Are we CRAZY to consider a MOBILE/MANUFACTURED as a 2nd home near WDW

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Aloha Everyone!
Everyone here is always so helpful so I thought I'd ask...

We are considering a few Active Adult places near WDW...but friends up here in Jersey think we're NUTZ because of hurricane/tornado threats.
(Well...they think we're NUTZ to wanna be near WDW in general but that's another story )
Also, they think most folks in these communities are well above that 55+ age-group and as we are so young and hip (at 53/50) that we'll feel out of place.

ANYWAY... Anyone live near there (like Davenport area) with any good advice? Was there massive damage these past two years to these types of homes? ALL OPINIONS WELCOMED!

 

[olena]

Past hurricane damage isn't much of a predictor, IMO. As long as you're not near the coast, you won't have to worry about storm surge.

Also, housing codes have gotten pretty tough in FL in recent years. I don't know about manufactured homes though. The good thing about hurricanes is that they don't just drop out of nowhere like a tornado, so you'll have plenty of time to evacuate, if needs be.

Do your research and decide for yourself. AND owning land near WDW can be an excellent investment.

 

[Virgo10]

Not at all. As another poster pointed out, the newer manufactured homes have much tighter building codes.

We're actually thinking of doing the same thing. With the back problems I've got, I'm not thrilled about taking care of so much land and a house as big as the one we have now. Plus I'd like to be closer to WDW.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Thanks, Heather ...I keep telling my friends we are only 7 miles from the Atlantic coast here in NJ and WE could get hurricane damage as well!!

VIRGO10...Are you familiar with Windmill Village? Royal Palm? You seem pretty close to WDW now...is the commute awful?

thanks again,
~Rose~

 

[Micca]

Doesn't sound like such a bad idea to me. Worst case scenario: If your home is destroyed perhaps it doesn't represent such a large investment. Not that it wouldn't be significant, but compared to the prices of homes in that area, it wouldn't have the same financial impact.

 

[JayCT]

My aunt has lived in central FL in a moble home for 30 years and has not lost it to a storm yet. I should point out to you though they tend to be less durable than a regular home and my aunt is in the process of replacing hers. If she had a house I doubt she would have had to replace it. just make repairs which she had to do also. They definitely aren't for everyone (including me), but if budget is a concern and it is a second home, maybe it would be too bad. Good luck. Jay

 

[allicat]

no more NJ winters and cold temps. sounds good to me!

 

[edcrbnsoul]

The property will increase in value but the mobile home will lose value.

 

[mamacatnv]

My inlaws have their "Winter" home in Bradenton. They recently decided to give up their summer home in NH and become full time residents. Their manufactured home in FL is less than 10 yrs old. Their insurance company will no longer insure it. Just this month they bought a new permanent year round home and were able to sell their unit to someone who could afford to not insure it.

This was their experience in Bradenton, they have never had any hurricane damage and yet they could no longer get insurance.

 

[Virgo10]

Thanks, Heather ...I keep telling my friends we are only 7 miles from the Atlantic coast here in NJ and WE could get hurricane damage as well!!

VIRGO10...Are you familiar with Windmill Village? Royal Palm? You seem pretty close to WDW now...is the commute awful?

thanks again,
~Rose~

No, sorry, I'm not familiar with those areas. What we want is a home on our own land. I've seen a couple of the local parks get sold off to developers since I've been down here. So basically, the people living in them have their MH but no place to put it. Umm, no thanks!!

I love Auburndale but I really want to be closer to WDW. Because I hate I-4 and will only drive on it if it's an absolute necessity, my commute to WDW is about 50 minutes. That can be a very loooooong drive home after a day at the parks.

We really haven't done any investigating about this yet and are still mostly in the talking about it stage. But I feel the day is coming when it will be more than just talk.

 

[JCJRSmith]

My parents lived for years in a manufactured home in Plant City, about 45 minutes west of WDW. They moved there in '84. We finally moved mom out of there (dad died 14 years ago) in 2004 when she couldn't take care of herself anymore. They never had any storm damage, and it was a wonderful community