Clayton knows that the decision to buy a home today depends on more than just the sales price. Buyers are also considering the long-term costs of homeownership and the potential opportunities to build wealth. Homeownership is key to building long-term financial security for both families and the communities they live in. According to Habitat for Humanity®, homeowners in the U.S. have on average a 400% higher net wealth than renters with similar demographics and earnings.

However, the dream of homeownership may feel out of reach for many across the country due to the continued rise in home prices as well as other expenses.

The new 264-home Harvest Meadow neighborhood in Knoxville, TN, is an example of how Clayton is innovating to meet the needs of today’s home buyers. The Knoxville area has seen many of the factors that have also affected broader U.S. housing markets — rising home prices, increasing monthly expenses, a growing population and a lack of housing supply.

The neighborhood features CrossMod® homes, a type of modern manufactured home that combines attainable prices, elevated features and quality materials. And with prices starting in the low $300,000s, the homes in this neighborhood are also a more affordable option compared to the median home listing price in Knoxville of $450,000.

In addition, modern manufactured homes can help provide a foundation for future wealth building. A 2024 study from the Federal Housing Finance Agency showed that modern manufactured home properties, like CrossMod® homes, are proven to gain in value year over year. And since 2020, they have appreciated at a rate on par with site-built homes.

Harvest Meadow Neighborhood

Clayton is partnering with developers across the country to build neighborhoods of CrossMod® homes, which increases the inventory of attainable housing inventory and allows buyers to purchase a move-in ready home that’s already built and on land. This can be particularly appealing to those who don’t already have land or who are looking to move into their new home more quickly. The homes can also be found through more traditional routes, such as an MLS listing that real estate agents use or on a developer’s website.

Harvest Meadow will be the largest eBuilt® CrossMod® neighborhood built to date, showcasing the opportunity to scale these neighborhoods in other markets. They are being built by CookBros Homes, a premier East Tennessee home builder and developer.

The homes range from 1,600 to 1,869 sq. ft., and are one level and ranch-style, with a yard and porch. They also include features like tile showers, stainless-steel appliances and solid wood cabinets. In addition, the homes will be eBuilt®, which means they have energy-efficient features that can save homeowners up to 50% annually on their energy bills.¹

Combining Experience and Innovation

Since 1956, Clayton has provided homes with a focus on elevated designs, energy-efficient features and quality building materials. And the innovative ways we build our homes are key to making them an efficient, scalable option for individuals and families across the country. We build and source many of the materials we use frequently through our own internal supply chain. This helps reduce the overall construction time of our homes, and means we spend less money on material shipping and storage. We aim to be highly intentional about our building practices, waste monitoring and recycling efforts, because it helps us reduce construction costs and provide homes at affordable price points.

Clayton eBuilt® homes, built to ENERGY STAR® ready standards, can help you save up to 30%* on annual energy bills when paired with SmartComfort® by Carrier® electric heat pump or gas furnace. These homes include energy-efficient features like low-E windows, smart thermostats and LED lighting, which creates the potential for long-term savings beyond just the initial price. For example, in the Harvest Meadow neighborhood, annual savings for homeowners on their energy bills are estimated to amount to over $900 per year.

At Clayton, we want more people to achieve homeownership now and also reduce their overall homeownership costs for long-term affordability. This can be accomplished through our focus on innovative building practices, the materials we use and the energy-saving features we include in our homes.

About CrossMod® Homes

Among the housing options Clayton offers are CrossMod® homes. This type of modern manufactured home combines many of the benefits of off-site built construction with traditional site-built aesthetics for both building efficiency and affordability.

CrossMod® homes have permanent foundations, as well as higher-pitched rooflines, covered porches, garages, drywall interiors and energy-efficient features. In addition, they appraise the same as site-built homes using CrossMod® or site-built comparisons, and they qualify for traditional 30-year financing.

Due to zoning restrictions, many modern manufactured homes are usually placed in rural areas. However, because of their features, CrossMod® homes are helping change zoning policies that have historically restricted manufactured homes because of outdated perceptions. CrossMod® neighborhoods like Harvest Meadows show how municipalities and developers can help offer solutions for local home buyers.

A Solution for Today’s Buyers

Decades of complex factors have led to increasingly complex housing markets across the country. And that requires a variety of housing solutions to help meet those needs. At Clayton, we know that the home buying journey has changed over the years, and it will continue to change in the future. We’re here to continue to innovate, and to use our decades of experience, to help those who are looking for a house find the home that’s right for them.

Trademarks of companies other than Clayton Homes are the property of those other companies. CrossMod is a registered trademark of the Manufactured Housing Institute. ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR mark are registered trademarks owned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

*Energy savings are based on electrical energy consumption using NREL® BEopt™ to estimate annual electrical energy consumption of a home built to ENERGY STAR® Version 3.0 requirements and DOE Zero Energy Ready Home™ guidelines compared to the same home built to HUD standards in the city listed. Estimates are based on calculations for multi-section Tempo Let it Be and Shout models. In thermal zone 2, eBuilt homes powered by gas are ENERGY STAR ready Version 3.0. when paired with an electric hybrid water heater at additional cost. In thermal zone 3, eBuilt homes may be optioned to meet ENERGY STAR® Version 3.0 ready when additional insulation is installed.

Learn more about Clayton's social responsibility efforts at claytonhomes.com/social-responsibility