Anyone know anything about mobile homes?

So Im seriously considering a move to Silicon Valley/San Francisco to grow my career (living in So Florida has not helped my career at all) and my biggest concern living in Northern California is price; rents are insane. I looked at a few apartments and $1,500/month will barely get you a p.o.s apartment. The same as living in NYC. I have a lot of anxiety over the high cost of living and it's made it hard for me to do this.

So for laughs I was looking at real estate prices in Sunnyvale, CA (the area I want to live in) and to my surprise there's a mobile home park
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/ … 000-150000

I think this is really nice http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/ … 2238-51221
A 3 bedroom for $130k? in Silicon Valley?

I dont understand why they're so cheap? I would be living in Silicon Valley and paying like $300-400 a month for a mortgage. Something doesn't sound right here. That's like living in a 3 bedroom in NYC for $400/month.

Why are they so cheap? Do they not come with water, or were they built over a cemetery or something?
I never looked at mobile homes before so I know nothing about them.
By Marc | 03/21/2013 05:08 AM | 5 comments
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  • Their construction is marginal at best. Many people live in homes built in the 1970's or older. Can you say that about a trailer parks homes?
    PDQuesnell 03/21/2013 05:30 PM
  • All of the comments below are very good and helpful. I lived in almost an identical unit like the one in the photo. Two of the three bedrooms are very small, and the neighbors are very close. I bought my unit for $70k back in 2004. (badly pet-damaged) I fixed it up with new floors, lived there, and sold it in 2010 for $60K because I was too impatient to wait for a bigger buyer. Plus I knew I was helping an immigrant lady who was making good on her way to pursue the American Dream. If you really are considering buying a prefabricated modular, look for someone who is selling it and do not go through a realtor. In NY, the transaction was the same as buying a used car. All it takes is a title transfer and a sales receipt. I think the price of a new unit is only $50K The transportation and installation cost will make it more like $80 or 90K. $129K is sky high price for what you are getting.

    *edit* looked at the photos of the link you posted. It's amazing what a 25mm wide angle lens can do. Trust me, the rooms are tiny!
    johnnyc411 03/21/2013 05:21 PM
  • I think it's a nice place. Really cute. Hell, I've seen brick homes that look like shit compaired to that.
    kelleysiland 03/21/2013 12:42 PM
  • I would look into Portland Oregon as it is a diverse community and very gay friendly with an openly gay mayor. Lots of the gays are leaving San Francisco and the bay area and moving there because of living costs and also better job opportunities there. I lived there for many years before relocating here after I retired. I still own a mobile home there and visit now and then. Rick is correct you are not figuring in the lot rent or the taxes and it lot rent can be as high or higher than your motgage. The other problem is getting home insurance for a home like that and the resale value is not as good as a real home. Mobile homes are great for an older guy that can pay cash for his home and afford the lot rent but if you are financing something like that be careful. Also what sort of work are you looking for? I would want to have a good idea of what my prospects are before moving there. I wanted to live a lot of places but when I looked at what my work and living arrangements were going to cost me I realized I was better off where I was. Make the long term plan first and then go back and make the short term plan that gets you on the path to the final destination. You need to take the emotion out of your decisions and look at it like a business deal.
    barney290 03/21/2013 07:56 AM
  • What is the monthly lot rent? I'm sure there is some sort of contract and approval required before a sale could be completed. Being in a park you would not own the land, which is the big cost of home ownership in CA. The cost is what the unit is currently valued at and I'm sure they are having the same down turn in real estate as the rest of the country. Also what are the yearly taxes and possibly other fees that might be associated with the park, such as is water and trash removal part of the lot rent?
    VARickbear 03/21/2013 07:47 AM