โAug-11-2013 06:41 PM
โAug-12-2013 11:47 PM
โAug-12-2013 02:29 PM
โAug-12-2013 02:17 PM
โAug-12-2013 01:30 PM
rfryer wrote:
Itโs not a useless thread; itโs just that what youโd like to do wonโt work in real life. No RV is built for severe temperatures; they work best if you can move with the weather. If youโre 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 wonโt get into a rant, but to say Iโm 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 wouldnโt be allowed to โliveโ there, though.
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
โAug-12-2013 12:22 PM
โAug-12-2013 11:48 AM
MountainInMyMirror wrote:
So, not really a practical option in my current situation then... Sorry for the useless thread.
But maybe someday I can travel
โAug-12-2013 11:30 AM
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?
โAug-12-2013 08:51 AM
โAug-12-2013 08:31 AM
โAug-12-2013 07:22 AM
โAug-12-2013 03:45 AM
โAug-11-2013 10:07 PM
โAug-11-2013 09:59 PM
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
โAug-11-2013 06:59 PM