anyone bought a mobile home?

[DannyMotorcycle]

I have a friend who's about to buy a used mobile home.. in a park.. i was thinking paying that lot rent would suck.

I know of a lot for sale in charles county.. that's been perked.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience buying one new and putting it on your own lot?

Are there hidden fees? counties won't let you do it? problems people wouldn't expect? Delays? etc?

I did a search here, and someone said modular home is better? recommended companies?

 

[KingFish]

I am thinking it would depend on the area and if there are HOA rules forbidding a mobile home. I would think putting it on your own lot would be a better deal because you will own the land when it is paid for verses paying someone elses land mortgage. There will be more upfront costs such as having a well installed, running electric to the property, and installing a septic system.

I think a modular home would have more value than a mobile home. Set it on a basement foundation. and the home value should increase vs just the land value.

 

[Kinnakeet]

I am thinking it would depend on the area and if there are HOA rules forbidding a mobile home. I would think putting it on your own lot would be a better deal because you will own the land when it is paid for verses paying someone elses land mortgage. There will be more upfront costs such as having a well installed, running electric to the property, and installing a septic system.

I think a modular home would have more value than a mobile home. Set it on a basement foundation. and the home value should increase vs just the land value.
[/QUOTE
RV is a good idea anytime you want to go to another place just unplug everything and roll out

 

[BernieP]

From what I've read it's probably the worst investment you can make. Mostly because the market is full of crooks.
Not the manufacturers, but finding a place to part it. I don't know if the government has done anything to regulate that part.
The landlords had all sorts of schemes to get money out of the buyer. Then selling it became a pain. One step higher then a condo in terms of being a pain in the ass.
Have you considered a Tiny Home? Some of them are really self sufficient, requires very little in the way of hookups.

 

[UglyBear]

My experience, in researching mobile / modular / normal built:

1. mobile — modern mobile homes look just as good as normal on the inside, maybe walls are a bit thinner. If it’s just you and maybe spouse and a kid, I can’t think of better deal, if you own the land, than to drill well, dig septic, plop a double-wide on it, and done!!! Save up your money for something else. The problem is, a lot of counties are trying to fancy themselves up, and are putting restrictions on that. Contact your county’s office before you try to do that
2. we talked to a builder who did modulars for 30 years — and he showed us numbers that it’s no difference now than doing stick-build. Again, codes changed recently, and there’s as much code restrictions on modulars as on normal ones. Also, few inspectors know how to inspect modulars. Talk to several builders here, get several opinions

 

[BernieP]

My experience, in researching mobile / modular / normal built:

1. mobile — modern mobile homes look just as good as normal on the inside, maybe walls are a bit thinner. If it’s just you and maybe spouse and a kid, I can’t think of better deal, if you own the land, than to drill well, dig septic, plop a double-wide on it, and done!!! Save up your money for something else. The problem is, a lot of counties are trying to fancy themselves up, and are putting restrictions on that. Contact your county’s office before you try to do that
2. we talked to a builder who did modulars for 30 years — and he showed us numbers that it’s no difference now than doing stick-build. Again, codes changed recently, and there’s as much code restrictions on modulars as on normal ones. Also, few inspectors know how to inspect modulars. Talk to several builders here, get several opinions

There is a difference between Modular and Mobile. Modular is assembled on site and is placed on a foundation. Once down, it's not likely to move.
Mobile is just that, you might not be able to drive it off , but it can be moved (at expense).
But agree, if maintained, like an dwelling, they are fine, affordable housing.
The latest fad is the Tiny homes. They are mobile, but more self sufficient than a mobile home. Typically come with eco friendly systems for waste and solar/battery for electricity.
Not sure I would recommend them for larger or older people as many rely on a loft area - which doesn't include a bathroom
Or you can go with a yurt.

 

[Goldenhawk]

"Modular" can have a huge range of meanings. In my real estate investment work for a few years, I did numerous house visits and detailed inspections. I also used to build modular homes many years ago. "Modular" can be basically a double-wide trailer stuck together with siding and shingles and a handful of interior trim (most of the homes in San Souci, for example), or it can be a fully stud-framed, drywalled, stick-built house that just happens to arrive in several large chunks instead of individual studs. I've seen modulars with iron subfloor framing and wheels visible beneath; I've seen modulars with standard wood joists on full cinderblock foundations.

So just saying "modular" doesn't tell you much. And most people tend to think "cheap double wide trailer home" when they hear the word.

In fact, the industry started using the term "factory-assembled" or similar euphemisms, to avoid the stigma.

The first things I look for when inspecting a single-story foreclosure are
(a) roof and ceiling pitch (most cheap modulars have lower-than-normal pitch, like 3:12 or 2:12 instead of 4:12 to 5:12)
(b) the obvious presence of paneled wallboard (instead of real drywall)
(c) a telltale extra-thick central wall, indicating two full walls stuck together
(d) weird subfloor framing underneath the house

If I see such features, I personally will walk away, because it's going to have low build quality and (more importantly) low durability, not what I want for something I plan to keep for decades.

But if you're okay with lower durability and quality in the name of low price, fine. I have no problem with someone making that choice.

 

[LightRoasted]

If I may ...

anyone bought a mobile home?

Does a Coleman tent count? If so? Hell yeah! I've bought plenty over the years.

 

[Scat]

I have a friend who's about to buy a used mobile home.. in a park.. i was thinking paying that lot rent would suck.

I know of a lot for sale in charles county.. that's been perked.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience buying one new and putting it on your own lot?

Are there hidden fees? counties won't let you do it? problems people wouldn't expect? Delays? etc?

I did a search here, and someone said modular home is better? recommended companies?

Charles County is not supposed to be issuing a permit for any mobile homes on a single lot except for temporary housing (construction/reconstruction).

 

[GregV814]

Not necessarily on topic, but I’ve discovered the smithsonion channel. They do a very good presentation of States by “air” scanning each state and it’s history.
One thing that stood out in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi is the large large LARGE stockpiles of FEMA trailers. Those things are probably 25k each, rotting away.

 

[Grumpy]

Not necessarily on topic, but I’ve discovered the smithsonion channel. They do a very good presentation of States by “air” scanning each state and it’s history.

 

[Scat]

Not necessarily on topic, but I’ve discovered the smithsonion channel. They do a very good presentation of States by “air” scanning each state and it’s history.
One thing that stood out in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi is the large large LARGE stockpiles of FEMA trailers. Those things are probably 25k each, rotting away.

25K delivered? Probably not. I expect that there is not an environmentally easy way to dispose of those trailers and who is going to do it?

 

[Ken King]

Charles County is not supposed to be issuing a permit for any mobile homes on a single lot except for temporary housing (construction/reconstruction).

Cite please?

 

[GregV814]

25K delivered? Probably not. I expect that there is not an environmentally easy way to dispose of those trailers and who is going to do it?

That’s a poop load if taxpayers money rotting! One idea is to promise a fking illegal alien one if they go back to their poop hole 4th world Country, Guatemala, El Salvador, los angeles,

 

[Scat]

Cite please?

No intention to try. All I can say for sure is that we wanted to put one on the farm and we weren’t allowed to, hence the wording of supposed. Ended up building a house instead.
Under PGM policy (R2) they say they are allowed with a foundation and with a sprinkler system. Now go into the details of a sprinkler system for rural construction and you need a separate pump, separate holding tanks, etc.

 

[Ken King]

No intention to try. All I can say for sure is that we wanted to put one on the farm and we weren’t allowed to, hence the wording of supposed. Ended up building a house instead.
Under PGM policy (R2) they say they are allowed with a foundation and with a sprinkler system. Now go into the details of a sprinkler system for rural construction and you need a separate pump, separate holding tanks, etc.

In other words, they are allowed if you are able to comply with the ridiculous and onerous regulations.

 

[Scat]

In other words, they are allowed if you are able to comply with the ridiculous and onerous regulations.

Yep, you got me. Even though the county would issue a permit, I decided to spend over 3 times more to stick build instead.

 

[Clem72]

A manufactured home on a permanent foundation is pretty nice. Won't maintain as much of it's value as a normal stick built home, but it will have less issues will be more air tight, need less upkeep, will come with better features for the money, and will usually cost much less to heat and cool per sqft.

But DO NOT BUY IN A PARK. Go watch the last week tonight bit about mobile home parks, it's on youtube. It can cost more to move the home in/out of the park than the home is worth and they can fee you to death (in addition to ever increasing lot rents).