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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Need opinions and thoughts

17 replies

Uniformuniformuniform · 20/09/2019 09:21

So we will never ever be able to buy a standard home ever. Can't get enough deposit and we will never earn enough for a largeish mortgage. However I have seen the mobile homes at a fraction of a price and they are well decorated and not bad for space and a few in our area close to our school.

Does anyone here own/live in one?

If so can you let me know the pros and cons and is it worth it?

Thanks

OP posts:
HennyPennyHorror · 20/09/2019 09:30

I went to school with a boy who lived in one and he liked it. It was one of those on a very well kept park and I'll tell you something OP, I think they're the answer to a LOT of the housing problems the UK are having.

The USA has more space so they've always had mobile homes. But in the USA they do have a stigma "trailer park trash" and all that but not so in the UK

I think we're going to see a rise in them...people realising they want a secure home but can't buy a house.

Why not go to a few parks and look round?

redwoodmazza · 20/09/2019 09:30

I know 3 different families who live in these type homes and all love them. One thing to be aware of is that some sites are classed only as holiday lets - which mean you are unable to register with a doctor and may have to move out for several weeks a year to comply with their rules. I'm not sure if you are able to use it as a postal address, either.

Dizzywizz · 20/09/2019 09:35

Yes, I thought you couldn’t live in them all year round?

Stressedout10 · 20/09/2019 09:36

Also ground rent can increase ridiculously high practically over night and it will cost 1000s to move it to another site

bridgetreilly · 20/09/2019 09:47

Yes, I thought you couldn’t live in them all year round?

That's only the holiday ones, usually. Plenty of people live in sites where they are permanent homes all year round.

TomHagenMakesMyBosomTremble · 20/09/2019 09:56

Have a family member who downsized to one. She lives there the year round and loves it!

dollydaydream114 · 20/09/2019 10:10

My mum's previous next door neighbour moved into one when she split up with her husband and she really liked it. She was an older woman with no kids, so maybe had a different lifestyle to someone with a young family, but basically she said it was like having a little flat without having annoying people living above and below you, and with some nice green space around you too so it didn't feel cramped or claustrophobic.

The only thing she did say is that it was really hard to regulate temperature - ie it would get very hot in summer and was difficult and expensive to heat in winter, because the insulation isn't the same as a house. But possibly that was just her particular place? I don't know.

Original poster
Uniformuniformuniform · 20/09/2019 10:41

Thanks all. Ok something to consider then for a few years later.

OP posts:
FirstOfMyNameMotherOfCats · 20/09/2019 10:48

Be really careful, there are a lot of people have been screwed over in the US due to the parks being sold on as commodities then the new owners hike up the rent. There is no way out of it as the homes are expensive to move and the resale value is often pathetic (as well as there being rules about being tied to the park owner etc). I've not researched it much further but there was really interesting report on the John Oliver show in the US (was available in sky). I don't know if the issue is the same here, but it opened my eyes to another way that people with not much cash and needing a home are being exploited, and are very vulnerable. The US government has turned a blind eye to their plight, and could you really trust our government to protect people in a similar situation?

IAmALazyArse · 20/09/2019 10:49

I wouldn't think you can get a mortgage on this. How would you fund the purchase?

Original poster
Uniformuniformuniform · 20/09/2019 17:58

Sorry only just seen the new posts. That's something to think about.
I've read about specialist mortgage companies for this type of house.
It's just a thought for now. We are stuck renting and our landlord might sell next year so it would mean if we move and there's no school places at the new place, if we can't get a place in our area I could end up with kids in different schools and just want to avoid moving their school around if possible unless it was for a more stable home.

OP posts:
IAmALazyArse · 20/09/2019 18:30

I don't think that's a mortgage in any way. There are loans, yes, but different thing to mortgage.
Don't forget that it's losing value, not like house where chance of a loss of value is very small

IAmALazyArse · 20/09/2019 18:32

Are you sure you can't work the mortgage for normal house out? Lots of people don't realise how many options is there and with newspapers (and other people) talking about "no one can afford to buy" constantly it makes people quite resigned so they miss things or just think it's unaffordable.

lifecouldbeadream · 20/09/2019 19:03

OP, have you thought about shared ownership? If not, it might be worth a look.

ElizaDee · 20/09/2019 19:10

I looked at them when I was buying but you still have to pay ground rent, as well as buy your electric etc from the park so they set their own prices. If you are happy with that then they are a good option.

ElizaDee · 20/09/2019 19:12

Also the parks say they can only be so old, do you have to upgrade every so often and buying from the park is ridiculous, and they set conditions so you can't buy from anyone else, or if you can they won't let the delivery vans on the site etc

Original poster
Uniformuniformuniform · 21/09/2019 12:20

Thanks everyone ok. Yes maybe it's not a great idea. We have looked into shared ownership and it's a possibility. Thanks again

OP posts:
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