Clayton Homes, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, has acquired the Lawrence and Topeka locations of Kaw Valley Homes, which sells modular and manufactured homes, the companies announced this week.

Kaw Valley has sold homes in Lawrence for 28 years. In 2003, Dean and Allen Reed purchased the company, returning it to the family after their father, Jack Reed, sold the business to ARC of Denver in 2000. Jack Reed had founded the business in 1978, moving operations from Kansas City, Mo., to Lawrence in 1981.

The Lawrence site moved in 1988 from 3020 Iowa to 1330 N. Third St. in North Lawrence.

“Dean and I are very excited about this opportunity to become a part of Berkshire Hathaway’s Clayton Homes,” Allen Reed said. “By joining forces with Clayton, we can benefit from its nationwide presence, regional marketing and Internet lead generation.”

Clayton builds, sells, finances, leases and insures manufactured and modular homes and movable commercial and school buildings.

Allen Reed said the move will allow the company’s customers to more easily benefit from financing. The company’s sales were up 7 percent in 2008 from 2007, he said.

Kaw Valley’s operation will continue under the Clayton name. It has 11 employees and engages more than 25 subcontractors the area to place homes in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado.