For retirees looking for a seasonal getaway, buying a second home can be an expensive, exhaustive and disappointing process in today’s economy. Even with the abundance of condos, townhouses and vacation homes available on the market, finding financing is becoming increasingly difficult without significant upfront cash outlays. One option that many are considering is the purchase of pre-owned manufactured or “mobile” homes in age-restricted communities as homes away from home.
Let there be no question that in this economy, retirees can live in style and comfort by residing either full or part time in a manufactured home. Modern manufactured homes are spacious, functional and built to the standards and expectations held by a new generation of retired and semi-retired individuals. With today’s advanced construction, strict safety requirements and federal regulations aimed at protecting manufactured homeowners; retirees can rest assured that their purchase of a manufactured home is a safe, secure and solid investment in their next chapter of life.
Long gone are the terms “trailers” and “mobile homes” because, quite frankly, once a manufactured home is permitted, delivered to a site, leveled, tied down, hooked up to utilities, skirted and landscaped it will never need to move again! The best manufactured housing communities will have a variety of homes from different manufacturers installed on large lots, offering lively, beautiful neighborhoods with architectural diversity and many options for personalization. There’s nothing cookie-cutter or bland about today’s manufactured homes! Living in a permanently installed manufactured home can provide all the comforts of traditional homes without the costs and stresses associated with owning real estate.
Compared to houses and condos, manufactured home ownership is a much more affordable way to own a second home nearly anywhere in the country. Because they carry DMV titles in most states, manufactured homes are not only easier and cheaper to insure than traditional brick and mortar homes, they aren’t taxed as real property and require only a small yearly fee for registration renewals. Thanks to energy efficient designs and their functional and comfortable, space-saving floor plans, today’s manufactured homes often cost less to heat and cool as well.
Perhaps the only thing that holds true for both traditional homes and manufactured homes are the three most important words when making a purchase: location, location, location! When choosing a manufactured home, it is just as important to find a good community as it is when buying residential real estate. People considering the purchase of a manufactured home should start their search in established communities offering safety, close proximity to desirable destinations, friendly management and anything else that would make their manufactured home feel like their home.
Instead of paying thousands of dollars a month on a mortgage and condominium fees, pre-owned manufactured homes can be found in today’s market at cash prices as low as $5,000 to as much as $40,000. For less than the amount of closing costs on most mortgages, manufactured homeowners can purchase a home with no debt and rent a space for their homes in beautiful communities, for less than $400-$500 a month. Owning an manufactured home as a second home or vacation property can be a fulfilling, affordable alternative for today’s retirees. Often, for less than five thousand dollars a year, those seeking leisure can own their very own seasonal or vacation home in exotic locations and enjoy amenities and activities once only available to the jet-set!
By: Kyle Huneycutt
http://www.garbercommunities.com/