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Want a ‘Fixer Upper’ Farmhouse-Style Home for $60K? Here’s How to Get It


Want a ‘Fixer Upper’ Farmhouse-Style Home for K? Here’s How to Get It

Clayton Homes

Farmhouse chic is everywhere these days, largely thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines, who popularized the trend during the five seasons of their ultrapopular HGTV show, “Fixer Upper.”

The problem? After the apron-front sink and the shiplap are installed, the homes they renovate aren’t exactly affordable. (Remember the 2,653-square-foot “barndominium” listed for sale at $1.2 million?)

But now, you can score a Gaines-inspired home for a bargain—only $60,000!

New prefab homes channel farmhouse style

Clayton Homes, the largest builder of manufactured housing in the country, recently released a line of farmhouse-style prefab houses. Since prefab homes are built in a factory before being delivered and assembled on site, they’re much more affordable than a typical house. Prices on these farmhouse prefabs range from $60,000 to $120,000.

In addition to being cheaper than traditional homes, these farmhouses are quick to build. Place your order, and one can be erected on your property in a mere three months.

Ashley Skowron, an interior designer for the company, says the popularity of “Fixer Upper” inspired them to add farmhouse prefabs to their collection.

“Part of our decision to create farmhouse-style prefab homes has to do with Chip and Joanna Gaines,” she says. “They absolutely influence the market.”

So what does bargain farmhouse chic look like?

New owners Mesha and Jerome Mayfield outside their farmhouse-style Lulamae model

Clayton Homes

To replicate the Gaineses’ signature modern farmhouse style, Clayton’s designers created open floor plans with large kitchens and entertaining spaces, wood grain accents, shiplap, sliding barn doors, white cabinets, and plenty of natural light.

Each of Clayton’s five farmhouse styles (which average 1,800 square feet) were given names that evoke the countryside: Freedom Farm House, Country Aire, Island Breeze, Amelia, and Lulamae.

“One of the best things about the farmhouse style and why our buyers love it is because it feels lived-in,” Skowron notes. “All of these perfectly imperfect features make it feel so welcoming.”

Sliding barn doors open to the bathroom in this Clayton prefab home.

Clayton Homes

People ‘think they can’t afford it—this proves they can’

Since Clayton launched the farmhouse homes, searches have skyrocketed, says Audrey Eason, communications manager at Clayton Homes.

“Our two most popular homes online by far are the Lulamae and the Freedom Farm House. It’s picking up all across the country,” she says.

Eason agrees that the “Chip and Jo effect,” combined with low prices, are what have buyers biting.

“A lot of times our buyers will be watching HGTV and love the concepts, but they think they can’t afford it,” says Eason. “This proves they can.”

And while the homes don’t come furnished, Clayton has partnerships with big retailers to make their appliances for the home more affordable. The furniture is up to you. (Think: natural fabrics and reclaimed wood and you’re halfway there; here are a bunch more farmhouse decor ideas).

Granted, since Chip and Jo didn’t actually have their hands on these homes, the results might be more cookie-cutter—think “farmhouse lite.” Still, for the price, that might do just fine.

A large living room is key to any modern farmhouse design.

Clayton Homes

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