Katrina Cottages- Anyone have experience?

Question

Hey all,

I've been looking into some real estate options in the Pensacola area- I've always wanted a mobile park but worry about hurricanes. I also love tiny homes and have looked at the concept of a tiny home community.

Anyhow - today I stumbled across the Katrina cottages. Has any one purchased one, deal with them, any experience?

David D Painter · Answer

@Natalie Kolodij

Katrina cottages are still viewed favorably all along the gulf coast.  There are currently several for sale in the Biloxi, Mississippi area. In fact Gulfport/Biloxi has one or two pocket subdivisions of nothing but these cottages. They seem to be popular as vacation rentals. Be prepared for confusing and expensive insurance costs. I winter in Biloxi and live in Wisconsin. The difference in insurance is huge. Please get a quote and see if anyone will insure a property before you buy. It can vary wildly.  Like you I love the tiny houses. I built and happily lived in a 240 square foot home in the mid 90's. I could easily do it again. Check out Spur, Texas for more tiny homes. Good luck!

John Arendsen · Answer

As @Rachel H. has so aptly stated, "If you're going to do it, definitely put insurance on it. Though pricey, it'll help to minimize your risk." That is a must. I spent almost 2 years in Florida cleaning up MHC's after "Charley" and the his three buddies ripped through FL in '04.

I remember all too well when the State actually condemned some of the MHC's that were totally devastated and rezoned the land for higher and better use. In fact one of the MHC's that we cleaned up on the Caloosahatchee  River in Fort Meyers was rezoned for a high rise Condo Hotel; certainly not a viable option for all the displaced residents that resided in that MHC before Charley.

Rachel H. · Answer

@John Arendsen has some good points. Tiny houses are definitely a niche and require a special buyer/renter. If you can successfully market to this niche and there's a demand for it in the area, it's a possibility.

Though hurricanes can be an issue especially along the coast. I knew an investor who lost his entire portfolio of mobile homes on land in Florida due to hurricanes. If you're going to do it, definitely put insurance on it. Though pricey, it'll help to minimize your risk.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

John Arendsen · Answer

Tread lightly on assuming the the legislative bodies, MH manufacturers, MH dealership networks, et.al. will sit around idly waiting for someone to come along and try to replace MH's in MHC's with anything other than MH's. Not that it wouldn't be a great idea.

No matter what you do to a MH be it HUD or MOD they still look like big rectangular WOBBLY BOXES at the end of the day. Having been in the FACTORY BUILD HOUSING INDUSTRY for 3 decades and having done just about everything that can possibly be done to them during that time as a general & manufactured home contractor, dealer, RE broker, developer, investor and property manager they still can't escape the stigma of being a TRAILER.

When the MH industry and its Nationwide network of GOOD OLE BOYS finally wake up to the new and modern world that's passing them by it may be too late for them but just in time for all the "TINY HOUSE" Milinneals and even some left over Baby Boomers and/or X Gens moving into the next phase of their lives who are unanimously looking for that new and modern look and States, Counties and Cities start vying for old worn out trailer parks being condemned and rezoned for higher and better use.

Just my 2 cents/sense worth. (adjusted for inflation).

Jason Kahle · Answer

@Natalie KolodijDifferent governing authorities will require different things.

It is unlikely that most Florida municipalities currently allow people to live in tiny homes (RV's), even on private property. The solution may be to find a modular builder that will accomodate "tiny"  200-800 sqft. Your house will be able to live up to codes and engineer can properly design tie-downs and shear plan to meet code. In Texas it is TDI (Texas Department of Insurance) AND city zoning AND deed restrictions that make it difficult for someone to live in a tiny house by the coast.

Miriam Seidel · Answer

One thing to consider, is where the MH/Cottage was built. I do know that many were built in the north, that used materials that when exposed to hot-humid FL summers, will emit noxious fumes. So be aware

David D Painter · Answer

This is a quite typical 1 bedroom Katrina cottage. It's currently for sale in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. It's 400 square feet and has been refurbished. It's in a subdivision that allows mobile homes. There are currently 4 others for sale in different sizes within  a 30 mile radius ranging from 39k to the asking price of 68k for this one all including land.

David D Painter · Answer

Katrina cottages are generally 400 to 900 plus square feet and are built to pretty stringent building codes. They were originally designed specifically for hurricane country. They are not rv's or FEMA trailers. They are basically well built long narrow homes much like our shotgun houses. Because of their shape, they can easily fit into exsisting m/h parks.

Matthew Paul · Answer

if you are talking about FEMA trailers , you would be better off buying new ones . The used ones I have seen are Junk . Not worth the time to repair .

Natalie Kolodij · Answer

@Jason Kahle

These would replace mobile homes in a mobile home park.

Katrina Cottages- Anyone have experience?

Most Popular Reply