| |
| |
|
Real Estate Information |
|
|
|
Why Mobile Homes?
There are mobile homes for sale, for much less than stick-built houses, in most areas of the country. Despite persistent predjudice against them, and sometimes the people living in them, mobile homes are the cheap housing choice of millions. The advantages are not always obvious, but they are real. First of all, let's acknowledge the big "truth" about mobile homes and appreciation or depreciation. It's true in most areas that mobile homes in parks go down in value over time. That's why I don't recommend buying in a park, unless you absolutely can't buy real estate, and you have done the math to see if you are better off than renting a nice apartment. To "do the math" consider lot rent, payment, and the remaining value of the mobile when you put it up for sale, minus what you will still owe, when you are likely to move. These are guesses, but still better than nothing if you are as objective as you can be. Mobile Homes For Sale With Real Estate When looking at mobile homes for sale on land, however, you are looking at an entirely different investment. My mobile home in Michigan doubled in value in the twelve years I lived in it. That's because even as the home deteriorated a little over time (don't all houses?), the value of the land continued to rise. You also can do what you like with the home when you own the land. For example, I took in more money from my home than it originally cost, by renting out a room or two over the years. As mentioned, mobile homes usually sell for less than other houses, and this means lower payments. Also, because of the shortened amortization and lower loan amount, you will often build equity faster in a mobile home than in a more expensive house. A quick example follows, for the skeptical among you. Equity Building With Mobile Homes If you buy a house with a $100,000 mortgage loan amortised over 30 years at 6% interest, you'll have a payment of $599.60. Of the first payment, $500 will go towards interest, $99.60 towards principal. In other words, you only built equity of $99.60 (I'm ignoring appreciation, but only for the moment). Second scenario: Find a nice mobile home for sale, and borrow only $30,000, at 8% interest, amortised over 10 years. Note that higher interest is always the case with "factory built home mortgages." The shorter term is normal too, but least you'll own your home free-and-clear in 10 years instead of 30. Despite higher interest and a shorter term, the payment will be only $363.99, and the first month only $200 will go towards interest. That means the other $163.99 goes towards principal. You bought more house (built more equity) in this scenario. It's true that a mobile home on land might appreciate more slowly than a "regular" house, but the faster loan pay-down probably more than covers this factor. If you also chose to bank the difference in payments ($235.61 per month), you'd definitely be better off financially with the mobile home versus the more expensive home. Pay less per month and build more equity! Don't expect your real estate agent to tell you this. Don't expect him to even agree with me after you explain it. I sold real estate years ago, and math skills were not a big part of the licensing requirements. Mobile Homes For Sale; Other Advantages Mobile homes are cheaper to maintain. Years ago I had a mobile home as a rental, and the furnace in it died. This is the most expensive repair you'll have in a mobile. I had to replace it for $1,200, but that was still less than a furnace for a larger home. Consider that for $200 you can tar the roof of your home, or $30 if you do it yourself, instead of $5,000 to re-shingle a traditional roof. The windows, plumbing, doors - all cheaper. Property taxes will cost less, because they're based on the value of the property, and mobile homes for sale on land have lower value than stick-built houses. Insurance may cost less too, again because you are insuring less value. The only precaution to remember here is to be sure you can get insurance. Very old mobiles may be uninsurable in some areas. Should You Buy A Mobile Home? Don't buy a mobile home if prices for houses in the area are just as low. Believe it or not, this is the case in some areas. We bought a house near Butte, Montana for $17,500 - less than mobile homes for sale there (See a photo on our site www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com). Houses do generally hold up better. Then there are the issues of whether your own needs and predjudices will let you be comfortable in a mobile home. They are sometimes for sale in areas you don't want to live in (Certainly true of houses as well). These are personal things you have to consider. The advantages are clear for many young people starting out. It may be their only option, but it may be your better option. Besides a lower initial price, you get simpler, cheaper maintainance, lower monthly payments, less property tax, less for insurance, and faster equity build-up. So don't automatically pass on those mobile homes for sale when you're out home-hunting. Steve Gillman and his wife Ana have converted their mobile home in Michigan to a rental and moved to Tucson, Arizona. He and his wife also lived for a while in Montana, where they bought a beautiful house (not a mobile) for $17,500. That experience lead to the creation of their website, http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Real-Estate - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How To Realistically Get Started As A Real Estate Investor When it comes to real estate investing, most beginners find themselves with plenty of desire, a little bit of knowledge (from books, seminars, online message boards or something like that) and in most cases they have little or no money to get started with. Does this sound like you? If so you are not alone. Planning for Real Estate with Estate Planning One of the most important considerations you will need to make in regards to your real estate holdings and your estate includes tax planning. If not handled properly, your estate could end up getting hit with significant losses due to taxes after your demise. Closing Costs When Buying A Home Closing costs are often the last thing a person thinks of when buying a home. While closing is the joyous moment the home becomes yours, the costs can be surprisingly aggravating. Land Subdivision - $1.2 Billion Dollar Developer Tells You How To Do It Land subdivision is a bit like helping Mom slice up her beautiful Apple Pie; it's all so easy, when, like Mom, you've done it a few times. So let's see if we can get the ingredients for a land subdivision correct so you can do it right first time, OK?Every city or town in the free world has a Town Plan and it comprises, not surprisingly, of plans or maps, usually with lots of different colors all over them, but also lots of words explaining what the colors mean as well as lots of Rules that tell you what you can do with land. Real Estate Investing - The Dream House Effect Several years ago I developed a philosophy in renovating houses which resulted in a finished product that I call a "Dream House" or "Doll House."How many houses on the market today look very ordinary and less than perfect? How many look "Plain Jane?" What is the difference between these "average" houses and the house on the block that is strikingly different at even the distance of a windshield view?The pronounced difference in the outstanding property offered for sale might be brilliant new lawn grass. Kings Bay Georgia Real Estate - Be Picky When You Choose your Realtor! I have been a mortgage lender for many years and have seen a few transactions go sour. When problems arise after a contract is signed, it can be stressful for everyone involved. Vacation Homes Are Becoming A Reality For More Homeowners Whether it's a lakefront cottage or a log cabin in the woods, a vacation home often seems to be a dream that only the wealthy can afford. But these days, you don't have to be a millionaire to own one. What To Expect From Your House Appraisal Having your house appraised can be a scary step in the moving process, especially if you don't know what to expect. Will your house pass muster or will they find some hidden defects and problems lurking in the basement and attic? Should you scrub the house clean?Don't worry - this isn't a test of how clean you keep your house or even if your house has problems (that will be for the home inspector to find out). Home Buying: Things To Keep In Mind So you've decided you want to own a home and now you want to begin your search for one. Before jumping into a home search, there are a few things you should keep in mind when going about buying a home. Jacksonville Real Estate Listings With over 30,000 residents, Jacksonville in central Arkansas is a thriving city that offers many opportunities for both longtime residents and newcomers alike. About 20 miles from the state capital of Little Rock, the city is expanding in many ways. The Irish Property Market - Expensive But Worth It? Lying on the edge of Europe facing out to the Atlantic Ocean sits Ireland, one of Europe's smallest countries and often described as 'The Emerald Isle". A beautiful country characterised by vibrant, colourful cities and towns set amidst endless unspoilt green fields, Ireland is now officially the best place in the world to live. How Do I Fix Up a Home to Sell? The first thing you need to do is stop thinking of your home as "home" and start thinking about it as a commodity that you want to sell. To be a successful seller you must detach yourself emotionally from your home and be brutally honest about how it should look in order to sell. Boston Real Estate - You Still Have Considerable Control Over the Sale of Your Boston Home Boston real estate is a hot topic. Daily newspaper articles comment on whether or not a bubble exists in the Boston real estate market, when and if it will pop, how interest rates affect the market, why Boston residents are snapping up interest-only loans, and how foreign investors in our treasuries keep interest rates low. Mechanics Lien on Your House In many places you can buy a house and a contractor can put a lien on it within 90 days of construction or delivery of materials. For example if a contractor fails to pay a subcontractor he/she can place a lien against your real estate. Sell Your Home Without a Realtor and Save Thousand$$$ A typical real estate commission on a $234,000 home (national median price for all existing homes as of July 2005) is over $16,000. In many areas the cut a real estate broker gets is much higher. What's Your Style? A Guide to America's Most Common Home Styles Styles of houses vary across the country. From the New England Cape Cod to the Victorians of San Francisco, the choices are almost endless. Lock In Big Profits By Offering Rent To Own Deals Why would anyone accept a lease option, rent to own deal? Why would you, as a seller/investor look to find rent to own tenants? How can you use this technique to LOCK IN profits that are much greater than would be found in a straight sale?Basically, the advantages depend on which of two end results occur: either the rent to own tenant completes on the property, or they don't. You make money either way!There are MANY people who have less than sterling credit, might not have a long time on the job, or not have a ton of money for down payment, closing, etc. Selling Your Home? A Warning About Attachments Before you list you home for sale, determine what you don't want to leave behind.Our friends sold their home for full price and moved out a few days before closing. How to Get Started in the Real Estate Game Fixing and Flipping Houses If you're looking to get started investing in real estate by fixing and flipping houses, you'll want to know what to type of property to buy. Many real estate investors make millions turning ugly houses into dollhouses. How to Own a Dream Home in Spain Every year hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors travel to Spain to delight in the fantastic weather, stunning natural landscapes, excellent entertainment options and superb Mediterranean beaches. Many of these people dream of one day owning their own property in Spain, in fact Spain is now one of the most desirable second home and retirement destinations in the world.
|
| home | site map | |
| Realty Web Services © 2007 | MesaSky Services |
