Attention: Historic Side Homeowners

[mgjim]

I am getting close to making a purchase decision in TV and I would really like to gather some opinions on the homes in the historic neighborhoods. My budget constantly draws me back to these homes but, being unfamiliar with manufactured homes, I have lots of questions. Your willingness to share your experience will help me settle.

1. Do you find your manufactured home to be well constructed compared to stick built homes/
2. Is your home as quiet as a traditionally built home?
3. Are your utility costs higher due to the construction techniques used?
4. Do you have any unusual pest problems in a manufactured home (unusual for Florida, that is)?
5. Is your manufactured home big enough for you? I see that they run anywhere from around 672 square feet to over 1400 square feet. I’ll be living alone and think between 900 and 1100 square feet will be plenty. Would you prefer more or less room that you currently have?
6. Are there any add-ons to a basic manufactured home that you think are essential (i.e. climate controlled lanai, golf car garage, outdoor patio, etc.?
7. I saw one home on my last visit that had mold growth in an add-on garage. Is this a particular problem with manufactured homes or just a fact of life in Florida?

I’m sure I’ll have a lot more questions once I see a few more homes but thank you for your responses.

[2BNTV]

bump

[dsned]

Insurance is the biggest problem, don't buy a home 1985 or older, you can't insure it. Otherwise the historic side is really a happening place. Very friendly! Go ahead and buy the warranty for the first year anyway. good luck

[dalecrenshaw]

We have a manufactured home on the historic side. 1100 sf is plenty for the 2 of us, but what helps is we have a large screened in porch where we sit in the early evening. before going in to watch TV. I would say that is the biggest benefit. Gives the feeling of more space and it is a place to get some outdoor air, without the bugs. We like it better than a climate controlled lanai (why have 2 living spaces). Outdoor patios that aren't screened are kind of useless considering all the bugs in Florida.

Also, I would look for a home that has a newer roof or roof-over, newer A/C and appliances. And a golf cart garage is nice, but not a neccessity, if you have a carport big enough for your car and golf cart.

[rjm1cc]

I would make the purchase contingent on a home inspector review. Your contract to purchase would say all repairs suggested by the home inspector over $x dollars will be made prior to settlement, or the price adjusted etc. At any rate you have the right to void the contract. You should expect some items need repair. if the roof is 25 years old then you should know you need a new one and this would not be part of the x dollars. You would plan on putting in the new roof on the day you moved in. Thus keep this in mind when you make your offer to buy.
I do not know about the quality of construction, but just because it is a manufactured home does not mean that the construction was not as good as a stick built home constructed in the same year.
Again, you need a professional building inspector to guide you.

[njbchbum]

beyond the advice already provided - I think you would want to make sure that the current code for tie downs has been met so that they are current. a home inspector will pick that up in a flash - and unnecessary if the homeowner has evidence of same.

our manufactured home is 950 or so sq ft and comfortable for our snowbird nest - would want more sq ft if we were permanent residents or would be comfortable for a single person.

the house is well insulated and cozy on winter nites and cool on the hot nites. we have acrylic windows on the lanai and no climate control other than opening/closing the windows - it is great for a couple who appreciates not having temps often dip into the 30's - we're not limited to 3-season use.

re quiet - all is quiet except for when the landscapers are around and unless one has neighbors who have noisy pets or loud tv/radio on their lanai.

we will be adding a golf cart garage this season - for add'l storage area and the security it offers when we are not here. do not anticipate a mold prob since there is no mold prob in the current storage/laundry area.

as far as comparing it to stick bulit home - can't really offer an opinion since I don't spend much time in them when here and the ones I have been in do not compare to the construction up north!

and any comparison of utility costs is futile since so much depends on how hot/cold one likes their interior, which cable/tv/phone service is chosen, who is the lawn/landscape service, yada, yada, yada. but I can offer that I don't think those decisions differ depending on whether one lives on the historic side or not.

and one of the best things that the historic side has to offer [in my mind anyway] is the tranquility of not having shopping centers or a morse/buena vista blvd running thru it! walking and bike riding here are a pleasure due to the lack of traffic. our pools are open later than others and we have a hot tub at one of the adult pools here - other villagers come her to enjoy it since they are not found elsewhere. and we have a brick and mortar post office here that others sections of the villages do not have [and the main post office bldg. is a short drive away by car.

what do we have in common with other villages here? - you will have great neighbors wherever you decide to purchase!

[gocubsgo]

We have a manufactured home in Silver Lake. Ours is 1280 sq ft and it is an open floor plan. The only issues we have had over the 3 years we've been here is the windows (which we replaced. If the original windows are still in the home, get rid of them as your energy bills will skyrocket) and the fact that they dent easily if you have a lawn mowing service that hits them. Make sure those pipes have been replaced and the fittings they used are metal and not plastic, otherwise they will leak and burst. We just recently replaced out kitchen cabinets and are currently putting in a wood floor to replace the carpet.
The trees are full grown and there is a lot more space in between the houses than on the south side. However, there are more elderly residents here so if you are a younger Villager, you'll find it hard to locate someone your age in the neighborhood.

[mgjim]

Thanks for all the great comments. It looks like I'm on the right track and it sounds like I'll have some great neighbors once I move.