Living in a Mobile Home - Vancouver, Battleground (for sale, apartment)

[Jyadav]

I may have to move back to the Vancouver area and live in a mobile home until the job market turns around. I am currently living in the midwest and I recently lost my job at a bank.

I reallly love the Vancouver/Portland area and the only reason I moved to the midwest was for the job, and now there is no reason for me to remain in the Midwest.

I have a college education and am a banker by profession.

My plan is to engage in a work at home type customer service job (with a phone line and a computer) until this economy turns around.

I have seen some mobile homes for sale in the Leverich Park area in Vancouver. I have also seen some in battle ground

I have never lived in mobile home or a mobile home park before and I wanted some input as to issues like

Safety, crime, drugs, gang activity etc
Kinds of Neighbors
Is it cheaper to live in an apartment? Is it a bad idea to live in a mobile home?
But i think you get more rooms for less money in a mobile home park
etc etc

Any kind of feedback from those who have lived in a mobile home park in that area would be appreciated.

I am NOT looking for biased opinions from people who have never lived in that kind of situation but are quick to pass judgment and scoff at people who live in mobile homes

I am looking for practical advice here

[bluescot]

First, we're in Tucson AZ with relatives in Hood River & Battleground. My wife and I have lived in 4 mobile homes since 2003. We're in a 12' X 60' with AZ room addition now. Since we have covered parking on 1 side in a gated senior park its great.

Get yourself into a 55+ MHC (a mobile park for seniors) in Vancouver. Go to MHVillage.com for their 5 Vancouver area listings. 14' Singlewides can be quite comfy if they have an awning & a shed. If you are under 55 yrs then see if you qualify for an exemption; from age 42 to 50 yrs, (under HUD rule 20% of park residents can be less than 55 yrs).

Mobiles are a bit light - they use 2 x 3 s for walls. You get to hear more sometimes. We have enjoyed some of our MH living but not in all-age parks with loud kids, loud hip hoppers & a few drunks - while in in Phoenix & southeast NM.
55+ communities are usually far quieter and less costly than a house rental - usually about half as much; in the $300 to $420 / a month range for rent. A few will allow 1 dog, very few will permit cats.

We've seen and purchased mobiles from $7,000 up to $26,000 for a 14 X 60' Cavco. We were able to pay cash for the last one in AZ. The smaller room sizes can be a challenge if you like big, heavy furniture. In a mobile "less is more." Keep it light and you'll enjoy mobile living.