PDA

View Full Version : Mini Homes-How to enter the market w/ a limited investment!! (Paging Corax)



Obi..
10-26-2008, 10:32 PM
Corax and I were talking about his motor home, the market, their move, and other things while out at the lake, and I figured if I was going to share this stuff, why not include a post for everyone. :D

Keep in mind I'm realizing most of us are stable enough to splurge money on our vehicles, but for younger members or folks looking at this type of thing, it's worth knowing about.

Why? Well, I admire the thinking they had in their housing solution, and having touched once or twice on the RV idea ourselves, figured it's worth another visit. (Keith..The links more of a read for you, *the surveying project stuff I mentioned, the rest is hopefully insightful and informative for everyone else, and oh yeah...sorry it took so long to find the link.)

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses.htm

and Julie's blog: http://tinyhouseblog.com/stick-built/martin-house-to-go/

*Some others to further the info. :)

http://greenlivingideas.com/small-space-living/case-studies-in-small-home-living.html

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/03/0314_microhomes/index_01.htm

Mini Homes, sometimes mobile (think 1 really small cottage on a flatbed) generally not as expensive as a motorhome, but worth a look for first time investors looking into a way to enter the property market during this time of housing and credit crisis.

Advantage is they're welcome at most places RV's are, low (think >$35k) to own, and generally take less than $75.00 a year in utilities.

Don't forget the land investments available also for people. Pick up an unimproved lot and just sit on it for a while and let the value grow.
Study the demographics of an area, ask around, find a relator who's well established (as in not affected by all this market nonsense) that can help you get your money stabilized.

Also always remember, with the exceptions of large purchases, pay cash whenever possible, but save wisely, so you've cash for a deposit, and credit for the rest. :clap: :thumbup:

It isn't the "Trailer Park" trash mindset that limits you, it's how you solve it. there's plenty of areas around the states where it works well, and there are places popping up everywhere where one can legitimately live not just in safety, but also raise a family these days.

Look at things this way, it's a step up, how far you want to climb the ladder is only limited by you!
*Mods-Move it to Green Forum?? This is off-topic, financial, and green related, i'll let you guys decide where to leave it.

corax
10-27-2008, 10:01 AM
I like this quote from one of the comments to your posted articles - "how much of the cathedral do I need to inhabit at once?"

I look at huge houses and cannot even begin to think what I would do with all that space (one room for each fetish? a weapons room. a safe room. a room just for the dog. etc.) It took a bit getting used to limited space, but after awhile it just seems normal not buying all the junk that won't get used but once a year. It's all about a need vs want viewpoint.

Our decision on the RV came from a desire to travel and then choose where we want to settle. Home is where you park it, so to speak. And once we decide geographically, we can buy our property and park the RV there to learn the traits of that particular plot of land. From that point there are different building designs that may be more favorable to a particular plot. I've never understood the typical house just squared off to the street in front of it instead of building and aligning the house so that it works with nature to keep you comfortable (you can utilized passive heating by the sun and reject heating by use of appropriately sized eaves in the summer when teh sun is higher in the sky).

paddlenbike
10-27-2008, 10:48 PM
If housing was anymore expensive, I would probably do it.

http://www.countrycoach.com/images/showroom/09/isp/exterior/large/1.jpg

You can get one heck of a *new* RV for $150k. That amount does not get you much house in California...

Scuba
10-28-2008, 09:28 AM
If housing was anymore expensive, I would probably do it.

http://www.countrycoach.com/images/showroom/09/isp/exterior/large/1.jpg

You can get one heck of a *new* RV for $150k. That amount does not get you much house in California...



Dude, you make a good point, but 150k would get you a nice sized average home in texass...
I would take here in california anyday.
But thats just some food for thought