I Retired in a Mobile Home: Why It’s the Best Real Estate Decision I Ever Made

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When you think about retirement living, what comes to mind? Downsizing to a smaller house? Moving into one of those fancy senior living places? Well, not for Lisa Jackson. The retired engineer had a different idea. She decided to pursue her lifelong dream of traveling the United States on wheels — selling her house and buying a mobile home. At first, she was apprehensive about such a big purchase as a single woman in her late 60s, but then she thought: “This is my dream, and I better go for it.”

Here’s why buying a mobile home is the best real estate decision she ever made.

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Not What You’d Expect

“When I first told my kids I was going to retire in a mobile home, they thought I’d lost it,” Lisa said. “They were like, ‘Mom, seriously? A trailer park?’ But I knew what I was doing. I’d looked into it. For me, it made sense.”

Lisa had done her research and knew she could live on her budget in a trailer park for most of the year — and use some of the leftover money to buy a smaller RV so she could travel for the other part of the year. She didn’t need a ton of room or have that much stuff. She traded her large mortgage for a smaller lot rent (and the open road!), and is much happier for it.

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More Money in Her Pocket

“The reason I decided to go for a mobile home-and-RV lifestyle was not only the freedom, but the price,” Lisa said. “I sold my house at a nice profit and was able to buy my mobile home and my RV straight out with just part of the money. No more mortgage! Hallelujah!”

And because she’s not shelling out a huge chunk of her money on housing every month, Lisa’s got more cash to play with. She can do the things she loves, like traveling and other hobbies, without stressing about bills.

Friends Everywhere

Lisa has done the unusual thing of expanding her friend group in her older age. “What I really love about living in a retirement-focused trailer park is the people,” Lisa shared. “We just got so close, so fast!” She added that they’ve become not only her movie-night companions, but also road buddies. “I’ve been to Joshua Tree, Yellowstone and the coasts of Oregon with some of these people!”

Plus, the freedom of a mobile home lets her visit her friends and family all over the United States. “I reconnected with a friend from high school and now we’re swapping recipes,” she said.

Easy Living

Lisa also loves the fairly easy upkeep of a mobile home — especially compared to a full house. “I don’t have to deal with a lot of the headaches that come with a regular house,” she said. “If something big breaks, it’s on the park to handle it.”

That means Lisa’s got more time and energy for the good stuff. She can putter in her garden, catch up on her reading and hang with her pals without worrying about fixing a leaky roof.

Not What You’d Think

Lisa is aware of some of the stigma mobile homes and trailer parks have — and she thinks it’s silly and short-signed. “Some people seem to think they’re only for low-income people or that they’re all run-down,” she said. “But that’s just not true. My place is great, my neighbors are awesome and I’m a short drive away from pretty much everything I need.”

No Regrets

“Excuse my French, but I freaking love my mobile home! It’s easily the best housing move I ever made,” Lisa said. “I have financial freedom, an amazing community and a life that fits me perfectly.”

For Lisa, retiring in a mobile home isn’t settling. It’s finding what works for her and going for it 100%.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Retired in a Mobile Home: Why It’s the Best Real Estate Decision I Ever Made