Thinking of buying a mobile home? If you are, then the next question you likely have is whether you should buy a brand new mobile home or a used mobile home. So which is the better option and what are some things to consider when trying to decide between the two?
This post will answer these questions and offer some pointers on what you need to think about and take into consideration before making a decision.
Mobile Homes Are Immensely Popular In the United States
There are some 50,000 mobile home parks spread across the United States, with a lot of them being concentrated in California. Many of the homes in these parks are rented, but not all. Many houses in San Diego county mobile home parks are resident owned. The same can be said for other parks in the state.
If You Plan To Live In a Mobile Home Park, Consider This
Many mobile home parks have strict rules regarding bringing a mobile home you own into their park. It depends on the park and how modern it may be, but many won’t allow a manufactured home that is older than 5 to 10 years to be brought in. That’s not to say there aren’t any older homes already in the park, but you may not be allowed to bring your own home inside if it’s beyond the specified age bracket.
It’s just something to keep in mind when deciding on a new or used mobile home that’s not already situated within a park, but you plan to live in a mobile home park.
Will You Be Applying For Finance To Buy the Mobile Home?
If you are planning to purchase a brand new manufactured mobile home, then getting a bank loan or finance won’t really present a problem, so long as your circumstances meet the lending criteria. On the other hand, if you want to purchase a used mobile home, once again, financial institutions will be very reluctant to lend money to purchase a mobile home that is more than 10 years old.
What About Buying a Mobile Home and Placing It On Your Own Property?
Before you do anything you’ll want to check the local zoning laws for your town. Some towns just outright refuse mobile homes of any kind, even on land that you own. It can be confusing understanding the reasons why, but it is what it is, so if you’re looking to put a manufactured home on your own land, make certain you’re allowed to do so before committing to the purchase.
A Used Mobile Home Will Be Cheaper
Unlike traditional houses that can go up in value even if they’re decades old, with mobile homes it’s a different story for the most part. Like other things that are second hand, used mobile homes tend to be cheaper than brand new manufactured homes. This means that for those on a budget, buying a used mobile home (perhaps more than 10 years old) will really put money back in your pocket.
Just keep in mind the rules many mobile home parks have about the age of the mobile home, as well as lending institutions not willing to lend on older mobile homes.
If you have the cash on hand, or want to obtain finance, then you might be better off going with the safer option of purchasing a brand new mobile home, perhaps even getting one made to order, exactly to your specifications and requirements.
Buy a Home Already Situated In a Mobile Home Park
Many people simply prefer to rent a home and lot inside a mobile home park for simplicity, but you can often buy a home within the confines of a park, and you’ll also have no issues regarding how old the home is.
Living in a mobile home park has many perks, such as community facilities, on-site managers, a real sense of community spirit, the ability and opportunity to make lots of new friends, and a safe, secure and stable environment to live in.
