Living in mobile homes has become very popular nowadays. Although in the past, people were mostly buying these homes as vacation spots, and not to permanently live in them, things have changed drastically. With the rising real estate prices, the increase in the number of remote workers, and a different lifestyle that’s more suitable for exploring the nation, mobile home living is now very common. Needless to say, as with everything else in life, it has its upsides and downsides. It’s up to you to decide whether this would suit you. And, it’s up to us to give you all the information you need to know to make this decision. So, without further ado, let’s see what are the pros and cons of mobile home living and whether this is something you should consider.
What is mobile home living?
For those of you who have only heard about this term, but aren’t sure what it means, before we jump to the pros and cons of this way of life, we want to explain what it actually is. Mobile homes are houses built in a factory after which they’re placed on a chassis and relocated to the site where they’re going to be used. So, as you can see, this option definitely gives you certain flexibility. In fact, it is estimated that over 20 million Americans are living in a mobile home. However, there are way more advantages to these houses, as well as some disadvantages.
Also, before we continue, if you were worried about relocating a mobile home, as it sounds challenging and you have no experience with it, know that there’s a simple solution. Many companies you can find at Verified Movers reviews can help you with such relocations. So, you can relax, forget about this issue, and focus on deciding whether mobile home living is an option for you or not.
Pros of mobile home living
Let’s begin with the positives. There are actually many benefits of purchasing and living in a mobile home. So, we’ll mention some of the most notable ones.
Mobile homes are much easier to afford than traditional homes
Surely the main reason why this is such a popular choice nowadays is cost-effectiveness. These few years after the outbreak of COVID-19 have been marked by economical challenges, and people have started moving to affordable states and cities more than ever. Of course, other budget-saving methods are being explored as well, and mobile homes are certainly one of those. Make no mistake, due to a huge difference in price, there would be an interest in these homes nevertheless. But, with the current situation that the world is facing right now, the interest in mobile home living has skyrocketed.
The average price of a mobile home in the USA is $81,000, which is significantly lower than $420,000 for a traditional home. In fact, traditional homes are over 5 times more expensive. So, it’s clear why people are considering purchasing a mobile home.
Flexibility with the location
We already mentioned flexibility briefly, and now, it’s time to cover it in more detail. Location flexibility is a great thing. If you can’t afford to buy a house in a city where the cost of living is huge, but you really want to live there, a mobile home might be a solution. For example, cities like Seattle are extremely expensive, especially when it comes to the housing market. Now, you have an easy solution to avoid huge housing expenses. Also, if the city of your choice isn’t too expensive, but you can’t find a traditional house in some of its best neighborhoods, mobile home living could solve that as well. So, with the cost of moving a mobile home not being too big, you can settle in almost anywhere you want.
Other benefits
Two benefits we talked about are certainly the biggest advantages of this option, but there are a few more.
- Property taxes are significantly lower on mobile homes
- Mobile homes are mostly environment-friendly
- You get warranties upon buying a mobile home
- They are built much faster than traditional homes
- Mobile home parks are usually in safe, family-oriented neighborhoods
Cons of mobile home living
There is no doubt that all the benefits of this housing option are sound. However, before you buy a mobile house and settle in your new home, you should get to know the disadvantages of this option as well. So, let’s take a look.
Mobile homes tend to depreciate in value and are difficult to sell in general
If you decide to sell your mobile home after some time, you will probably be unpleasantly surprised by its value. Unlike traditional homes where the price only goes up, that is unlikely to be the case with mobile homes.
Limited yard space
Even though mobile homes can be very spacious, living in a mobile home park won’t give you much yard space. So, if you’re moving from a traditional house to a mobile one, there’s a chance you’ll have to downsize your home a bit.
Possible expenses
Even though purchasing a mobile home will cost you significantly less than a traditional home, there are few expenses to look out for. For example, if the property where you want to place your mobile home isn’t yours, you’ll have to rent. Also, there aren’t traditional mortgages when it comes to these homes, so you’d have to ask for a personal property loan.
Mobile homes are worth giving a try, but it really depends on your preferences
Even though it’s not an extremely expensive endeavor, buying a mobile home is not something to decide overnight. You have to carefully analyze the pros and cons of mobile home living to make the best possible decision. We hope that you’ve found this article very handy, and if, in the end, you do decide on purchasing a mobile home, we wish you the best of luck.