Tag: #LivingTinyHome

I’m not sure why manufactured or modular homes are such a topic for criticism? When I moved to Colorado, I had no idea what to expect. After about 5 minutes worth of driving main street in the new town I now call home (not for the fact that I only spent 5 minutes, but because the main street is all of 7 blocks, expanding 3-5 blocks on either side to encompass town), I realized the dire need for housing. It’s Colorado. Like my home state–people are flocking to the mountain towns. It’s expensive to live here and the inventory for stick-built homes is next to none.

I found the mobile home park (mhp) and I made my first phone call to a local. Needless to say, I moved to a high mountain town–elevation of 8000 feet–the first of October. Because I got into town late afternoon, my work said I could spend a few nights dry camping in the parking lot. Cool. Except the first night was a crazy blizzard thunder storm and I woke up to single digits with about 6 inches of snow! The mhp manager was hesitant to let me winter in a camper, but his wife saw something in me that said “survivor.” I am a survivor, but I think in that moment I was in a desperate ‘fake it til you make it’ mode. They approved and I moved onto lot 11 which eventually became my first home. Almost 2 years later, with no luck finding a marketable home, I bought a used manufactured home about 2 hours away in Wyoming.

I’m fairly familiar with mobile homes. I was born and raised in one in my very early childhood. My parents bought their now home when I was about 4 years old. And that begin the renovation childhood with my Dad. I have fond, but faint, memories in that mobile home. It was the typical long corridor of tight spaces and separated rooms. The manufactured home I purchased in Colorado was a a 2006 and did not feel like a manufacture home inside! It’s a great opportunity for couples who are just trying to start a family, change a career–or singles who are wanting to buy their first home without breaking the bank in the old fashion “American Dream.”

Just like any home, this is an investment. You do you–if you’re just needing something temporary, or just want to set it in a mobile home park and that’s it, or that’s all you can afford, then do so. However, lot rent is ridiculous in Colorado–into the thousands per month in a lot of places!! You’re not saving, and you’re losing investment opportunities!

The investment piece is where some go wrong. First and foremost, plan to install a foundation under the manufacture or modular home–right off the bat (if you own the land/lot). It’ll likely come out of your own pocket, but it’s worth the investment. Then, go straight to the county and get the home rolled over to a permanently fixed home. Once that’s approved through the state (requirements are different for each state), the home is no different than a stick built home in valuation! Where manufactured homes depreciate is when it is not affixed to the lot/land via permanent foundation. It’s also useful for selling it–as it opens up loan opportunities for the buyer. When I sold this property, I nearly quadrupled the sale tag from what I purchased it for!

Great story about the locals. Once the home was moved, set on the lot, foundation installed and leveled, I was the one who had to hook up the utilities and skirt it. So, I did what I could–and the water was easy. So I thought. I wrenched and turned on the water valve to get it to open into the house with no luck. Figuring something was wrong–I called the local plumber. He’s a rather quiet guy, but was patient and listened and watched as I tried to open the valve. With little effort, he opened it right up and looked at me and responded, “Is that all you needed?” Haha, I’m still in touch to this day–and I still owe that bloody mary I offered from that memory!

About 8 months after purchasing the home, the park manager offered the lot underneath it for a reasonable price. So, under $50,000 total, I owned a home and the lot underneath it!

The first thing I did when I got the home set up? Paint! It is absolutely amazing how paint can spruce up a room. It’s cheap and it takes only a day or a weekend. I had already been addicted to Pinterest! There were many things, on the dime mind you, that I wanted to try.

I started on the master bathroom. And jeesh! I made a ton of mistakes! Read on into the next post to hear of my first DIY’s in my first, new home! X

The Nomad Camp. The healing from heartbreak. A detail on a wild land fire hotshot crew with amazing people who helped life me up. The friends I made who have become anchors of support and remind me to live a little. My redefined relationship with my family. My journey for holistic healing was being laid before my–still fairly blinded–eyes. The two years after heartbreak that shattered a lot of superficial value and beliefs I had of the world and my world, Divine intervention was giving me these tools to build strength for the near future endeavors.

One of this endeavors was accepting a Crew Lead position states away from Oregon. I was going back home to the Rocky Mountains. Colorado and Oregon had always been places of curiosity for very different reasons. And, Colorado was my next destination, but not without a crazy, left field decision on my lifestyle. I wanted to start completely over–minimize my tangibles and maximize quality memories. I traded in my vehicles for a Nissan Titan, sold almost everything, and bought a camper to turn tiny home. Needless to say, I do things big–so I accepted the position in Colorado without much for research and landed myself in a small town on the northern Colorado border. At 8,000 feet in elevation with starkly different climate from Bend, and a future of opportunities.

Have you tried living in a tiny home? Been in a camper for a weekend? For those gypsy souls who can contently live in a space smaller than a typical livingroom–kudos! The camper I renovated was 25 feet total (including the tongue). One slide out to accommodate the dining area, a gas oven/stove, electric hot water heater–and two rambunctious dogs to share it all with. The small town I live in is, well, small. Like, it doesn’t even hit 1000 population in the whole county small! To add, it’s at least 60 miles from any city that has amenities aside from the bare basics with a few okay restaurants (foods great, but there’s always a struggle in small towns for employees, thus, service and pricing. This is by no means a dig on those restaurants–this is the reality of living in a small town).

Did I mention it’s also high elevation? Winters can be brutal! I had no idea what I was getting into moving here. Renting was (and is) almost impossible when I pulled in after my long haul from Oregon on October, 2017. I decided to camp out in the dry (packed with my life, mind you) camper in a parking lot the first night. I went to be with pleasant and mild last Fall weather…I woke up with about 6 inches of snow and below 0º temperatures! I was striking out left and right trying to figure out my living situation; and I was up against the wintery jack frost racing in for the winter.

By the grace of God, the trailer park had an open lot and the owner hesitantly let me rent it out for the winter. This couple became my savior as they gained more trust with my survival skills and supported me to the day that I bought that lot from them (another post). My father, who absolutely and unapologetically disagreed with my decision to stay in the camper for the winter, came down with my brother to help me insulate and skirt underneath the camper. It was cozy. It was hooked up to the lot amenities (water, electric, and sewer) and the local propane company dropped off a tank, helped me change adaptors and hooked the camper up. Small town manners are something to note. They may mind their own business, or get into your business, and sometimes to a point it can be isolating or invasive. Yet, when there comes a time for the community to pitch in and help, there are no questions asked!

It was an adjustment living in a camper. The water line had to have a pressure reducer. I couldn’t, heh-hmmmm, drain the black tanks but once a week with a thorough flush in the toilet. I had an oil heater with a thermostat under the camper for those frigid nights and stuffed most the windows with bubble wrap. The more I’m conjuring up memories, the more I smile while writing this. It was a fun adventure! Different. Challenging. I was a pioneer on the frontier alpine lands and I did my best to survive. I’d bake or cook to add the extra heat. Showers were ultra quick (thank goodness for my forgiving course, curly hair). It was a life of a minimalist to the extreme–which I still to this day appreciate. However, it wasn’t the ideal life (in my opinion) for the isolated town with unforgiving climate. Nor was it the lifestyle I needed at this point in my life. I needed room. Room to exercise. Room to lay on the floor; snuggle and play with the dogs. A great experience, but something I could do as a snow bird for a few months–probably not permanently. I was starting to nest. I wanted to find a place to put roots down 🙂

Nonetheless, as I said before, I had to make it a cozy home! I knew I wanted to manifest this camper/tiny home into an asset, not a forever. So, I went creative. I also went on a budget. Another thing to keep in mind with any home on wheels is weight. The axles, how many? Tires–psi and max load. Not your typical home. I had to get savvy!

Within a year, I bought a home. I’ll describe the home later–as I don’t want to skew you in any direction. My! How does one think they can even afford a house on a single income these days?!? Anywhere and especially in Colorado?!?!

Once again, I didn’t think I’d be sharing my creations with the world, so photos are subpar. I hope they give you an idea of what I love to do with my imagination and my hands! It took me about three years to finish the camper before I sold it to a wonderful family that drove away with it and huge smiles on their faces.

I’ll create another follow up for the details on this savvy, cozy camper I made a home and the affiliate links for you to get savvy and creative.