Get Up To 100% Financing & *$50K ExtraWhen You Buy Or Build With Diamond Homes Center
New manufactured and modular homes from Champion, Homes of Merit, Live Oak, and Scotbilt, plus move-in-ready land and home packages, from the Diamond Homes Center model center in East Palatka. Buy a finished home on its own lot, or place a new one on land you own.
How Do You Finance A Home From Diamond Homes Center In East Palatka, Florida?
It depends on which kind of home you buy. A move-in-ready land and home package that is already finished on its lot is financed as a home purchase. A new home placed on land you own or buy at closing is financed as a construction loan that converts to a permanent mortgage. Diamond Homes Center sells both, and qualified buyers can access up to 100% financing on eligible programs either way.
The dealer side is already handled. A dealer asked to work with an unfamiliar lender has to submit financial documents, sit through approval calls, and learn another draw process, so files tend to slow down before the buyer's own approval even starts. Diamond Homes Center is already registered with our bank, so the only approval still open is yours, which improves and speeds up the closing process.
Diamond Homes Center runs a model center on US-17 in East Palatka, in Putnam County, with homes from two to five bedrooms on display. The dealership is led by owner Brian Corcoran and general manager Tony Danna, each with more than 20 years in the business, and it serves buyers across Northeast and North Central Florida.
That two-path inventory is what sets Diamond apart from a lot that only sells homes to be ordered. A buyer who wants to move soon can look at finished land and home packages. A buyer who already owns land, or wants to pick the land first, can order a new home that Diamond delivers and sets up on the property, and finance the home, the land, and the work in one plan.
Diamond Homes Center buyers work directly with Victor Chan, Top Rated® Mortgage Banker, NMLS ID# 2121944, BuildBuyRefi.com, powered by The Federal Savings Bank, for eligibility, loan structure, and closing.Manufactured and Modular Construction Specialist | Factory Built Home Specialist
Brian Corcoran And Tony Danna's Diamond Homes Center, A Northeast Florida Manufactured Home Dealer
Diamond Homes Center is a manufactured and modular home dealership at 256 US-17 in East Palatka, just across the St. Johns River from Palatka. The team reports more than 100 years of combined experience in the industry, and the two people a buyer will deal with most have been in it a long time.
- Brian Corcoran, Owner. More than 20 years in the business. Buyers in Diamond's reviews describe working with Brian directly as their sales contact from first visit to closing.
- Tony Danna, General Manager. More than 20 years in the business. Reviewers mention Tony for walking them through the process and connecting them with help finding property.
Diamond also has licensed Realtors on staff, which matters for buyers who still need land. The dealership is a certified Ashley Furniture dealer as well, so buyers can look at furniture in the same place they pick a home.
Diamond's site describes the business as family oriented, with a focus on affordability, quality, and customer service. Its online tools let buyers drop a floor plan onto their own lot from an address to check the fit, then design, visualize, and quote a home and share the design with family.
Manufactured And Modular Homes On Display At The Diamond Homes Center Model Center
Diamond sells new homes from Champion Homes, Homes of Merit, Live Oak Homes, and Scotbilt Homes. Its model center floor plans carry gemstone names, from the 728 square foot Mini-Comet to the five-bedroom Tourmaline, and Diamond offers customization options so a buyer can adjust a plan to fit the family.
Model Homes Diamond Has Listed
The Mini-Comet
A compact single section plan for a smaller lot or a first home.
- 2 Bed
- 2 Bath
- 728 Sq Ft
- 14' x 56'
The Moon Stone
A two-bedroom multi-section layout with room to spread out.
- 2 Bed
- 2 Bath
- 1,040 Sq Ft
- 26' x 48'
The Crystal
A long single section plan with two and a half baths.
- 2 Bed
- 2.5 Bath
- 1,176 Sq Ft
- 14' 9" x 76'
The Emerald
A three-bedroom multi-section home in the middle of the size range.
- 3 Bed
- 2 Bath
- 1,458 Sq Ft
- 26' 8" x 56'
The Diamond
The plan the dealership is named for, and its widest three-bedroom.
- 3 Bed
- 2 Bath
- 1,698 Sq Ft
- 30' 9" x 56'
The Black Pearl
A four-bedroom, three-bath home for a larger household.
- 4 Bed
- 3 Bath
- 2,136 Sq Ft
- 29' 8" x 72'
The full model center lineup. Diamond also lists the Pearl, Jade, Amethyst, Topaz, Tanzanite, Smokey Garnet, and Tourmaline, for 13 model homes in all, from two to five bedrooms and from 728 to 2,136 square feet. Floor plans, sizes, and specifications are listed by Diamond Homes Center and the manufacturers, and models change over time.
Two Ways To Buy From Diamond Homes Center, And How Each One Is Financed
The loan follows the home. A finished home is a purchase. A home that still has to be delivered and set is a construction loan. Victor Chan sorts out which one fits in the first conversation.
Move-In-Ready Land And Home Packages
Diamond keeps a changing inventory of move-in-ready homes and land and home packages, with the home already set on its lot, plus homes under construction that will become move-in ready soon.
When the home is complete, permanently affixed, and titled as real property with the land, it is financed as a purchase of a completed home, with Conventional, FHA, and VA options in qualifying scenarios. There is no construction phase and no draw schedule.
A New Home Placed On Your Land
Pick a model, customize it, and Diamond delivers it and sets it up on land you already own or buy at closing. The home, the land, the foundation, and the setup in Diamond's contract are financed together.
The loan funds in stages as the work is completed, then converts to a permanent mortgage when the home is finished. Land equity can count toward the down payment in qualifying scenarios.
If You Choose The Construction Path, The Land Can Start Three Ways
You Own The Land Free And Clear
The land's value can be applied toward the loan-to-value, which in qualifying scenarios reduces or removes the cash down payment.
You Still Owe On The Land
The remaining land balance can be paid off at closing and rolled into the construction loan, so the land and home end up in one mortgage.
You Are Buying Land Now
The land purchase and the home can close together. Family land has to be formally deeded into your name before the loan can proceed.
What We Can And Cannot Finance On A Diamond Homes Center Home
Knowing the limits up front saves time. Here is exactly where our financing applies and where it does not.
What We Can Finance
- New HUD Code manufactured homes and modular homes from Diamond, permanently affixed to a foundation on land the buyer owns or buys at closing
- Manufactured homes converted to real property under ALTA 7.1 title standards
- Completed move-in-ready land and home packages titled together as real property
- Single and multi-section homes of at least 400 square feet that meet program guidelines
- Foundation, site preparation, and setup work written into the contract before closing
- Primary residences, and second homes in qualifying scenarios
What We Cannot Finance
- Homes placed on land the buyer does not own, including rented or leased lots
- Home-only purchases with no land on the loan, which we do not currently offer
- Manufactured homes as investment or rental properties
- Self-installed or owner-as-contractor setups. The home has to be set by the dealer and licensed contractors
- Work left out of the contract, which cannot be added to the loan after closing
Every appraisal is completed by an independent appraiser, and we have no influence over the value. Construction draws are released after independent third-party inspections. If you want the porch, the driveway, or upgraded skirting financed, it has to be in Diamond's contract before closing.
How A Diamond Homes Center Home And Construction Loan Come Together
Six stages for a new home on your land. A move-in-ready package skips the delivery and draw stages and closes like a standard home purchase.
Check Eligibility With Victor Chan
Before you choose a home, Victor reviews your credit, income, land, and budget and tells you whether a purchase loan or our Hybrid Construction Loan, One-Time Close, or Two-Time Close fits the plan.
Visit The Model Center Or Design Online
Walk through the model homes at 256 US-17 in East Palatka, or use Diamond's online tools to place a floor plan on your lot and build a design. Ask the sales team which move-in-ready homes and land and home packages are available that week.
Settle The Land
Confirm the land you own, pay off what is still owed on it at closing, or buy a lot. Diamond's licensed Realtors can help buyers who still need property.
Sign The Contract And Close
The home, the foundation, and Diamond's delivery and setup go into one contract, and the loan closes on it, with land equity counted toward the project in qualifying scenarios.
Delivery, Setup, And Draws
The home is built in the factory, then Diamond delivers it and sets it up on its permanent foundation. Each draw is released after an independent third-party inspection confirms the work, and we fund every draw in-house.
Final Inspection And Permanent Loan
Once final inspections clear and the home is titled as real property, the loan moves to its permanent phase, automatically or through a second closing, depending on the structure chosen in step one.
Manufactured And Modular Home Loans For Diamond Homes Center Buyers In Northeast Florida
BuildBuyRefi.com is powered by The Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered, FDIC-insured, veteran-owned direct lender licensed in all 50 states, NMLS #411500. We underwrite the land, the home, the work, and the permanent mortgage as one plan.
Three Ways To Structure A Construction Loan
Hybrid Construction Loan
Built in-house. Both sets of loan documents are prepared up front, so it runs like one closing with one set of fees while the permanent rate stays flexible until the home is finished. FHA and VA streamline eligible on the permanent loan in qualifying scenarios. Brokers and correspondent lenders cannot offer it.
One-Time Close Construction Loan
Qualify once and close once. The permanent rate is set at closing, and the loan converts at completion with no re-qualification and no second appraisal.
Two-Time Close Construction Loan
Separate closings for construction and the permanent loan, so the permanent rate is set at completion on the market at that time. We cover the origination fee on the second closing, and FHA and VA buyers can streamline the permanent loan.
Program Details Diamond Buyers Ask About
- Up to 100% VA construction financing for eligible veterans through our Hybrid and Two-Time Close, with no monthly mortgage insurance
- 640 minimum credit score on Conventional and FHA construction programs
- Second home construction in qualifying scenarios, for buyers who want a place in Northeast Florida but live elsewhere
- ITIN construction for qualified primary residence borrowers
- Jumbo construction up to $4.5 million and investment property construction, available on modular and site-built homes but not on manufactured homes
- Purchase financing for completed move-in-ready homes titled with their land
What A Direct Lender Means For A Diamond Buyer
A broker sends your file to another lender. A correspondent lender closes the loan, then sells it, and an outside investor's rules take over mid-project. We originate, underwrite, fund, and manage every draw in-house, so the people who approved the loan are the people releasing money as the home is set.
No administrative fees on our construction programs. Fee layers of $40,000 to $100,000 or more show up on many broker and correspondent construction loans, and they can push the loan past what the finished home appraises for. Ask for every fee line by line on any quote you compare.
All programs are subject to credit qualification, property eligibility, and applicable program guidelines. Manufactured homes must be permanently affixed to a foundation on land owned by the borrower at closing and converted to real property. Rates, terms, and availability vary by borrower, property, occupancy, and program, and are not guaranteed. Appraisals are performed by independent licensed appraisers and construction inspections are performed by third-party inspectors. Contact your banker for applicable rates, terms, and conditions.
*$50,000
Extra Funds For The Things A Home Loan Does Not Cover
Qualified borrowers can access up to $50,000 in separate, unsecured funds before, at, or after closing, underwritten in-house alongside the mortgage. It does not rely on equity and it does not affect loan-to-value. We are not aware of another lender in this space offering it.
How Diamond Homes Center Buyers Could Use It
Furnishing the new home
The mortgage pays for the home. Furniture, appliances, a washer and dryer, and window treatments come out of pocket unless there is another source.
Screened porches and decks
A screened porch or a larger deck makes a big difference in a Florida summer, and it is often the first project after move-in.
Driveway, fencing, and a shed
A paved or shell drive, fencing for kids or pets, or a storage building on a rural lot outside Palatka or Starke.
Hurricane season preparation
Storm shutters, impact-rated doors, or a standby generator hookup added after the home is set.
Upgrades decided on later
The finishes or options passed over when the home was ordered, added once the family is settled.
Consolidating debt to qualify
Paying down qualifying revolving balances can improve the debt-to-income ratio, which in some scenarios helps a borrower qualify for the home they want.
*Up to $50,000 is available to qualified borrowers and can be applied across our loan programs. This is a separate unsecured consumer loan underwritten in-house at the same time as the mortgage. Proceeds cannot be used for a down payment. Approval, amount, rates, and terms depend on credit qualification and are not guaranteed. Local zoning governs what may be placed on any property. Contact your banker for applicable rates, terms, and conditions.
Save Up To 30% On Real Estate Commissions When You Sell Your Current Home Or Buy Agent-Listed Land
Buying a Diamond home often comes with a second transaction: a current house to sell, or a lot to buy from a seller who listed it with an agent. Qualified borrowers can save up to 30% on real estate commissions on those agent-represented transactions through our participating agent network, applied as a closing cost credit or toward a rate buy-down.
Selling Your Current Home
Moving into a new home usually means selling the one you are in now. The savings apply to that sale, in Florida or another state.
Buying Agent-Listed Land
When the lot for a new home is listed with an outside agent, the network can represent your side of that purchase and the savings apply there.
Credit Or Rate Buy-Down
Take the savings as a credit toward closing costs or put it toward a lower rate. Victor Chan can run both to see which helps the file more.
What this covers and what it does not. The benefit applies only to agent-represented transactions: selling an existing home, buying an existing listed home, or buying land listed with an agent. It does not reduce the cost of a new home or a land and home package bought from Diamond Homes Center. A home bought from a dealer is a direct purchase.
This program is separate from Diamond's own licensed Realtors. It runs through our participating agent network, and no money changes hands between us and the agents in either direction. We do not pay them, they do not pay us, and we earn nothing when a borrower uses one. Paying or receiving fees for referrals of federally related mortgage loans is prohibited by law, and we do not do it.
Commission savings are available to qualified borrowers through a participating real estate agent network, subject to agent availability, program terms, and applicable state law. Savings apply to an agent-represented transaction. Actual savings vary by property, sale price, and the agreement reached with the participating agent. This benefit does not apply to the direct purchase of a new home from a builder or dealer. No referral, affiliate, or other fee is paid or received by BuildBuyRefi.com or The Federal Savings Bank in connection with this benefit. Contact your banker for details.
Add A Second Manufactured Or Modular Home To Your Florida Property Without Refinancing
Some homeowners already live on acreage and want a second home on the same land, for a parent, a grown child, or a family member who needs to be close. Our 2nd Mortgage Construction-to-Permanent loan is designed for that.
Many homeowners locked in first mortgage rates between 2.5 and 4.0 percent in 2020 and 2021. A cash-out refinance swaps that rate for today's rate on the whole balance, which can cost more over time than the new home. Our loan funds the project in inspected draws, then converts to a fixed-rate, closed-end second lien at completion. The first mortgage keeps its original rate. Only the new money carries a new one.
Projects It Fits On Property You Own
A Second Home For Family
A Diamond single or multi-section home set on your acreage for a parent, an adult child, or extended family.
A Manufactured ADU
A smaller home such as the Mini-Comet placed as an accessory dwelling unit where county zoning allows one.
Garage, Workshop, Or Addition
A detached garage, a workshop, or an addition to the home you already live in, built by a licensed contractor.
We are not aware of another lender offering the 2nd Mortgage Construction structure. It is underwritten, funded, and draw-managed in-house, with the same inspected draws and the same 640 minimum credit score as our other construction programs. Learn more in our ADU financing guide.
Subject to credit qualification, property eligibility, lien position, available equity, and applicable program guidelines. Rates and terms vary by borrower and property and are not guaranteed. Local zoning and permitting govern what may be placed on any given property. Contact your banker for applicable rates, terms, and conditions.
Meet Victor Chan, The Banker Assigned To Diamond Homes Center Buyers
Victor Chan
Top Rated® Mortgage Banker
BuildBuyRefi.com, powered by The Federal Savings Bank | NMLS ID# 2121944
Diamond Homes Center buyers work directly with Victor from the first question to the final draw. Not a call center, not a rotating queue, and not a loan officer who handles a factory-built file once in a while between purchase loans.
His designations line up with how a Diamond home is bought. The Manufactured and Modular Construction and Factory Built Home designations cover the home itself. The New Construction and Construction Loan designations cover the land and home structure, and the VA Construction designation covers veterans using their benefit on a new home.
What Victor handles for a Diamond buyer: deciding whether a move-in-ready package or a new home on your land fits your budget, comparing the Hybrid, One-Time Close, and Two-Time Close, applying land equity, confirming the foundation and title meet program rules, and keeping draws in step with the setup. Those conversations happen before anyone signs anything.
What Buyers Say About Diamond Homes Center In East Palatka
Diamond's Google reviews keep coming back to the same points: a team that is easy to work with, no sales pressure, and a process that stays organized through closing. Here are four, summarized in our words.
★★★★★
Andy bought with Brian Corcoran as his sales contact and described Brian and his staff as courteous, knowledgeable, and never pushy. He said Brian was with him through each step and earned his trust.
Andy B., Google review★★★★★
Susana recommended Diamond to anyone shopping for a new home. She described Brian, Tony, and the staff as friendly, helpful, and upfront, and said they handled everything, which gave her family peace of mind.
Susana S., Google review★★★★★
Kerry had been through several other dealers and kept running into confusion about the mortgage and finding property. At Diamond, Tony welcomed them without pressure and connected them with help finding land, and Kerry said the process from walkthrough to closing went smoothly, ending with land and a new home in their name.
Kerry P., Google review★★★★★
Dave made several trips to the lot while deciding and said Tony was easy to work with, knowledgeable, and helpful each time. He recommended seeing Tony and the staff for anyone in the market or just looking.
Dave W., Google reviewReviews are paraphrased from Diamond Homes Center's public Google listing and describe the dealer's service, not BuildBuyRefi.com financing.
Check Your Eligibility For A Diamond Homes Center Home
A few questions show which programs fit your land, your home, and your budget. No credit pull, no Social Security number, and no obligation. Your answers go to Victor Chan and the Diamond Homes Center team.
Schedule A Free Strategy Call With Victor Chan
Pick a time that works for you. Bring your land details, a rough budget, or the model you liked at the Diamond model center, and Victor will walk through which programs fit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diamond Homes Center And Home Financing In Florida
The questions Northeast and North Central Florida buyers ask most before buying from Diamond, answered plainly.
Where does Diamond Homes Center sell and deliver homes?
Diamond Homes Center's model center is at 256 US-17 in East Palatka, Florida. The dealership serves buyers across Northeast and North Central Florida, including Bunnell, DeLand, Gainesville, Green Cove Springs, Jacksonville, Lake Butler, Ocala, Palatka, Saint Augustine, and Starke. Our financing is available in all 50 states, so buyers relocating to Florida can qualify before they move.
Which home brands does Diamond Homes Center sell?
Diamond sells new manufactured and modular homes from Champion Homes, Homes of Merit, Live Oak Homes, and Scotbilt Homes. Its model center floor plans range from the two-bedroom Mini-Comet at 728 square feet to the five-bedroom Tourmaline at 2,136 square feet.
Can I finance a move-in-ready land and home package from Diamond Homes Center?
Yes, in qualifying scenarios. A completed home that is permanently affixed and titled as real property together with its land is financed as a purchase of a completed home, with Conventional, FHA, and VA options. There is no construction phase or draw schedule on a finished package.
Can I put a new Diamond home on land I already own?
Yes. A new home placed on land you own is financed as a construction loan. Diamond delivers and sets up the home, and the home, the foundation, and the setup in Diamond's contract are financed together. If you own the land free and clear, its value can reduce or eliminate the cash down payment in qualifying scenarios. If you still owe on it, that balance can be paid off at closing and rolled into the loan.
What can BuildBuyRefi not finance at Diamond Homes Center?
We do not finance homes on rented or leased lots, home-only purchases with no land on the loan, manufactured homes as investment properties, or self-installed setups. Every manufactured home we finance must be permanently affixed to a foundation on land the buyer owns at closing and converted to real property under ALTA 7.1.
Why does it matter that Diamond Homes Center is already registered with BuildBuyRefi?
Dealer approval is a real step. A lender with no relationship has to collect the dealer's documents, run its own review, and set up the dealer before your file can move, and dealers are often slow to repeat that with a new lender.
Diamond Homes Center is already registered with our bank, so that work is done. The only approval still open is yours, which improves and speeds up the closing process.
What credit score do I need for manufactured home construction financing?
The minimum is 640 on our Conventional and FHA construction programs. A score at the minimum does not guarantee approval, so Victor Chan can review where you stand before you apply.
Can veterans get 100% financing on a Diamond Homes Center home?
Eligible veterans may qualify for up to 100% VA construction financing with no monthly mortgage insurance through our Hybrid and Two-Time Close structures, when the home is permanently affixed on land the veteran owns or buys at closing. All terms are subject to credit qualification and program guidelines.
What is the difference between a manufactured home and a modular home?
A manufactured home is built to the federal HUD Code and must be permanently affixed and converted to real property to be financed with a mortgage. A modular home is built to Florida's building code and is financed the same way as a site-built home, including jumbo and investment options. Diamond sells both, so ask which code a specific floor plan is built to.
I already own my home. Can I add a second manufactured home on my land for family?
Yes, in qualifying scenarios. Our 2nd Mortgage Construction-to-Permanent loan finances a second home, an ADU, or a detached structure on property you own and converts to a fixed-rate, closed-end second lien at completion, leaving your first mortgage and its rate untouched. Local zoning decides whether a second home is allowed on your parcel.
Contact Diamond Homes Center In East Palatka, Florida
Visit the model center to walk through homes in person, or start with the financing and learn what your budget and land can support first.
Diamond Homes Center
Owner: Brian Corcoran
General Manager: Tony Danna
256 US-17
East Palatka, FL 32131
Phone: (386) 267-2224
Website: Diamond Homes Center
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Sunday.
Victor Chan
Top Rated® Mortgage Banker
BuildBuyRefi.com, powered by The Federal Savings Bank
NMLS ID# 2121944
Victor reviews eligibility, compares purchase and construction options against your land and home, and stays on the file through closing or the final draw.
The Federal Savings Bank, NMLS #411500. FDIC insured, veteran owned, federally chartered, and licensed in all 50 states.
Why Florida Buyers Choose Diamond Homes Center
Diamond gives buyers two paths from one lot: finished land and home packages for a faster move, and a model center of 13 floor plans from four manufacturers for a home Diamond delivers and sets up on the buyer's own land. Leadership with more than 20 years each in the business, licensed Realtors on staff for the land search, and reviews that describe a no-pressure sales floor round it out.
The financing questions come down to the land, the foundation, and whether the home is finished or still to be set, and each answer leads to a different loan. Diamond answers the home questions. Victor Chan answers the financing questions, and both conversations can happen before you pick a floor plan.
Where Diamond Homes Center Serves Buyers Across Northeast And North Central Florida
From its East Palatka model center in Putnam County, Diamond Homes Center serves buyers along the St. Johns River corridor, the First Coast, and inland toward Gainesville and Ocala. Communities the dealership lists include:
For buyers searching for a manufactured home dealer near Palatka, Jacksonville, or Saint Augustine, or land and home financing in Northeast Florida, Diamond covers a wide stretch of the region. Ask the sales team to confirm delivery to your specific property.
On the lending side there is no geographic limit. BuildBuyRefi.com is licensed in all 50 states, so the financing works anywhere Diamond delivers and for buyers moving to Florida from anywhere in the country.
More Resources For Buying A Manufactured Or Modular Home In Florida
Diamond Homes Center is one of nearly 2,000 builders and dealers registered with our bank. Victor Chan can narrow the options quickly once he knows your land, your home, and how it will be used.
Other Registered Builders Serving Florida Buyers
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