Mobile Homes vs Traditional

[MPRetired]

Originally Posted by Bebeloves

1) The cost for electric was much higher due to how incredibly HOT they get, and therefore, how much our air conditioner had to work. The AC unit was top of the line and purchased when we bought the home (no, it did not come with one).

This is a bit of a concern. I assume that the insulation is nothing like what you get in a conventional or modular home.

[old_cold]

Originally Posted by MPRetired

This is a bit of a concern. I assume that the insulation is nothing like what you get in a conventional or modular home.

Insulation is a factor whether it be a manufactured or stick built. The suggested values have changed with age.
I will say that the ones we have are so old I had to laugh at the thickness of the insulation but for the sweltering hot months in Fl when we're not here, the AC is left on 83 and my bill runs between $10 and $15 a month.
The newer the home the better the insulation...like a stick built, position, roofing and whether or not there are trees...all important factors.
The stereotype of an old 50 yr old single wide 'tin can' sitting out on a bare wasteland exists but it's not what most people would be considering purchasing these days.

[LOL_Whut]

Originally Posted by old_cold

Insulation is a factor whether it be a manufactured or stick built. The suggested values have changed with age.
I will say that the ones we have are so old I had to laugh at the thickness of the insulation but for the sweltering hot months in Fl when we're not here, the AC is left on 83 and my bill runs between $10 and $15 a month.
The newer the home the better the insulation...like a stick built, position, roofing and whether or not there are trees...all important factors.
The stereotype of an old 50 yr old single wide 'tin can' sitting out on a bare wasteland exists but it's not what most people would be considering purchasing these days.

I actually think the decades-old singlewides are cute if they're kept up well and brightly painted. They look like house boats that floated up onto the land. I have this bizarre obsession with tiny homes, though.

There is a beautiful tiny retirement community of singewides on the bayou in Tarpon Springs FL. The houses around it go for $1 million, so I'd imagine the mobiles and their lots are pricey. The residents keep their little antique trailers maintained like treasures. That's hardly a typical singlewide trailer park, though.

[jerseygal4u]

I always thought mobile homes were "nasty" (id never,ever seen one in Nj)until I actually lived in one in Nc.
It was cleaner,more modern,and much less expensive than any garbage apt I lived in in Jersey.

Come to think of it,I would have rather lived in the mobile home than the apts in Nj,which many are from the late 1700's to early 1900's.
Same break down problems.

[augiedogie]

I got interested in mobile homes for a number of reasons. The first reason was the quality of construction on new homes. I've seen videos that claim that the newer homes go up in flames much faster because there is so much particle board type materials used. Makes sense. The house I own now, which was built in the 70's has a roof deck that is all planks. You will not find that, even on expensive homes anymore. I've also seen and heard examples of very poor quality destruction and cost cutting by builders.

Plus, the mobile homes I've seen in many cases hold up pretty well. I also like the idea of being able to get at the plumbing under the house. Everything in Texas is on a slab, and if you have a plumbing problem below floor level, you're looking at big bucks. PLus from what I've seen, some manufacturers of mobiles seem to really be trying to build better quality stuff. And lastly, we have a lot of "immigrant labor" Lots of inexperience. That's not going to contribute to high quality.