Posted by gary on March 15, 2004 at 23:56:54:
I’m recently retired myself and enjoy getting a deal.Most of the furnishings for our lake cottage are items tenants left behind including TV and stereo. I did pay $15.00 for the microwave, new, still in the box at an auction. Last night I found a real nice bathroom vanity and sink with a free sign on it along the street that will work great in a buiding we are converting from MH park laundromat to an apartment.
Live in Camper? - Posted by Carrie-PA
Posted by Carrie-PA on March 09, 2004 at 13:41:13:
Hello everyone,
This crazy idea has come to my head and I thought I’d see what you all thought of it. Here’s the background: I am 20 years old and invest in sfh, we are closing on our fourth one this week. My fiance and I have two horses that we have to feed morning and night that are loacted about fivwe miles away - its a pain to drive all the time.
So with this house we just bought we also bought a 27 ft. camper to take to Jamboree in the Hills this summer, we are tired of sleeping in a tent.:), anyway I first was going to rent the camper out the rest of the year since we will prob only use it once a year. Then I got to thinkiong we could buy some land with a barn, put the camper on it and live in our camper! At least over the summer. Then I could rent or sell the house we are currently living in and save alot of money by living in the camper, and having our horses with us.
Anyway my boyfriend just looked at me like I was crazy, but I still think it is a great idea. The property that I have in mind has 10 acres, a barn, shed, garage, two wells, two ponds, fenced pasture, and is level.
Questions: Could you set the camper up to the well somehow? Are there any legal things that would come up? Is this idea as stupid as my boyfriend thinks it is? I’d just like your comments on this.
Thank you all in advance for any replies to this silly post, I figured the mobile home investors would have more input on this than the main board.
Carrie-PA
Re: Live in Camper? - Posted by Sam Chevel
Posted by Sam Chevel on March 10, 2004 at 17:13:02:
You want to save money, sell the horses. There is a reason that they are called hay burners.
Gopher it. - Posted by Dr. Craig Whisler
Posted by Dr. Craig Whisler on March 09, 2004 at 22:18:23:
It really depends on what the building department and zoning regs. will allow, unless your acreage is reasonably secluded.
A simple out house would suffice if it isn’t subject to building permits, inspections, etc.
It isn’t hard to put in a septic tank and leach field if you want to do it right.
If wells aren’t good just get a 500 gal water tank. Water tanks are still very common in rural areas of California and Arizona and are very cheap and practical.
When you’re first starting out use money to make money, not to live on. Love should sustain you. I don’t know about your boyfriend though?
Best to straighten him out now, before marriage. He can be the head of the family, just as long as YOU head the finance/investment dept.
If it doesn’t work out, just remember, at your age boyfriends are nearly fungible.
Regards, doc
Re: Live in Camper? - Posted by Tim
Posted by Tim on March 09, 2004 at 20:40:15:
I think its definatly do-able.
As far as the well goes you need a place for a pressure tank and pump control. If you dont have room in the camper build a small shed. Remeber it cannot freeze so you have to heat in the winter.
What I’d like to know is . . . - Posted by Michael (KCMO)
Posted by Michael (KCMO) on March 09, 2004 at 20:27:30:
. . . what’s wrong w/ your b/f? Here we have a woman who likes horses, loves the outdoors, goes camping, and is willing to live in a camper out in the country to save money . . . sounds like a catch if you ask me. 
If your b/f doesn’t warm up to the idea bring the camper on out west. I’m game. I’ll bet the rockies are beautiful in the spring!
Best of luck to ya, whatever ya’ll decide.
Michael (KCMO)
Re: Live in Camper? - Posted by Dave Fl.
Posted by Dave Fl. on March 09, 2004 at 16:27:04:
My wife and I did just that. Lived in an old bus while we built a house on 5 acres we had in Minnesnowda. Was inconvinent at times. Like at shower time. Even had a kid with us. But saved travel time, rent on an apartment, food, entertainment, nothing to do but work and get ready for winter. Look at it as an adventure. I still have an album of that summer. Used up a ton of beer and had a great time. Go for it.
Listen to your Boyfriend!!! n/t - Posted by TeddyB_SC
Posted by TeddyB_SC on March 09, 2004 at 15:08:09:
x
Re: Live in Camper? - Posted by Barry (GA)
Posted by Barry (GA) on March 09, 2004 at 15:03:00:
Carrie,
Sounds like a neat idea to me. Look in the archives for a post by Doc Whisler, he tells people how to live nearly free by living in a camper. I know of people who have lived in a camper on their land while building a house on the same property.
Good investing,
Barry
Re: Live in Camper? - Posted by Carrie-PA
Posted by Carrie-PA on March 11, 2004 at 09:23:57:
I don’t know about you but when I have had a pet - whether it be a horse or a dog - for over 10 years, I sure as hell can’t just send them away into this world without a second thought. Not to mention of our four horses, two are not trained to ride, one is 21 years old, and I am the ONLY person who can handle and ride my Arabian, so they would likely all end up in a slaughter house eventually, since hundreds of purebred and well trained horses do everyday.
Believe me I am WELL aware of how much they cost to keep and congrats, you are the only one who picked up that fact! You need some sort of prize…
Carrie
The man should be the head . . . - Posted by Michael (KCMO)
Posted by Michael (KCMO) on March 10, 2004 at 06:04:13:
. . . of the household. A wise woman, rather than fighting for the same position, will endeavor to be the neck. 
Words from my wise aunt. Seems to be working.
You got that dude! Please send - Posted by Philip
Posted by Philip on March 11, 2004 at 19:36:56:
picture of camper and horses…LOL. She might need to through in a good john boat.
Philip
If boyfriend isn’t smart enough to see the genius - Posted by Dr. Craig Whisler
Posted by Dr. Craig Whisler on March 09, 2004 at 22:02:26:
of your plan, replace him with one who is.
One day you will be rich and he won’t, unless he is at least smart enough to marry you.
Its YOUR future. YOU are right. ASSERT yourself.
Go girl.
Regards, doc
Re: Live in Camper? - Posted by Barry (GA)
Posted by Barry (GA) on March 09, 2004 at 15:13:29:
http://www.creonline.com/mobilehomes/wwwboard4/messages/32868.html
Here is a link to one of his posts.
Regards,
Barry
My only selfish use - Posted by Philip
Posted by Philip on March 11, 2004 at 19:41:07:
of other people.
Their horses. My kids.
My kids won’t take care of a goldfish at times…so I don’t let them have a horse on the place. BUT…
we live 2 miles from a neighbor who has several and 160 acres…plus another in the other direction, plus my stock contractor brother-in-law…the lady at the bank…
Re: You got that dude! Please send - Posted by Michael (KCMO)
Posted by Michael (KCMO) on March 11, 2004 at 20:52:15:
That’s not exactly the direction I was going. I was meaning it as a compliment. I am outdoor kind of guy, and I’ve found it to be a rare woman indeed who loves doing that sort of thing, CAN do that sort of thing and doesn’t complain about getting dirty while she’s doing it.
My dream is to be one of those old men driving around in an RV w/ bumper stickers from all the places I’ve been covering the back (and working their way down the sides). My dream is to be able to spend my days hiking and taking photos of the beauty and seclusion around me. I’d like to actually get to do that before I get to old to fully enjoy it.
And if there were a woman who could enjoy that sort of thing as much as myself . . well . . . I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, I’ll just enjoy life on my own - and I do.
Ok, I’d say that’s enough personal revalations for the time being. So . . . back to mobile homes . . .
What is so genius about… - Posted by Teddy B_SC
Posted by Teddy B_SC on March 10, 2004 at 10:05:52:
moving into a 8x27 camper. Her idea is to save money, but first she has to BUY the 10 acres, barn, etc. Is there electric or septic or is this more costs to include.
If the money is available to purchase 10 acres plus some improvements, can’t she purchase a property with cashflow and continue to live in her house.
Once again, I could understand if they already owned the land or were going to build a house on the property.
Selling your house and having to Buy property to live in a camper to save money doesn’t necesarily rise to the level of genius.
Secondly, she wanted to rent/sell her house and live in the camper, “at least for the summer.”
What about the rest of the year? Now I’m not saying that this wouldn’t be a romantic summer, just that it is not necessarily the greatest financial move given the circumstances in this case.
TeddyB_SC
Here, Here! Well said, Doc. (n/t) - Posted by Michael (KCMO)
Posted by Michael (KCMO) on March 10, 2004 at 06:08:27:
no text
Re: What is so genius about… - Posted by Carrie
Posted by Carrie on March 11, 2004 at 09:36:48:
Well Teddy,
We completely intend to buy land in the future anyway - we need a place for the horses. We would be saving about $200 month just on horse board. ($150/mo each for two is $300/mo, food and care at our own place would be about $100/mo so see - saved $200/mo.
I do not want to live in my house in town because we have to drive 10 miles morning and night. But you are right living in a camper wouldn’t be my smartest move, there would be all kinds of things to deal with - we’d have no phone line, electric, sewer pumped?, refrig (we’d have to have the genarator running constantly to keep food cold.), etc, etc.
I would have been interesting though. Thanks for the reply.
Carrie
Dont throw the baby out - Posted by Philip
Posted by Philip on March 11, 2004 at 19:32:39:
witht the bathwater!
You had a fine idea.
It would take some work and inconvenience but many people do MUCH harder things out of necessity.
My folks retired in their 50’s partly from RE investments. They NOW live in a 8 X 34 RV 9 months of every year and they LOVE it.
They did without so they could retire. Now, it takes less to make them happy… so they are kinda back where they started…only with a lot more money!
Don’t ever let an idea go because it is unconventional. The first house I can hardly remember as a child had one room with a DIRT floor! Kind of a “added on room”. Uncle Deke with his 3 thumbs must have added it on to the little shack we lived in!
You already have the land. Maybe a wholesale priced singlewide mobile home would do nicely. 14 x 70’s can be bought REALLY cheap!
Good luck…
Philip