Buying a mobile home in 2013 can be the right choice. Many Baby Boomers are discovering that owning a four-bedroom house with a large mortgage payment is simply too much to maintain. When your children have moved out, finished college, and started families of their own, it may be time to consider downsizing to a mobile home or manufactured home.
My father and I have more than 50 years of combined experience in the mobile home industry. I have personally inspected thousands of mobile homes, and in recent years I have seen more and more people preparing for retirement and realizing that buying a mobile home or manufactured home is the right decision. With mobile home space rentaveraging between $600 and $1,500 per month, homeowners can count on lower housing costs as they move into their retirement years.
Mobile homes are currently selling for nearly one-third of what they sold for in 2008. I regularly see double-wide mobile homes in Huntington Beach selling for $30,000 or less. While some of these mobile homes may appear outdated, remodeling a manufactured home can be relatively inexpensive if the structure is solid. The key to buying a mobile home is making sure the following components are in good condition:
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Roof.
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Plumbing.
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Electrical.
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Piers and pads.
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Windows.
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Siding and skirting.
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Furnace and air conditioning.
If these mobile home systems are in good shape, simple upgrades such as new paint, flooring, and appliances can dramatically improve the appearance and comfort of the manufactured home.
I inspect mobile homes and manufactured homes every day—this is all I do. I inspect 1970s mobile homes as well as brand-new 2013 triple-wide manufactured homes. Over time, I see the same mobile home problems repeatedly. Below are the most common issues found during a mobile home inspection:
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Mobile home water heaters missing earthquake straps.
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Mobile homes missing smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors.
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Mobile home plumbing leaks under bathrooms or kitchens.
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Rodents under manufactured homes due to improperly sealed skirting.
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Soft floors in mobile homes near toilets or moisture-prone areas.
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Mobile home ceiling stains near roof vents.
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Mobile home lights not working.
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Mobile home electrical outlets not working.
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Mobile home doors not closing properly.
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Low water pressure in mobile homes.
These mobile home repair issues are usually inexpensive when identified early during a manufactured home inspection. However, if left uncorrected, mobile home problems tend to worsen over time. One of the biggest advantages of completing a mobile home inspection before buying is the ability to negotiate with the seller to complete mobile home repairs before escrow closes. This is far better than discovering a major mobile home plumbing leak or roofing issue after escrow has already closed.
Our fee for a manufactured home inspection or mobile home inspection is a flat $200 and includes a detailed nine-page inspection report with photos. In over 90% of our mobile home inspections, we identify more than $1,000 in mobile home repairs that can be negotiated prior to closing escrow. When you consider the cost of unexpected mobile home repairs, the value of a professional mobile home inspection becomes clear.
