Manufactured homes for buy and hold

[Sean Johnson]

The numbers on a couple manufactured homes I am looking at are great.  But they were built in the early 90s.  I worry that if I hold on to them for 10-20 years, they may literally fall apart and then I am just left with a big mess and a pot of land.

Has anyone had experience with buy and hold investing of manufactured homes?  Is the potentially shorter life span worth the good monthly cash flow?  

I am thinking maybe pick a couple up to capitalize on them for a few years then try to sell?

Thanks in advance for your help

[Rachel H.]

@Sean Johnson With homes that old, yes you'll have to replace a few items...eventually. But just like a single-family home, mobile homes are the same way. There will be wear and tear. Items you'll need to factor in are: roof (metal is great), heating and air conditioning units, hot water heater, plumbing and cosmetic items. Another thing you'll need to deal with are finding contractors who work specifically on mobile homes. Not all contractors work on mobile homes. I've found this out through experience. There are some who specialize just on mobile homes and those who do not work on them. It's a very specific niche. If you buy manufactured homes in a park, then you can use the park manager and/or owner as a resource for referrals. Hope that helps!