Res Ipsa Loquitur

I remember about 4 years ago when Huckabee moved into a special double wide trailer while they worked on the Governor's Mansion. I think the Today Show did a walk-thru of it.

Prolly so. He milked that one for all it was worth and more.

How could you possibly have MORE trailer parks in Arkansas? Isn't that like trying to have more water in the Pacific?

Right you are, Keith.

I like to call them 'extruded homes'.

Slightly off the above subject in that it doesn't even mention trailer houses, but have you read "Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place" by Terry Tempest Williams? I know you are probably too busy for pleasure reading, but just a thank you for the books you suggested to me.

I haven't read it, but I'll look for it. Thanks! You're right, I don't get to read much right now besides textbooks. But I'll be getting some books for our Jamaica trip for airplane reading. I don't have Mike's ability to sleep through the entire flight, so I usually tote 2-3 books to pass the time.

Heh. While you make a funny point, I actually agree with the Congressman.

But I live in a large manufactured home, also known as a "manufactured home." It's a hell of a step up from a cheap apartment, let me tell you. At least this thing belongs to us, and is pretty damned big. :-)

Hey I've lived in trailers before, and it was better than the alternative, which was living in my car. But the problem is, besides that this is Tornado Alley, for another $10K-20K or so, most people who buy trailers here could buy a house...at least in the rural areas. I'd rather see the congressman direct his efforts towards finding more financing for affordable housing, which would presumably appreciate in value.

I agree, Rita.

Practically any mortgage on a manufactured home looks like predatory lending -- people take out loans for higher interest rates than would be conscionable on a house, for a home that will never appreciate in value. They generally are instantly upside down, because of the amount they have to pay to get the thing parked.

Mobile homes can be good investments in certain situations; however, I don't think there's often a good reason to borrow money to buy one.

Finally, that "red tape" is generally consumer protection law; stuff that is probably even more important than ever for low-income folks being courted by an eager mobile home salesman pretending there's little or no difference between a manufactured home and a house.

Something tells me this guy is courting the mobile home industry, not the buyers.

I think you're absolutely correct Aaron.

There are situations in which a trailer is a good buy. For example, my aunt & uncle work for a telephone construction crew, so they move every few months. They live in a small trailer that's easy to move from job to job. For them it's totally practical.