Retirement: Very Small Houses as Opposed to Condo or CCRC (teenager, cancer)
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Lots of floor plans and options. Pretty spendy, but likely affordable used. (or repo)
You can often get slightly used (repo, or never set-up) modular homes for $30-$40k, so once the market for used Park models is more common, there should be some $20k bargain houses around.
Used 26'-30' RVs are $3500 to $5000 and a pretty decent option in mild climate.
With the exception that most of the new builds are very expensive, when done. These prefab/Flat Pack companies can't seem to do anything reasonable, price wise. The problem , with ALL the options in price and I do not see it getting better. Face the facts, labor is labor where ever you are, materials cost the same no matter what you build....the only thing on the cheap is a used large gas motor home or a mobile home ( dread).I guess a fifth wheel can be even cheaper, if , you already have the truck.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by darstar
With the exception that most of the new builds are very expensive, when done. These prefab/Flat Pack companies can't seem to do anything reasonable, price wise. The problem , with ALL the options in price and I do not see it getting better. Face the facts, labor is labor where ever you are, materials cost the same no matter what you build....the only thing on the cheap is a used large gas motor home or a mobile home ( dread).I guess a fifth wheel can be even cheaper, if , you already have the truck.
The OPTION do add up, but these 'factories' have got to have a very low cost basis in homes, but probably being killed by business taxes / regulations / reporting (the curse of doing business in USA). Maybe someone will get the bright idea of importing modular homes / options as shipping pods. (There are already lots of people building places out of 'containers'...)
But PLACEMENT fees / hassles can really kill you. Our permits have gone from a few hundred to ~ $30k (including 'impact-fees').
There are modular 'granny' pods that fit in a std size garage. (they are not cheap)
As you mention, The USED RV market is pretty cheap housing, if one would like to 'upgrade' from living-under-a-bridge..., but the incremental costs are pretty huge (daily Space rent, vs, your previous shopping cart / cardboard box.).
The OPTION do add up, but these 'factories' have got to have a very low cost basis in homes, but probably being killed by business taxes / regulations / reporting (the curse of doing business in USA). Maybe someone will get the bright idea of importing modular homes / options as shipping pods. (There are already lots of people building places out of 'containers'...)
But PLACEMENT fees / hassles can really kill you. Our permits have gone from a few hundred to ~ $30k (including 'impact-fees').
There are modular 'granny' pods that fit in a std size garage. (they are not cheap)
As you mention, The USED RV market is pretty cheap housing, if one would like to 'upgrade' from living-under-a-bridge..., but the incremental costs are pretty huge (daily Space rent, vs, your previous shopping cart / cardboard box.).
No need to inject your political views here, its insulting !Fact is its less expensive too do business in NA. Its the cash insensitive that have driven business off shore, including all the profits. ( Also to break the Unions )The transport cost, extra packaging,tariffs , all add to the cost of buying anything off shore. The tide is turning, as housing starts are on the up swing. Yes permit costs are huge in urban places and on the West Coast. The bulk of America enjoys reasonable rates, both permits and electricity
Building wall panels here in the good ol USA always make for a less expensive venture. However, the bulk of builds , taxes are reasonably encountered. I think many " custom" flat packs/ mods. are inflated in cost to the point you could build a stick house for less.
RV housing and travel is first class, I know, I had a diesel pusher MONACO COACH. WE LOVED IT. The problem is in places like emergency re-leaf where ( as in new Orleans) living in a Motor home is a big steep upward for many in this country, that do not get a living wage, thanks to Walmart ! The cardboard box people living over the steam grates ( in the shadow of the Capital ) include many Vets that fell through the cracks here at home , shameful ! The others are lost people from all sorts of troubled back grounds. mach to blame are the public and the greedy Government ( big business ) corporates with only one thing in mind,huge PROFITS . We as a republic have the duty, the responsibility to take care of those who can not fend for themselves, instead we sweep them under the rug. This apply s to us Seniors too, and it reflects what we can afford in retirement.If you have never been in a modern coach, you would take a different approach as to what could be the better living arrangement.Its the space to put them that is the hard part, not the FEMA trailers what were contaminated by chemical toxins.
Darstar - I didn't think StealthRabbit's post was particularly political - but your response was pretty political. FWIW - I don't know anything about the costs of manufactured housing - and why they are what they are. They may have to do with business regulation - unions - whatever. Who knows? To the extent that politics enters into the cost of something - I think discussing it is relevant (assuming people refrain from editorializing too much in the discussion).
Note that whether this manufactured home is in Miramar Beach (which happens to be in the Panhandle) - or perhaps Miramar (which is at the opposite end of the state in SE Florida) - the cost of insurance (especially windstorm and flood) is going to be a large factor in terms of "affordability". Our current broken insurance system in Florida is in large part the result of politics. But - since it's a long story - no reason to discuss it here and now since this conversation started as a result of NEG simply posting a picture in this thread. And I don't think she has any intention of moving anywhere near "hurricane land" . Robyn
But - since it's a long story - no reason to discuss it here and now since this conversation started as a result of NEG simply posting a picture in this thread. And I don't think she has any intention of moving anywhere near "hurricane land" . Robyn
Haha, you got that right. I believe in hedging my bets. If I'm going to get carried away by a hurricane, tornado, or earthquake, I would prefer that to be in the unlikely place of where I'm now living. I posted that pic of the cottage because if I could find such a little house within a town in NE, that is affordable, I would love to live there by the time I'm 70 in 7 years. I have helped enough elderly people in my life to know only too well that SPACE is not a concern for most. Ease of access and upkeep and daily cleaning, simplicity and spare functionality of the interior, is my concern, and would have worked well for those I helped or cared for.
Face the facts, labor is labor where ever you are, materials cost the same no matter what you build....the only thing on the cheap is a used large gas motor home or a mobile home ( dread).I guess a fifth wheel can be even cheaper, if , you already have the truck.
You can purchase a condominium in a 55+ community for approx. $15,000. Less than the cost of most decent larger motorhomes including 5th wheels. Monthly assessments can be about the same as mobile home park rentall fees. There are also some seemingly decent mobile homes in the Sunbelt and other areas. I looked at several (online) in Palm Springs, and nearby.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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I'm currently looking at cheap aprtments, condos, and mobile homes near San Diego. Finding some options under $100k. Duplexes / 4 plexes are out of range here (can't cash flow at my desired 10% of purchase price.
Interesting options in the region.
Next week at this time I will be doing the same in Hill Country, Tx.
I'm very much into CHEAP housing for seniors, and have tried many styles myself. My quest is not only for me, but I have done senior placement volunteer work for decades, and I desire to serve the populace with an affordable option. Since many of us will never be able to afford healthcare, an inexpensive abode can bring much peace and happiness.
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. Robyn
