24/7 Chat About Anything

[VanFan]

Not sure I could be considered "regular" in any respect, but I have been lurking and thinking of each of you in a warm, positive way.  Looking forward to seeing 2020 in the rear view mirror, and wishing everyone the best for a happy new year!

 

[maki2]

As I recall from looking at the national residential building codes a few years ago the minimum square footage for a residence was 350 square feet. Not every state, county and town has adopted that code but a great many have used it as their minimum standard size so it would not be surprising to see that particular number.  Codes can  change but it should be current as to numerical value on the website for the local permitting agency.

I myself like the layouts on the Park Model RVs but I dont know if they are acceptable as homes on private property as they are often smaller in size having a small bedroom with a shorter heigth loft space over the rear areas. Tall enough to sit in bed or in a low recliner but not standing height head space for qualifying as square footage.

 

[maki2]

A buyer came along for the last of the big birdhouses I had made some years back. I had used them in my own garden for a number of yea rs but they still had a good sales price value. It was good to get that done as it means less items to deal with for the last of the downdizing sales. Small stuff is much easier to handle in online sales.

Overall it has been a very pleasant and calm last week of the year. Just enjoying a slow and easy pace. Sometime next week I will pick up my tools and start making  small piles of sawdust. That work is always fun, rewarding, frustrating and painful for my joints. Used to be mostly fun years ago, wishing that was still the case. But at leadt allmost all the rewards are still there which is what I have to remind myself of when the frustration of pain comes around.

 

[travelaround]

I don't want a loft... I'm getting too old to crawl around in the loft spaces and won't want to climb the narrow staircases. Here's the one I like most but I think it might cost too much. I'm trying to get a quote but so far.. not getting the response I needed.

I've done some research on codes. Building codes are set by California but manufactured housing codes are federal... so I could buy this in Oregon and it would work for me in California as well.

[video=youtube]

 

[crofter]

I liked the picture over the bed, but not the rest of it. Wow you get 2 space heaters instead of central ducted HVAC.  My reccomend is to keep shopping.

 I bought my used park model for 17K included 40 feet of covered deck and 40 feet of covered carport, already parked and skirted. Plus 6 months free rent in an all amenities park. I spent about 3K on repairs and paint all DIY, with the main expense in resurfacing the deck with a high end finish.

Yes whatever they are asking for the new one is too much money.  My 2 cents.
-crofter

 

[crofter]

...A view from the front seat of an Amish buggy with the horses tail up...

A pic of my X. Wow.  -crofter

 

[travelaround]

I bought my used park model for 17K ...

You definitely got a great deal though you don't say what year the mobile home is, etc. but I think my situation is different as I have my own land and have to spend the money that FEMA gave me on putting a new dwelling there. Plus I confess I'm slightly OCD and find it very nerve-wracking to deal with used housing. I tried with the other mobile home but was never happy there and remodeling was going to be continuous and I wasn't really feeling up to it, especially for the rest of my life. I'm very hesitant about getting another used mobile home to move onto my property, which is why I'm looking for something new... though true, the price is too high, whatever it is.

 

[crofter]

...and find it very nerve-wracking to deal with used housing....

I have never lived in new housing. The best way to remove dirt from used housing is to paint everything. By the time you are done you may be okay with used due to new coat of paint on everything. 

There are many park model length trailers for sale in southern AZ with covered decks and covered parking for less than $20k, all set up and ready to move in. Here they leave everything in the house so you can just move in. Right now is the pandemic sale because nobody is working. There is also a discount on palm trees if you want one of those. I am tempted to buy another trailer and some palm trees.
-crofter

 

[maki2]

In travelaround situation there will be the cost of transporting a mobile home to the site. Of course that cost is a per mile fee. Part of the shopping process will be looking for something that is suitable and manufactured in a reasonably close location. That likely means asomewhere long the I-5 corridor in Oregon or Northern California.   if it was me doing the shopping I would focus in that area for cost savings but unfortunately inventory might not be much unless they bring them in from long distances. But I dont know anything about the ttypical cost or the makers or even the floor plans. When there is high demand such as in this fire situation there are unlikely to be any greast bargain prices since there might even be waiting list for the units.

A horrific situation for all who have lost their homes and the stress is not going to be over al that quickly.

 

[bullfrog]

You might want to check with others that own palm trees I understand taking care of them can be a lot of work and expensive.

 

[crofter]

I checked my bank balance first, saying no to palm trees.
Altho I coild still get the plastic flamingo.
-crofter

 

[crofter]

@TA
You could rethink your seasons, and redo your Happy Camp place for seasonal van camping, and go someplace warm for the winter. Just a thought.

I think if you can afford the new park model to replace your home, and you want one, you should get it. I looked into that last year, and liked the ones with a lot of deck. Then I found the cheap place with the big deck already built. So that's what I did.
-crofter

 

[travelaround]

I still have plenty of time to think about it. At least, as I look at places I learn more about what I'd like to have on the property. Yes, transporting a mobile home to this remote location is likely to be expensive and that has to be figured into the cost. I will have to spend a lot of time looking around at what's available.

I'm talking to a lot of people here who have no plans to rebuild on their properties. I want to because I've never owned real estate before and wanted to have a home there for seasonal use at least, and later, for full-time use. I figure if I don't spend the money on that now it might not be there later, and with inflation, would I ever get anything?

 

[bullfrog]

The bigger question we are facing is do you ever need to have a permanent home? Maybe you would be better off helping your kids and just visiting? Maybe a corner of the property could be yours? Maybe you will need to be in walking distance to hospitals and stores if as you age if mobility becomes a problem? Maybe if there are places you need to see you will need to get on the road sooner? Life sure doesn’t always get easier for a nomad!

 

[Cammalu]

What will the home insurance costs be with CA burning so badly every year?

 

[travelaround]

What will the home insurance costs be with CA burning so badly every year?

Fire insurance here is expensive - and that's if they will even agree to insure a place. It would cost more than I could afford every month, that is certain. My property, however, is one they might agree to insure as all the trees are gone now (burned) except the two at the front that are only half burned. That means my home will have the required 30' of treeless space all around it.

 

[maki2]

Travelaround a liveable place to put on your land is very likely to show up with some searching and reaching out. You are not eithout resources even though there are limits to those resources.

 

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Travelaround, make sure that whatever you look at or spec out is set up to be handicap accessible. When we bought our modular home 16 years ago we thought to have a front bath and bedroom ada accessible for my wife's mother who we thought might have to live with us, but she passed from cancer first. Now we are both over 70 and kicking ourselves for not having the whole house ada. Just a thought. Happy New Year to all. Jeff

 

[travelaround]

Good considerations. My friend's son just had to add a wheelchair ramp to the front of her house for her husband. I'm not that much younger than them! I'm going to quit looking for a home right now. The land isn't even cleared off yet. When the time is right I'll have to go look in person - probably in Medford and Redding. Until then, I'll probably never get answers or help from these mobile home dealers as I've left a few inquiries and so far had only one reply.

Happy New Year, Everyone! I hope this is the start of something new and wonderful for each of you.

 

[HungryCoyote]

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