Do you dream of a place to call your own, with plenty of space for yourself and your family? Do you want the freedom to move anytime, anywhere without being tied down by mortgages or rents? If so, then this article is just for you. In today’s blog post, we will explore what it is like owning a mobile home, including the positives and negatives that come with such an investment. Mobile home insurance is a critical aspect of mobile home ownership; with this valuable insurance, your investment is protected against losses.
You will find out all you need to know in this article before you finally take that leap of faith and make a decision!
The Pros of Mobile Home Ownership
A mobile home is typically a trailer that is built on a permanent chassis and can be moved from one location to the next. This type of accommodation is popular among those who want to be constantly on the road in the quest for new adventures, or simply those who wish to save money on their housing expenditures.
Just like any type of residence, having a mobile home will have several requirements such as Mobile Home Insurance and necessary permits. However, what makes mobile home ownership better than standard homes is that the required documents are not as stringent and demanding.
If you want to learn more about the pros of owning a movable home, read on below:
Low Maintenance Costs
We all know how exhausting it can be to deal with the maintenance of a regular home. This is because you need to schedule maintenance professionals or do all the repairs yourself, from interior painting to plumbing work or general housekeeping chores.
Instead, when it comes to your mobile home, maintenance costs tend to be lower since they commonly consist of a small amount of wiring or plumbing work than in a traditional home.
The reason for this is that mobile homes are usually not integrated with the foundations, which means under-house repairs – such as leaking plumbing – are easier and more efficient to address. In general, a mobile home is cheaper and easier to maintain than an ordinary home!
Affordable
If you look into the housing market and compare standard homes and mobile ones, the price difference will surely bring some surprises. Mobile homes tend to be much more affordable, as they can be bought in pre-owned condition or with the help of a Veterans Administration (VA) loan.
Mobile homes are ideal for people who are also on a tight budget and need to find an affordable home as soon as possible. You can find a pre-owned mobile home for as little as $30,000 — and if you have a VA loan, it can be even less than that!
Mobile and Flexible
We all dream of traveling around the country, seeing new places, meeting new people, and experiencing new things. But it is not always easy to do that with a standard home, since it is tied to one location.
However, with a mobile home, you can simply pack everything up and move it to a new place if you wish- be that across town or across the country. Moving a mobile home is easier than you think, requiring only the help of a modular home hauling service.
Another great thing about mobile homes is the flexibility that comes with them. If you’re living in a mobile home and you find yourself starting to feel cramped, or the layout isn’t right for your lifestyle, then it’s not difficult at all to move somewhere else!
Lower Taxes
Taxes are all part of the adulting life, but they can be a huge pain for those who are just starting out. Mobile homes generally offer the lowest taxes related to home ownership, which means a smaller annual strain on your wallet.
With a mobile home, you only get taxed for the land it sits on, not the whole home. This means that property taxes can be significantly lower. Add in the lower maintenance costs of mobile home ownership such as lower mortgages and no rent and it easy to see what owning a mobile home is so attractive from a financial perspective.
If your goal is to save money in any way possible, then purchasing a mobile home might just be the answer!
Lower Insurance Costs
Compared to traditional homeowners insurance, mobile home insurance is often more affordable. Insurance costs are tied to the value or purchase price of a home; traditional mortgage lenders may also require private mortgage insurance or other insurance coverages as part of the loan process.
Mobile homes tend to be less expensive in initial purchase price, lowering the expenses associated with mobile home insurance. Buying a mobile home can help to save you money over the long term.
The Cons of Mobile Home Ownership
There are always certain cons to owning a mobile home, just as there are with anything else in this world. Not everything is suitable for everyone, which is why it is important to know the pros and cons of owning a mobile home before you make your decision.
Hard to Resell
Not all of us have the magic touch to be able to resell a home, but it is especially difficult with mobile homes. Reselling a mobile home can be hard because of the many costs that come with it.
For example, if you are in a mobile park and want to buy another one to move to a new location then you need to pay for moving both homes. Simply moving your current house yourself which will incur even more overhead cost, so this can discourage customers from buying used over new again.
Susceptible to Damage
One thing you need to take note of mobile homes is that they tend to be more susceptible to damage compared to standard homes because of the materials used. A mobile home is more likely to sustain damage because it is likely built with lightweight and thinner materials that cannot handle a lot of external stressors like high winds or heavy storms.
If you live in an area where there are hurricanes, then mobile home ownership might not be for you unless you have sufficient resources to help fix your house from these harsh weather conditions.
Reduction in Value
One advantage standard homes provide to owners is that they usually retain their value well over time. A mobile home, on the other hand, may lose more of its value as it ages and is exposed to more external factors like weather or damages.
As time passes by, your mobile home’s value might decrease to a point where you might not be able to recover your investment when you sell it. In other words, if you are looking for an investment property that will appreciate over time, a mobile home may not be the best investment strategy.
The Final Word
Mobile homes have a lot of advantages to offer, but they also come with some disadvantages.
Given the pros and cons of mobile homes, it is up to you to decide if this is an affordable housing option for your family.
We hope this post helped give you a better insight into mobile homes so you can make a better decision that will be best for you and your financial situation.
About Blue Sky Insurance Agency
For over 20 years, family owned Blue Sky Insurance Agency has proudly specialized in insurance and tax services for Virginia residents. Our philosophy is simple: “If you can dream it, we can insure it.” We strive to provide value to our clients by establishing and building relationships and focusing on more than just rates. We are dedicated to providing holistic and strategically tailored solutions to protect all of your assets, and to provide peace of mind wherever life takes you. To get in touch with us, fill out a complimentary quote form, or call us at one of our two locations:
North Chesterfield
Phone: (804) 745-4044
PO Box 35674
North Chesterfield, VA, 23235
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm
Richmond
Phone: (804) 404-2030
9932 Midlothian Turnpike
Richmond, VA, 23235
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm