Tips for the Mobile Home Buyer in NSW

A case study of New South Wales

The real estate market in New South Wales is growing. There are many billboards that announce home sales in the NSW area with specific reference to mobile homes. The primary concern for the buyers is the affordability of the home. The aesthetic issues are of secondary importance in the mobile homes market. This is essentially a subprime sector and therefore market deals reign supreme. The client profile for these homes is varied ranging from the first time buyers to retirees. In all these instances people are trying to find accommodation at a reasonable price.

The mobile homes market in NSW has sometimes faced problems with rapid depreciation. As a case in point, a home that was bought for $15,000 in 2007 might go down to $13,000 a few months later. This reduction in value is due to a depression in the market price for the mobile home structure itself. Moreover there will be newer versions of the home and buyers will no longer be interested in old models. Sellers get round this problem by buying mobile homes that are attached to real estate. In most cases the real estate value is going to rise over time. That means that the mobile home is also gaining value in tandem.

Cautionary tips when buying used mobile homes in NSW

The building codes have significantly changed over time. That means that the older homes might not meet the standards that are expected by the modern mortgage companies. The mortgage providers tend to pull out of the deal if they feel that the mobile home does not meet the minimum standards that they expect in ordinary circumstances. A case in point is the banning of Aluminum wiring. The homes that were built before 1976 tend to have this material. Apart from the fire hazards, the use of this material can be very detrimental to the resale price of a mobile home in the NSW area.

Buyers need to be wary of mobile homes that are particularly old. The lending companies are normally very reluctant to put up funds for homes that are clearly beyond their "sell by" date. As a rule, the offer on the older homes has to start at the lowest level and then build momentum until it is within the acceptable range. Of course the private purchase that is paid for in cash will not face this problem. However there are the maintenance costs that are unavoidable. The insurance costs will also be significantly higher with older homes.

There are some danger signs that must not be ignored including wavy walls or door frames that are crooked. The conclusion that can be drawn from these signs is that the home is settling in an irregular pattern. Stains are indicative of the fact that the mobile home may be subject to leaks. These problems are best identified at the start so that solutions can be quickly found. The new home will not have these problems but the initial cost might be a bit too daunting.



Mobile homes sale in NSW are done through internet, newspaper etc. Coastal houses in NSW have a lot of money involved in it.