Best way to go in Bay area/No Calif?

[andrea]

I have to agree with Kevin's lament about Calif being so overpriced, it's horrible. My rented townhouse in a gang neighborhood just jumped from $770 to $1150 (not rent controlled).

However, I have my heart set on relocating to Northern Calif (even worse prices!) & finding a used MH in Hayward, San Leandro or Novato (the outskirts of SF where MH's are allowed)...

I have a friend there scouting out the park locations but can't seem to find too many decent MHs for sale on websites for under $100,000. At this point don't even know what the park rents will be--even worse than Orange County/Southern Calif??

Has anyone ever lived there or is now living there? How about a reasonably priced park (not senior) that's nice??

I'm currently looking at Homeseekers, Prudential, Marin Independent, Yahoo Real Estate & SF Chronicle & Examiner but pickings are slim.

Thanks for any help from people who know about MHs & non-senior parks in that area.

[Art Rigsby]

I live in Hayward (stick built house) and have purchased a new MH that I am placing on my property in Lake county. However, I did visit a dealer in San Jose and it sounded like you could get into a new MH in a park for under $100,000.

I know of at least 3 parks in Hayward and I don't think they are senior only. Could be wrong on that as I didn't intend to move into a park anyway.

You are right on the pricing around here. Used MHs are very costly. I have a friend that lives in Oakley and he paid $75,000 for a used 1977 double wide Goldenwest.

Let me know if I can be of any assistance.


Art

[Art Rigsby]

Forgot one thing. There is a company in Hayward that deals in MHs and I think they also sell used.

Advantage Homes: 510-881-5955

[Art Rigsby]

Got another lead for you. Go to realtor.com and search for MHs in the areas you want to live. I found 33 listings for MHs in Hayward- San Leandro and 17 were under $100, 000 (not much under).

[andrea]

Thanks Art, for the realtor.com site, I hadn't come across that one, looks great & I'm looking thru the listings now.

I know there's lots of parks, but I'm concerned about the monthly lot rentals, they could be adding another $600 or so to the mortgage... So do you know anything about land & new MH packages? (If I can get new for that much, why buy used...)

Question: Did you buy your land first & then the MH? And in a ballpark figure, let's say I just wanted a small lot in No. Calif, what would be the price? And where do you find out which land for sale accepts MHs?

Thanks again!

[Art Rigsby]

Andrea,

Land in Northern California can cost an arm and leg depending on where you buy. My wife and I spent a over a month just looking for land for a MH. We wanted to stay close to the Bay Area and relatives and Lake County was the best we could do. Depending on where you are in Lake county, it is a 2-3 hour drive from the Bay Area.

The more desirable land areas are in to $50K plus range (most of those would require another $25K just to make them ready for a MH). Lake County has land from $4K up. We purchased a 1/4 acre lot for $8000 (level lot, few trees, no prep work required). The MH (Silvercrest W-69) cost $65000, septic cost $6500, permanent foundation $6800, two car garage $10,500, etc. etc.ran my total cost for home and land to $130,000.00. Depending on a number of factors (less expensive MH, normal septic system, carport instead of garage, etc.), I would guess you could do the whole package in Lake County for $100K.

We sort of purchased them together. As soon as we put a offer on the land we hustled over to the MH dealer and ordered the MH. I understand from other posts here you can get a better loan package when you do a land/MH combo. Ours was an all cash deal so financing was not part of the picture.

Most rural areas in California allow MH home on private property. We looked in the Sierra foothills and north of San Franciso and didn't find any places that didn't allow MHs.The seller of the land doesn't dictate what can be placed on the property, county/city rules handle that for the most part. In Lake County you can place a MH almost any place, including the Cities of Clearlake and Lakeport.

I shared you concern about monthly lot rentals. I am doing an early retirement and didn't want that over my head. I own it free and clear, it will appreciate in value and when I check out, I hope to leave it to my child.

If you want to stay in the Bay Area, you will have to accept the living in a park thing. I have never seen a MH on private property here (at least that I know of) and land prices are thru the roof IF you can find vacant land.

If I can be of any further assistance, please let me know. I have learned a lot about buying MH/land. BTW, the book by Randy Eaton is very useful. Saved me a few thousand $s in buying my MH.


Art