Tag: used mobile homes for sale in sarasota florida

How Much Money Do I Need to Buy a Mobile Home?
Buying a mobile home can be a cost-effective solution for those seeking affordable housing options. However, determining how much money you need to purchase a mobile home involves more than just the price of the home itself. Various factors, including down payments, financing, and additional costs, come into play. This article will break down the total costs associated with buying a mobile home and provide guidance on how much money you should budget for your purchase.

**1. Understanding the Price of Mobile Homes

The cost of a mobile home can vary widely depending on several factors:
- Size and Type: Mobile homes come in various sizes and configurations, from single-wide to double-wide and even triple-wide units. Larger homes with more features and higher quality materials generally cost more. On average, single-wide mobile homes might cost between $30,000 and $60,000, while double-wide homes can range from $60,000 to $100,000 or more.
- Age and Condition: Newer mobile homes typically cost more than used ones. The condition of a used mobile home, including its maintenance history and any necessary repairs, will also affect the price.
- Location: The cost of mobile homes can vary depending on the region and local real estate market conditions. Homes in high-demand areas or with desirable features like waterfront views may be priced higher.
**2. Down Payment

Like traditional homes, mobile homes usually require a down payment. The amount of the down payment can vary based on the type of loan you use and the lender’s requirements.
- Conventional Loans: For conventional loans, down payments typically range from 5% to 20% of the purchase price. For example, if you buy a mobile home for $60,000, you might need a down payment of $3,000 to $12,000.
- Chattel Loans: These are loans specifically for mobile homes and personal property. Down payments for chattel loans can range from 10% to 20% of the purchase price.
- FHA Loans: The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers loans for mobile homes, often with lower down payment requirements. FHA loans might require as little as 3.5% down, depending on the loan terms.
**3. Financing Costs

If you are financing your mobile home purchase, you need to consider additional costs associated with taking out a loan.
- Interest Rates: The interest rate on your loan will affect your monthly payments and the total cost of the loan. Rates can vary based on your credit score, the length of the loan, and the lender’s policies.
- Loan Term: Mobile home loans are typically shorter in duration compared to traditional mortgages, often ranging from 15 to 20 years. Shorter loan terms can mean higher monthly payments but less total interest paid over the life of the loan.
- Origination Fees: Lenders may charge origination fees to process the loan, which can range from 1% to 2% of the loan amount.
**4. Insurance and Taxes

When purchasing a mobile home, you’ll need to budget for insurance and property taxes:
- Insurance: Mobile home insurance protects against risks such as fire, theft, and damage from natural disasters. The cost of insurance can vary based on the home’s value, location, and coverage levels. On average, expect to pay between $300 and $1,000 per year for mobile home insurance.
- Property Taxes: Property taxes for mobile homes are usually lower than those for traditional homes but can still add up. The amount depends on the local tax rate and the value of the home. Check with local tax authorities to get an estimate of property taxes for the area where you plan to buy.
**5. Site Preparation and Installation

If you are purchasing a new mobile home, you’ll need to account for site preparation and installation costs:
- Site Preparation: This includes clearing and leveling the land where the mobile home will be placed. Costs can range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the site’s condition and any necessary grading or foundation work.
- Installation: Installation involves placing the mobile home on its site, connecting utilities, and ensuring it meets local building codes. Installation costs can range from $5,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the setup.
**6. Utilities and Ongoing Maintenance

Consider the costs of utilities and ongoing maintenance when budgeting for a mobile home:
- Utilities: Monthly utility costs, including water, electricity, and gas, will depend on the size of the home and your usage. Budget for these ongoing expenses as part of your overall housing costs.
- Maintenance: Regular maintenance is essential to keep your mobile home in good condition. This includes tasks such as cleaning gutters, inspecting the roof, and servicing HVAC systems. Set aside funds for routine maintenance and unexpected repairs.
**7. Closing Costs

When buying a mobile home, closing costs are an additional expense that you need to plan for. These costs can include:
- Title Fees: Transfer of ownership requires title fees, which can range from $100 to $300.
- Legal Fees: If you hire an attorney to review the purchase agreement, expect to pay legal fees, which can vary based on the attorney’s rates.
- Inspection Fees: If you choose to have a home inspection done, this can cost between $200 and $500.
**8. Additional Considerations
- Community Fees: If your mobile home is located in a mobile home park, you’ll need to budget for monthly lot rent or community fees. These fees can range from $200 to $800 per month, depending on the amenities and location of the park.
- Resale Value: Consider the potential resale value of the mobile home. Mobile homes generally depreciate in value, so it’s important to factor this into your long-term financial planning.
Conclusion

The total amount of money you need to buy a mobile home in Florida encompasses several costs beyond the purchase price. To summarize, you should budget for:
- Down Payment: Typically 5% to 20% of the purchase price.
- Financing Costs: Including interest rates, loan terms, and origination fees.
- Insurance and Taxes: Insurance costs ranging from $300 to $1,000 per year, and property taxes based on local rates.
- Site Preparation and Installation: Costs ranging from $6,000 to $15,000.
- Utilities and Maintenance: Ongoing monthly expenses and periodic maintenance.
- Closing Costs: Title fees, legal fees, and inspection fees.
By accounting for these expenses, you can better prepare for the financial commitment of buying a mobile home and ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the total costs involved.

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September 18, 2024
Considering Buying A Sarasota Mobile Home?
Considering Buying A Sarasota Mobile Home?

Have you thought about relocating to Florida and are considering a mobile home as an affordable second home or primary residence?

Currently, with over a thousand people per day moving to Florida, there has to be a reason why the rest of the country is coming down here and why so many are electing to purchase a mobile home in Sarasota at this time!

After speaking with several out-of-town clients who are considering moving to Florida, they are excited about the fantastic weather, but also the fact that they are able to do a little bit more outside on a daily basis with the COVID restrictions than other states.

Many counties here in Florida have mask requirements, but the businesses, parks, gyms, and beaches, they’re all open!

Having the ability to enjoy all that the state of Florida has to offer, not only during the winter months but during a national pandemic, is certainly a reason that draws many people to the Sunshine State.

Another reason why is that there is such a large inventory of affordable housing options, whether it is for a family or a retired couple looking to call Florida their new home.

Most of these folks that we work with are looking for a clean, safe, and affordable option to live in throughout the Sarasota area, for which this area has tons of those places to choose from. These amenity-rich communities have so much to offer their residents such as the location close to the beach, close healthcare facilities, several A-rated school districts nearby, and so much more!

We here at The Mobile Home Dealer specialize in selling mobile homes on leased land throughout the Gulf coast of Florida and can assure you that there is a home that can meet anyone’s budget throughout the area!

After finishing up a very turbulent 2020, we expect to see mobile home sales continue to skyrocket throughout the coming year due to so many people wanting to move south, whether it is just for the winter or for a more permanent stay.

With COVID restrictions continuing to loom throughout much of the country, we expect that the snowbirds from up north will extend their stay in order to truly enjoy the Florida lifestyle!

Currently, there is a slight lack of homes in the market that are for sale due to so many of the homeowners not being sure if their homes will sell due to everything that is going on right now with the COVID restrictions nationwide.

Bay Indies-Venice Florida

Update as of December 2022:

Although COVID-19 is still looming, the options for mobile home buyers are now better than in the previous 23 months since this article was first published. If you have decided that 2022 or early 2023 is the best time for you to buy a mobile home, consider knowing some of the most important things to consider when buying a mobile home in the Sarasota area.

Know When Is The Best Time To Buy: Mobile home pricing is volatile and can increase or fluctuate based on many circumstances. The average cost of mobile home prices may be lower, and discounts may be available from January through March. Waiting for a good timeframe to buy a mobile home can be pleasing to your wallet.

Know What Size Fits You: There are three basic sizes of mobile homes, single-wide, double-wide, and triple-wide. Single-wides generally run about 15 feet wide. Double-wides run 26 feet wide and triple-wides can run upwards of 45 feet wide. These types of mobile homes only refer to the width, not necessarily the floor plan. If you have a bigger family, It is indeed always preferable to buy a mobile home that is bigger considering that the price is worth it and people usually regret choosing the small size.

Know What Floor Plans Are Available: Mobile homes are available in numerous floor plans to accommodate families of all sizes. It’s essential to consider things such as gathering spaces, the need for a home office, kitchen size and amenities, and master bedrooms or master suites. Make a checklist of your family needs and best practices before meeting with a mobile home representative.

Know Your Financing Options: Although buying a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area mostly involves cash, in some cases, financing is also an option. Approved buyers can get a mortgage under loan programs such as FHA, VA, USDA Rural, Chattel, HUD, or other conventional options. There may also be niche loans available for people with low credit scores and income in some cases when buying a new manufactured home.

Know Your Customization Options: The cost of your new manufactured home will be driven by square footage, design, and customization options. Today’s mobile homes are crafted with high-quality materials and luxury amenities are available. Given the cost-effectiveness of these living spaces, buyers are often happier when they get all their dream home options met.

Mobile homes on the market that are priced right and marketed correctly always sell fast.

So if you’re looking to purchase a mobile home, make sure you move fast once you see the home you’d like come up on the market for sale.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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April 12, 2024
What Is My Sarasota Mobile Home Worth? Episode #1
“Hey, Mark. What Is My Sarasota Mobile Home Worth?” We at The Mobile Home Dealer get asked this all the time and we’ve decided that coming up with a series to go over what items and upgrades do add value and those that do not would be helpful for all of our viewers.

In this multi-part series, we will look to review what items bring value to your home in dollars at the closing table, and what upgrades come in value in your enjoyment of usage, but not necessarily cash money in your pocket when you sell your home.

First and foremost, before we even get started, we want to make perfectly clear that we at The Mobile Home Dealer believe that whatever upgrades you do to your home, you should go ahead and enjoy them for what they are!

This series is simply the perspective taken on what brings money to your pocket and what doesn’t, not what is enjoyable for you while living in the home!

Make sense?

The house you live in is yours to make it a home. So if the items you feel you want to add or have added to the home, do not make it into this series, but you feel you have gotten several years of enjoyment out of them, then great!

The first upgrade we’ll discuss in the series is the idea of selling your home fully furnished.

Fully furnished can mean several different things to several different people, but for this video, we will assume that fully furnished is everything in the home is included, from the furniture to the beds, right down to the forks and knives. Since we see homes sold this way all the time, what we can tell you is that many times homes that are fully furnished will sell faster. This is in large part because we feel that when Buyers see homes with all the furnishings included, they can easily see themselves moving in and enjoying the home without the added hassle of lugging down furniture from their current house or going to the furniture store the first day they own the home.

Mobile home in Sarasota Florida for sale

Selling your home faster will mean you as a seller will not be paying as much in lot rent, which will lead to having more money in your pocket.

Fully furnished mobile homes usually don’t sell for much, if any, more money than non-furnished homes.

So is selling your mobile home fully furnished a way to make more money on the sale? Well, yes and no. Yes, in that you will keep more money in your pocket from not having to pay lot rent, but no, in the fact that fully furnished mobile homes usually do not sell for more money at the closing table.

Let me explain.

Preowned furniture that comes with the mobile home will not have any real value to it whatsoever. However, the speed at which a home is sold when it is fully furnished is much quicker than that of a totally empty home. One reason for this is that many mobile homes throughout Sarasota are bought as second homes or vacation homes for new owners. Here, these Buyers are looking for an affordable way to live their Florida dream without having to buy a new mobile home and look to spend several thousand dollars on top of that to furnish the property.

Why buying furniture and furnishing your mobile home can save you a lot of money?

Sounds weird right? No! Let me explain.

A fully-furnished mobile home can be sold in a few weeks while an empty mobile home can be sold in six months or even more. Yes, you heard it right so how can you save money?

Assuming you spent $3,000 on furniture and sold your mobile home in just 3 weeks, you avoid losing thousands. Why? If your mobile home is not sold within 6 months, this means that you continue to pay lot rent for every month that your mobile home is sitting there waiting to be bought.

Assuming the lot rent is $700 per month, for six months you will be paying a total of $4,200 without any assurance that your mobile home will attract any buyer. But what if your home sits longer? Every month you are going to lose $700 more.

Can a fully furnished mobile home really sell fast? Based on our years of experience selling mobile homes, YES!

Remember that the majority of mobile home buyers in the Sarasota, Florida, area are from other states, and buying furniture, or bringing one, is not really part of their plan. Of course, a fully-furnished home will sell faster than an unfurnished one if both are at almost the same price.

Consider our suggestion if you want to sell your mobile home fast and avoid paying monthly lot rent. If, however, you want to pay monthly lot rent and wait for a miracle to happen, then do not buy any furniture.

Check back next week for another installment of what is my Sarasota mobile home worth.

The Mobile Home Dealer is a licensed mobile home broker in Sarasota, Florida, and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, which helps mobile home Buyers and Sellers achieve better lives!

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April 12, 2024
What Are Sarasota Mobile Home Buyers Looking For?
What Are Sarasota Mobile Home Buyers Looking For? There are many reasons why someone might choose to live in a Sarasota resident-owned mobile home park. For one, the cost of living is often much lower in these communities than in traditional neighborhoods or developments. Additionally, residents often have a greater sense of control over their living environment and the rules that govern it when they live in a resident-owned mobile home park. Finally, these communities typically offer a tight-knit sense of community and support system that can be difficult to find elsewhere.

When it comes to buying a mobile home in the Sarasota area, buyers are looking for a few key things. First and foremost, they want a home that is in good condition and won’t require a lot of work or money to get it up to par. Secondly, buyers want an affordable home that won’t break the bank. And lastly, they want a home located in a desirable area – preferably near the beach or other attractions. With so many beautiful mobile homes on the market in Sarasota, finding one that meets all of these criteria can be a challenge. But when you do find that perfect home, it will be well worth the effort!

We have a question from one of our Facebook followers today. His name is Alan Davies, and he lives in Parrish, Florida.

Here’s what he wrote. “Hey, Mark. I appreciate all of the information you give us regularly. Could you do a video on what buyers think when they look at a mobile home? I am considering having your team sell our home for us in the future, but want to get a good idea of what we should be expecting from the Buyers when we put the home on the market.”

Thanks, Alan, for your question. I bet I will be happy to help answer that for you!

I hope what I give you here helps bring clarity to those questions.

In our experience, Buyers of mobile homes on leased land throughout the Gulf Coast are looking for three things.

The mobile home is clean, safe, and affordable as a place to live.

By clean, I am referring to the fact that most Buyers do not want to have to go in and clean out a home. If your property is being sold fully furnished, then that is fine, but they want to ensure that it does not feel dirty when they walk in. That said, we always suggest that all Sellers do their best to clean up the home. Do not feel like you have to get rid of everything, but at least make sure it is broom-swept clean, and presentable when you are putting the home on the market for sale.

The second point is that the home is safe, which is kind of self-explanatory.

Buyers want to make sure that everything in the home works as it is supposed to, or as you say it is. Make sure that all the appliances are in good working order. Make sure the air conditioner turns on and cools the home accordingly. Ensure the toilet flushes, lights, and outlets turn on as they should. If there are burnt-out light bulbs or bad outlets, do not worry about it. It is not that big of a deal. But make sure you tell the buyer which ones they are. Also, Alan, make sure if you are not willing to replace an appliance or anything in the home that is broken, to let the Buyer know that on the front end so that they can make an offer accordingly. It is never good to surprise a Buyer at closing with this.

The last topic is the one that gets all of the interest, and that is buyers looking for a home that is affordable.

As we can all agree, the term affordable is relative. What may be affordable to you may not be to the next person and so on. With that understanding, we want to make sure that your home is priced where it is to be sold, not where it’s for sale. Most Sellers look at other homes in the area, see what they’re selling, and base their price on that. That’s just not the right way to do things. You see, what a home is selling for and what a home actually is sold for are two totally different numbers.

The reason is that nearly all homes that we have ever seen do not sell for the prices they are for sale at. More times than not, there’s a discount involved for which it can be a considerable price cut in order actually to get the home sold. Now, Alan, as mentioned in a previous video, it is not just the price the home sells at, but also the number of total carrying costs the Seller is paying when the home is for sale, along with their frustration and time.

Once all of these items are considered, an actual sales price should be determined.

So, Alan, thanks again for the question and I hope that helped you out. If you need any further clarification, feel free to reach out to us or me directly and we will be happy to help answer your question in further detail.

Another reason why some mobile homes take months to sell is that the seller includes all the costs like upgrades and furniture making the mobile home price balloon.

Remember that upgrades don’t add value to the cost of the mobile home because it’s the seller’s personal preference and not the buyer’s. A fully furnished home can also sell fast compared to an empty one if both homes have a similar price, but if the seller adds the costs of pre-owned furniture to the cost of the house, then this could be a dealbreaker.

Considering that many mobile home parks in the Sarasota Florida area have older residents, providing their basic needs in safety, cleanliness, and affordability is more than enough. A set of pre-owned furniture without increasing the price is a big cost and time-saving for the buyer.

The Mobile Home Dealer is a licensed mobile home broker in Sarasota, Florida, and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please contact us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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April 12, 2024
Where Are The Best Sarasota Mobile Home Deals?
Has the time arrived when you are looking at moving down to the Sunshine State, either full-time or to get out of the snowy winters? Do you live out of state and are concerned about if the mobile home will be sold before you can make it down to see it in person?

With how fast the real estate market is selling right now one needs to be focused on moving as quickly as they can if and when they find the mobile home that meets their needs throughout the greater Sarasota Florida area.

Where is the best place to find Sarasota mobile homes for sale?

Have you been looking to purchase a mobile home in Sarasota, but can’t seem to find exactly what you’re looking for?

Where have you been looking for these homes? Have you been driving through some of your favorite mobile home parks looking for the for sale signs? Maybe looking online at some of the popular mobile home listing sites for a home. Scrolling through your favorite social media channels, hoping to find a home that catches your eye and is a good deal.?

Some of those?

None of those?

Mobile homes are not always advertised the same way as real estate is.

Whether this is the first mobile home you are buying or you have bought and sold several mobile homes it is important to know the basics of what to look for in your next purchase.

Buying a mobile home is an excellent way to become a homeowner without having to pay the high cost of a traditional house. But there is much to consider before buying a home in this style. The following information will help you determine the requirements to buy a mobile home and if it is the right investment for you.

This is for the simple fact that if the mobile home that is being sold is within a mobile home park that has leased land, then it is viewed as personal property. This differs from if you are buying a mobile home with the land attached, as this then qualifies the home as real property, better known as real estate.

Many mobile homes that are for sale are advertised through the channels we just discussed earlier but many of the best deals are not advertised through traditional methods.

So why is there such a mystery here?

Many licensed mobile home brokers have what are called pocket listings that they have for sale. These listings are for homes that have either not come on the market yet, or the seller is not ready to move at the exact moment if their home is sold. As such many of these listings are not made public but are kept in the broker’s “pocket”.

Mobile home in Sarasota Florida for sale

Some of these listings are kept for days, weeks, or even months at a time by the Broker just waiting for them to be marketed!

The home is usually under contract to be listed with a broker at this time, but the seller needs to get their affairs in order prior to the broker looking to market the home for sale.

This is where you come in!

Reach out to the licensed mobile home brokers in your area and ask them what pocket listings they have for sale that have not yet hit the market. Ask to see these homes, or at least get the address and name of the park the home is in and drive by to check it out and see if you like it.

Always give the broker that you were speaking with your contact info when asking for this insider information. Let the broker know exactly what you are looking for. The price range you want to stay within and the time frame for which you are looking to buy.

Once a broker has all of this information, they will be able to add you to their special buyer list and you will then be able to gain access to homes before they even hit the market.

If you are looking at buying at the lowest price point you usually will want to look at buying in a mobile home park where you own the home and are leasing the land, however, the monthly payment will be the highest.

If you are looking for a lower monthly payment but a higher buy-in price then you will want to look at buying a mobile home in a park where you own the mobile home and the land.

Lastly, if you want to buy real estate and don’t want to purchase a single-family home or condo then buying a mobile home with land in the country will be your best option.

If you can’t buy a traditional house, a mobile home is always a good option to consider. Depending on the size of your family and how much you can pay, you can opt for a single, double, or triple-wide mobile home.

When looking to buy a mobile home, it will help you to network with all of your local mobile home brokers who work in the area so that you are on their buyer’s list of people who are looking to move forward with the purchase of a mobile home.

The Mobile Home Dealers are licensed mobile home brokers in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please contact us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

This is Mark Kaiser with the mobile home dealer and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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January 29, 2024
Considering Selling Your Mobile Home? Read THIS!
You may have been living comfortably in a mobile home for years. But, now that you need to sell your mobile home for personal reasons, reading this article will teach you what to do before selling your mobile home in the Sarasota, Florida, area.

When looking to sell your Sarasota Florida mobile home, many Sellers will look to improve their home prior to putting it on the market in an attempt to try and sell their home at the highest price possible.

While we, here at The Mobile Home Dealer, can certainly respect the thought of doing this we want to issue a warning to everyone who is looking to update their property.

Sarasota mobile home

Too much improvement of your mobile home in and around the greater Sarasota Florida area can lead to a property not selling.

Let us explain!

Mobile home Buyers who are looking to purchase a mobile home on leased land throughout the greater Sarasota Florida area are mainly looking for the same three attributes within their new home.

These Buyers want the home to be safe, clean, and affordable.

In referring to the home being safe, most Buyers have a reasonable expectation that the home will have all of its major structural components in good working order, free of major issues. These components will be the roof, AC, electrical, and plumbing systems. If any major attention is needing to be taken to these areas of the home the Buyers will expect the price to heavily reflect the work needing to be done.

Buyers want a clean home, one free from smoke, pet, or mold odors, and that welcomes them into the property. If one of these types of odors exists then it should be clearly stated and, again, the price should reflect the work that needs to be done.

Affordability is a relative term, what is affordable to one mobile home Buyer may not be affordable to the next Buyer.

This not only goes with mobile home sales but anything in life.

Many Sellers excel in making their homes safe and clean but, many times they strike out with making the home affordable.

This is in large part to cosmetic upgrades that have been done to the home that they were interested in that do not have anything to do with the structural components of the home but rather the paint, carpet, appliances, fixtures, or kitchen upgrades.

These upgrades often increase the price fast because they can be expensive items.

The issue with over-improving a mobile home is that many times these cosmetic upgrades will not provide any real value when the home is ready to be sold. The Sellers do not realize this and expect to see a dollar-for-dollar return on their financial investments with the upgrades and price the home accordingly.

When this is done the home sits on the market and does not sell quickly which leads to the Seller paying more money in lot rent and utilities.

Mobile home park

If you are looking at improving your mobile home, great, but make sure you look at using your upgrade budget on more structural upgrades making the home safe and clean, and less on cosmetic upgrades so that your mobile home is in a good position to sell fast!

Instead of making improvements that could cost thousands of dollars, declutter and fix minor maintenance issues.

When a mobile home’s base settles, the doors and windows also get out of balance and won’t shut or lock properly. These are the pieces of your mobile home that potential buyers can easily see. It’s essential to get these repairs completed so that you can sell quickly.

Some people buy a mobile home as an investment. Thus, it’s crucial to fix any issue and make your mobile home an excellent deal for investors for you to sell it fast. Repaint, refinish those cracks, and fix any other holes. Remind yourself of how much you love it and why it makes you happy by showing it off to anyone who will take it. You’ll impress people and will likely get a better price.

You should also declutter your mobile home. The ultimate goal is to make your mobile home look like a move-in-ready home, even if you have to live in it for another few weeks until you can set up a new, better one.

After fixing maintenance issues and decluttering your belongings in your mobile home, you’re now ready to find the right place where you can sell it fast.

Selling a mobile home can be complicated for many, especially those who don’t have proper knowledge of how to do it right. Doing it wrong could only complicate and lengthen the process.

Selling your mobile home can be easy and quick if you’ll follow the essentials needed before selling it. Fix up all maintenance issues, consult professionals who know more about selling your mobile home, price your home at an acceptable rate, and plan everything before you post it for sale. Participating in online auctions, selling via a real estate broker, or advertising your mobile home online and offline are great ways to sell it fast.

The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home broker in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer. We help mobile home Buyers and Sellers improve their lives.

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September 26, 2023
Ready To Sell Your Sarasota Mobile Home? Accept Your First Offer!
When looking to sell your Sarasota mobile home, we here at The Mobile Home Dealer always stress to our clients how important it is to take every offer they receive to purchase their mobile home seriously.

Residing within a highly sought-after neighborhood can wield substantial influence over the valuation of your mobile home, potentially inflating your sense of value and pride. The dynamics of such a locale, mainly if you’ve been an attentive observer as neighboring mobile homes change hands at steadily ascending rates over the past few years, can undoubtedly foster elevated expectations as you prepare to list your property for sale. Anticipation builds as you envision the prospect of commanding a price that scales the upper echelons of the prevailing range, if not surpassing the historical pinnacle.

The synergy between your residence and the esteemed neighborhood bolsters your confidence in the value proposition you present to potential buyers. The established trend of ascending property prices within your vicinity instills a sense of optimism that your mobile home, marked by its convenient location and proximity to desirable amenities, holds the potential to fetch a premium valuation. This optimism fuels the aspiration for a substantial return on investment, aligning with the prevailing market sentiment and the precedent set by previous transactions.

However, it’s essential to approach this optimism with a balanced perspective, considering various factors that contribute to your mobile home’s overall value. While the neighborhood undeniably plays a pivotal role, factors such as the condition of your property, its unique attributes, and prevailing market conditions also play a substantial part in determining the eventual sale price. Thus, while the allure of a prime neighborhood elevates your prospects, it’s prudent to temper your expectations with a comprehensive understanding of the broader real estate landscape to ensure a successful and gratifying sale experience.

Before you test the waters with your mobile home, vowing only to consider offers that meet your (admittedly high) expectations, take a deep breath. A mobile home sale that meets your needs isn’t just about the final sale price on paper – it’s also about the contingencies and details that ultimately make the deal successful for everyone involved.

In many cases, the offer that gets you to a sale will be the first one you receive.

Especially when living in a hot real estate and mobile home market, a good – but not amazing – first offer may make you consider waiting to see what other buyers may be out there. Holding off could lead you to a great offer but also backfire.

Part of selling a mobile home is fielding all offers, some of which will be quite a bit lower than what you, as the seller, want to accept, but it is how you respond to each offer is a major determining factor in how fast your home sells.

All of our sales agents at The Mobile Home Dealer must send all offers we receive for the mobile homes we have listed directly to our clients. We mention this because many other firms in the area attempt to act like they own the home they are listing and not send all offers to the Sellers. These sales agents feel it is too much of a burden to ask their clients to consider an offer that is under what their client feels they should be paid for the home.

We do not believe this is the right way to sell a mobile home, and as such, we present all offers, good, bad, and ugly, to our clients.

We do this because when a Buyer makes a written offer, they have already mentally decided that they are ready to purchase a mobile home and are so interested in your home that you are selling that they have decided to commit in writing to giving you a certain amount of money for the purchase of it.

It is important to mention this in this article because obtaining an offer is the hardest part of the process.

When humans mentally decide to buy something, we weigh the pros and cons of this decision and step through any door of failure, fear, or insecurity by simply making the offer. Once the offer is made, then a counteroffer is much easier for the Buyer to give because the most complicated thing has already been done by making the initial offer.

This is the reason why we bring every offer to every Seller.

Once the offer has been made, the Seller needs to understand that the Buyer is ready to buy; we just need to get both the Buyer and the Seller to the same number.

Although this may seem like a difficult task, many times it is not.

Once the Buyer has sent out an offer, the Seller can counteroffer to an already motivated Buyer.

The worst thing the Seller can do is receive a less-than-optimal offer and immediately dismiss it and the Buyer by not counteroffering.

It’s important to keep perspective on any interest you get from a potential buyer and also remember that everything is up for discussion. “There are always negotiations and countering back and forth,” says Patrick O’Connor, a real estate agent with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in Naples, Florida.

Even if the first offer you receive isn’t the price you were hoping for, you can easily make a counteroffer or negotiate for other details – like skipping an inspection or allowing you more time to move out – that can make the deal the right one for you.

Remember, the Buyer has already decided to Buy, and the Seller has already decided to sell the property.

When looking at selling your mobile home, we always stress taking each and every offer seriously and not relying on the same old adage of “it is just the first offer” as the first offer, which, many times, will be your Buyer!

The Mobile Home Dealer is a licensed mobile home broker in Sarasota, Florida, and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer. We help mobile home Buyers and Sellers improve their lives.

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September 25, 2023
Why Sarasota Mobile Homes Are Priced WRONG!
How To Price Your Sarasota Mobile Home

How are you able to obtain the most accurate way to price your mobile home that is for sale when the mobile home is on leased land?

With the rising real estate market that we are all seeing throughout the country, it is natural to think that selling your Sarasota Florida mobile home is the right thing to do now in an attempt to cash in on all the Buyers looking to relocate to Florida.

Is there a way that we as licensed mobile home Brokers in the state of Florida can state that without a doubt, your home is worth this amount?

Most people in the mobile home industry would say yes. That the best way to do this is to look at other homes in the community with the same size and home sites, similar beds and baths along with other features and base your price on that. I would go as far as to say that this is by far the most common way that people in the mobile home industry say that a mobile home Seller should go about getting their home priced.

But is this, by the book, the best way to do it?

No. No, it’s not.

In fact, this is totally wrong and really does not hold a candle to the way one can value a mobile home on leased land.

The reason why this is wrong is that mobile homes in Florida that are on leased land, where the owner owns the home and rents the land underneath, make the home personal property which is how the home is taxed and viewed by the state of Florida. This is the same way a vehicle is taxed.

Essentially, in this transaction, you are buying a car and as such, mobile homes on leased land, have titles and not deeds as the owner of a mobile home on leased land do not technically own real estate, it is personal property, just like a car. Since the home is viewed as personal property and is therefore viewed as an automobile for all intents and purposes in the state’s eyes, then the only way to accurately price your mobile home’s worth is by pulling the VIN number off the mobile home title and looking it up in the NADA Guidebook.

The NADA guidebook is also known as the National Automobile Dealers Association book. This is a price guide, much like that, of the Kelley Blue Book value system. When looking up the value of your mobile home, you will need the age, the VIN number, the make, the model, and the size of the home. The guidebook will also ask other general questions such as what is the general condition of the property, the roof’s age, what condition is that roof in, and the air conditioning system.

So let’s take a look at what this really looks like.

As you can see here, the property is a 1993 Redman in fair condition. After going through all of the basic questions about the home, the NADA Guidebook provided a value of $3,612.30.

Is that lower than what you thought the mobile home was worth?!

For me, it sure was!

It would be reasonable to say that many Buyers and Sellers around the Gulf Coast of Florida are not aware of how to price their mobile homes or what a mobile home on leased land is really even worth. I believe it would also be fair to say that if we were going strictly by the book, most mobile homes in the area are grossly overpriced compared to that of the NADA guidebook.

I think that the lack of information available to so many Buyers and Sellers in the area provides the prices that we see today throughout the area of Florida where we work.

So, are the guidebooks right?

Well technically, yes, they are since again, we are dealing with personal property, just like an automobile and not real estate.

The next question would be, are all mobile homes that do not follow this guidebook pricing guide grossly overpriced?

Well, that’s up to you to decide.

You know as the old saying goes, something is only worth what someone else will pay for it.

Overpricing Your Mobile Home

Pricing your home high will usually result in your home sitting on the market longer, while the Seller continues to pay lot rent, utilities, taxes, and all other carrying costs associated with owning that property. These continued monthly payments will eat into your profit even if you sell the home for a higher price.

When buying a mobile home on leased land in Florida a Buyer or Seller does not need to report the sales price of a home to anyone. Many times this leads to no comparative pricing in the area for a mobile home. With this lack of information, we often see Sellers who are trying to sell their mobile homes themselves look online for their own comps on similar properties. The problem we see here is that most Sellers will compare their mobile home on leased land to that of a single-family home. The main issue here is that the Seller is comparing apples to oranges because a mobile home on leased land in Florida is personal property and not real estate.

Following this pricing guideline, we continue to see mobile homes sit on the market for extended periods of time because the home is considerably overpriced.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
How Long Are FSBO Mobile Homes Taking To Sell In Sarasota?
Are you trying to sell your mobile home in Sarasota yourself and are curious if the time that it’s taking to sell is normal?

Are you wondering about the selling market and how COVID-19 is affecting the buyers wanting to buy your home?

I understand your questions and realize that these are oftentimes concerns that many sellers have when beginning the journey of selling their mobile home, especially right now.

It is no secret that we are in a very unique and trying time when referring to COVID-19. As such, sellers need to be aware of how to best navigate the waters during all of this to get the most money for their home in the shortest amount of time.

We at the Mobile Home Dealer help sellers who have tried to sell their homes themselves with very little success and have been able to get them exactly where they want to go much faster.

Many times these sellers have not sold a mobile home before and are often confused about the process needing to be completed to get the most eyes on their home as fast as possible.

It is very common we see sellers putting out a for sale by owner sign outside of their home and are hoping that someone will eventually call, look at their home, set up a time to view it, and make an offer that the seller is willing to accept.

This is essentially where the marketing for the sale of their home begins and………… ends.

What is For Sale by Owner and what are its Pros and Cons?

Advantages of For Sale By Owner
1. You will have greater profits since the commissions that would correspond to the agent can be saved (without considering the value of your time in the entire sales process)
2. You can do things in your way, for example: publish your sale announcement wherever you want and whatever you want (but if you do not review it frequently, you will not find out that there are people interested in your property)
3. You will have the opportunity to work at your pace, without coordinating activities with third parties (anyway, that could make some potential clients lose).
4. You will be in charge of selling only one property, so you will have more time than an agent who has other properties to sell.
5. You can establish your own game rule (but not necessarily your rules are accepted by the potential buyer. Probably a professional broker could establish a balance point and get the sale to be made).
Disadvantages of For Sale By Owner
1. Selling a mobile home demands a lot of time and dedication. In addition to your daily activities, to achieve the sale, you will have to deal with all parts of the sales process.
2. Licensed mobile home agents such as The Mobile Home Dealer have multiple tools (contact networks, website, experience, market trajectory, etc.) that will allow you to find potential buyers.
3. The mobile home agent has sales strategies, useful and necessary to close a sale.
4. You can also provide advice. Negotiate and write contracts that you do not know.
5. If something in the operation goes wrong, you will always have a responsible firm to claim and demand a guarantee. If you were scammed by an individual, you would have no one to claim. And the cases of fraud are increasingly numerous. Do not put your mobile home at risk.
6. If you do not work with an agent, you will have to take care of the cumbersome process of paperwork, fees, payments, etc.
Although the sign method is a good, basic strategy that may have worked in the past, it should not be relied on now or in the future.

With the market changing due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, we are seeing more and more buyers buying mobile homes, sight unseen, through viewing the home solely online. The method for buyers finding homes online varies but it is safe to say that there are considerably fewer people driving around and calling for sale by owner signs right now.

With that being said, buyers like everyone else are more focused on their safety now than ever before, this caution translates to the buying of a mobile home as well.

Fewer buyers driving around looking for signs equals fewer eyes on your home.

Currently, we are seeing an uptick in how long it is taking sellers to sell their homes themselves. Right now it is taking eight to nine months for a seller to sell their home themselves. This amount of time is assuming the seller continues to keep the home up for sale the entire time and doesn’t get flustered and take the home totally off the market.

Eight to nine months of hoping the home sells on its own without any help from a professional brokerage firm is a long time, especially with each month that passes by, the seller has to pay lot rent, utilities, upkeep on the home, and taxes.

Not only is this a financial strain but it’s also an emotional one as well having to constantly put your life on hold in a hope that some buyer will eventually come by to see your home for sale.

I believe if you are looking to sell your home quickly and for the most money possible, you will want to look at working with a mobile home brokerage firm that specializes in selling homes fast for top dollar, especially during these unique times of COVID-19.

This is Mark Kaiser and we at the Mobile Home Dealer are happy to help you guide you through the process of selling your mobile home today.

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September 21, 2023
How Much Does It Cost To Sell Your Mobile Home Yourself In Sarasota?
When I was working through all my new leads this week, I made over 150 calls to mobile home sellers looking to sell their mobile homes themselves.

I found it very interesting, during all of these conversations, why sellers want to sell their homes themselves and how….. expensive it is to do that!

My team and I found these homes for sale by seeing the sellers’ For Sale By Owner signs in their front yards.

All of the 150 people I spoke with are trying to sell their homes themselves without the help of a licensed mobile home broker, such as the Mobile Home Dealer. The homes I called on are located in either Bradenton, Sarasota, or Venice, Florida.

During my conversations with all of these sellers, I found that essentially the sellers really had two concerns when working with a brokerage firm.

The first is the seller felt that they could do a broker’s job and marketing showing and giving their home enough exposure to sell, regardless of if they live in the state of Florida or not. The second concern the sellers had was the commission with the brokerage firm and how that amount of money would actually cost them more if they went to sell their home on their own. Most sellers were utilizing just their For Sale By Owner signs in their yards, with no paid advertising of any kind and no marketing to out-of-state buyers whatsoever.

All of the sellers I spoke to were hoping someone would drive by, see their sign, and make an offer that they were willing to accept for the sale of their home. Here at The Mobile Home Dealer, we do market locally, but our main focus is finding out-of-state buyers who are ready to move to Florida for the winter or for full-time living.

We do not wait for the buyer to find us. No. We find the buyer and bring them to the seller.

The seller’s next concern was the issue of cost and they felt a brokerage firm such as The Mobile Home Dealer would charge them more than what it would cost them to sell their home themselves.

Now, although I can appreciate the seller’s desire to save money, the numbers I will discuss with you next show that’s not a valid concern.

In Bradenton Florida, the mobile home park lot rent average is $513 per month. Bradenton sellers are averaging six months of listing their homes themselves without any assistance. Today on average, Bradenton sellers have spent $3,078 in trying to sell their homes themselves.

For Sarasota, mobile home park lot rent averages $837.33 per month. Sarasota sellers are averaging five months of their home being on the market without any assistance. Sarasota sellers have spent on average $4,186 in trying to sell their homes on their own.

Lastly, in Venice, mobile home park lot rent averages over $940 per month. Venice sellers’ homes have been on the market for over months without any selling assistance from a broker. Venice sellers are spending over $7,500 to date selling their homes themselves without the assistance of a mobile home broker.

To recap, when a seller is looking to sell their homes on their own, they are, on average, paying the following amounts to do so:

Bradenton $3,078, Sarasota $4,186, Venice over $7,500.

As trusted professionals who understand the market and the closing process, brokers are valuable partners to have when selling your mobile home.

Having said that, here are some of the advantages of hiring a brokerage firm like The Mobile Home Dealer when selling your mobile home.

Get significant exposure to your mobile home to unique and qualified buyers. Mobile home brokers like The Mobile Home Dealer use a number of marketing strategies both online and traditional to introduce your mobile home to the pool of qualified buyers. Exposure is the most important part of marketing your mobile home and without this, your mobile home may accumulate monthly lot rent payments without seeing a single buyer.

Another advantage is, that with a broker, there is someone to vet and filter buyers on your behalf. Doing it on your own without a broker, you could end up working with unqualified buyers who could waste your precious time and sabotage your chances of selling your mobile home.

A professional broker can obtain the highest possible price for your mobile home. There is a big difference between a buyer who is brought by the broker to your listing and a buyer who just appeared from nowhere. When a broker brings a buyer, he is ready to buy if he likes the mobile home. But if you are selling it by yourself, you could end up assisting people who just want to look around and are not real buyers.

I believe when you are looking to sell your mobile home and keep both costs and time down, you may want to look at a brokerage firm such as The Mobile Home Dealer that specializes in selling mobile homes on leased land to list your home for sale.

The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home broker in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please contact us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer. Our goal is to work with you in getting your mobile home sold quickly so you can begin living your best life, now.

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September 21, 2023