OXFORD — The 16th annual Oxford Hills Homes Show will open today, as modular and manufactured home builders and retailers show off the latest home designs, including colonials, chalets and single- and double-wide manufactured homes.
The show will continue through the weekend. Homes will be open for public viewing at Schiavi Custom Builders, Alternative Modular Homes by Palmer Development, Turn Key Homes of Maine, Twin Town Homes and at the latest addition to the Route 26 strip: Coastline Homes. All are on Route 26.
The event draws thousands of potential home buyers, primarily from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Norway Savings Bank is returning as the signature sponsor, according to the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce, and will have loan officers at the business locations throughout the weekend to assist potential buyers with financing.
“Since the recession (in 2008), a lot of business has been coming back. There’s a lot more competition,” said Twin Town Homes General Manager A.J. Stowell. The business, which was incorporated in 1955 as Twin Town Trailer Sales, has seen the industry change from 10-foot-wide homes to 16-foot homes, then to double-wides and modulars.
Like most of the home businesses along Route 26 that will participate in the show, Twin Town Homes, at 804 Main St., provides a turnkey home package to its buyers.
“We have 18 models all ready for them to view. We’re looking to a great weekend for the Home Show,” he said.
“We’ve changed over a lot of our inventory in preparation for the home show,” said Stowell. A chalet and colonial modular home are among the new additions brought on site in recent weeks.
At Alternative Modulars, co-owner Mary Anna Palmer said they market their modular home business at 470 Main St. as the alternative because it’s a family operation that can bring clients through the entire process from property ownership and preparation to the home selection and siting.
Palmer said Alternative Modulars has a wide array of homes, including ranch-style, open-floor, two-story and custom-built, available on the lot and off.
Schiavi Custom Builders at 754 Main St. is not only showcasing its custom built homes, including a new ranch and colonial model, but has opened a new manufactured and home business down the street that is expected to be open for the home show.
“We’re very excited about the direction we’re going in,” Scott Stone said. “It’s part of the market that really suffered in the downturn.”
Stone said Schiavi Custom Builders has decided to take advantage of the upturn in modular and manufacturing housing and open up a sales lot where “middle America” can again afford to buy homes.
While Schiavi Custom Builders constructs modular homes using finish work techniques and building methods that are more custom built, Coastline Homes at 488 Main St. will offer modular and manufactured housing from several different companies and make them available at its lot.
Turn Key Homes, at 698 Main St., will offer visitors a wide variety of homes ranging from executive ranches to basic colonials and comfortable capes. Turn Key Homes allows home buyers the opportunity to choose from one of many standard floor plans or customize their own plan, according to its website.
The business offers a full range of help for the home buyers, including all aspects of planning, designing and building a home, according to its website.
In his announcement of the show, Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Williams said, “The Oxford Hills Home Show is the largest of its kind in New England. The housing industry gathers each April in Oxford, Maine, to promote their individual businesses and the industry as a whole in a remarkable partnership.
ldixon@sunmediagroup.net
Workers prepare a chalet-style model that arrived from a new manufacturer for Twin Town Homes at 804 Main St. on Route 26 in Oxford. The home will be shown at this weekend’s modular home show.
Coastline Homes at 488 Main St. in Oxford is bustling with activity as it prepares to open for the Oxford Hills Homes Show this weekend.
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