Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My son is thinking of moving to SC. He is wondering if he could get by on the cheap by buying some land and putting a small mobile home on it.
Can anybody ballpark some cost items for site preparation needs such as drill a well, install a septic system (this is assuming no local water/sewage), hook up to electric utility.
Remember this is SC, not NYC we are talking about. Things are about as cheap here as they will be anywhere..........LOL
My son is thinking of moving to SC. He is wondering if he could get by on the cheap by buying some land and putting a small mobile home on it.
Can anybody ballpark some cost items for site preparation needs such as drill a well, install a septic system (this is assuming no local water/sewage), hook up to electric utility.
Remember this is SC, not NYC we are talking about. Things are about as cheap here as they will be anywhere..........LOL
Thanks
Your local heath department will know how deep and what kind of wells are in the area (screen or, rock).
Also, most local drillers will know.
Since these things make a price difference......it would not be possible to say.
In my area the cheapest complete system would be $4200 + permit.
^^^so true.
OP 1st you need to check with the local planning an zoning dept for their minimum requirements/permits, then take that information and check with all the utility agencies and contractors for whatever you need done and they all will give you an exact estimate for your area. And whatever you do get it in writing. That could save you some time money and grief in the future.
In some cases there is no electricity nearby. And the electric company may need to run wires quite a distance - could want $40,000.00 to run the lines! Same with wired phone or cable TV. Or there may be no option to have those installed if WAY out in the boonies.
And if in a city, they may require connecting to city sewer. The closest line may be 2 miles away. They may make you pay to run the entire line! (Not cheap.)
Not to mention zoning (what you can and can not place on the land and so forth), and how deep a well may need to go. For example if the land is adjoining a river, possible you may not be able to place ANYTHING within 100 ft. of that river. There are all sorts of new environmental laws which can make building on river front property a nightmare!
Anyway I would recommend buying property which already has a mobile home on it along with all the utilities. Might save your son from a nervous breakdown! (Seriously!)
You didn't say where in SC. If it's anywhere near you in Lexington, a city of 18,000, you are certain to have all kinds of requirements before disturbing dirt. Out in the boonies there may be no restrictions. Just do whatever your little heart desires.
If you buy land in non incorporated area with no building restrictions you can buy that land for pennies. Because it will likely be far from work, good roads, public infrastructure and even basic food needs.
I doubt you have any laws such as NJ but when I was there, it was actually illegal to finance raw land with any federal bank. Owner finance was legal. But no lending institution would lend unless you owned that land free and clear. I'm only saying this to get you to think of every petty detail before doing this. Every contractual decision should be contingent on something else.
In more rural areas you will always find modular home dealers along highways. Stop in and talk to them. Walk through their model homes. They are kinda nice. They could provide you with a wealth of information quickly. They also have the means to get you the land, all the utilities and the home all wrapped into one mortgage. Many times they have land all over the area for instant purchase.
I'm not sure about costs, but if you buy a good used mobile, put it on your land in a place *other* than where you might want to build a house eventually, run the power, well, septic with eventually swapping them over to a "real" house, this can be a cost-effective way to live while you build.
If you make the right deal on the right mobile, you can re-sell it when you move into the house and recover most of your initial cost.
accufitgolf,
Why not just tell him to rent a mobile home?
Or an apartment?
The rent on a mobile home will be cheap, probably only 300.00 a month.
He won't have to worry about anything then.
If he changes his mind, decides he doens't like SC, he can walk away.
Go with him, or by yourself and check out some mobile home rentals
in the area he wants to live in.
You will be surprised at the low rent on the homes.
If he wants to buy one, he could probably buy one for about
20k, something decent.
Then there is the land, must be deeded for mobile home use,
probably at least 1/2 acre about 15K, mabey less.
Then the septic, about 3K, if he needs a well, 3K, at least,
Tell him to rent one, he is better off in the long run.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
