Right now we're renting a house in a large city for $960 a month. That's a really good price because the house is a bit run down and the neighborhood borders a high crime area. I like it here though and I feel safe. ~shrug~
So my hubby wants to move to the north side of the city where the home prices are $150K and up. The commute would be the same as now, about 5 miles. I'm ok with going north but I don't think we should spend more than $160K because that's what we can pay off in 5 years. The high average cost of homes up there will make finding a cheaper place much harder. If we were to buy north we'd only be living there about 11-16 years until hubby retires(at 50-55). Then the plan is to buy a small rural lot and build a tiny, off-grid house to live in for the next 20-30 years.
We could live in different areas of the city with similar commute distances but in "worse" neighborhoods for about $130K. Taxes in the city are about $850 a year for the size and areas we're considering and the lot sizes are about .2 acres.
Now, I've found a manufactured home on 1.5 acres outside the city for a list price of $150K. It's a 15 mile commute. Taxes are $450 year. The property has a 2 car finished garage, a giant metal storage building, fencing and 4 sheds. The manufactured home is 1200 square feet and 20 years old. The view is nice and a park is being developed on the adjacent lots. The neighborhood is all new homes valued in the $250K range and those are still being built. This is the one of only two manufactured homes in the immediate area. I'd be able to put in the kind of garden I had in NJ(savings of $20+ a month in produce I'd grow). The kids would have all the room they wanted to explore(less trips to parks). I would have the private feel in the yard that I badly want. Distances to groceries, nice parks, banking, library, restaurants and other shopping would not change.
Undeveloped land in the outskirts goes for $25-75K an acre depending on location, size and view. Undeveloped land in the city goes for $70K-500K an acre depending on where it is.
If we were to buy this property we would not need to move again in 11-16 years, we'd simply have someone haul away the manufactured home(and get a little something for it if we could)and build our tiny house on the already developed lot.
Because of the difference in property taxes, the difference in transportation with a longer commute would be almost insignificant.
I'm worried about is the depreciating aspect of manufactured homes. I would think the land would hold its value if there were any reason we did need to sell and move again but a house in the same location would almost certainly appreciate. I'm sure we could easily sell a house in the city based on watching the market here for the last half year.
I'm also concerned about quality of life in a mobile home. I lived in one as a toddler and again for a few months as a teen and I was not a fan. Everything from the too gold fixtures and fake wood paper covered cabinets to the thin framed windows and plastic sinks feels cheap and temporary. I'm not sure if it would feel like a home to raise kids in.
So what I'm really asking is:
Does anyone live or raise kids in a manufactured home? Thoughts on durability, utilities, quality of life?
Are there differences in obtaining loans and insurance on manufactured homes as compared to "real" homes?
Has anyone lived in a mobile home while building a "real" home on their land?
Has anyone sold a mobile home off their land?
What are some convincing arguments for a reluctant spouse? The numbers alone didn't seem to make an impression on him. He seems to really have the premium part of town etched in his want list. He concedes that the choice is mostly up to me since I'm the one who is home 24/7 with the kids but even so has vetoed a half dozen possible houses we've driven to so far based on "the neighborhood" or just "Eh, I think we should look up north". I even suggested we could earn $200 a month by renting out the spots in the giant building for RV storage and that didn't seem to make an impression either.
Just so it's clear, we have made an appointment for a showing of the property but I'm not jumping up and down already pleading to buy it. I'm just trying to consider all the angles before I possibly like it a lot. I'm surprised we are even looking at it since being a manufactured home should have immediately disqualified it.
Any opinions would be welcome. :)