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 Sumter, 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 Sumter, 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 Sumter, 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 Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC.
SUMTER, S.C. — A producer is trying to tell history through hair by exploring the significance of a beauty shop in Sumter. It started in the 50’s with the goal of empowering Black women."This is your grandmother's story. Just tell it. And that changed everything," Dia Clyburn says about the advice she got from a friend. "Because it is. This is her story and I'm really, really glad to tell it."This opportunity to share about her grandmother's legacy came when ...
SUMTER, S.C. — A producer is trying to tell history through hair by exploring the significance of a beauty shop in Sumter. It started in the 50’s with the goal of empowering Black women.
"This is your grandmother's story. Just tell it. And that changed everything," Dia Clyburn says about the advice she got from a friend. "Because it is. This is her story and I'm really, really glad to tell it."
This opportunity to share about her grandmother's legacy came when Michaela Angela Davis wanted to produce a documentary about her grandmother, Almeta Dizzley Clyburn.
"At Clyburn's you can, you can feel Almeta in the space. There's still old hot combs and beautiful old chairs and so it still has this feeling of history but there's young women and they're still getting their hair pressed," Davis explains. "And it still holds that same community anchor, you know, beauty shops, churches, there are certain places that just really create community and particularly for women, and particularly for Black women, beauty shops are still safe places."
In 1950, Almeta opened a beauty salon.
"She would bring young ladies from the rural areas, — Bishopville, Camden, you know, Kershaw County — have them live with her for a little while she puts them through beauty school, and then she would encourage them to open their own salons, back where they live," Clyburn tells me. "So she allowed her legacy to continue to to grow."
She would also create hair products designed for Black girls and women and give them out to people in her community while fostering a safe space in her salon.
"Beauty shops are places where women, Black women particularly, raised money for the civil rights movement, raised money for colleges, developed skill sets, safe places in the community, and they are still that," Davis says. "Clyburn's is probably the most vibrant example of that."
This weekend, Davis is premiering a short documentary about the shop's legacy.
"It is a precious little gem of not only the story of Sumter, but the story of how women build spaces that build community that create leaders," Davis details.
Loretta Way has been working at the shop for 52 years, starting alongside Almeta. She says the founder would have been proud to see her granddaughter continuing that legacy.
"She talked to me about a lot of things that she wanted to see happen, and those things are happening now. It's happening now because people are knowing what she was trying to accomplish," Way smiles. "And it makes me feel good because I was a part of it."
That documentary will be premiered at Morris College on Saturday at 11 a.m. Then at the Sumter Resource Center on Sunday. Along with AARP, Davis will host the screening of "Something about Sumter: Almeta's Story."
"This is Women's History Month but let's be clear, women keep families together, keep communities together, keep the country together," Davis laughs about the larger message behind the short documentary. "And so this is just a real celebration and an illumination of that."
And while that history is being highlighted, Dia Clyburn says she's working everyday to keep her grandmother's legacy alive.
"We try our best to encourage the young ladies who come in here, young or old. You know, we're we love our college students," Clyburn shares. "We encourage everyone to you know, learn a trade and to go to college and to you know, just be superior at who you are, you know, as a young Black woman."
Part of Almeta's purpose, Way says, is giving back to the community. It's a trait the beauty shop still tries to continue.
"[Almeta] taught us to reach out to other people in that same manner. You see someone that needs something that may not be able to afford it," Way says. "So she instilled in us to reach out and help someone else. And you know, make them feel good about themselves."
Liberty STEAM Charter School is requesting to purchase FJ DeLaine, a Wedgefield elementary school that closed in 2018.SUMTER, S.C. — A charter school is looking to expand in Sumter County, but some residents aren’t happy about the existing building it wants to use."I started school here in 1954," Sumter resident Roland Robinson remembers. "First grade."Robinson attended F.J. DeLaine for elementary school. He says ...
Liberty STEAM Charter School is requesting to purchase FJ DeLaine, a Wedgefield elementary school that closed in 2018.
SUMTER, S.C. — A charter school is looking to expand in Sumter County, but some residents aren’t happy about the existing building it wants to use.
"I started school here in 1954," Sumter resident Roland Robinson remembers. "First grade."
Robinson attended F.J. DeLaine for elementary school. He says it’s been a staple in the Wedgefield community for decades, but that might change soon.
Liberty STEAM Charter school hopes to buy the property to serve more students and parents like Robin Thames and Chelsea Bowley, whose kids attend the current campus.
"It seems like their big vision is eventually to have campuses all over Sumter since there's not transportation for a charter school and that way they can service more kids in more localized areas," Thames explains.
"I know there’s tons of parents that are interested in Liberty and there’s a waitlist a mile long and I know that they would be all for Liberty growing and their children having the same opportunity my children do," Bowley adds. "Expanding in Sumter I think would be a great opportunity not only for the children in Sumter and the educational needs that are here, but also just for in the future just for Sumter in general, like for the growth of Sumter."
Liberty sent a proposal to the Sumter School District saying it wants to purchase the property located on Cane Savannah Road off Broad Street. County Councilman Carlton Washington believes this is not the right fit.
"There's a very rich and deep history associated with people in this community and specifically Black children who could not get a quality education," Washington explains.
It was originally a Rosenwald school, which aimed to provide education to Black children during segregation. It’s a history that Wedgefield residents, like local pastor Dorothy Maple, want to keep alive by keeping the building for the community.
"This is the heart and the hub of Wedgefield. Right here. It’s been here. It’s been built by people that are still living here," Maple shares. "And there's so much of a need right here in this community that is not being fulfilled."
Instead of giving the property to Liberty, they’d like a portion of it to be turned into a community center. President of the Sumter County branch of the NAACP Elizabeth Kilgore says while a charter school offers educational benefits, she would prefer that education be directed to kids in this community.
"With a public charter school, the students here may or may not be served," Kilgore believes. "But with Sumter School District, they will be served."
"It’s a part of our community," Robinson continues. "It's a legacy for us in this community, that the school remain here and if it takes it away I know the building won’t move, but the name will change."
According to Thames, that might not be the case. She says her children began attending Liberty when its first campus opened in a different old school building.
"When they first started, they didn’t have a name for the school and one of the ways they encompassed the old school that was there is they had us vote and they pulled in the old school...and they encompassed it into the new name of Liberty STEAM Charter," Thames explains. "And then on top of that they have had people that attended that elementary school way back in the day come and speak to the kids to kind of put a face to the children that ran down those hallways so many years ago."
Regardless, it goes beyond a name change, Washington says.
Another main point is a lack of transparency between the charter school and Sumter School District, according to Washington.
"[Community members] feel disrespected. It appears that there have been legislative maneuvers…about how to acquire the property without having one conversation with the community directly, without having one conversation with the other elected officials that represent this community," Washington tells me.
The charter school and Sumter School Board are unable to comment because lawyers are involved.
In documents obtained by News 19 between the legal representatives for the district and Liberty, the charter school has requested to purchase the building under a proviso that would make it eligible for sale if a school building is unused.
The district responded saying the building is still in use as a training center and storage location for the sheriff’s department and the school district. It also says it’s in the district’s capital improvement plans for future use.
The district says it’s continuing to evaluate its options regarding what that future usage will look like.
"We've discovered the school board itself has the authority to sell the school if it chooses to, but not by force of any proviso or any other state law that would require the school district to sell the school," Washington explains. "There's just so many other purposes that the school could be used for it could be used. As an IT hub. It can be used as a transportation hub. It could be used for food service, it could be used for adult ed. Just a number of things that it could be used for, in addition to sharing a portion of the property with the community."
SUMTER, S.C. — Writing a book is no easy feat, but for one third-grader in Sumter, it was a way to share his passion for the military with his family and friends.At just 8 years old, Lane Russell can call himself a published author.It all started with a trip to the USS Yorktown near Charleston."They were like one of my favorite ships so I was like, 'Wow, it was big!" Russell exclaimed. "I just couldn't s...
SUMTER, S.C. — Writing a book is no easy feat, but for one third-grader in Sumter, it was a way to share his passion for the military with his family and friends.
At just 8 years old, Lane Russell can call himself a published author.
It all started with a trip to the USS Yorktown near Charleston.
"They were like one of my favorite ships so I was like, 'Wow, it was big!" Russell exclaimed. "I just couldn't say a word."
His grandparents surprised him with the trip and took a lot of pictures while they were there.
"My grandma said, 'Hey, you want to make a book?' and I said, 'Yes, please," he explained.
His grandmother Marialaina Davis says she gave him a tape recorder and then transcribed what he said. She said at first, the idea was to make a journal.
"I think just looking at the pictures, the pictures were just so beautiful," Davis shared. "And I said, 'You got to put this in a book.' And then when he got the recorder and went picture by picture, noting everything that he did and everything he remembered, I had to have a book."
"I was amazed!" Russell remembers. "The first time I saw it, it wasn’t really the book. It was just like little papers. So I read it whole and I was like ‘This is actually pretty good."
Now that book is sold on Amazon and is in his school’s library. He’s even getting ready for book signings to show it off.
"I’ve sold my book like a lot of times. People have been like buying it every day," Russell told me. "It feels amazing. I'm just glad that people like it."
And Russell’s grandma, who is calls GaGa, is beaming with pride.
"Yeah, you don't see that much patriotism in a little guy, especially his age, eight years old," she smiled.
Russell says that while he hasn’t seen any money in royalties yet, he plans to donate it all to charity.
The knife was found and confiscated before he had the chance to directly threaten any students or teachers, officials said.SUMTER, S.C. — Authorities are clarifying earlier details and sharing new ones regarding a Sumter County 7-year-old who is accused of bringing a knife to school with the intent of stabbing other students and teach...
The knife was found and confiscated before he had the chance to directly threaten any students or teachers, officials said.
SUMTER, S.C. — Authorities are clarifying earlier details and sharing new ones regarding a Sumter County 7-year-old who is accused of bringing a knife to school with the intent of stabbing other students and teachers.
The Sumter County Sheriff's Office said that they now believe the Cherryvale Elementary School student never directly threatened any student or teacher with the 7-inch knife he brought with him. Instead, authorities say a teacher noticed the knife as he opened his backpack. The sheriff's office added that the teacher then contacted the school resource officer who then confiscated the knife.
It was during an interview with the school resource officer and a principal that the student announced that he intended to stab the teacher and students - particularly a child who had been "picking" on him.
The sheriff's office also detailed the future legal process for the child since he is too young to be charged criminally. The office said a child under the age of 11, also can't be detained by law enforcement without an order from a family court.
"The Sheriff's Office does not impose or enforce discipline of children and questions about any disciplinary actions should be addressed to the Sumter School District," the sheriff's office said in its statement.
The sheriff's office is investigating, however, if there was any negligence in the child getting the knife in the first place. In this case, the child's parents could face charges.
The incident will also be referred to the S.C. Department of Social Services after the sheriff's office investigation ends.
“We will do everything within our power to protect our children from harm," Sheriff Anthony Dennis said in a statement. "At the same time, we support school and DSS officials as they work to balance discipline and compassion with all children."
So far in the investigation, the sheriff's office has said it hasn't received any information about "warning signs" regarding the child that were noticed by faculty or staff that would have prompted action.
GREENVILLE - South Carolina certainly has front-line, championship talent with All-American Aliyah Boston and top scorer Zia Cooke. And they're backed by a bench that's second-to-none in the women's game."It's not just the starting five that can make things happen," Cooke said.The Gamecocks' reserves lead the nation in bench points at 36.6 per game. Kamilla Cardoso, the 6-foot-7 SEC sixth woman of the year, is third on the team in scoring with an average of 9.7 points without starting once.Laeticia Amihere, par...
GREENVILLE - South Carolina certainly has front-line, championship talent with All-American Aliyah Boston and top scorer Zia Cooke. And they're backed by a bench that's second-to-none in the women's game.
"It's not just the starting five that can make things happen," Cooke said.
The Gamecocks' reserves lead the nation in bench points at 36.6 per game. Kamilla Cardoso, the 6-foot-7 SEC sixth woman of the year, is third on the team in scoring with an average of 9.7 points without starting once.
Laeticia Amihere, part of the heralded recruiting class four years ago with starters Boston, Cooke and Brea Beal, is fourth in scoring at 7.3 points in 16.3 minutes per game - also without a start.
Reserve point guard Raven Johnson leads with 116 assists and 37 steals in limited action.
"It's always like, 'Oh, we're coming off the bench,'" Gamecocks sophomore Bree Hall said. "No, that's not how we think. We go out there, and we think, 'Let's go out there and go hard and bring whatever we can to the table.'"
The Gamecocks (34-0) continue their chase of an undefeated season and second straight national championship at the Greenville 1 Regional, about 90 minutes from campus. South Carolina, which has won 40 straight games, takes on fourth-seeded UCLA (27-9) on Saturday.
Second-seeded Maryland (27-6) faces No. 3 seed Notre Dame (27-5) in the other regional semifinal contest. The winners play Monday night for a trip to the Final Four in Dallas.
Much of this four-team pod relies on its benches.
UCLA is 37th nationally with its reserves scoring 23.5 points per game. Maryland is 46th in the country at 22.9 points from its bench players, and Notre Dame is 112th at 19.5 points from backups.
UCLA coach Cori Close said championship programs are built on the loyalty and sacrifice of talented players accepting a lesser role.
"Credit to the commitment of those kids that would be starting and getting lots of minutes on a lot of other rosters," she said.
The Gamecocks roster features nine McDonald's All-Americans, six who come off the bench. The talent-rich team leads the nation with 30.6-point margin of victory this season.
Boston has averaged 25 minutes a game this season, fewer than the past two seasons. Having skilled backups has given her more rest time and left her fresher for finishes, if necessary.
"They come in and they dominate, which is really good," she said.
HANDLING ADVERSITY
Notre Dame is moving forward despite losing do-it-all guard Olivia Miles to a season-ending knee injury during the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament this month. Her injury followed a similar one by another Fighting Irish starter Dara Mabrey in January, costing the team its starting backcourt.
Still, the Irish are back in the Sweet 16 and looking for more, even without those two players, who combined to average 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Irish coach Niele Ivey asked her players for 10% more when Mabrey was hurt, then upped that another 10 percent after Miles went out. Her players, she said, complied and didn't give up on a special season.
"Everyone stepped up and it's kind of become our identity - our resilience and toughness," Ivey said.
RE-MATCH REGION
No one needs an introduction at the Greenville 1 Regional.
Both semifinals are rematches of games from earlier this season. Maryland and Notre Dame played on Dec. 1, the Terrapins pulling out a 74-72 victory in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
UCLA threw a scare into South Carolina, holding at 10-point lead before the Gamecocks rallied to win 73-64 on Nov. 29.
Having scouted your Sweet 16 opponent before is helpful, Ivey said, as long as you don't rely on the past too heavily because teams evolve throughout the season.
"March catches everyone by surprise," Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers said. "Now, you're trying to figure out how to scout people again. I think it's good we've played them. We've got a good feel for who they are and what they can do as players."