The economics of mobile homes
…the problem is almost wholly that land is too expensive. Reduce the size of a new, modern house by 50%, Rybczynski notes, and houses in metropolitan areas will still cost over $200,000.
That’s the secret to the extreme affordability of a mobile home—take land out of the equation.
…“a mobile home park is by definition a parking lot. Legally, our parks are no different from a parking lot by an airport.”
This is why used mobile homes only cost $10,000-$20,000. They make it possible for someone to buy a home but not the earth it’s parked on. As a Times profile of Rolfe reported, his average tenant pays $250 to $300 in monthly rent. If the tenant doesn’t own her home, she might pay another $200 or $300, with the option to apply half of that toward purchasing a mobile home.
“We’re the cheapest form of detached housing there is,” says Rolfe. “You can’t do cheaper.”
In fact it’s an entirely acceptable way to live.
For the pointer I thank the estimable Chug.