If we sold our house and got a trailer ##OFFICIAL##

[SagaLore]

We've had our house for about 2 years, it's actually a pretty good deal for a house. But we are fed up with our neighbors and all the kids on the block stold all of the fruit off our trees and walnuts/chestnuts. My wife is about to go psychotic because she can't stand it anymore here.

Although we have quite a bit of money rolling in, and a good cash flow, we're trying to pay off credit cards, car loans, school loans, etc. and we estimate about 2 years if we restrict our cash flow and pay off as much as possible (not counting the school loans). So when all the debt is gone, we'll have a huge surplus in cash flow, but then we still would have to wait awhile saving up for our next house. But I would like to build our next house which is going to be uber-expensive.

So I was thinking, since the interest rates are so low right now, we could put our house up for sale and even sell for more than we bought (because we've made quite a lot inexpensive aesthetic improvements). We then could buy a 2 bed room trailer and stay in that for a year or two and have everything paid of very fast with a huge savings.

There a few trailers I have found, one is 8500 with a lot rent of 250 including water/sewer/garbage and another one for 10500 with a lot rent of 210 including water/sewer. Both trailer parks have to have park owner approval of residents so the type of people that live there is somewhat moderated.

What do you think... am I crazy? Is this a good idea?

edit: We're going for it!

We looked out how much money we'd be saving per month on just mortgage/escrow alone, plus all the time we'd be saving on having to maintain the trailer versus our house and property. We talked to a real estate agent and after looking through the pros and cons, she thought it was a good idea.

1. Low interest rates means house will sell faster
2. Improvements we've made to the house so far will help sell it for more than we bought it
3. The trailer park we looked at is quiet, well kept
4. The money we save will help us pay off all of our debt one year sooner - in only 2 years, and that includes EVERYTHING
5. The trailer is actually closer to my wife's work which will cut on gas expense a little
6. The trailer comes with all appliances and furniture time for a yard sale...
7. We won't have to bother with our rude neighbors anymore...

We're getting our house assessed this Friday. The trailer has been on the market for awhile so we figure we'll wait as long as possible before making an offer on it.

 

[zCypher]

LMAO.. but that's not a bad idea financially.

 

[Kilgor]

Just watch out for tornados and people with Banjos and big ears.

 

[her209]

get a dog

 

[oniq]

Yep, you're crazy. Your neighbors are going to be worse and you're going to regret it..

 

[kami]

Well, you'd pay off your debts in no time...that is for sure. If the trailer park screens the people coming in, it can't be that bad. If your dream is to build your own house then I'd say go for it. Especially if its only for a year or two, it's better than throwing money away into an apartment.

 

[JimRaynor]

Instead use the money to buy a big, mean dog, and tie him to your fruit trees.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Some trailer parks are really trashy, others are not. If it looks like a good area then go for it. One warning though, when you are ready to move out ...trailors are hard to sell, and usually you wind up taking a loss with it, otherwise sounds like a good idea.

 

[morkinva]

After you purchase a trailer home you are required to make an appearance on the jerry springer show.

 

[flot]

Well, how much is your current mortgage? It sounds like the trailer would effectively cost you "lot rent" of $250 a month plus 24 months / $10,000 = $400 so that's basically $650 a month you're paying there. (assuming zero residual value of the trailer when you go to sell it, which admittedly is unlikely, it'd prob be worth at least $5000 or so)

Interest rates are low now, have you considered just refinancing your current home? Or do you hate it that much? How much is it worth? Can you rent it out for more than your mortgage payment? Houses do tend to appreciate, you know... ?

 

[amdskip]

Where are you going to build a house at? If it's on your own land not like in town you could go land shopping and just buy a trailer and park it where you are gonna build your house.

 

[vi edit]

FYI - trailers depreciate, not appreciate. At least in MOST situations. And they often times will sit for MONTHS before being sold.

 

[Spencer278]

if possible you should buy the land you want to build your house on and put the trailer there that way you don't waste the rent payment.

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: her209
get a dog

awesome, awesome, awesome response... make sure it's an akita...

 

[Ryan]

Just don't become TPT - trailer park trash

 

[shimsham]

then you will offically be a redneck


i agree with spencer up there. once you build, you can sell the "mobile home".

 

[SHoddyCOmp]

dont get a trailer.. lol

 

[Linux23]

Originally posted by: Spencer278
if possible you should buy the land you want to build your house on and put the trailer there that way you don't waste the rent payment.

best advice ever.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Spencer278
if possible you should buy the land you want to build your house on and put the trailer there that way you don't waste the rent payment.

Damm beat me 2 it. BUT a lot of places will NOT zone for a trailer. So check and be careful.

But my parents are doing what you are thinking about. Bought the land they will build their house on and rent out other house, while they stay in tailer until the decide what house they want.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: oniq
Yep, you're crazy. Your neighbors are going to be worse and you're going to regret it..

i bought a used trailor, repo actually, fixed it up, bought 5 acres of land (most of its shitty...but eh, i planted the thing in the middle of the one acre that was worth a damn) and were happy with it. wouldnt have stayed in a trailer park though, the neighbors WILL be worse there. this thing was in a park while i was fixing it up, and people broke the windows before i had the inside of the place primed...assholes, bah.

anyway,i say its worth it to get out of debt and save some cash, youll be happy you did if things work out and you get to build your own place one day

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: amdskip
Where are you going to build a house at? If it's on your own land not like in town you could go land shopping and just buy a trailer and park it where you are gonna build your house.

That's definitely worth considering. An acre is going for about $15,000 around here. I would like to have a few acres. Can you mortgage undeveloped land?

Anybody here know how much it costs to setup a trailer? You have to pour the foundation and setup water, sewer, and electric...

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: oniq
Yep, you're crazy. Your neighbors are going to be worse and you're going to regret it..

Our current neighbors are literally THE WORST people in my town. They would be living in a trailer if it weren't for the fact the mother was given the house by her parents. Their wood siding is so broken down they have birds living in it. Earlier this year the kids stold a propane tank and were igniting glass jars of it, and managed to catch a 3 year old's pants on fire and their basement. They use blankets to cover their windows, and if you've ever seen through the windows you would know it needs condemnded. The mother doesn't work and uses nothing but obscenity when forming sentences. The kids got a few old riding lawnmowers last winter, and were riding them all over the place, and fell into our new wire fence. The kids jump on their pogostick on the front sidewalk at 11pm at night. etc. etc. etc.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
FYI - trailers depreciate, not appreciate. At least in MOST situations. And they often times will sit for MONTHS before being sold.

I know, but, $8500? If 70% of my check ends up in savings I think that is an expensive I am willing to forget about.

Also remember this cut down my other utility expenses considerably. But regardless I could still be crazy.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: oniq
Yep, you're crazy. Your neighbors are going to be worse and you're going to regret it..

Our current neighbors are literally THE WORST people in my town. They would be living in a trailer if it weren't for the fact the mother was given the house by her parents. Their wood siding is so broken down they have birds living in it. Earlier this year the kids stold a propane tank and were igniting glass jars of it, and managed to catch a 3 year old's pants on fire and their basement. They use blankets to cover their windows, and if you've ever seen through the windows you would know it needs condemnded. The mother doesn't work and uses nothing but obscenity when forming sentences. The kids got a few old riding lawnmowers last winter, and were riding them all over the place, and fell into our new wire fence. The kids jump on their pogostick on the front sidewalk at 11pm at night. etc. etc. etc.

Call th city and report them. If they don't bring it up to code, wither the city will and send them a bill or they will close it.

And call the cops on the kids, period.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: SagaLore

Originally posted by: oniq
Yep, you're crazy. Your neighbors are going to be worse and you're going to regret it..

Our current neighbors are literally THE WORST people in my town. They would be living in a trailer if it weren't for the fact the mother was given the house by her parents. Their wood siding is so broken down they have birds living in it. Earlier this year the kids stold a propane tank and were igniting glass jars of it, and managed to catch a 3 year old's pants on fire and their basement. They use blankets to cover their windows, and if you've ever seen through the windows you would know it needs condemnded. The mother doesn't work and uses nothing but obscenity when forming sentences. The kids got a few old riding lawnmowers last winter, and were riding them all over the place, and fell into our new wire fence. The kids jump on their pogostick on the front sidewalk at 11pm at night. etc. etc. etc.

Call th city and report them. If they don't bring it up to code, wither the city will and send them a bill or they will close it.

And call the cops on the kids, period.

In every scenario where cops or firefigheters needed to be involved, they were. It's all the in between irritations that is adding up - you can't have your house taken away for being rude.