https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5827-Cove-Landing-Rd-APT-201-Burke-VA-22015/51893926_zpid/

I think I could downsize to something like this—tax plus HOA would be under $6k per year, which is even cheaper than renting land for a mobile home. Am I missing anything?

OP just rent somewhere with a LCO. If you're looking to downsize a mobile home might not be the best fit with the upkeep. A nice building in a LCOL area is much easier to deal with than a mobile home.

Anonymous wrote:Buy land in WV, and put mobile house on it.

This is the way. Park a mobile home on some land somewhere cheap.

Buy land in WV, and put mobile house on it.

12:44 poster....Buy a doublewide in Georgetown Delaware or buy a Nanticoke home in Georgetown Delaware.

Buy a mobile home in Georgetown Delaware.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would just rent a small apartment. Zero maintenance. No taxes.

In the long run, renting usually costs more than owning- otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for landlords. With a mobile home, there’s no monthly rent, only lower costs like property tax and other fees. It’s hard to find a decent apartment for under $2,000 a month, which adds up to about $24,000 a year. In comparison, owning a mobile home should cost way less than $5,000 per year (not including the upfront purchase).

You rent the land.

Anonymous wrote:You rent the land in mobile parks. So you probably pay $100,000 for the single wide and pay $1000 per month rent for the land it is sitting on. You don't own the land for $100,000. You can buy land and put a mobile home on there, but land is expensive.

Wow, land rent is expensive - I forgot about that.

Anonymous wrote:I would just rent a small apartment. Zero maintenance. No taxes.

In the long run, renting usually costs more than owning- otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense for landlords. With a mobile home, there’s no monthly rent, only lower costs like property tax and other fees. It’s hard to find a decent apartment for under $2,000 a month, which adds up to about $24,000 a year. In comparison, owning a mobile home should cost way less than $5,000 per year (not including the upfront purchase).

You rent the land in mobile parks. So you probably pay $100,000 for the single wide and pay $1000 per month rent for the land it is sitting on. You don't own the land for $100,000. You can buy land and put a mobile home on there, but land is expensive.

I would just rent a small apartment. Zero maintenance. No taxes.

OP here.

Fairfax: If a single-wide costs less than $100K, then the annual property tax would be under $1,112, correct? That seems much better than condo HOA fees.

https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/taxes/real-estate/tax-rates

Anonymous wrote:I would rethink this if not trolling, OP.

Of course not trolling—I'm seriously considering downsizing my living space to avoid high property taxes and rising homeowner’s insurance. I live alone anyway.

I would rethink this if not trolling, OP.

I’ve been thinking about downsizing from a single-family home after retirement—or even before, since I live alone. If I move into a mobile home park, would I have an official residential address for a tiny home in that type of setup (for tax purposes, online orders, etc.)?

My main goal is to significantly reduce costs like property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and maintenance. Moving to a condo or apartment could also mean high HOA fees, and I’m concerned about noise from neighbors.


AI Source:
Single-wide mobile homes around Washington, DC, are best placed in established manufactured housing communities in suburban Maryland (Prince George’s/Montgomery Counties) or Northern Virginia (Fairfax/Loudoun Counties) for commuter access. Top areas include communities in Laurel, Bowie, Gaithersburg, and Woodbridge, which offer affordable alternatives close to the city.
Top Areas and Parks to Consider

• Prince George’s County, MD: Known for more affordable, accessible options closer to DC, including areas around Laurel.
• Montgomery County, MD: Look near Germantown and Gaithersburg for options offering public transport (MARC train) to DC.
• Northern Virginia: Areas like Woodbridge or Fredericksburg are popular.
• Specific Parks: Options in the area include Waples Mobile Home Park

Key Considerations for Placement

• Zoning: Strict zoning regulations exist. Focus on areas that allow manufactured housing rather than trying to place a single-wide on private land in strict, high-density residential areas.
• Commute: Germantown (MD) is praised for its balance of affordability and access via I-270/MARC train.
• Alternative Solutions: In some cases, small manufactured homes can be part of denser "in-fill" scenarios or older rural developments in suburban areas. [1, 4, 5, 8, 9]

Always confirm park rules and local municipal zoning laws regarding the size and age of the single-wide unit, as these vary significantly by county. [5]