Home Plans And Home Designs - I hate my "house"
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gmelton
07-29-06, 10:48 PM
But I love my land, and my views (in the Colorado mountains)and my subdivision. What I am living in is a 30 year old mobile home with a addition and a garage built by a blind man with a broken hammer. This was all done before building codes applied to this area. Replacing would cost as much as the current mortgage and I have no desire to take another loan on top of the one we already have. We may be able to afford out of pocket to replace the addition with one that is freestanding and could be added onto when we are able to replace the trailer. Basically a mirror of the new addition to turn it into a real house. Doing as much as the work myself as I can, I wont touch foundation, roof or the breaker box, best left to the pros.
The problem I am afraid of with doing this is that there were changes made to the mobile home that may or may not be up to current code and I would rather not spend money to improve something that will be torn down.
The other thing I have thought about would be to build a three car garage sized house with that new fangled radiant floor heat in a very sturdy concrete slab finished floor. Build a garage and plug the car hole with a bolt in wall, to be removed after we have built a real house.
Is there something I'm not considering? Other options? I refuse to cut down the trees that are to close to the house because it would be the embarrassment of the subdivision if they could see it.
Anyway...sorry for the long post and thank you for your time.
The problem I am afraid of with doing this is that there were changes made to the mobile home that may or may not be up to current code and I would rather not spend money to improve something that will be torn down.
The other thing I have thought about would be to build a three car garage sized house with that new fangled radiant floor heat in a very sturdy concrete slab finished floor. Build a garage and plug the car hole with a bolt in wall, to be removed after we have built a real house.
Is there something I'm not considering? Other options? I refuse to cut down the trees that are to close to the house because it would be the embarrassment of the subdivision if they could see it.
Anyway...sorry for the long post and thank you for your time.
twelvepole
07-30-06, 02:46 AM
I have been in mobile homes that had additions built all around. One is not far from me. When you drive by it looks like a lovely sprawling ranch house with lovely landscaping. One would never know that the central part of the home is a completely remodeled mobile home will walls removed to make an open living area.
Any new additions or changes to structure would have to meet local building codes and have permits and required inspections. If there is room to add on, then bringing older portions to current codes could be done later as budget allows.
It will be difficult to get a permit and loans for a garage structure in which you plan to live, as the garage will not qualify as a home even though you plan on living in it. As you state that you live in a subdivision, rather than in a very rural location, permits and codes will likely be enforced.
If there is room to build a smaller home that could be added on to later and you could afford to do so out of pocket, paying as you go, then that may be an option. I know several people who have done this. It has taken them a few years, but they eventually accomplished their goal, selling off the old mobile home or having it hauled away.
Any new additions or changes to structure would have to meet local building codes and have permits and required inspections. If there is room to add on, then bringing older portions to current codes could be done later as budget allows.
It will be difficult to get a permit and loans for a garage structure in which you plan to live, as the garage will not qualify as a home even though you plan on living in it. As you state that you live in a subdivision, rather than in a very rural location, permits and codes will likely be enforced.
If there is room to build a smaller home that could be added on to later and you could afford to do so out of pocket, paying as you go, then that may be an option. I know several people who have done this. It has taken them a few years, but they eventually accomplished their goal, selling off the old mobile home or having it hauled away.