How to Buy a Furnished Mobile Home

Purchase a furnished mobile home to avoid part of the decorating process.

The term "furnished" may mean different things to different people. For some "furnishings" refer to basic amenities, such as a kitchen table and a bed. To others, a furnished mobile home comes completely decorated. Express your needs to your salesperson, or search for key words in real estate listings.

Locate

Contact a real estate brokerage. Request an agent who specializes in mobile home sales. For newly manufactured mobile homes, visit or call a mobile home dealer. Alternatively, if purchasing a mobile home in an area other than your own, search private party listings on the website of the town's newspaper.

Benefits

Part-time residents do not need to shop for items in order to move in. Furniture keeps a potential landlord competitive. A furnished home easily attracts vacationers, college students and contract workers staying in town for a few months

Financing

Most mortgage lenders will not extend credit for furniture. For older furniture, the contract may describe items as property left behind strictly for the convenience of both buyer and seller to avoid attaching furniture to the home mortgage. Seller and buyer may also exchange cash for furniture. For new furniture, a furniture shop working in partnership with the mobile home seller may extend credit.

Considerations

The location of the mobile home and the home's floor plan outweigh the appeal of a decorating style. If you will reside part-time in the home, find a furniture store with a location in your hometown as well as near the mobile home. Alternatively, contact companies that run local estate sales or auctions. Often complete bedroom sets or dining room sets are available for a fraction of the cost of new items.

Final Inspection

Inspect the mobile home just prior to the final purchase. Check the inventory list of furnishings. Bring any discrepancies to the attention of the agent or seller.

References

• Kentucky.gov: Mobile homes
• The New York Times: YOUR SECOND HOME; When Furniture Is Included