Buying a Pre-owned vs. New Mobile Home

A former vice president of sales at Sierra Corporate Management, Drita Bronkey serves as a consultant with Zemer Property Management Consultants, a company that specializes in the administration of mobile home parks and provides full-service management that creates and maintains long-term value. In this capacity, Drita Bronkey is responsible for assisting with the day-to-day operations of mobile home park communities.

Sometimes called static caravans, mobile homes are appealing options for people who intend to get a home moved from one site to another. Determining if this is an ideal option is how much the prospective buyer can afford to pay for such homes. One thing about mobile homes is that they can be purchased when new or after being used by a former owner. While many second-hand mobile homes may look cheaper than new ones, there are some downsides.

A previous owner has used a second-hand mobile home, which means there are chances of damages. However, most mobile homeowners dedicate significant time and money to ensuring that their property is in good condition. Regardless, the prospective buyer cannot be guaranteed that the caravan was in the exact condition when it was bought new.

Another critical area is the parking space where the static caravan is located. Caravan owners pay for these parking sites for a specific period (typically 15 years but may be shorter). If a static caravan is pre-owned, their previous owner would have spent some months or years in the place, subtracting from the agreement's length with the site/lot owner. A new buyer will have to repurchase the lot or relocate the caravan once they have exceeded the predetermined date in the agreement.

While the length of time spent in the lot by a previous owner is often deducted from the price they will sell the property, some buyers don’t welcome the idea of reduced term duration. One of the reasons for this could be the stress involved in transporting the caravan to a new location. These represent some crucial factors to consider when determining whether to buy a new or pre-owned home.