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Originally Posted by Gingercoyote
I like the idea of a park model as mentioned above. It can be moved if the house is sold or things aren't working out. It might also be less expensive than adding a second story to the garage.
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Another poster mentioned parking an RV next to the house for a year. In many neighborhoods that is not allowed, so a check with the city would be in order. I find them to be unsightly and overwhelming in a residential area.
I've researched Park Models and larger mobile type homes. I found that for the price of a park model (which are built to RV standards), you may not get enough insulation to be comfortable. Homes over 400 sq feet have to be built to HUD standards, which are higher. Also, some communities and states will not let you live in a park model parked in the same place all year round. Some communities also prohibit dwellings of less than 1,000 square feet.
Depending on where the OP lives, Palm Harbor makes a small mobile home 15 X 48 (586 square feet) called the Paradise. The Paradise also comes in larger sizes, or you can custom size it in 4 ft increments. This might work, however it is only available in the Pacific Coast states. The same company also makes a similar model under a different name that is available in Florida and one or two adjacent states.
The important thing is not to focus on the base model, but rather one that has the construction and comforts that you want, particularly things you don't see like floor construction, size of lumber used, insulation, adding outdoor electrical and water connections, heating & cooling, ceiling height, roof pitch of at least 4/12. The home can be sited so that there are no stairs if you are allowed to excavate for a crawl space.
If the community allows them, they can be a great low cost option for a decade or two, and if you have to move it in the first 5 years, it's doable.
I plan on spending about $65,000 on one as my retirement home, 15 X 57 feet (855 sq feet) plus delivery & siting costs.