Many people think because they are cheaper per square foot than houses, they are affordable. I vehemently disagree! Especially as one ages! The walls are very thin and require a lot of extra work and creativity to install the basic equipment such as grab bars and hand rails for aging in place. The older ones, which people seem to think are a bargain are even worse! The floors are typically made of particle board that fall apart with the slightest plumbing issue. The single wides have hallways and doorways that are too narrow to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers and the walls and doorframes are so flimsy alterations are often not even feasible. They often have "luxury" items like garden tubs that are absolutely useless for anyone with even minor mobility issues and the showers are frequently accessed by tiny doors barely wide enough to allow a single small person access and completely impossible to use if the person requires the assistance of a caregiver. The materials used in them are cheap and falls apart easy--they don't age as well as the human body and they never appreciate in value. Outdoor ramps are almost always needed for access with mobility issues. What seems like a bargain now can cost you thousands more when you can least afford it. Furthermore, even finding someone to work on a mobile home to make repairs and adaptations may leave you without a functional home just when you most need it. And the trailer park business has become a racket preying on residents, putting them in financial dire straits that mirror similar threats in the housing markets.
I would NEVER advise buying a mobile home and I think they should be outlawed. They prey on the very populations that most need affordable housing!
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