I Live in a Mobile Home — And It’s Great

When my husband and I moved to Wisconsin, my in-laws owned a mobile home that they graciously offered to us rent-free. We were in the midst of paying off our debt, so the plan went like this: Work like crazy to pay off the debt, save like crazy to build up our emergency fund, save up for a down payment, buy a house. 

After building our emergency fund, we found out we were pregnant and decided that my husband would stay home after our son was born while I continued to teach. That meant going down to one income, so we put our home buying plans on hold (while continuing to save at a snail’s pace), and decided to stay where we were. Skip ahead nine years, two more kids, and a few job changes later, and we’re still here — and still saving for a house, though at a much faster pace now. 

For many, living in a mobile home is not a choice, but a necessity. An estimated 20 million Americans live in mobile homes, and they make up the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the country. We feel lucky to have had the option to choose to live in one, because they can offer a lot in the way of reaching future goals. So if you’re considering mobile home life, I’ve rounded up a few pros and cons based on my experience. 

If you’ve weighed all the pros and cons and still aren’t sure, here are a few other things to consider as you make your decision.