construction and safety standards. These standards, called the "HUD Code," outline how the homes must be built, including safety guidelines. For example, manufactured home builders must take strict measures to ensure their homes are resistant to wind. In terms of hurricanes and tornados, having such measures in place can prevent a tragedy from happening.
The bottom line is that manufactured homes are plenty safe and provide a quality product to people who want a lower-cost option over traditional housing.
One of the most repeated myths surrounding manufactured homes is that they are in poor shape and have an overall poor quality. Today, many manufactured homes are built with quality materials and care. It's not unusual to find a manufactured home with luxurious amenities and features lie state-of-the-art kitchens, high-end appliances, and chic open floor plans. At Ken-Co Homes, we can provide you with a complete list of available upgrades and amenities for you to enjoy in your new home.
Perhaps it's due to their popularity and lower prices, but we often hear that it's hard to find manufactured homes for sale. As seasoned home dealers, we can say this is categorically false. Whether you head over to Google and search for "mobile homes near me in DeKalb, SC," or simply head to Ken-Co Homes' website, you'll see plenty of homes to choose from. Contact our office today for a full list of our homes for sale!
When it comes to home prices in today's day and age, manufactured homes are among the most affordable options available.
That's because manufactured homes cost less to construct than site-built homes, with the average price costing $92K for new construction and $60K for a pre-owned manufactured home, according to recent data. The cost of a traditional home is much higher, with an average of $408K, according to Statista data from 2021. Even though manufactured home living costs change depending on the community, they're often much less expensive than their site-built cousins in the long run.
This myth parallels the stereotype that manufactured homes are cheap and poorly built. Unfortunately, many people still believe that living in a manufactured home community isn't safe. They think that the parks are run down and riddled with reprobates. In reality, many manufactured home parks mimic gated communities with 24-hour security and mandated quiet hours. Some manufactured home neighborhoods even offer community-wide amenities like spas and pools. If you're a fan of the gated community lifestyle but don't want to pay hundreds of thousands for a site-built home, a manufactured home community could be your best bet.
Are you giving serious thought to buying a manufactured home for sale in South Carolina? You're not alone - more than 365K people in the Palmetto State live in manufactured homes. At Ken-Co Homes Inc., we're not your average run-of-the-mill manufactured home dealer. We only do business with manufacturing partners committed to building top-quality products that our customers are proud to own.
If you're looking for modern amenities, energy-efficient appliances, unique floorplans, and homes constructed with quality materials, Ken-Co Homes is the company for you. Contact our office today to learn more about our beautiful Clayton homes for sale in DeKalb, SC.
The chief executive officer of the Greenville Housing Authority is on paid leave after she was indicted on a number of crimes alleged to have taken place while she worked in DeKalb County, Georgia.S...
The chief executive officer of the Greenville Housing Authority is on paid leave after she was indicted on a number of crimes alleged to have taken place while she worked in DeKalb County, Georgia.
Shawn Williams, 60, has held the Greenville position since 2020. Previously she was the executive director of the Housing Assistance Division of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs where she managed over $300 million in federal and state funds and a staff of 148 employees, the Greenville Housing Authority said when her hiring was announced.
This week, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced that Williams and three others were indicted “in connection with an alleged scheme to steal money from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs through fraudulent contracts.”
The others charged were Corey Alston, 45, Toyao Andrews, 49, and Quinton Tate, 41.
The charges are violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to defraud the state, false statements/concealment, theft by deception, three counts of theft by taking, six counts of theft by receiving and six counts of bribery.
The charges allege that Williams and Andrews approved a contract for cleaning services with a company Andrews owned. From 2017 to 2019, the Georgia agency paid $64,000 to the cleaning company despite cleaning services being provided by the building’s landlord.
In addition, $120,000 was paid for development of an online tool in 2018 that was never implemented.
“The former state employees named in this indictment were supposed to help low-income Georgians find safe, affordable housing. Instead, they allegedly used their positions to enrich themselves,” Boston said. “Anyone who violates the public’s trust and takes taxpayer dollars as their own will be held accountable and brought to justice.”
Williams is from Pittsburgh and has worked in housing agencies there and in Woodbridge and Richmond in Virginia and Charlotte.
Board Chair Pete Byford could not be reached for comment.
He told WYFF that the Greenville Housing Authority was conducting an internal review and was cooperating with Georgia authorities.
The agency’s Director of Finance Beth Clark was named interim CEO.
“We want to assure our community that The Greenville Housing Authority remains committed to transparency and accountability,” Byford told the television station.
Former Mt. Pisgah Elementary was consolidated back in October with two other schools' forming North Central Elementary.KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — Kershaw County Council will cast their final vote on Tuesday evening for the July 2022 to June 2023 budget.One of the items in the budget is to use a portion of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) a total of $300,000 dollars to transform Mt. Pisgah Elementary S...
Former Mt. Pisgah Elementary was consolidated back in October with two other schools' forming North Central Elementary.
KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — Kershaw County Council will cast their final vote on Tuesday evening for the July 2022 to June 2023 budget.
One of the items in the budget is to use a portion of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) a total of $300,000 dollars to transform Mt. Pisgah Elementary School into a community center.
The school was consolidated with Bethune Elementary and Baron-Dekalb to make what is now North Central Elementary, which has left that area with an empty building.
Tom Gardner, Kershaw County Councilman for District 6 says, "The Old Mt. Pisgah school it's been there for ninety-eight years in that community, it means a lot, and everything is centered being very rural around the churches and that school."
Councilman Gardner says it was an idea that came to mind months back and won't cost taxpayers, "It is the ARPA fun we're setting it up three-hundred thousand and basically, it's one hundred for renovations, then two years of operating money, and then at which time we will be creating a non-profit to operate the community center."
RELATED: New Kershaw County school resource officer glad to be home, share lessons learned
The building has brought in several entities to tour and explore options, "We talked to some of our agencies here, the Medical Clinic, United Way, Food For The Soul, Arts Center, Library, they all actually took a tour of the building and they felt like that could provide services that are twenty-five miles away."
RELATED: Meet new Kershaw County's new school superintendent
Donny Supplee with United Way of Kershaw County is one of those people who came out to see what the building offered, "A bunch of folks who really care about that community and want to make a difference, and so I agreed and we wanted to help as well."
Gardner hopes the process will begin soon, "Hopefully we can get it going once everything gets transferred."
GREENVILLE, S.C. —The CEO of the Greenville Housing Authority and two other employees have been placed on leave.The Greenville Housing Authority (TGHA) said CEO Shawn Williams and two other employees are on paid leave following William's indictment on financial fraud charges in DeKalb County, Georgia.The housing authority says the charges are related to William's prior employment with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.The ...
GREENVILLE, S.C. —
The CEO of the Greenville Housing Authority and two other employees have been placed on leave.
The Greenville Housing Authority (TGHA) said CEO Shawn Williams and two other employees are on paid leave following William's indictment on financial fraud charges in DeKalb County, Georgia.
The housing authority says the charges are related to William's prior employment with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
The indictment says Williams, along with Toyao Andrews, Corey Alston and Quinton Tate were indicted on June 27 by a DeKalb County Grand Jury on charges of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, conspiracy to defraud the state, false statements/concealment, theft by deception, three counts of theft by taking, six counts of theft by receiving and six counts of bribery.
It said Williams and Andrews "conspired to defraud the agency by approving a contract for cleaning services at a DCA satellite office with a company owned by Andrews. The DCA paid more than $64,000 to the cleaning company from 2017 to 2019, even though the office already had cleaning services provided by the building’s landlord. In 2019, Defendant Alston learned the DCA was looking for a vendor to develop an online tool for the agency. When the state rejected his company’s request to be an authorized vendor, Defendants Alston, Andrews, and Tate agreed to use Tate’s company instead. Defendant Andrews then allegedly submitted invoices from Tate’s company for the online product totaling $120,000. DCA leadership paid the invoices after Defendant Andrews and Defendant Williams told them the web service was completed and in use, though the online tool was never created. "
Read the full indictment here.
“The former state employees named in this indictment were supposed to help low-income Georgians find safe, affordable housing. Instead, they allegedly used their positions to enrich themselves,” said District Attorney Sherry Boston. “Anyone who violates the public’s trust and takes taxpayer dollars as their own will be held accountable and brought to justice.”
“The Housing Authority’s Board met Wednesday morning to discuss and take action in this matter,” said Board Chair Pete Byford. “We take these allegations seriously and will be conducting our own internal reviews.”
Byford said the TGHA’s Board is in full cooperation with the authorities and committed to assisting in any way possible to bring resolution to this matter. The organization said it's working diligently to ensure that the operations and services provided to the residents of Greenville remain uninterrupted during this period.
TGHA’s Director of Finance, Beth Clark, has been named interim CEO. The Board of Directors has also initiated a comprehensive review of internal controls and processes with an outside consulting firm.
“We want to assure our community that The Greenville Housing Authority remains committed to transparency and accountability,” said Byford.
KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) -This week, the Kershaw County School Board voted to close down three elementary schools in the northern part of the district: Baron-Dekalb, Bethune and Mt. Pisgah Elementary Schools. The schools will be consolidated and moved into a brand new elementary school, which the district plans to have built.District leaders say the plans for consolidation will not mean any job losses. They also say this is being done at no cost to the taxpayers....
KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) -This week, the Kershaw County School Board voted to close down three elementary schools in the northern part of the district: Baron-Dekalb, Bethune and Mt. Pisgah Elementary Schools. The schools will be consolidated and moved into a brand new elementary school, which the district plans to have built.
District leaders say the plans for consolidation will not mean any job losses. They also say this is being done at no cost to the taxpayers.
Kershaw County School Board votes to consolidate 3 elementary schools
A few years ago, the county sold about $130 million in bonds. After interest, the county received about $150 million. They’re using the excess funds to pay for the construction of the new elementary school, which will be located near North Central Middle and North Central High Schools. District leaders hope that this will make it easier for families with students in multiple grade levels because the elementary, middle and high schools will all be in one central location.
The superintendent of Kershaw County Schools, Dr. Shane Robbins, tells WIS-TV that the schools on the list to be closed are old and they’re looking to provide students with a modern, 21st century environment.
“The three schools in question are quite old. One was built in the 1920’s. The amount of money it would take to renovate and bring those buildings up to current code is an extraordinary amount of money,” Dr. Robbins said.
Based on numbers provided by the district, it would cost about $15 million dollars to bring each of the three elementary schools up to compliance codes – totaling almost $45 million. That’s compared to an estimated $20 million to build a new elementary school.
ESTIMATED COSTS:
Code Compliance Renovations -
Baron-Dekalb $15 Million
Bethune $14 Million
Mt. Pisgah $14 Million
Construction of New School -
$20 Million
Dr. Robbins says members of the Kershaw County School Board considered every single student before making this decision. The district also provided the number of bus riders who will be affected, and say most students will have a shorter ride on the way to school and heading back home with the location of the new school.
The superintendent says the new school will also create smaller class sizes.
“Because the buildings are so small, sometimes our class sizes are really large because you can’t split one, and by pulling them together we actually will have multiple sections where it will lower our class sizes proportionately across the county.”
School leaders say they anticipate moving students into the new building by the 2021-2022 school year.
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WATERLOO — DeKalb Central schools are creating hands-on computer science opportunities for students in kindergarten through grade 5.The school district is in its second year of offering a computer science class at all of its elementary schools. The 35-minute class takes place once a week and is lead by paraprofessionals Renee Buehner, Jennifer Caylor, Isabella Hal and Sally Pease. Kelsey Wertz is the district’s innovation coach and computer science coordinator.This year’s curriculum involves the use of read al...
WATERLOO — DeKalb Central schools are creating hands-on computer science opportunities for students in kindergarten through grade 5.
The school district is in its second year of offering a computer science class at all of its elementary schools. The 35-minute class takes place once a week and is lead by paraprofessionals Renee Buehner, Jennifer Caylor, Isabella Hal and Sally Pease. Kelsey Wertz is the district’s innovation coach and computer science coordinator.
This year’s curriculum involves the use of read aloud books, Wertz said.
The “Hello Ruby” book series is used, where the first part of class is used to read a chapter of the book, with the second part of class used for hands-on activities that solidify and reiterate what was going on the the chapter.
After reading “Hello Ruby: Journey Inside the Computer,” students created their own paper computer, learning its different components, what they do and where they are in a computer, Wertz explained.
The tech team also brought in a dissected tower and students got an up-close look at a tower and identified its parts.
First-graders used the “Hello Ruby: Adventures In Coding” read aloud with corresponding activities for each chapter, Wertz said.
Students learned about loops and collaborated to create dance loops and communicated their dance loop to the class.
Students also learned vocabulary terms relating to computer science and used picture books to learn about famous computer scientists.
“With activities like these, we have found that our kids really are understanding now … after we’ve gone some of these unplugged activities, or activities that don’t require a device, kids are really zooming through the … curriculum,” Wertz said.
“Kids are really recalling.”
Students use Vex Go robotics kits to engineer and build a design. Third-graders have used the kits to look at simple machines, Wertz said.
“They were able to build simple machines and were able to test them,” she added.
Wertz said using the design process, students are provided an environment to practice critical thinking, collaboration, communication, perseverance, adaptability and integrity.
Students in grades 3-5 use Ozobot Evos to design and create models to a given task. They coded an Ozobot to travel on a path on a U.S. map, Wertz said.
In the future, students in kindergarten through second grade will use Sphero smart devices to learn coding, she added.
Wertz said the district will continue to work toward computer science integration, noting is can be used as a tool to learn science, math, English language arts, social studies, art, music and more.