Mobile Homes: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Mobile homes may seem like an affordable housing option, but large investment companies are making them less and less so.​

Great. Looks like the greedy wealthy few are doing to mobile homes what they've long done to regular homes, which is make them all unaffordable or less affordable to ordinary people so that they can make themselves and their investors that much wealthier, furthering the wealth divide in this screwed up country of ours. Joy!

The worse the situation gets with increasing costs of living, including rent and property prices, and stagnating wages and deteriorating work conditions (longer hours, less vacation, etc.) just to keep up, the more you're going to see a "radical left" type of reaction, people. It is only natural.

 

Really??? Speculation from a comedian is now news?

I would seriously doubt if Mobile/Manufactured homes are going to become less affordable in the near future. If anything, they will likely become more affordable in the future. I am seeing a lot of developers opt to go with manufactured homes in many new subdivisions in order to keep lot prices down. It is a trend that will likely last for awhile.

 

I work mainly in property law. I can report people still do mobile home transactions, one of my best clients runs a dealership ffs.

 

One reason mobile homes are becoming more expensive is because they are safer and much better built than they used to be, so that they won't be so dangerous in natural disasters, and they must conform to HUD codes. Mobile homes in Florida, for example, I believe now have to withstand 100 mph winds, and higher in south Florida.

Those older mobile homes were death traps in natural disasters, but they were cheaper.

Newer ones are safer, prettier, better quality, and......more expensive.

In some ways it is like a car. If you can't afford a new fancy safer one, buy an older "used" one (already on a lot, or at a dealership (yes, dealers sell "used" mobile homes.)) If you can't afford a mobile home, there are options for used campers, fifth wheels, etc.

 

It’s tough to get lending if the property has a mobile on it. If it was placed on the property brand new and isn’t very old it it isn’t a problem but if it has been moved forget it. VA will allow it if it’s been moved more than once. I’ve been in the market for 20-40 acres with a home, barn, and large shop. It costs two percentage points interest if there is a mobile there too.

 

You forgot ever increasing taxes. Gavin (he's a) Newsome has proposed a water tax. BTW Wages are up 3.4% from last year, but that trend won't continue with all the illegal immigrants flooding over the border. You're liable to see a California style tax revolt.

 

If wages are up over last year, it's a fluctuation and not an indication of a long-term trend.

Those poor asylum-seekers at the border aren't coming to live here illegally and steal jobs, so you can stow that nonsense and leave it off of my thread.

 

Clearly, mr Oliver has never heard of the concept of personal risk behavior. Yup, folks do stupid things. Making poor financial decisions isn't unique to these folks... just ask anyone who contributed to Spartucus' presidential campaign...

 

Did anyone watch th video?? The issue is primarily the rent for the space.

 

It isn't speculation. He cites the figures. And it isn't about the cost of the home itself (which, yes, probably will go down). It is about the rent being charged for lots because some investors realize they have all of the bargaining power because those living on the lots have little ability to move. Those are the investors he's talking about: people who buy the land that people are renting and jacking up the rent by 30+%.

Here's the tl;dr:

Buying a mobile home and putting it on land you own: decent idea, even though the home will go down in value over time, because at least you own the land, the land will go up in value, and you have predictable housing costs.

Buying a mobile home and putting it on land you rent: a money pit and a risky move thanks to some predatory practices.

There's nothing really controversial about this.

 

He isn't talking about the price of the homes themselves. He's talking about renting the land underneath them.

 

So you didn't actually watch the video.....

 

Watched it in the shower this morning, did I miss something?

 

the left gets it's political opinions from comedy Central and Bill Mahr.

 

So, making something less affordable to more people makes the rich richer? Wonder if Wal-Mart and ever fast food service industry has figured this out yet since their main profit comes from getting the absolute most people to buy the cheapest **** with getting the slimmest of margin off their product?

 

LOL... like all the more important parts of the discussion. But hey, you got one of em... be proud....

 

You might of missed some of those hard to reach areas.

 

Eh, no. I watched it too. The stuff about the rent and the investors who are abusing it was the biggest focus.

 

Which is funny because they are making fun of folks like Buffet who are....drum roll......democrats... and hedge fund managers who are.... drum roll..... democrats... And what is truly amusing is that they protest against the very methods used to manage the plantation they then support full throated and with gusto. So, when John Oliver makes fun of it, they get all worked up, like it wasn't part of the "plan" they were supporting... Laughable.

 

Hmm.. Ok, so you missed the buying the homes themselves is a bad financial decision, not buying the land is a bad financial decision, relying on others to host you is a bad financial decision... etc. Oh, and there is nothing mobile about the homes once you get the wheels off. I mean, there actually was a list.. but hey getting one counts for the participation awards... right?

 

Everyone complaining about the lot rentals: Raise your hand if you've ever actually been a landlord in any capacity. Keep it up if you've ever run a trailer park you own where you rent lots.
No hands huh? Shocking that all yall have an opinion when you don't have any idea about what it costs to run a park much less the amount of profit that makes it "worth it" to **** with and therefore offer to the market.

 

Nope. I mentioned earlier how they go down in value.

Pssst, what do you do when you don't buy the land? Hint: it is a four letter word that starts with an "r" and it is covered in the post you just responded to.

And it is almost like there is a word for that. Rhymes with mint. It is on the tip of my tongue.

Which is what makes you suseptible to predatory practices when you . . . oh man, it is that four letter word that starts with an "r" rhymes with mint again. Why can't I think of it!

Dude, only the first part of one of your sentences wasn't about renting. *Gasp* that's the word!

 

So you didn't watch the video. Cool. The predatory practices they are talking about have nothing to do with marginal increases in prices to cover rising costs on the part of the land owner. And yes, I've worked in property management.

 

If anyone wants to know what's wrong with America today....look at this thread.....many libs are getting their "news" from HBO Comedy shows.

 

It's tragic what big Dem donors like Warren Buffet, and David Rubenstein are doing to this poor people.