Comparing Mobile Home and Apartment Living: How to Choose

Mobile home parks and apartments are two of the most popular housing choices for today's young families and single professionals. Both of these options have benefits and pitfalls, some depending on where you live, and it can be difficult to choose between them. If you are comparing mobile home and apartment living, consider the following factors before you make your decision.

Rent vs. Own

When you choose apartment living, you rent a unit in a complex for a specific amount per month, but you don't build equity in your housing. With mobile home living, you have a mortgage that you pay every month (unless you buy outright), and you do build equity. Of course, it can be more difficult to qualify for a mortgage than for rent, and you can always ditch your apartment after your lease is up. In short, mobile homes mean more stability but more responsibility.

Living Space

Another factor to consider when comparing mobile home and apartment living is living space. In most cases, mobile homes will be more spacious than apartments, and also usually provide outside room for parking, playing and gardening. Of course, there are some luxury apartments that have private courtyards and spacious interiors, but it depends on how much you want to pay.

Maintenance

Although some mobile home parks offer landscaping and other maintenance with your community dues, most repairs and replacements are the responsibility of the owner. With apartment living, someone else is responsible for the upkeep of the unit as long as you don't cause any damage. This is a significant benefit of apartments if you don't have much ready cash in case of an emergency.

Security

Although some people might disagree with me on this, mobile homes are generally less safe than apartments. Why? Because a dark mobile home park provides an opportunity for thieves and burglars. With an apartment, you usually have adequate lighting, deadbolts, security chains, and the benefit of extremely close neighbors. This isn't always the case in a mobile home community, especially if there is no neighborhood association.

Amenities

Generally speaking, apartment living comes with more amenities than mobile home parks, though this can certainly vary depending on where you live. For example, apartments often offer appliances, swimming pools, workout facilities, business centers, tennis courts, community activities, trash pick-up and other luxuries that you won't find in mobile homes. This is definitely something to consider if you want to take advantage of community amenities, or if you don't have the means to procure your own appliances.