Anyone know anything about mobile homes?
 

Im seriously considering a move to Silicon Valley/San Francisco to grow my career (living in So Florida has not helped my career at all) and my biggest concern living in Northern California is price; rents are insane. I looked at a few apartments and $1,500/month will barely get you a p.o.s apartment. The same as living in NYC. I have a lot of anxiety over the high cost of living and it's hard for me to do this.

So for laughs I was looking at real estate prices in Sunnyvale, CA (the area I want to live in) and to my surprise there's a mobile home park
http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...e-70000-150000

I think this is really nice to live in http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...9_M22238-51221
A 3 bedroom for $130k? in Silicon Valley?

I dont understand why they're so cheap? I would be living in Silicon Valley and paying like $300-400 a month for a mortgage. Something doesn't sound right here. That's like living in a 3 bedroom in NYC for $400/month.

Why are they so cheap? Do they not come with water, or were they built over a cemetery or something?
I never looked at mobile homes before so I know nothing about them.

With mobile homes you typically pay "lot rent" in addition to your mortgage and insurance. Meaning you have to rent the lot your mobile home sits on, so in Silicon Valley, this might be high. Check it. Since the park also has amenities, like pool, etc., there may also be fees for that, similar to condo fees. There are also California taxes:

http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/tax/mobpam.htm

but you'd be paying taxes on a house in California regardless of what you buy.

Remember in California you pay 13.3% of your income as income tax and 1% for SDI (State Disability Insurance). If you're moving from Florida, you're immediately giving up 14.3% of your income.

Also, mobile homes can drop in value precipitously, they're considered "vehicles" not real homes.

All that aside, if it's a better place for your career, and you don't mind the taxes and additional expenses and the whole "living in a trailer park" lifestyle...

wow, thats a big deal for me
thanks so much

been living in one for years...
its not bad when the tide is in...
http://weenus.com/house.jpg