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Pondering Wandering (full timing)

MountainInMyMir
Explorer
Explorer
Hello all,

I'm trying to decide how I want to live...
On the one hand I've been considering buying a stick home ($200k-$240k range, designed to keep at least half of my take home free), but I'm having trouble finding ones that appeal to me... (And of the few that did... I've already lost a few $k to contracts that failed because the seller wouldn't come down to the appraisal price or similar)
Renting's not a very attractive option where I live because it's substantially more expensive than a mortgage payment.

And the third option... is full timing. This has a kind of appeal to me - the ability to be mobile and go where I will. (Though the dayjob will kind of limit that.) MHs in particular seem attractive for being so self contained (But if I can't drive it that much... maybe another type is better?). And even large used ones can be had for substantially less than that house purchase price.
The comparative lack of space wouldn't really be a problem for me -- currently I own zero furnishings currently and pretty much all of what I own in a small collection of boxes.

What I'm looking for here, then... If you were in my position, how would you decide? And, what sort of TCO would I be looking at (for, say, a good year vs a bad one)?

I am kind of worried about the potential for noise issues if I stay in a park (I really like peace and quiet). And, while many winter days here can reach ~40F, the nights can get very very cold.

Any thoughts? Experiences? Helpful tips? All responses are welcome^^
15 REPLIES 15

lizbard
Explorer
Explorer
Just read one of my newsletters/blogs. Go to www.rvlifestyleexperts.com. There was a story about a gentlemen who has to travel to survey property. He has a truck camper and pickup. His wife traveled to be his "assistant" and while they traveled they were able to stop and do a little sightseeing. After all, no matter what you drive, you need to take a break.

The idea of buying land and putting in the water, sewer, electric to park a 5th wheel with covers on the bottom or backed into a large building to protect truck and trailer to live makes sense. My sister did that once for her son for a couple of years in Texas. It wasn't an open field, 1 acre site, but in a RV camp with permanent sites of about 1/4 to 1/2 acre on a lake. Because she "improved it" with the utilities, when she sold it several years later, she made a profit.

If you did this while you live in Flagstaff, then investigate work kamping (which is also listed in the RV Lifestyle Experts blog - it will show RV there yet), then you are taking care of now and planning for the future. It will also give you a chance to see if your skills can be utilized work kamping.

Good luck. No question is a dumb question. You are just gathering information to make a better decision.



The info and pictures are on this forum - West Texas and the writer is Saltydog. Look it up and see what you think.

AB_Spotman
Explorer
Explorer
Not a useless thread. I am sure everyone has that thought from time to time...

One option I have seen is people at purchasing a small piece of property close to town..ideally a small lot or acreage. I have been through Flagstaff a few times but not familiar with land prices or availability. Pay the money to service the lot - power, sewer, water, ph(or wireless). Unless another financial meltdown you will at least have a piece of "dirt" that is hopefully appreciating or at the very least staying current. Find your self a nice 5th wheel, skirt and insulate around the bottom and you should be able to get through the winter months. I have seen a few people in Montana that have built a tall shed that they back right under with their trailer to help shed the snow and elements. If they can survive in Montana winter, I think Flagstaff would be possible.

When the moment strikes, you can put away the skirting, unhook your utilities and drive into the sunset...

Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Explorer
Oh there is that. There have been some long discussion about living in an RV in the winter. Here in Washington its not an issue as our winters rarely get below 50 but when your looking at 3 months of below 20 it is an issue.

MountainInMyMir
Explorer
Explorer
rfryer wrote:
Itโ€™s not a useless thread; itโ€™s just that what youโ€™d like to do wonโ€™t work in real life. No RV is built for severe temperatures; they work best if you can move with the weather. If youโ€™re tied down to one spot a house, even a small one, is by far the best bet. Then you can get an RV for traveling and camping. Also, you need serious money to buy and operate a Class A. And Jayco-noslide makes an excellent point from a financial standpoint.

I understand your frustration trying to buy a house. My youngest son just went through the same exercise. He bid on a few different houses and lost them to speculators/investors buying with cash for rentals. And they drove prices up so the sellers were resistant to coming down to what the house was really worth. I wonโ€™t get into a rant, but to say Iโ€™m hostile to those people would be the understatement of the year. Some solace, prices are now so high that they are starting to drop out of the market.

As far as noise goes, the more people the more noise. But you live in an area surrounded by national forest and you can easily get away from them. Granted, you wouldnโ€™t be allowed to โ€œliveโ€ there, though.


Even noncommercial clients are kind of in a buying frenzy since rates are so low. I've lost count of how many get bought in between the time I request a viewing and the few days running up to the appointment... And part of the reluctance of sellers to come down to appraisal price is, I think, that a lot of them turn out to be underwater on their mortgages (disclosure docs show they owe more than it's worth anyway).

Wouldn't necessarily need to be class A... Seems like a 4-5 year old class C could really be a bargain and with ~half or more put down... (or in some cases, maybe 6-7 years old buying outright) depreciation/payments wouldn't hurt to much. 5th wheel + truck or similar would be pricier but seems like it could be within reach, but it's not really the financial side that's the obstacle...

But the other points still stand. (And yes, exploring all that backcountry here on the weekends would be nice... though maybe just a 4x4 and tent or something...)

Roy&Lynne wrote:
I wish I had your troubles LOL
Actually if you google it, renting is cheaper in the long run, you don't have to fix the roof when it leaks and the water heater when it blows.
Also stick homes come with lawns to mow and leaves to rake, lawns to reseed and snow to shovel
If I were you and had that option. I would get an RV, either a motorhome or 5th Wheel and try mobile living. I know the price of homes are going up again and I know interest rates are also rising BUT I'm hearing about another housing bubble and you don't want to get stuck with more house than its worth.
And you still will always have the option of buying a house.

Good luck
Edit I didn't read the part where you were in Flagstaff, can you move a bit south for winters


That's not true here, rent is inflated because of grand canyon proximity, increasing student populations, being a popular spot to come to in the summer (and so plenty of commercial buyers), and so on. I mean there are probably exceptions here and there if you look every day for deals, but overall renting's not the better deal in the long run even factoring in replacing major appliances and other non-minor work now and then. Unless you're monumentally unlucky but... hopefully that's where insurance comes into play.
(And all my previous landlords tried to pin things like the 1980s furnace going out or old pipes under the floor bursting on us tenants anyways)

But well, there are some pretty attractive parts of RVing. Or that seem so anyway...
I couldn't really move south for the whole winter though... It's frequent enough to get long weekends but in the end I have to be in flagstaff regularly. I'm less worried about the snowfall, which tends to melt, but the lows....Seems like those are the real killers.

Well... maybe someday

Roy_Lynne
Explorer
Explorer
I wish I had your troubles LOL
Actually if you google it, renting is cheaper in the long run, you don't have to fix the roof when it leaks and the water heater when it blows.
Also stick homes come with lawns to mow and leaves to rake, lawns to reseed and snow to shovel
If I were you and had that option. I would get an RV, either a motorhome or 5th Wheel and try mobile living. I know the price of homes are going up again and I know interest rates are also rising BUT I'm hearing about another housing bubble and you don't want to get stuck with more house than its worth.
And you still will always have the option of buying a house.

Good luck
Edit I didn't read the part where you were in Flagstaff, can you move a bit south for winters

rfryer
Explorer
Explorer
MountainInMyMirror wrote:
So, not really a practical option in my current situation then... Sorry for the useless thread.

But maybe someday I can travel


Itโ€™s not a useless thread; itโ€™s just that what youโ€™d like to do wonโ€™t work in real life. No RV is built for severe temperatures; they work best if you can move with the weather. If youโ€™re tied down to one spot a house, even a small one, is by far the best bet. Then you can get an RV for traveling and camping. Also, you need serious money to buy and operate a Class A. And Jayco-noslide makes an excellent point from a financial standpoint.

I understand your frustration trying to buy a house. My youngest son just went through the same exercise. He bid on a few different houses and lost them to speculators/investors buying with cash for rentals. And they drove prices up so the sellers were resistant to coming down to what the house was really worth. I wonโ€™t get into a rant, but to say Iโ€™m hostile to those people would be the understatement of the year. Some solace, prices are now so high that they are starting to drop out of the market.

As far as noise goes, the more people the more noise. But you live in an area surrounded by national forest and you can easily get away from them. Granted, you wouldnโ€™t be allowed to โ€œliveโ€ there, though.

EricGT
Explorer
Explorer
Jayco-noslide wrote:
A factor to consider- The fast and huge depreciation of an RV; unlike a regular house which will hopefully appreciate in value. If you pay $100,000 for a unit to full-time, what will it be worth in 10 years? About $40,000 or less?

This ^
2015 Thor A.C.E. 30.1 -'AliCE'

Jayco-noslide
Explorer
Explorer
A factor to consider- The fast and huge depreciation of an RV; unlike a regular house which will hopefully appreciate in value. If you pay $100,000 for a unit to full-time, what will it be worth in 10 years? About $40,000 or less?
Jayco-noslide

MountainInMyMir
Explorer
Explorer
So, not really a practical option in my current situation then... Sorry for the useless thread.

But maybe someday I can travel

Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Explorer
I agree completely with '2gypsies'. A post like yours appears on the forum from time to time. Usually driven by 'adventure' and 'cheaper'. Its neither. Average low temperature in Flagstaff is below freezing 6 months of the year, and Average snowfall is above 10" in 5 of those six months. That's to be expected at 7,000 ft. ASL. You'll have to park it someplace and you'll certainly need full hookups. Add $1,000/mo. Add the payments on a 4 season 5er and something to tow it with. At least another $1,000/mo.
Retired and visiting as much of this beautiful country as I can.

lizbard
Explorer
Explorer
Check in Trailer Life magazine or Motorhome magazine about some of the subdivisions that have a small house with a large covered carport where you can either back the trailer or MH into the carport or have a circular drive to be able to drive straight in. This way you would have a sticks and brix that is small enough for you and your stuff with a full kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc. and the MH or trailer can be plugged into electric in the covered carport or garage for a spare/guest house.

This way you would have a warm house for winter, with a motor home or trailer to go traveling on weekends, etc. and stay in the area for your work.

If you don't have to stay in Flagstaff, check out work kamping. there are several blogs and I think there is a web site. maybe your skills can be used in other areas where you get a free or low cost cg site, stay employed and travel.

Something to think about.

sdianel_-acct_c
Explorer
Explorer
I wouldn't get a Class A unless you can travel a lot. Not practical. I've been to Flagstaff and I didn't see any RV parks that were open all year that would meet your requirements. Another thing is the temperature. RV's unless they are well made and well insulated don't keep you warm in below freeing temps. A fifth wheel and truck would be the best choice for living, but again where would you park it? I think I would keep looking for a house as reasonably priced as possible to leave money for a truck camper or travel trailer to travel when you're not working. Even if you have to rent for awhile until you find the right place. How about new construction? A park model would be great but I didn't see any mobile home or RV parks with park models open all year. Maybe a lot with a park model? Tough decision. Best wishes in your decision.
Lonny & Diane
2004 Country Coach Allure 33' "Big Blue"
Towing 2008 Chev Colorado 4x4
Semper Fi

2gypsies1
Explorer II
Explorer II
MountainInMyMirror wrote:
I've been considering buying a stick home ($200k-$240k range, designed to keep at least half of my take home free), but I'm having trouble finding ones that appeal to me...

If you're having trouble finding a home in that price range you'll probably have problems finding an RV to suit you.

full timing - This has a kind of appeal to me - the ability to be mobile and go where I will. (Though the dayjob will kind of limit that.)

If your day job is not mobile then full-timing doesn't really make sense. You won't be able to travel.


MHs in particular seem attractive for being so self contained (But if I can't drive it that much... maybe another type is better?). And even large used ones can be had for substantially less than that house purchase price.
The comparative lack of space wouldn't really be a problem for me --

All RVs are equally self-contained. A motorhome is no better than a trailer in that respect. However, I wouldn't advise buying a motorhome if it's going to be sitting in one place. If you really want to save money, a stationary park model would be better for you. You could get a brand new park model for under $75,000. A high quality trailer or 5th wheel could be had for that much, also. A high quality newer used motorhome would be $100,000 and up.

I am kind of worried about the potential for noise issues if I stay in a park (I really like peace and quiet). And, while many winter days here can reach ~40F, the nights can get very very cold.

If you need to stay in Flagstaff for your job then you'd have to do a lot to your RV to keep it warm during your winters. RVs are not insulated like a home would be, even if they say '4-season'. You'll be spending a lot of money on propane to keep it heated and special precautions for your holding tanks and dump and fresh water hoses. Also, if you're not over 55 and could then utilize 55+ parks which would be quieter, you will have to adjust to noise. That's a given.

We have full-timed for over 16 years and it's a wonderful lifestyle. However, we're retired and we traveled constantly during that time with a lot of volunteering thrown in. That's completely different than what you are planning.

Personally, I don't think it would be easy for you to 'full-time'. You've got some serious thinking to do. Good luck


Full-Timed for 16 Years
.... Back in S&B Again
Traveled 8 yr in a 40' 2004 Newmar Dutch Star Motorhome
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th Wheel

MountainInMyMir
Explorer
Explorer
Flagstaff, AZ...