Should I live in a mobile home?
In this blog post, we will discuss: Should I live in a mobile home? We will review the pros and cons of living in a mobile home. We will also guide you in choosing the best type of mobile home and discuss costs, taxes and many options.
Should I live in a mobile home?
The decision of living in a mobile home is quite personal. Living in a mobile home, living on the road, bringing family and friends with you, being able to get to know new places every day, is a lifestyle choice appreciated by more and more people in the United States.
Living in a mobile home has its pros and cons. Let’s see some of them:
Advantages and disadvantages of living in a mobile home
| Advantages of living in a mobile home | Disadvantages of living in a mobile home |
| One of the great advantages is that they are very cheaply priced, which allows most to be able to afford one. Some are around $3,000. | They are not as prepared as traditional homes to withstand aggressive meteorological phenomena, such as floods, storms or strong winds. |
| Its construction process is much faster than the traditional one. In fact, in just a couple of weeks, the house can be finished. | Another of the main disadvantages is that the manufacture is much less durable. In addition, they need continuous maintenance. |
| They adapt perfectly to any terrain. Thus, they can be installed on beaches or fields, as long as it is developable land. | As is often the case in many things, the legislation is somewhat backward, at least in our country. This means that it is difficult to find bank branches that give you a mortgage or some kind of help to buy a mobile home. |
| They are respectful of the environment. They are made with materials that have a minimal impact on the ecosystem. | Lack of space. Some of these mobile homes are very small, in some cases, they do not exceed 30 square meters, which makes it very difficult to inhabit them, especially if a family is going to live. |
| Given its great demand, there is a wide variety of mobile home catalogues. | Difficulty finding land. Another disadvantage of living in a mobile home is that you have to go to very remote areas, in the middle of the countryside, to live. This makes it difficult for many, accustomed to cities or towns, to opt for this alternative. |
Living in a mobile home: a buyer’s guide
Living in a mobile home apart from having great financial savings, is another lifestyle, a life that gives you freedom with nature and helps you to be happy. It is important, however, to make a good choice in terms of structure, building materials, dimensions, and so on.
How mobile homes are made
The basic structure of a mobile home provides for the presence of wheels that allow movement from one place to another. The wheels are mounted on a metal frame positioned over a rubberized axle with suitable towing for transport.
In general, the foundation of a mobile home is made of wood, in order to guarantee thermal and acoustic insulation as well as the necessary resistance. The assembly and preparation of the rooms take place in a similar way to the positioning of plasterboard walls: insulating panels are raised that separate and form the different rooms of the house.
Appropriate vapour barriers prevent the formation of condensation and mould while the cavities are made with specific materials for the installation of the various systems. The shape of the roof can be indifferently single-pitched or double-pitched, whose insulation must be guaranteed as well as allowing the best possible energy savings.
For transport, mobile homes are either towed or placed on trucks used for exceptional transport that may require technical escort, essentially depending on the size of the structure. In general, they are not homologated or registered and therefore are not subject to the payment of the ownership tax, better known as car tax.
What is the best construction material for a mobile home?
The most recent and advantageous mobile homes are the so-called modular homes, fully adaptable to the needs of their owners. Its modules are created in workshops or factories and his designs are becoming more and more creative.
As for the materials, the most traditional ones are those in wood. They are also the cheapest when it comes to buying them, although maintenance is expensive and their lifespan is shorter.
For their part, steel structures offer hardness, strength and durability, although in recent years the ones that have taken the market by the storm have been prefabricated concrete houses. Resistant and adaptable to almost any environment, they have a lower price than traditional ones.
There are also other alternatives such as PVC with high levels of resistance and insulation from both cold and heat.
Living in a mobile home: how much does it cost?
The time and cost to buy a mobile home are closely related. Once the customizations have been chosen, it may take up to a maximum of three months for its realization, if you choose a new model. Another factor is the size of the house, linked to the number of people residing there.
It starts from a minimum of $5000 for the smaller models to go up to $45,000 and more when a larger home for 4/5 occupants is required and refined in detail.
Then, there is a large second-hand market that allows you to experience the thrill of living in an isolated place or even in the backyard. In this case, by visiting websites for the sale of movable goods, it is possible to take a first look at the bargains.
If the house is anchored to the ground in a stable manner, it has the same characteristics as a classic prefabricated building or a brick house, as the conditions of the place change, creating a volume suitable for being inhabited.
Therefore it is necessary to request the building permit, and consequently, the project drawn up by a professional, architect, engineer or surveyor, presenting it to the competent Municipality.
In the absence of this permit, the crime of building abuse is set up, with the related demolition of the work and a penalty imposed on the perpetrator of the crime.
Where can you park a mobile home?
If you intend to park a caravan or motorhome on your own land, you need to distinguish whether or not you need a permit. If the wheels are removed and therefore placed on the ground, a building permit is required.
If, on the other hand, you only intend to park the vehicle, it is possible as long as it is not used as a permanent residence.
As a general rule, if we want to use the house as a dwelling it will be necessary that the land below allows it. However, to host them in rustic areas, the last word is given to each individual municipality, the competent body for the management of undeveloped lands.
To know the classification of land, each municipality has its general urban planning plan and its subsidiary regulations, according to which the residential nature is also regulated.
With it, the municipal technician will explain what the characteristics of the plot are and describe in detail if it is compatible with the installation of your prefabricated house. In this case, the building model will not be considered, but issues such as border areas, buildable counters, maximum heights or exterior finishes.
Having all the permits will save you more of a scare, as any land use incompatible with its classification will be illegal. In addition, it is advisable to know the state of the soil. To ensure their suitability, geotechnical and topographical studies can be conducted.
What taxes should you pay for a mobile home?
All procedures for this type of accommodation involve costs which in the case of mobile homes will be lower.
No building permits will be needed, but some documentation for its location, such as the urban license, so a tax ranging between 0.5% and 2% of its cost must be paid.
Now, for the houses considered real estate, in addition to the urban planning license, together with the presentation of the project, the construction, installation and works taxes will have to be paid, which normally are about 4% of the cost.
Once the house is ready, its use must be regulated. For this, their habitability certificate is required with a minimum payment that will depend on each Autonomous Community, the first occupation license with which the municipal council certifies that the provisions of the project have been respected and is equal to about 1% of its cost, as well as the recording of the corresponding supplies, if necessary.
Final thoughts and recommendations
Mobile homes are, on average, between 22% and 34% cheaper than properties from conventional construction. They are also more competitive and economical because the system with which they are made is designed to optimize labour and generate time savings of up to 70 %.
This type of house offers the customer its final customization. In this sense, most companies dedicated to this product have a standardized manufacturing system that, however, leaves the customer free to choose finishes, shapes and materials.
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to like the mobile home lifestyle. What do you think?
FAQ on Should I live in a mobile home?
Is it bad to live in a mobile home?
It is not necessarily bad to live in a mobile home, but it does have its disadvantages. One particular point should attract the vigilance of the new investor: it is the choice of camping. Indeed, not all campsites are created equal. And some practice abusive conditions, not to say illegal.
Is it good to buy a mobile home?
The advantage of investing in a mobile home is that you can buy for a relatively small amount compared to real estate in general. Indeed, it is possible to buy a second-hand model for $12,000, the price of a small car!
Can I live permanently in a mobile home?
Yes, it is possible to live permanently in a mobile home. It has its pros and cons, and it is a decision that one must think about well. The most important thing to consider is where you’re going to place the mobile home.
Other FAQs about Motorhomes that you may be interested in.
What are the mobile home taxes in Texas?
How much does a permanent foundation for a mobile home cost?
Is buying a mobile home better than renting?
