Benchmark Happenings

How A Former California Agent Discovered Turnkey Manufactured Living And Closed Early With Benchmark

• Jonathan Tipton, Steve Reed & Christine Reed

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A cross‑country move doesn’t have to be chaotic. Pat, a seasoned California real estate pro, shares how she found her pace, her people, and her perfect view in Northeast Tennessee—plus the surprising role a modern manufactured home played in making it all click. From that first “this is it” walkthrough to an early close, we break down what actually matters when you pair the right property with the right lending partner.

We dig into the evolution of manufactured homes under HUD standards, why today’s builds can outperform expectations on quality and efficiency, and how a turnkey Land to Homes approach simplifies everything from land selection to layout. Pat explains the upgrades she chose—a garage and screened patio—to show how move‑in ready can still feel personal. On the lending side, Steve’s step‑by‑step guidance, quick responses, and product range kept the process clear and fast, even while Pat was in transit, leading to a smooth close in roughly 27 days.

Beyond the transaction, this story is about place and belonging. The Tri‑Cities region—Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol—offers four seasons, mountain views, and what Pat calls Chillville: friendly neighbors, lighter traffic, and a calmer rhythm. We also highlight local service opportunities, including support for children through organizations like Isaiah House, for anyone eager to put down roots through meaningful community work.

Thinking about relocating, right‑sizing, or rethinking affordability? Press play to learn how a HUD‑level manufactured home, a responsive lender, and a turnkey process can transform your search. If the conversation resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.

SPEAKER_00:

This is Benchmark Happening. Brought to you by Jonathan and Steve from Benchmark Home Loans. Northeast Tennessee. Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, the Tri-City, one of the most beautiful places in the country to live. Tons of great things to do and awesome local businesses. And on this show, you'll find out why people are dying to move to Northeast Tennessee. And on the way, we'll have discussions about mortgages. And we'll interview people in the real estate industry. It's what we do. This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by Benchmark Home Loans. And now your host, Christine Reed.

SPEAKER_02:

Welcome back, everybody, to another episode of Benchmark Happenings. And the star of our show today is Miss Pat Parsons. Welcome, Pat.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, Christine. I'm very happy to be here.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, well, we are happy that you agreed to come today on a short notice. And so we've done a few podcasts, Pat. You know, Steve and Jonathan, they have started a new business venture, and it's called Land to Homes. And it's uh a business around uh providing affordable homes for our community and for the beautiful East Tennessee area that we all know and love. And so uh, Pat, we talk about people that move to East Tennessee because they love East Tennessee. It's I call it free Tennessee, where we are conservative and we love the Constitution, we love our guns, and uh we love being free. So we talk about how people from California, New York, Florida, from all over the country are just dying to move to East Tennessee. And so, Pat, you are one of those young ladies that have moved from the state of California. So tell us a little bit about that and where you lived and what brought you here to East Tennessee.

SPEAKER_01:

Wow, I don't know if we have that much time, but actually, California is very beautiful. Unfortunately, things have changed in California that no longer suited my lifestyle. And I visited um the Tri-Cities area about two years ago. Okay. Absolutely fell in love with the slower pace. I call it Chillville here.

SPEAKER_02:

It is Chillville.

SPEAKER_01:

Everyone is kicked back, you're not doing mock 10 with your hair on fire. It's just a lovely, beautiful, friendly community. And I wanted to be part of it. So for two years, I made my preparations, put my house on the market, sold fast. I knew that was a good sign, and I hopped on a cross country train and came to Tennessee and just absolutely love it here.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, so Pat, and so you came from California, and uh we we know the there's a lot of phenomenal, wonderful people still that live out there, and that and it is a beautiful state. We love it. We've been to all parts of California, Steve and I, and it's just that there's some things there now that just no longer, like you said, work with your lifestyle of wanting to be free and conservative, and a lot of the political um influences there just don't align with uh biblical worldview or conservative values. And so, how did you meet uh Steve and Jonathan? And so what we want to do is tell those who are listening today about your experience with land to homes, because I really believe that Steve and Jonathan are doing a good work because they are providing beautiful turnkey homes for individuals here in our area, and it's really meeting uh a need uh for East Tennessee. So, how did you two meet?

SPEAKER_01:

Interesting story. I was looking at homes while I was still in California, and I found one that was of interest and called the office and ended up meeting the agent that I used. And my agent was kind enough to refer me to benchmark to Steve. Oh, who was your agent? Sam Taylor.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, Sam, we love Sam Taylor. Yes, expert properties, yes.

SPEAKER_01:

Absolutely. He was great, and he said, let's get you over there, we'll have you talk to Steve, we'll get you pre-qualified, and then we'll go from there. Well, my experience meeting Steve was fabulous. It's like, what a great, warm, welcoming person. And in talking to him and filling out my application, he asked me what I was looking for, price range I wanted to be in, and then proceeded to tell me about his uh ventures with Jonathan and purchasing land and putting um manufactured homes on there that were very affordable. Well, as luck would have it, I was looking at manufactured homes two years ago and was just amazed how far they'd come and how beautiful they were, having everything new, everything you needed, great floor plans. So uh Steve caught my interest um right away and took me to look at the one that was available. Oh my goodness, I I walked in the door and it was like this is it. The views, the home, I just really immediately knew it was for me. And the price was right. There were a few additions I thought I could make to accommodate my needs, and didn't see any problem with doing those things. So we ventured back here to the office, finished the application, and I said, let's write a deal. And we went from there.

SPEAKER_02:

And you know, I want to go back to something you said, Pat, because there is a stigma uh with manufactured homes. And I don't think people realize that um the regulations that they are under today, they're under the same guidelines as housing urban development, and they are very stringent guidelines, and the quality of these homes is bar none, and and I would say that the quality is probably better than most homes that are built.

SPEAKER_01:

I was in that industry for 34 years, and what you're saying is very true. The uh quality of our homes in comparison to years ago is not the same, and I think we all know that because of costs. Sure, absolutely. So when I saw everything that you could get in a manufactured home, I was just absolutely blown away. It was like this is perfect, you know. I don't need to look any further. Um, if I were to have bought a regular home, I probably would have had to do a lot of upgrades to it that I didn't have to do.

SPEAKER_02:

Right.

SPEAKER_01:

The projects I've taken on are just extra things like a garage and a finished um screened patio and to take advantage of that beautiful view that you have. And I do. The view is to die for, and it's one of the reasons I just think Tennessee is so drop dead, beautiful.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you. It it truly is having all four seasons and and I love the fact that you you you love you're very happy and you love the quality of your home and and the industry that you were in. What industry were you in, Pat, for 30 years?

SPEAKER_01:

I was in real estate. Um probably about the last 15 years I did new construction. So I can say honestly, I know how these homes are built.

unknown:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

And and some of them are built very quickly, um and they go up. I know that D.R. Horton is probably one of the largest builders in the United States, and um their homes and and and you know what, and and um but I know we know of people who have had a lot of issues with those homes, so sure. Uh which you can have an issue with anything basically, but um, but I love the fact that you love your your home and uh it's perfect for you. And um, so what other things about that your experience with Steve that you would like to share, just maybe in the maybe the just the loan process, because I think sometimes that's that's sort of a a great undertaking this day in time with what's required to get a home loan.

SPEAKER_01:

It absolutely is. Um, there's a lot of components that go into um getting qualified for a loan that people, if they're not educated, they don't realize. And I think the um one of the great things with Steve is he explains everything to you in English terms that you can understand, right? And um I was amazed how easy he made it for me. I mean, I've done this for a lot of years and the ease of this was just incredible. I thought, really? I'm qualifying for a loan. Just because, you know, it in the past, I think with a lot of people, they find it very um overwhelming, scary. They're not sure what to expect along the way. Of course, being in the field I was in, I knew, but I was still in disbelief how easy benchmark made it to put my loan through. I thought 30 days, that's great, you know. Right. We closed it early because they had everything done. They made everything so easy for me. And being that I was in transit here staying with a friend, I didn't know if I had all my paperwork with me because my things from moving hadn't arrived yet, and yet they were able to accommodate me and get my loan closed ahead of schedule.

SPEAKER_02:

Wow. So uh 30 days was what you were thinking. So how soon did your loan close, Pat?

SPEAKER_01:

Probably about 27, 26, 27 days. And that's great. But it could have closed sooner, I believe. We just were riding it out, you know. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

Uh and was Steve accessible through this process, Pat?

SPEAKER_01:

Steve is the most accessible person I know. If you text him and you don't hear back within five minutes, you know that he's probably meeting with other folks trying to qualify or in some type of a meeting. He's very, very prompt. If he doesn't have the answer, he gets back to you. And I think communication is a big thing for buyers, trying to find out answers to their questions. You just feel like somebody really cares and takes an interest and takes the time to respond to you, whether by phone or text or email.

SPEAKER_02:

That's great. And and I know that Steve, you know, he's been doing this for 40 years. And so there's a lot of different products out there in the lending industry. And a lot of people, you know, say at a bank or a credit union, they only know one thing. They know conventional, and that's it. But Steve is is, you know, what he likes to do is be well versed on what's available. And like you said, to sit down with our clients, and we really like to refer to you guys as our family, as our family, because we're helping families get into homes, whether it be a home that's built or a land to homes uh manufactured home as well. Um, I think that's a game changer in today's world where people are just not accessible any longer.

SPEAKER_01:

I have to agree with you because one of the things that I took pride in for years is if I had a question from my customers to get back to them as quickly as possible, um, because that's how I like to be treated. So if that's how I like it, I figure they do too. And their time's equally as valuable as mine. So I was very appreciative at how well I was treated, the response that I got, how quick I got it. So it really was an exceptional experience for me, even having been in the business.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you. And that means a lot because you do have the experience and you've been on the real estate side. So you've worked with a lot of lenders in the past and other realtors in the housing market. So that means a lot coming from uh from you, Pat, and we really appreciate that. And back to land to home. So, you know, Steve and Jonathan like to say it's a turnkey project. Um, and I think they're finished out better than most. Uh, would you agree with that, with some of the things that they do provide that's extra?

SPEAKER_01:

I do agree. I feel like all lenders are not created equal, okay? And the fact that they change hats as uh seller of the land to home and then handling the lending end of it, they just are so knowledgeable, you feel like you're being protected. And since I was buying this home by myself, you like to know that there's the people you're working with are there by your side. Clear down until the closing day. They were there for me. And after, if I had questions after the close, I could always get a hold of Steve. So I'm very grateful for that that um I landed here at Benchmark.

SPEAKER_02:

And so that took really took a lot of courage, Pat, what you did. I mean, picking up moving, you know, from one end of the country by yourself. And so when you knew, when you were visiting here in East Tennessee, what what particular things drew you to this amazing area?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I have to go back in time. My brother and his wife lived in Johnson City and then purchased a home back in the 90s in Kingsport. And because I had lived in many of the states across the country and knew I did not want to retire and any of those. I'd been there, done that. He suggested I check out this area. And so I did. And I looked no further after I came here. I just felt it was my calling. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_02:

Now, does your brother and his wife, do they still live in Kingsport?

SPEAKER_01:

No, they don't, but they are thinking of relocating since I'm here now. They uh and my sister as well. She's in Reno, she wants to ultimately move here, and my brother and his wife are up on the St. Lawrence River across from Canada, which it's a bitter cold up there, and they have long winters, and they like the winters here much better.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. I could not imagine being in those areas for the rent. We we actually have very mild winters here in East Tennessee. Rarely do we get we get some snow. Temperatures, you know, are not actually that bad. And of course, you know, who knows what this winter's going to hold. But for the last several years, they have been fairly mild and easy to navigate. And I know that, you know, I don't think you need to worry too much about driving in ice and snow living here.

SPEAKER_01:

Good. I'm a fair weather driver, so that sounded really good to me as well.

SPEAKER_02:

Absolutely. So, what future plans do you have here, Pat? Uh setting, you know, putting down routes in East Tennessee, and I know you have a friend um that lives here already. And so what are some future plans for Pat?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, after I finish getting settled in and my little projects there at uh the new home, I would like to get involved in the community so I can meet more people and um possibly do volunteer work. Um, and just I've gotten to know my neighbors already. Um, and now I look forward to meeting and belonging to more um groups that are here in the Tri-City area.

SPEAKER_02:

Okay. Well, there is plenty of that to belong to for sure. Um, and I know we kind of we've talked, um, you know, kind of have the same uh political beliefs as conservative, good Republicans here, and I know there's a lot of great um avenues for that, and then we have so many opportunities to volunteer because there is a uh a lot of need here in East Tennessee. And uh some of the things I've got a lady coming in in a couple of weeks, Rhonda Paulson, that started Isaiah House, and that's for uh children who have been removed from the home in an abusive situation, and they instead of sitting in a uh sheriff's office or um the DHS office, they can actually take them to a house, the Isaiah House, where they have a warm, comfortable, uh safe home to stay until the DHS can actually place them in foster care. So uh she's done a great work, and that that organization has spread, and we'll be talking more about Isaiah House. I'm looking forward to that in a couple of weeks when she comes in for her interview of how she started that for children.

SPEAKER_01:

Very interesting. I did uh community work back um in California, and one of the things was the Jameson Center, where um the same type of children stay. And at holiday time I felt so bad. So I would collect things, games and toys and warm clothing, and just take carload after carload to the Jameson Center. So absolutely believe in helping these children.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, that might be an introduction for us to make, you know. But uh, well, Pat, thank you for being on today and um just so thankful that you've had just a wonderful experience and um that you would highly recommend Landa Holmes and Steve Reed and Jonathan Tipton. So any last words of wisdom uh for anybody listening today?

SPEAKER_01:

I have enjoyed it thoroughly and have made friends out of my new family here, since I have no other family. Uh it's been just great. And I say to anyone looking to get pre-qualified, whether you're wanting to buy today or a few months down the road, give Steve and Jonathan a call. You won't be sorry.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, thank you for that, Pat. Well, I hope you'll come back later and we'll um we'll talk about some other things with your experiences here in East Tennessee.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you, Christine. It was my pleasure.

SPEAKER_00:

This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by Jonathan Tipton and Steve Reed from Benchmark Home Loans. Jonathan and Steve are residential mortgage lenders. They do home loans in Northeast Tennessee. And they're not only licensed in Tennessee, but Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. We hope you've enjoyed the show. If you did, make sure to like, rate, and review. Our passion is Northeast Tennessee. So if you have questions about mortgages, call us at 423-491-5405. And the website is www.jonathansteve.com. Thanks for being with us, and we'll see you next time on Benchmark Happenings.

Contributor

Christine Reed

Host
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Jonathan Tipton

Co-host
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Steve Reed

Co-host