[Florida Heat]

Have a home inspector check your the mobile. Tornadoes are not uncommon so have an evacuation plan in order.
Don't go too rural; find maybe 5 acre lots with other people you may like to know??
Visit the area every day of the week and at all times.

[Florida Heat]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

The down side of the $20K mobile home is that they tend to be older. This matters in Florida because older=a few revisions to windstorm code earlier. At best, it's either not worth insuring or uninsurable. At worst, the odds are better that if a hurricane hits in the area, you'll have significant damage. Ideally, look for 1999 manufacture date or newer, though the 1994 or newer homes often do okay if they're properly tied down according to the 1999 Florida code.

http://www.flhousing.org/wp-content/...ed-Housing.pdf

A 15 year old home on newer that is properly secured generally is just as good as site-built during a hurricane, though I'd still ride out the storm elsewhere.

The problem with mobile homes is they are built to a more lenient code than homes. Stud and truss members are smaller, roof and wall sheathing is stapled, not nailed. I have inspected many of them and unless they are "modular" may not be really hurricane resistant, or for that matter many houses are not either. Build a small concrete shelter and use it for storage until you need it.