Good Mobile Home Deal

[Greg Todrank]

I have found a great deal on a riverfront property that has an exceptional mobile home on the property. It is out of my comfort zone — I’ve never bought a house with wheels. But the property is just way too good, not to look into further.

What different questions, if any, should I be asking on mobile home vs house?

LTR vs STR questions? The numbers work well for LTR, so my assumptions for STR seem to be reasonable.

Worst-case, I’ll have a place with a great view to prop up my feet and drink a beer.

[James Hamling]

@Greg Todrank There is actually a fair amount of differences and particulars to pay attention to with trailers/manufactured housing vs conventional built. 

A first big one for me is the title items, for example in MN (only state I deal with trailers in) the trailer is titled through DMV unless someone did the work of getting it combined with property to become deeded as real estate (there is additional steps and conditions). I find it often that there is some issue with trailer title, I have even had banks miss the proper paperwork. 

Next is Structure items such as how the metal structure is, whats the site moisture conditions, is their tie-downs and what type are they, is it on grade, posts, free-standing, and especially roof coatings. For the most part similar to a conventionally built home but it's just knowing the systems and their quarks. 

Contact a local trailer park and ask who they use or refer for maintenance, should offer inspections for rather cheap, a lot cheaper than a standard home inspection, well worth the $.