Actually...the age of the trailer, as far as how long it will last, really isn't an issue.

The one I am in is a 1975 and, although I have had to do some repairs to the floors, it's in pretty good shape.

Just depends on what you are willing to put into it.

But I see you have decided not to get the trailer so my words are nothing more than random babble at this point...lamo

Thanks for all the helpful input. After doing a bit more research and thinking about it. It doesn't seem like such a good deal for me. The trailer is to old to move, and I certainly do not want to live in the park that it is in. I also don't seem that trailer last much longer, even if it is in good condition, it's still a pretty old trailer.

The more reaserch and thinking I do the more I think it would be best to pass on this offer.

Thanks for the help guys.

you might want to rethink,
Just an idea.. but you are very young, $1,200 is nothing really.
Maybe offer him this price only if washer, dryer, stove and frig go with it at no extra.
stop and think what rest cost you in just one year!

Even if you just live in it for one year.. you have already saved money over renting, and at least the money is going twords something you own, not just money gone forever.
and at only $500 monthly living cost... you can bank some.
tough it out for 5 years and save money, then at only 29, you will have a good down payment on a real home!!

just a thought

A co-worker is offering me his single wide mobile home for $1,200. He said he'll throw in a three year old washer, older dryer, older stove, and older refridgerator for an extra $200. The bathroom floor need replaced soon. The heater and hot water tank are about three years old. It's a two bedroom, but the 2nd bedroom is way too small, so it's actually a one bedroom. It's in good condition. It was built around 1970, but is solid, and in good shape, all it needs is a little floor repair in the bathroom and in the bedroom closet.

It's at a trailer park which is bad. If I deceide to buy this trailer, I will be moving it, so that means I have to buy a plot of land. I've looked around and it's going to be atleast $15,000 for a decent piece of land with utilities.

I will have no choice but to keep it at the park it's at for now. That's around $500 a month for everything (water, electric, gas, etc.). To get into the park, there's a $50 app. fee, security, and water deposit, so it would be around $550 to get in.

I'm thinking to get a lot and to move the trailer is going to cost around $27,000.

The trailer doesn't have an axle.

What do you think? Should I go for it?

I would strongly hesitate about doing it. Reasons?

1) Any mobile built before 1977 has vastly lower standards to meet to be manufactured. Basiclly making them a fire trap and often zoned out of most communities or rural lots.

2)Even if you happen to luck out and find a property you could put it on most utility companies do not want to hook up to homes that old.

3) You won't be able to insure it which means if it catches fire or damages anyone elses property in a storm their insurance company can sue you.

4) It probably will not pass inspection to get your habitation license but since you own it it could cost you big bucks setting empty.

5) Because of it's age you probably can't get a permit to move it even if you can find someone willing to move it.

6) Water rot in the bathroom floor is incredibly expensive to repair in mobile homes or campers because subfloors are sandwiched between the continous surface floor and the metal frame. You would have to take out the entire bathroom full of fixtures and maybe even have to take down the walls to make the floor repairs. Usually removeing fixtures damages them and or the pipes going to it.

7) Some houseing programs disqualify you as a first time home owner if you buy a mobile home. Can cost you thousands in grants or interest rate breaks.

8) Utility bills in older mobile homes are horrendouse. I don't know which utilities are paid and which are not but you will not qualify for any rate discounts if the landlord does pay theses bills. Older mobile home parks are nortorious for padding utility bills.

9) Also jacking up rent. The $500 figure could easily double or triple if someone wants to buy the park for some other use. You would not be a protected person like some seniors.

10) Mobile home parks often will not allow secondary providers of cable or phone service and they do not allow antennas and or window airconditioners.

11) A home that old is highly likely to have a furnace you can not even get repaired and the central air will not hold a freeon charge which a new unit can easily cost you $5-8,000. because you have to have a dual system. Living in a mobile in the summer without airconditioning feels like living within the gates of hell.

12) Car insurance will be VERY expensive if you live in a mobile home community. Car and gas thefts and vandelism in some parks can be a serious problem.

13) A popular ploy with new tenants is to make them replace ageing asphalt driveways with concrete driveways that can cost any where from $500 to $5,000. Or make you replace the 10x10 shed which vary in cost from $800 up to $4,000. Or remove and ageing tree which is very expensive upwards of $1,000. Be very careful that you read any lease you would sign. And keep in mind that Title XX Houseing and Urban Developement has a complex and extensive regulation for mobile home ownership.

14) Previous tenants in the home may have cooked drugs, had pets or people who urinated on the rugs which can be hidden for a while but the smell does come back.

15)It is likely that the hotwater heater is caput also. Difficult because they are required to be installed and achored differently
now.

16) It is highly likely that the roof has not been maintained. Older homes are hard if not impossible to walk across to make repairs and frequently leak air out if not rain in.

17) Older homes have really crappy wireing fixtures. You plug in and ordinary circut and it can toast sockets through out the house. Homes that old you can not even buy breakers for if you wanted to put a new breaker box in it.

18) Even if your friend gives you used appliances there is no guarantee that the home will be able to support the electrical pull to operate them. The advantage is you could possible turn them in for energy star rebates on getting new appliances.

19) Privately owned parks frequently change hands for ownership and management. Some good and some really bad. Most often they are absent when you need them.

20) Owning a moblie home can be very expensive paying taxes. Especially if you find out as the owner there are back taxes owed. Cash strapped municipalities are cracking down on collecting back taxes which is often a surprise if the home has changed hands a couple of times.

21) Mixing personal business with a co-worker is a really good way to end up looseing your job. With the economy as bad as it is you could be a long time finding another.

22) Not knowing what you have as far as furnishings and or help to get them it could be very expensive to get the minimums. Some drug and alcohol programs do have programs to have assistance programs to help you get the basic neccesities.

23) Last and definitely not least is living in some parks can put you around some really shady people. Party people that would definitely be a temptation that could mess up your life that you have worked so hard to regain. Living in a park is often all employers or dates need to see when they are considering being involved with you.



IF, a really big IF, is if you can get the park to put it in writeing that you can abandon the home, at no cost to you, to the park when you want to move out it could be a cheap temporary shelter if the other issues I mention are clearly spelled out in a lease. Or that they will allow you a reasonable amount of time to strip out whatever you can from the home. Sometimes, it is rare, older home have copper pipeing and you can recycle the alluminum sideing. and the steel undercarriage. The park would probably require you to get a permit and really limit how long of time you would have to get it off the lot. If it proves to be too much for you it can end up costing you a huge amount to a company to come in and take over.

My best advice is thank your co-worker for thinking of you but just tell him you are not sure if you want to take on that big a responsibility right now.

one thing to keep in mind too

mobile homes NEVER appreciate in value like a brick and mortar home does