Mobile Home Financing

Mobile Home Financing

Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2016 · 17 posts · 2 votes

I'm looking to finance a mobile home, but I'm under the impression that in order to get financing, I must have the home on a permanent fixture. My parent's have around 7 acres of land in the country and just bought some land beside them (practically extending their land by another 6-8 acres).

They have financed the land and do not own it outright, but there is already a mobile home on the land. Within the next year, the person in that mobile home will be leaving and taking their home. I was then going to purchase my own trailer and put it on that portion the old mobile home was on in the meantime of me going to college, instead of wasting money on rent in town (upwards of $800+ to live alone, and no, I cannot handle roommates). Even if I spend $35,000 for a home and it only sells for $25,000 once I finish college, that's money I'm getting back that I wouldn't if I paid rent to an apartment.

My question is, are there ways to get financing on a mobile home without it being on a permanent fixture? I'd like to have my payments as cheap as possible. If I were to do a standard mortgage loan on a cheap unit, it would cost me around $400 total per month for 15 years (I would pay it off quicker), but if I were to finance through a personal loan, it could be double that. Most personal loans don't extend past 6-8 years max.

Please help, thanks.

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Urbana, IL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 425 votes
10y

I agree with @John Arendsen as above. You'll likely have to buy a brand new home from a dealer and have them move it. They'll often do in house financing but it ain't going to be cheap. My suggestion is to purchase a mobile home cheap and have it moved to your location. Moving is going to cost between 3-6k per unit (3-6 for a single wide and 6-12 for a double wide) and you can likely find homes that need to be sold for a few thousand. Maybe do some creative financing with the seller or put it on credit cards if you're comfortable with that.

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  • Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2016 · 17 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    @Account Closed, I'm fine with putting 25% cash down. But I was wondering if all required you to have the mobile home on a permanent fixture. I would only have it temporarily and a permanent fixture wouldn't work for me 

  • Houston, TX · Member since 2015 · 512 posts · 338 votes
    10y

    For FHA loans a "permanent foundation" means that the mobile home has been in the same location since it left the factory or dealership, had the tongue and axles removed, and while not required but nice to have is a masonry, concrete or brick skirting.

    You can get loans from local banks for homes that have been moved and have the tongue and axles too, but they require people extremely well qualified, 20% down, and typically a term no longer than 10-12 years.

  • Homeowner · VISTA, CA · Member since 2015 · 727 posts · 340 votes
    10y

    If you want a fixed 15-30yr low interest conventional loan most lenders will require a foundation and as @Jeffrey H.has stated it must not have been moved from its original situs unless it is coming directly from the factory or a dealers lot. 

    What this means is that you cannot buy one on the cheap from a private party and move it to your site. Additionally, if the home was built before June 15, 1976 you would definitely not be able to get a conventional loan on it.

    So you're pretty much relegated to purchasing a new home directly from the dealer and/or factory which would not be cheap and defeats your purpose from what I'm gleaning from your original question.

  • Urbana, IL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 425 votes
    10y

    I agree with @John Arendsen as above. You'll likely have to buy a brand new home from a dealer and have them move it. They'll often do in house financing but it ain't going to be cheap. My suggestion is to purchase a mobile home cheap and have it moved to your location. Moving is going to cost between 3-6k per unit (3-6 for a single wide and 6-12 for a double wide) and you can likely find homes that need to be sold for a few thousand. Maybe do some creative financing with the seller or put it on credit cards if you're comfortable with that.

  • Member since 2016 · 13k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    10y

    Don't waste your time thinking a mobile will be more cost efficient than a rented apartment. The apartment will cost you far less in the end once you factor in loan interest, depreciation, utilities, repairs, insurance, etc. Renting a affordable apartment will be far cheaper than a mobile home and about 1% the stress and hassle of owning.

  • Natalie KolodijBusiness Member
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    Tax Strategist| National Tax Educator| Accepting New Clients · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    10y

    I have to strongly disagree with Greg. 

    Also though, you can get a nice mobile home for way under $35k. They are also um literally free quite often due to this same situation...but where people buy land to build on and want the mobile gone. I'd look for that. Try to find a 1990 or newer (many movers wont move older than this) for a couple grand or free....then plop it there for a couple grand (moving fee)...and you've spend $5k on a dwelling on your parents property. Once you're gone they can rent it. 

    Unless you can rent somewhere for under $500 a month this is more cost effective. 

  • Urbana, IL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 425 votes
    10y

    I second that with @Natalie Kolodij as I'll disagree. You just need to find the right home for the right price. 

    Ideally, if you know the market rent of a comparable apartment in your area your mobile home can should cost roughly the same amount including lot rent (if applicable). Since its on your parents land you'll be cash flowing really well once its rented out. Better yet, sell on payments equivalent to market rents. In either situation you've having tenants/buyers who are in a home they get to own and do what ever they want in AND get to do it at a comparable rate to what they would pay for an apartment. Its not everyone's cup of tea (doing mobiles) but its a matter of finding out how to make it work.

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