Is it difficult to sell a Mobile Home?

[Christine]

I'm considering purchasing a mobile home here in the Bay Area and there are many nice mobile home parks with homes available. However, I'm hearing that it will be very hard to sell in the future and I won't make any money or break even when I sell it? What are your opinions on this, since you have experience already. I certainly can't afford a regular home/condo/townhome in this area and am not able to retire or relocate for at least 7 years.

thanks everyone!

christine

[Mac]

I think the Bay Area may be an exception, but you'll want to check around. You won't get as big an appreciation gain as a site-built home, since the value is in the land, not the house, per se. See how long homes sit on the market; that will help answer your question.
My take on the Bay Area market, having lived there from 1962-1994, is that it goes up, then flattens, but never goes down. Manufactured homes IN PARKS, where you don't own the land, appreciate, but not as fast as condos, which lag homes. So - you will likely gain something.

One thing to think about in that market is that you can rent a place for far less than you can buy it. If you're disciplined, you may make more money investing that difference in something else (a stock index fund, for example). Frankly, with a wife, son, and one income, I pulled the plug in 1994 and moved to Portland.
Good luck! Mac