Please welcome our guest Kenny Soto from a great site called My Move. They have so many great posts for any homeowner and lots of handy tools. If you’re about to make a big move or just want to learn some new things, you’re gonna want to visit MyMove.com. Here’s their top 5 tips for anyone about to move into a mobile home:
Are you considering moving to a mobile home? Young families are choosing mobile homes as “starter” home while many seniors are choosing to retire into mobile homes after their children are out of the house. These homes offer all of the comforts of home at a fraction of the cost of a traditional house. If you are considering the purchase of a mobile home enjoy these 5 tips for moving into a mobile home.
Shop Around
Many first time mobile home buyers think that a mobile home is just a trailer. They are cheap and you get what you pay for. This could not be further from the truth. Just as traditional homes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and levels of luxury, there is a wide range of mobile styles on the market. Before making a purchase do your research and figure out exactly what will work best for you and your family. The first decision you will have to make is whether you want a single or multi-section home. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Search online for dealers in your area to learn more.
Decide Where You Want to Live
When buying a mobile home you also have to consider where you want to put it. You have three options to choose from. You can buy a lot, rent a lot or become part of a mobile home park or community. If you plan on buying a lot, remember to factor in the startup cost of setting up a septic system, well, electrical connections, etc. If you rent these costs may be covered by your monthly rent, but remember to factor possible rent increases into your home’s budget.
Get Insured
Make sure that your home is protected beyond the manufacturer’s warranty by investing in mobile home insurance. The three major categories of home protection to look out for are
- Coverage of water, fire and wind damage
- Liability for personal injury
- Theft of your belongings
While mobile home insurance coverage is similar to standard household insurance, it is usually more expensive. Beware of real estate agents who offer to sell you insurance as part of a package. You will rarely be getting the best deal.
Donate and Recycle
When moving to a mobile home you will have to rid yourself of a lot of the clutter that fills your current home. Remember that you won’t have an attic or a basement where you can hide all of that old furniture and closet space will be limited. Before you move to your mobile home take all of that clutter and donate as much as you can to local charities. By donating old clothing and furniture you will not only be able to clear out space, you will also be helping less fortunate members of your community. You may even be able to save money on next year’s taxes.
Personalize Your New Home
Many first time mobile home buyers think that a mobile home is “one size fits all” and there isn’t much that you can do to make it feel like home. The reality is very different. There is no reason that you can’t personalize your new home inside and out. Do you have a garden at your current location? There is no reason that you shouldn’t plant a garden around your new home. Your mobile home is more than just a trailer. It may be your home for the next few months, years or even the rest of your life. Make it feel that way.
Author Bio: Kenny Soto is a blogger at MyMove.com. For more tips on mobile homes, buying home insurance or choosing a neighborhood visit My Move today.
Hi Stephaine,
We used to live in Nokomis and Bradenton and it is still one of my favorite places on earth. The gulf side of Florida is magical in every way! We paid $5,000 for a 1978 single wide and it was a great deal but we were in WV and things are a lot cheaper there. You would definitely want to make sure the home was out of flood zones and has not been flooded previously (Sarasota floods a lot).
In my most humble of opinions, I would rather buy a home outside of a park unless I was buying into a 55 + community in Florida that had a lot of amenities. You are more likely to gain value on the property (though it is mostly the land that gains, it still an increase in value). You can also do as you please to the home and the property which I think is an important part of being a homeowner.
I would try to get a personal loan through your local bank first. If that didn’t work, I’d fine a lending agent or broker that works with the VA. With the right down payment and the right property, they should be able to get you approved.
Best of luck!
We are just beginning to consider purchasing a used double wide in Fla. We are finding it a challenge to find financing since we are one year out from a Chap. 7 bankruptcy, yet our credit score has recovered to over 700 already. We are also VA eligible but seems we can’t use it unless we put a mobile home on a purchased piece of land. The places we are looking at are all in co-op parks in the Venice-Sarasota area. Prices are great and we’d prefer to pay cash (up to $10,000) but wonder if we would simply be buying a headache at that price – not to mention lot rents in that area go around $575 to over $900 a month. Yikes! How does one find financing in our situation? And is buying an older MH always a poor investment? (pre-1980).
Hi Kendra,
You would need to talk to your bank and see what type of loans you can get and I maybe wouldn’t mention anything about a mobile home during the first meeting. Most likely, you’ll need to get a personal or chattel loan for any used mobile home unless you can find a newer model on its own land and installed permanently – those can be eligible for the government backed home loans.
Best of luck!
Hello,
How do you get started? Who do you contact? Can you take out a bank loan for purchase? I know banks do home loans but I’m wondering about manufactured homes. Im so thankful for your post.
Hi Erica,
Manufactured homes can be setup up with anything a site built home has (city water/sewer, gas, etc).
Hi John, I’m no financial expert but I think if you will give yourself 12-18 months to get that score raised a bit you will have a much easier time getting approved for a loan with much better terms. I’m in the same boat – I had no credit at all till last year (other than medical bills) so I’ve had to get a secured credit card and I also put a used car on payments just to try to get my score up. Maybe you can go to your bank and have them help you plan a way to get the home you want at the best terms?
Best of luck!
i just bought a car with 4.3 fi rate thought my credit was a ok only to find out its a 561 really want to buy this double wide on leased land am I out off luck?
Hi Tammy!
You should go visit a few parks in your area and get a feel for them. Ask about home sizes, average home age, regulations, etc. You’ll want to be very careful about the contract and make sure you can sell the home in the future without having to move the home. A lot of parks want newer homes in their parks so if you’re buying new you’ll have a much easier go of it. Most parks won’t accept homes older than 10 years or so.
After you talk to the park managers, walk around the park and ask as many residents as possible about the park. Knock on doors if you have to – most people will happily tell you what you want to know.
Best of luck!
HI. This is first time we decide get mobile home together. I do not know how or where start living mobile home. We don’t want rent mobile home. We want buy one and put on mobile home lot. I’m having difficult conversation with landlord or owner of mobile park about put trailer on the lots.
Do I ask what trailer size I need put on lot? or other question I need to ask. I read your blog about rent, lease or buy the lot. I want try rent lot before we decide buy the lot, can they allow that or not?
I am lost and confuse…
Hi Dee!
You can go to the link below and pay $19.95 for an online valuation report:
http://www.nadaguides.com/Manufactured-Homes
A manufactured home is very similar to a site-built home, just a bit more compact and simplified when it comes to the electrical and plumbing systems. Usually water heaters will be situated behind a wall (with a panel for easy access) in either the laundry area or bedroom closet. Most of the time it will be located on the other side of your shower.
I really don’t have the time to design or consult, I’m working and trying to keep up with MHL (and not doing a very good job…lol) but hopefully you look through some of the articles and find something that you like about a room and take notes. That’s how I always decorate or decide on updates for my own home, I love to look at pictures of pretty homes to get ideas!
Best of luck to you! Please let me know how it goes!
PS. Here’s y favorite books for mobile home repair: https://mobilehomeliving.org/useful-mobile-home-repair-books/
Hi.. I’m looking at a mobile that is in a great park but has had a smoker in it for years. the ceilings are Yellow.. Disgusting.. Needs a lot of cleaning and updating.. the Family didn’t even clean it up. Is there any Kelly blue book to put a value on a mobile.. ?
Also I know you have to have a water heater for mobiles but is there anything else like that I need to know or a place to find out about things like that?
Do you offer updating designing… I have a lot of elbow grease…. but mobiles are something I’m not accustomed to.
Thank you !!!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Patricia! I’m so happy MMHL is helpful for you. Manufactured homes aren’t the same tin boxes they use to be so I’m sure you’ll find a great home at a price you can afford. If you need anything just yell – I’ll do my best to help you!
I will be retiring this month and returning to my hometown. I own a wonderful condo and plan to sell. The cost of housing is much more expensive in my hometown and could not afford to purchase a traditional condo or home there.
So I am looking into purchasing a mobile home. A much more affordable option in order to be where I want to live. I happen to find your website in the search engine.
Thank you for all your excellent information regarding purchasing, remodeling and design. I will be using your website a lot in making my purchase and beyond.
Hi Jill! I'm so happy for you! That stigma is a hard hurdle to
jump..lol..The trick though is to worry about you and yours and no one
else and do what's right for you. Who's to say the people paying a
huge mortgage isn't envious of you? Simpler, easier living is
definitely the way to go!
Thank you. This is very timely. My two sons and I will be moving into a trailer the end of July. I love your site. You have helped me with my attitude about moving into a mobile home. I wasn't excited about it, because of the stigma, but financially it was the best thing for me to do at the time. For me, it just makes a lot of sense to make this move. Your website has helped me see that this trailer will be a wonderful home for me and my boys. It's all in the attitude!! Now, I'm excited to get moved into my brand new single wide and make it mine!!