More Americans are entertaining the idea of mobile home living. A mobile home is a great first home because of its low price, mortgage loan, monthly costs, and maintenance needs. It can be as safe as site-built homes as long as you settle down in a decent neighborhood. It can be financed, too, through HUD programs for mobile and manufactured homes.
Before you start researching the different types of mobile and manufactured home insurance to protect your new place, however, you have to determine whether moving into a mobile home is right for you.
Consider these factors before making the move:
Your current objective is to have a place to live.
Affordability is arguably the most important benefit of buying a mobile home. And even though you have to lease land or rent in a mobile home park, your overall expenses might still cost less than the monthly rent of an apartment. Considering HUD’s mobile home standards, you can be sure that it’s durable, too.
It’s an undeniable fact that mobile homes typically go down in value over time. Still, it’s a place you can call your own until you’ve saved enough or finally decided where to build a permanent home. And unlike if you rent an apartment, you can sell your mobile home when you’re ready to move or upgrade your house.
Of course, it would still help for you to talk to a financial advisor. They’ll make sure your long-term financial goals are aligned with your move to a mobile home.
You want a lower-cost option for homeownership.
Some individuals who already own land or who are buying land want a low-cost alternative to a stick-built home. In this case, a mobile or manufactured home might be the most suitable option for you.
Some stick-built homebuilders offer standard floor plans that offer prices close to mobile homes. Nevertheless, your mobile home will typically cost less per square foot.
Take note of the type of property a mobile home is, though, before you decide on settling in one.
A mobile home classifies as personal property rather than real estate property because, as the name implies, it is removable from the land it was placed on. It cannot be considered as real property because real property is defined by the actual land and anything permanent that was built on or attached to it.
That being said, it might be trickier to get financing for a mobile home because it would classify under personal property loans. These typically come with shorter terms and higher interest rates.
On the bright side, you don’t have to think about property taxes if you live in a mobile home.
You’re looking for a flexible housing option.
Flexibility is another reason people choose to live in a mobile home. You might consider this option if you’re not sure whether you want to own the land it rests on, if you’re not completely sold on having a stick-built home at the moment, or if you simply can’t afford to build a permanent home yet.
A mobile home is semi-permanent. This means that if you own the land it will rest on, you can place the mobile home on it now and have the option of removing it in the future. As convenient as this sounds, however, it isn’t entirely simple. Even mobile homes have plumbing and electrical fixtures, after all.
Additionally, a mobile home may not be easily moved after you set it up but it is still relatively easier than trying to do anything with a stick-built home. Unless you’re adding a gazebo or an extension of the latter, you can count on it being permanently built on the land. So if you aren’t quite sure about whether you want to build a permanent home, or if you haven’t decided on the house layout, a mobile home works.
You want a neighborhood with limited disturbances.
Ultimately, the peace and safety of your residential property depend on the community you choose to settle in. And while there are many safe neighborhoods for you to choose from, mobile home parks offer an unmatched level of tranquility. They’re typically age-restricted and are enjoyed by older adults.
A mobile home is often a welcome option for empty nesters and people who want to downsize.
Some mobile home parks cater to the family, too. They’re good for families with small children. And with proper safety protocols and thorough background checks, these parks can be a safe environment for young children. As the children grow older, though, you will need more space.
Until then, a mobile home arrangement could work for you.
