How Long Do Mobile Homes Last?

How Long Do Mobile Homes Last? Mobile Homes last a lifetime. Have you ever been on a road trip and looked out your car window at a Highway Home? What I mean is a mobile home. Just as being curious has driven you here today, there is also a story to tell on the durability of a mobile home.

Hello, our company, Highway Homes specializes in moving mobile homes from your property. We buy and sell mobile homes in Shreveport, Louisiana and elsewhere in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas (tri-state area). 90-95% of our homes that we acquire must be moved.

How long do mobile homes last? Well, I am here to tell you that mobile homes can last a lifetime. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Mobile Home Durability Features

The good part about mobile homes is the durability. They will last as long as preserved, protected, and maintained. Luckily for you, if you own a mobile home, the cost is minor. The living space of a single wide is about 1280 sf. That’s $2-$12 per square foot for a 10 year old used mobile home. The square footage is enough room for a small family without much upkeep on maintenance.

 There are many different companies that make various brands of mobile homes. According to blog.mhvillage.com based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the newest mobile homes run about $43-$51 per square foot. Whether you are on the upper, echelon of bougie or the lower, bottom of shabby, no matter the brand, maintaining the mobile home will make it last. 

Now, in the long run, you will want to have a plan in play for what will likely come next. Sooner or later being prepped for life events will help keep you ahead of the game. For instance, the weather and natural aging process of the mobile home with harsh conditions of golfball size hail, gale force winds or the blistering sun beating down will eventually lead to the need of a new roof. This roof will not only protect your mobile home but also protect your head and wallet, alleviating you from the “what if’s” of the bad and ugly.

Enhanced Aging vs Natural Aging

The bad part of normal wear and tear with practical use is, things do get broken over time. However, enhanced maturity of indoor smoking, unsanitary bathrooms, a leaky kitchen faucet and filthy, grimy floors cause accelerated damage to your home through neglect and dilapidation. 

When it comes to Mother Nature, specifically water, this will do the most damage to your home. And, when damage occurs, it is crucial to make repairs immediately. This same principle applies to living in any other type of dwelling. Mobile homes are structurally made to be water resistant. 

It is up to you to maintain this damage. Sure, you will have problems with plumbing, HVAC, and electricity. However, routine checkups will prevent unnecessary headaches and stress. Remember, this will be your job to fix problems as they occur in your home and having pride in this process is truly an art of being a homeowner.

Is a mobile home ever a good investment?

The ugly truth to making any mobile home permanently last will be the financial dedication, physical work, and reward of money well spent. Working on your home may not seem fun at the moment, but it is well worth the reward in the long run. There comes a time when the sense of delayed gratification has permeated and wrestled so deep and intensely within you that you envision sitting back and looking at the job you have accomplished. If that job is too big and one you can not handle, then no sense in being shy, pay the professionals. In your experience of being a homeowner you get to learn how to take care of your home thus, making your mobile home last longer.

A lifetime of living in a sound structure with a Highway Home that is, your Highway Home lets you be in control. Picture yourself pulling into your Highway Home with a landscaped yard in the woods. From the mobile homes built in the 1970’s and 1980’s with flat/ slightly round roofs to the triple wides of 10 foot ceilings rolled out with showroom floors you have a slice of the American Dream.

For further interest and questions concerning mobile homes, fill out the form below or call Highway Homes. We are mobile home investors, not retail buyers. If you are in a situation where you need cash fast, think of us as a pawn shop. We can help provide the solution. We at Highway Homes are confident mobile homes will last a lifetime by being preserved, protected, and maintained. How long will mobile homes last? Forever.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average useful life of a mobile home?

The average life of a mobile home is easily 55 years. Mobile homes will last as long as you maintain them, just like any other home that you would live in. It is all about taking care of your home. To make a mobile home last for as long as you live in it should be an easy thing to do. Mobile homes are smaller and easier to maintain because of that.

Why do mobile homes not last long?

They don’t last long because no one is taking care of them. Any home that is not being maintained will not last long. There has never been a home in history where you can abandon it and return years later, and the home be in better condition. Mother Nature will take a toll on a home. There are brand-new homes that have suffered significant damage, and there are older homes that remain in good condition. The reason isn’t because of the home, but because of the people who live in it.

Is a mobile home worth fixing up?

Yes. Are you fixing up the mobile home to live in? Are you fixing the mobile home up to rent? Are you fixing up the mobile home for a flip? If you’re fixing up a mobile home to live in with your family, then definitely yes. A mobile home is worth fixing up. There is significantly less work and money involved in fixing a mobile home. If you’re fixing up a mobile home to rent out, you would be wise not to spend a lot of money on high-quality materials. If you’re considering a fix-and-flip project with a mobile home, think carefully about it. Mobile homes aren’t the best properties to fix up for a flip, unless the mobile home is a package deal with the land, which is real property.