Need a house on a tiny budget. Go with a barn builder??

[LBrown59]

We bought a New fully furnished 10 X 47 mobile home in 1965 when we got married. Paid $3000 for it. We lived in it 7 years and when we bought the first farm, we sold it for $2500. Ken Sweet

We got married 12/26/ 1964.
and bought a used 1960 mobile home .

 

[sweettractors]

We got married 12/26/ 1964.
and bought a used 1960 mobile home .

We saved up the 25 % down payment while we were dating for 2 years. Kept it in the glove box of my car until we had enough to buy. Those were hard times back then. I made $35.22 per week doing construction work and house painting. Even though times were tough, we still had plenty of fun. Ken Sweet

 

[two_bit_score]

thanks for all the replies. im in florida. its looking more and more like theres no way around a mobile home.

Don't cave in to THAT!

 

[two_bit_score]

Hi,

I need a home on a rediculously small budget (~25-40k), trying to avoid getting a mobile. Will be happy with just a "shell", and work on interior over time. Local barn builder tells me "a 24'x40' building with concrete floor, double bubble reflective insulated roof and walls, 8 windows, 2 doors and 24" overhangs and soffits would run $29,000. installed". And that it is engineered to 140MPH windloads. Should I look into this further? Any other conceivable options? Thanks.

OK, finally slugged thru all 4 pages so far. You ask if you should look into it further and I would say YES.

You will have much more flexability with a metal shop building with 'living quarters' than with a mobile home.

Consider what the poster said about the Morton building. They can be pretty nice and you don't have to go so big and with so many comforts. If you are looking for the basics then that can be done.

Used to be that housing was pretty much either a site built 'house' or a mobile home. Now there are choices.

Hope you let us know how ths works out for you.

 

[scgargoyle]

People are still confusing modular homes with mobile homes. They're are nothing alike, other than they traveled over the road. A modular is a stick-built home built in a factory. They are indistinguishable from a site-built home unless you look in the attic. They have to meet current codes, and are built on a permanent foundation. In some areas, they may not hold their value, since people persist in believing that they are mobile homes. A mobile home, or manufactured home, is what we used to call a trailer. They have a steel frame underneath, and may or may not be on a permanent foundation underneath, In many areas, they may not have to meet current code, and their re-sale value is dismal.

In many parts of the country, a dwelling has to meet code, which is getting more and more stringent. As of January, 2011, many areas will require residential fire sprinklers in new construction! And yes, they can stop you from living on your own land if you do not have a CO. In many parts of the country, you are no longer free to do any number of things on your own property. Sadly, we are no longer a free country. And if you think you own your property, try not paying your taxes and see what happens. Sorry to be a downer, but you better first check to see what is legal on your property, and I recommend you go by the book.

(Gee, I'm cranky tonight!)

 

[Redgoatea]

People are still confusing modular homes with mobile homes. They're are nothing alike, other than they traveled over the road. A modular is a stick-built home built in a factory. They are indistinguishable from a site-built home unless you look in the attic.

I have to disagree with that statement on an epic scale. There is a massive difference in the materials used for a stick built home and a modular/manufactured. The frame to start with on a manufactured is made of 2X3 boards or smaller depending on the maker. The insulation is much thinner and they typically use 1/4 Sheetrock. Overall they are made up of much lighter and thinner materials that a normal house. One that makes them easier to transport and two it reduces the cost which is why your build cost is so much less per s/f than SB. They also lack a true foundation and can be removed much easier than SB. That being said about 50% of the houses around here are manufactured and some of them are very nice. But they do lose value fast and banks are much less likely to finance them beyond original purchase. I know I've tried.

 

[Stringer]

They are indistinguishable from a site-built home unless you look in the attic.

have to disagree with you there. Maybe not everyone can tell from the curb, but I can.

And if you think you own your property, try not paying your taxes and see what happens.

Get a land patent.

 

[dcyrilc]

have to disagree with you there. Maybe not everyone can tell from the curb, but I can.



Get a land patent.

What's a land patent?

 

[Stringer]

What's a land patent?

LMGTFY

 

[zmoz]

I have to disagree with that statement on an epic scale. There is a massive difference in the materials used for a stick built home and a modular/manufactured. The frame to start with on a manufactured is made of 2X3 boards or smaller depending on the maker. The insulation is much thinner and they typically use 1/4 Sheetrock. Overall they are made up of much lighter and thinner materials that a normal house. One that makes them easier to transport and two it reduces the cost which is why your build cost is so much less per s/f than SB.

I was going to say the same. A "modular" home may look a little different from a "trailer home", but it's constructed with the same low quality, light weight materials. You would never choose the materials they use to build your own house on site, no matter what your budget is.

And no, you're never going to trick me into thinking your "modular" home was stick built on site...