Do I rent an apartment or buy a mobile home? What’s the best long term solution since I am 72?

A

Aneeda72

Well-known Member
I simply can’t decide. I am too emotional right now to be making decisions, yet I have to make decisions. There are pros and cons of for both places. It’s my husband, me, and a standard poodle and a 6 month old lab.

Second question: should I rehome grace, our lab puppy if we decide on the apartment?

Need advice.
 

Only you and your husband can make these decisions.

In my case, I would view selling a house and buying a mobile home as trading one burden for another. If those were my only choices I would keep the house and stay put.

I choose to live in an apartment so I don't have to deal with any upkeep or maintenance. If my health declines or my financial situation changes, I can move quickly with minimal effort and expense.

Good luck to you and your family.
 
Agree with Aunt Bea. Pros/cons pertinent only to your situation. For what it's worth, DW and I plan on selling our home in the next 5 years and going to an apartment for exactly what Aunt Bea stated. This will 'force' us to unburden ourselves and toss, recycle, donate all the things associated with the house.
 

i guess i am different---i prefer a mobile home where you have a front and back door---a small yard to take care of-in apartment -to me is too confining
 
Aneeda72 said:
It’s my husband, me, and a standard poodle and a 6 month old lab....Second question: should I rehome grace, our lab puppy if we decide on the apartment?...
Click to expand...
Answer to 2nd question: If you are going to be SUPER fit, super patient, and wealthy enough to pay for Vet expenses and training for the next 15 years then I would say "keep him". Some can grow quite large, heavy, and hyper. Hyper is usually caused by not getting enough exercise. And that's whether you live in a house or apartment. A comfy little stroll around the block isn't going to do it. A small yard isn't going to do it. A dog park might work if it's big and lots of playful friendly dogs there.

Cesar Milan recommends when your lab is hyper, to get on a skateboard, on a hill, hold him on a leash, and let him run with you while you hold on for dear life :laugh:. He actually does just that but he's a strong man who is also fearless and a little crazy.

At 70, if you have health issues that keep you from "running with wolves", you should focus on a small quiet lap dog that you have no trouble picking up. It can't be a barker if you're in an apartment.
 
Lara, I am leaning towards re homing grace as well. If she were older it would be different but a large puppy needs room. Sigh. You points are very valid.

The mobile looks good to me since it would have a small yard. I would like a place to put my flowers and yard statues, lol. Plus lot rent will raise slower than apartment rent. Can’t stay in the house as it is multi-level. He should have listened to me, but never has never does.

With our “luck” we would buy a mobile home and they would sell the park. Ugh. This is so hard!
 
If you buy a mobile home, you still have to pay ground rent, at least here in England you do. You are only buying the home, not the ground it stands on. With two dogs, the apartment would not be practical, so go for the mobile home.
 
I agree with Aunt Bea, the best long term solution in your situation would be an apartment, and I really don't like apartments, but sometimes at our age they can be a plus. Honestly, whether you had an apartment or mobile home, you would have to walk the dogs a couple of times as day for exercise. Some mobile home parks have units really close to each other and not much yard space, you can't have a fenced yard for the dogs.

You won't be able to just let the dogs roam free in a park. It would be a shame to have to rehome Grace, that is a decision you really should think about and make on your own, she may be happier with a younger family that would take her on long hikes or trips to the beach, but I'm sure she'll miss you. If you do rehome her, please take the extra care to be absolutely sure that the folks who take her have a yard for her and really want a dog to be part of the family and give her plenty of love and good care.

Good luck in whatever you choose, don't rush too quickly in your decision.
 
Long term in your situation I’d go with renting an apartment and rehoming Grace.

Dogs take a lot of maintenance and you have mentioned many times how much your body aches so having a large dog that doesn’t get walked everyday, isn’t fair to either of you. Also when larger dogs get old and start having problems with their back legs, it’s difficult watching them without being able to pick them up and help them out. When they are this big you can’t help and it’s heartbreaking to deal with. You can always get a small lap dog later if you miss pet companionship.

Mobile homes are almost always on leased land so you only own the mobile home. Mobile homes depreciate faster than other homes, although like yourself, I really like them.

With an apartment, if something goes wrong, it’s NOT your responsibility to fix it; it’s theirs. In your situation , this is really important to consider. Moving into an apartment is a long term plan whereas a mobile home is a step between , in my opinion.

Good luck whatever you choose
 
Well, I thought about what everyone has said, and I was half way to the reality of re homing grace already. It would be different if she wasn’t a puppy and didn’t love being in our yard but she is and does. Unfair to lock her up into an apartment or a mobile home.

Koda, on the other hand, while 20 months old, never met a sidewalk he’d like to walk on. He and my husband are well matched, both like to move as little as possible. Both like to eat a lot. Both like watching cowboys together and taking naps. Both only get up to potty, then back on their butts.

I spoke to the trainer Grace is with now. He has a friend who is looking for a dog, his wife died recently and he is lonely. He said he could afford to pay 400 or 500. I said no, of course. Members of the family are not for sale. If it is a good fit, she will go to him. He lives out in the country near the trainer. She will love it there.

Not having grace lets me look at senior apartments or mobile home parks which would be a better fit in our circumstances. With me already disabled and so many unknowns with the husband. Plus the senior ones are a bit cheaper. Plus I’ll have company in a senior place which will be nice.
 
Please do not get a mobile home. Tornadoes are drawn to them. Buy you a condo where pets are allowed. You have to pu their poop when walked outside but we have several stations with bags for the owner's convenience. My parents had a mobile home and it was so expensive to cool in the summers and heat in the winter. After their deaths we sold it asap as none of is wanted the expense of it . Every time we were under a tornado watch we worried about them as they are magnets for tornadoes!
 
About 25 years ago, when I was still single, I moved from an apartment to a double sized mobile home. I had the advantage of an inheritance from my dad, which allowed me to pay for the home in full. So my only monthly payments were, and have been my lot rent and utilities. No property taxes, as I live in a park.
Things to consider. What is their pet policy? Some only allow a set number of dogs or cats. In my park it is 2. They plow the road, but we are responsible for driveway, sidewalk shoveling, and mowing our own lawn. In my case, a neighbor does it for me.
I pay electric and propane charges. Park pays water and garbage.
Also in my case, my monthly expenses are less than an apartment. So you want to compare the two. If you have any specific questions about mobile home living, send me a message.
The final decision is yours and your husband, but at least you know you can ask me questions, if you want.
 
When we lived in AZ we had a one story townhouse condo. Because it was a condo, the association did all the outside maintenance. That included roof, paint, landscaping,etc. There were a few in the neighborhood that were available for rent. Most were owner occupied.

It was a 55+ community.
 
Thanks guys, but don’t want to buy a condo or townhome. They are as much as a house and my son would have to get rid of it when we died. Mobile homes are like cars, easy to transfer.
 
My concern for renting and mobil home parks is neighbors. Renting puts you at the mercy of who moves in every so often. Mobil home parks vary but I would insist on one that is higher in price as it weeds out the so-called trailer trash.
 
fmdog44 said:
My concern for renting and mobil home parks is neighbors. Renting puts you at the mercy of who moves in every so often. Mobil home parks vary but I would insist on one that is higher in price as it weeds out the so-called trailer trash.
Click to expand...

I agree. When I was looking for a park for my home, I went to visit 3 before deciding on where to go. I based my choice on location, how the homes and yards looked and lot rent. I have not been disappointed with my personal choice.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I choose to live in an apartment so I don't have to deal with any upkeep or maintenance. If my health declines or my financial situation changes, I can move quickly with minimal effort and expense.
Click to expand...

Same situation here. ... all the same reasons.

I'm on my own now, and learning how to make decisions for myself. Not as terrible as I thought it would be. And surprisingly, apartment living came easy to me after over 50 years of home ownership.
 
If you look for over 55 Apts, take a long thorough look! The ads make them look like an endless luau, but not so. I lived in one for 3 years after the all ages apt I loved changed hands & things went sour. The over 55 was nice & well kept with pool & all, but some of the residents were really depressing to be around: they would get lost, let their little dogs poo in the halls, walk outside in ratty bathrobes, & one sad soul who let his catheter bag hang down outside his shorts. And the asst living one I was in getting over my broken leg was all that in spades.
Moved back onto mixed age after I got out of asst liv & really like it.
 
I hadn’t considered the too old group in senior apartments. Ugh. Very good point.

Husband is pushing for an apartment, so I asked him if he wants an apartment so much why did we have to buy the house. Because, he says, I wanted too and you agreed. No, I didn’t. I reminded him of the circumstances and how nasty he was cause he hated the apartment. Oh, yeah. Well, he says now I want to move back to an apartment. Why?

Cause I do. He does because, as I point out to him, he didn’t care if I had trouble with stairs, but now that he has trouble with stairs and he has to do yard work cause I can’t, he wants to move. He doesn’t want the mobile home, mostly because I want it. It’s called oppositional defiance disorder. Which docs now agree he has, along with other issues.

Daughter thinks we need the mobile, son doesn’t care. Looks like the apartment is going to win. Now have to take and think about everyone’s opinion on what type of apartment. Thought senior would be nice, but maybe not. Sigh.
 
But the committee thinks of things you might not of thought of and is, therefore, very helpful. Due to my husband’s attitude and what people have written, we will start with the apartment. It makes sense as we could always buy a mobile later. Also, it might make sense to rent here in the north, and buy a mobile home in St George for weekends.

The whole family could use a place to get away. The mobile could go in my husband’s name and son’s name so no title issues when we die. And I could go down and stay there, if I wanted a break from the winters up here, hmm. Something to put on the wishful thinking list.

As should I have married A or B, I should have become a nun.
 
Aneeda72 said:
But the committee thinks of things you might not of thought of and is, therefore, very helpful. Due to my husband’s attitude and what people have written, we will start with the apartment. It makes sense as we could always buy a mobile later. Also, it might make sense to rent here in the north, and buy a mobile home in St George for weekends.

The whole family could use a place to get away. The mobile could go in my husband’s name and son’s name so no title issues when we die. And I could go down and stay there, if I wanted a break from the winters up here, hmm. Something to put on the wishful thinking list.

As should I have married A or B, I should have become a nun.
Click to expand...
I repeat: YOU have to live with the decision.
 
Aneeda72 said:
I hadn’t considered the too old group in senior apartments. Ugh. Very good point.

Husband is pushing for an apartment, so I asked him if he wants an apartment so much why did we have to buy the house. Because, he says, I wanted too and you agreed. No, I didn’t. I reminded him of the circumstances and how nasty he was cause he hated the apartment. Oh, yeah. Well, he says now I want to move back to an apartment. Why?

Cause I do. He does because, as I point out to him, he didn’t care if I had trouble with stairs, but now that he has trouble with stairs and he has to do yard work cause I can’t, he wants to move. He doesn’t want the mobile home, mostly because I want it. It’s called oppositional defiance disorder. Which docs now agree he has, along with other issues.

Daughter thinks we need the mobile, son doesn’t care. Looks like the apartment is going to win. Now have to take and think about everyone’s opinion on what type of apartment. Thought senior would be nice, but maybe not. Sigh.
Click to expand...

I would be looking for two apartments! :):playful::eek:nthego:
 
Geezerette said:
If you look for over 55 Apts, take a long thorough look! The ads make them look like an endless luau, but not so. I lived in one for 3 years after the all ages apt I loved changed hands & things went sour. The over 55 was nice & well kept with pool & all, but some of the residents were really depressing to be around: they would get lost, let their little dogs poo in the halls, walk outside in ratty bathrobes, & one sad soul who let his catheter bag hang down outside his shorts. And the asst living one I was in getting over my broken leg was all that in spades.
Moved back onto mixed age after I got out of asst liv & really like it.
Click to expand...


My over 55 isn't that 'relaxed' ..lol .. People here seem to keep it together, maybe because most aren't here with any major health issues.
I find it to be a fun environment. Maybe just lucky, but I love my neighbors.
 


Back
Top