Considering RV Living After Being Priced Out of Housing

[Kittykamper]

Hi all. I do not own an RV yet, but have been considering it for several years. I was wondering if there were other people out there who purchased an RV not so much for traveling around, but because the housing market is so rough. I know I would always have to pay rent to park an RV somewhere, and those rents seem to be rising right along with everything else these days. Just curious about what other people who are feeling the housing pinch are thinking/doing.

 

[UTTransplant]

I am lucky enough to not be concerned with housing prices, but I know an awful lot of RVers in long-term sites who are there for exactly that reason. But be careful about where you park the rig. Places near urban or popular areas are going to cost more, sometimes a lot more, than more suburban or less popular areas. And the price you will pay for electricity can be significant if you are in a warm climate. In the winter in a cold climate, you will also pay a lot for propane, so it isn’t always as low cost as it seems.

 

[Kirk]

While there are places that a person can live fairly comfortably, year around but NY is not one of them. Very few RVs are well enough insulated to be warm in a NY winter and to keep one that warm will cost a great deal for propane and other expenses. Even the largest RV made will have less than 400 square feet of living space, including all of the inside storage. Only the most expensive RVs come even close to the insulation values of a typical home in NY. A large RV of highest quality can easily cost you $100,000 or more and annual maintenance is even more critical for one than for a house. To live in one spot in an RV is possible, but it will become a matter of survival and both difficult and expensive.

We took an early retirement, sold our house, and lived in our RV for the next 12 years but we did so by spending summers far to the north and winters in the deep south so that we were able to spend a great deal of our time outdoors, under the awning or doing outdoor activities. On the rare occasion that we experienced temperatures below freezing for more than an occasional night, we did burn a lot of propane as well as using an electric heater to keep things comfortable and plumbing from freezing. If weather stayed too cold or too hot, we simply moved somewhere with better weather. If you work for a living, that is not practical.

 

[TheBar]

An RV may look like a mobile home but they are not made for full time living. Unless you can move it to Florida every winter you will freeze in upstate NY in an RV. They are built for camping temperatures between 40 and 90. You'll not only freeze but your water hoses and even the sewer connection will also. Then in the summer you'll want to move it back to NY or you will cook to medium well done.

People think an RV is cheaper but they really aren't. Utility costs are high. Houses go up in value while an RV value drops like a brick. They require a lot of maintenance because they are really not made to live in full time. It will seem like something is broken all the time. And the repair costs are very high unless you can repair everything yourself.

But you might check out a park model. It's like a small mobile home that is made for full time living.

 

[Brad Buchanan]

An RV may look like a mobile home but they are not made for full time living. Unless you can move it to Florida every winter you will freeze in upstate NY in an RV. They are built for camping temperatures between 40 and 90. You'll not only freeze but your water hoses and even the sewer connection will also. Then in the summer you'll want to move it back to NY or you will cook to medium well done.

People think an RV is cheaper but they really aren't. Utility costs are high. Houses go up in value while an RV value drops like a brick. They require a lot of maintenance because they are really not made to live in full time. It will seem like something is broken all the time. And the repair costs are very high unless you can repair everything yourself.

But you might check out a park model. It's like a small mobile home that is made for full time living.

We have been living full time in our Horizon for over 2 years and after doing the math it is actually cheaper to live at a resort in Florida than our house in upstate NY.

We travel north in the summer and enjoy our time there.

 

[Derby6]

People think an RV is cheaper but they really aren't. Utility costs are high. Houses go up in value while an RV value drops like a brick. They require a lot of maintenance because they are really not made to live in full time. It will seem like something is broken all the time. And the repair costs are very high unless you can repair everything yourself.

What he said/\ /\.. And others said about NY winters.

One consideration is who’s this for? A single person, couple, or a family (with pets)? Then how savy are they with repairing, fixing, problem solving, and adapting…..etc

If it were me I’d rent and save till I could afford to buy. Renter INS is cheap compared to insuring a nice RV.

Have some lived in an RV and saved to buy a house? I’d bet yes, but I’d also bet it backfires or does not work out for most. Too many headaches, depreciation, and unforeseen costs.

 

[Derby6]

We have been living full time in our Horizon for over 2 years and after doing the math it is actually cheaper to live at a resort in Florida than our house in upstate NY.

We travel north in the summer and enjoy our time there.

Lots of folks finding it cheaper in FL vs NY. LOL
Sorry couldn’t resist.

 

[Kittykamper]

I am lucky enough to not be concerned with housing prices, but I know an awful lot of RVers in long-term sites who are there for exactly that reason. But be careful about where you park the rig. Places near urban or popular areas are going to cost more, sometimes a lot more, than more suburban or less popular areas. And the price you will pay for electricity can be significant if you are in a warm climate. In the winter in a cold climate, you will also pay a lot for propane, so it isn’t always as low cost as it seems.

Thanks! That’s good wisdom there. You’re so right about higher costs near popular areas too….

 

[Kittykamper]

While there are places that a person can live fairly comfortably, year around but NY is not one of them. Very few RVs are well enough insulated to be warm in a NY winter and to keep one that warm will cost a great deal for propane and other expenses. Even the largest RV made will have less than 400 square feet of living space, including all of the inside storage. Only the most expensive RVs come even close to the insulation values of a typical home in NY. A large RV of highest quality can easily cost you $100,000 or more and annual maintenance is even more critical for one than for a house. To live in one spot in an RV is possible, but it will become a matter of survival and both difficult and expensive.

We took an early retirement, sold our house, and lived in our RV for the next 12 years but we did so by spending summers far to the north and winters in the deep south so that we were able to spend a great deal of our time outdoors, under the awning or doing outdoor activities. On the rare occasion that we experienced temperatures below freezing for more than an occasional night, we did burn a lot of propane as well as using an electric heater to keep things comfortable and plumbing from freezing. If weather stayed too cold or too hot, we simply moved somewhere with better weather. If you work for a living, that is not practical.

Thanks, Kirk! Oh goodness, I want to get the heck outta NY! Your plan of spending the majority of your time outdoors sounds just right for me. I love the whole snowbird idea. Good for you guys for taking an early retirement!

 

[Lou Schneider]

RV life has changed a lot in recent years. Covid sparked a boom in RV sales as families bought one to escape the lockdown. Unfortunately RV park construction hasn't kept up with the increased demand.

Add in the cost of fuel and maintenance and living in an RV is no longer an economical alternative to renting. Especially if you include ongoing maintenance, repairs and insurance costs. Supply and demand means many RV parks can charge almost as much as staying in a motel.

$5 a gallon means gas costs 60 cents a mile to drive an RV that gets 8 MPG. That's $750 for a 1200 mile trip from NY to Florida. Don't forget local driving unless you tow a car behind the RV.

I don't know what the situation is like on the east coast, but in CA we have hundreds of RVs squatting along the sides of public roads in our cities due to lack of RV park spaces at any price. Yes, many are people one step above being homeless due to drug use, etc. but there are also a lot of families who were simply forced out of the housing market and can't find any other place to stay in their RVs.

Make sure you have an exit plan so you aren't stuck in the RV if things don't work out the way you hope.

I started living in my RV when I found myself priced out of the housing market after moving back to the San Francisco area in the early 1980s at the start of the Silicon Valley boom. Fortunately I was able to find an affordable long term RV park where I could stay while I was working. I was lucky when I retired to find an economical co-op RV park in the desert for my home base. I can stay there as much or as little as I want. Came in very handy when Covid shut everything down for several months, otherwise I would have been scrambling to find places to stay.

I don't know if that path would work if I was starting out today because of so many more people trying to do the same.

 

[Kittykamper]

An RV may look like a mobile home but they are not made for full time living. Unless you can move it to Florida every winter you will freeze in upstate NY in an RV. They are built for camping temperatures between 40 and 90. You'll not only freeze but your water hoses and even the sewer connection will also. Then in the summer you'll want to move it back to NY or you will cook to medium well done.

People think an RV is cheaper but they really aren't. Utility costs are high. Houses go up in value while an RV value drops like a brick. They require a lot of maintenance because they are really not made to live in full time. It will seem like something is broken all the time. And the repair costs are very high unless you can repair everything yourself.

But you might check out a park model. It's like a small mobile home that is made for full time living.

You are so right. RV’s are built for just that - recreation. And you raise a good point about the hoses and such freezing. I have a nephew that encountered that problem last winter. Heeheehee! You got that right about Florida too. Too hot for my blood!

 

[Kittykamper]

What he said/\ /\.. And others said about NY winters.

One consideration is who’s this for? A single person, couple, or a family (with pets)? Then how savy are they with repairing, fixing, problem solving, and adapting…..etc

If it were me I’d rent and save till I could afford to buy. Renter INS is cheap compared to insuring a nice RV.

Have some lived in an RV and saved to buy a house? I’d bet yes, but I’d also bet it backfires or does not work out for most. Too many headaches, depreciation, and unforeseen costs.

Hi Derby6, it’s just for me and my pet. I’m pretty good at fixing things and dealing with hardships. Renting just feels like throwing money into a hole and never seeing it again. I was thinking that at least an RV is a tangible item. But as you say, there are many unforeseen expenses and problems that crop up. I guess when I walk through a campground and see all of you people, with your cool set-ups, I feel like that should be me. To me there is something fascinating and interesting about you people!

 

[Kittykamper]

RV life has changed a lot in recent years. Covid sparked a boom in RV sales as families bought one to escape the lockdown. Unfortunately RV park construction hasn't kept up with the increased demand and now you'll find many places charge almost as much as getting a motel room for the night.

$5 a gallon means gas costs 60 cents a mile to drive an RV that gets 8 MPG. That's $750 for a 1200 mile trip from NY to Florida, Plus ongoing maintenance, repairs and insurance costs. Don't forget local driving unless you tow a car behind the RV.

The number of people starting the RV life boomed during the Covid shutdown as people bought them to escape the city. RV park construction didn't keep pace and today supply and demand means many RV parks can charge almost as much as staying in a motel.

I don't know what the situation is like on the east cost, but in CA we have hundreds of RVs squatting along the sides of public roads in our cities due to lack of RV park spaces at any price. Yes, many are people one step above being homeless due to drug use, etc. but there are also a lot of families who simply were forced out of the housing market and can't find any other place to stay in their RVs.

Make sure you have an exit plan so you aren't stuck in the RV if things don't work out the way you hope.

I started living in my RV when I moved back to the San Francisco area in the early 1980s at the start of the Silicon Valley boom and found myself priced out of the housing market. Fortunately I was able to find an affordable long term RV park where I could stay while I was working. When I retired I bought into a co-op RV park in the desert for an economical price. I can stay there as much or as little as I want. Came in very handy when Covid shut everything down, otherwise I would have been scrambling to find places to stay.

If I was starting out today I don't know if it would work because of so many more people trying to do the same.

Thanks so much for your post, Lou. Yeah, the increased gas prices are certainly something to consider. I have seen some videos of the numerous RVs alongside the roads out in Cali. I haven’t really seen that over here yet, but I do think people are living in RVs on a family member’s property. Sounds like you made some very wise decisions. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Thanks so much for your post, Lou. Yeah, the increased gas prices are certainly something to consider. I have seen some videos of the numerous RVs alongside the roads out in Cali. I haven’t really seen that over here yet, but I do think people are living in RVs on a family member’s property. Sounds like you made some very wise decisions. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

If you haven't already, watch the movie "Nomadland". It's based on a true story about someone who was forced into nomadic life after her husband died and the company town where they were living closed down. Won numerous awards in 2020 including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress (Frances McDormand). It's available on Amazon with bonus content and on several other streaming services.

Nomadland - Wikipedia

 

[Kittykamper]

If you haven't already, watch the movie "Nomadland". It's based on a true story about someone who was forced into nomadic life after her husband died and the company town where they were living closed down. Won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress (Frances McDormand) in 2020. Available on Amazon with bonus content and on several other streaming services.

I loved that movie! It was kinda dark, but I really enjoyed it. The jobs she worked at looked horrible, didn’t they? The camp host gig didn’t look so bad though. If you want to laugh, and you don’t mind older movies, check out “The Long, Long Trailer.” It’s hilarious, and anyone who has lived in an RV could probably relate to it.

 

[IBTripping]

There are people who successfully live in RVs in Canada and other northern latitudes. However, it requires special preparations and modifications. So, it can be done and there are people who do it. Myself, I live in a travel trailer all year, but in a moderate climate in Central Virginia. Even here, I have to make preparations to keep warm and prevent my water system from freezing in the winter.

Here are some Youtube videos on the kind of preparations needed to survive in an RV in the winter:

 

[CharlesinGA]

Basically you will spend a lot of money to save some money. Where you are and how frugal you are will dictate whether you lose, break even or get ahead.

Charles

 

[Kittykamper]

There are people who successfully live in RVs in Canada and other northern latitudes. However, it requires special preparations and modifications. So, it can be done and there are people who do it. Myself, I live in a travel trailer all year, but in a moderate climate in Central Virginia. Even here, I have to make preparations to keep warm and prevent my water system from freezing in the winter.

Here are some Youtube videos on the kind of preparations needed to survive in an RV in the winter:

Thanks so much. I watched the first video so far and there is a wealth of good information in there. I learned a lot!

 

[Kittykamper]

Basically you will spend a lot of money to save some money. Where you are and how frugal you are will dictate whether you lose, break even or get ahead.

Charles

So true. I think much of the allure of RV life for me is the ability to pick up and move to a different place if things become overly expensive or unpleasant. But in reality, things are never as easy as we imagine them to be, that’s for sure!

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

There are many variables that affect the cost of RV living and you didn't provide much insight as to what your situation is and what your lifestyle needs will be. Yes, it's possible to live frugally in an RV, but without working diligently at the"frugal" part, it is quite likely to be equally or even more expensive than a fixed home somewhere. Some of those variables have already been mentioned here, e.g. that an RV is expensive to heat & cool, maintenance costs are high, fuel prices make RV travel expensive, and RV park site rentals have skyrocketed.

Your situation can ameliorate some of those high costs. Here are some examples:

• If you can move freely with the seasons you can avoid the most expensive heating & cooling periods.
• Limit your travel (mileage) to only those necessary moves - minimal travel otherwise
• Take the RV to less expensive regions, which generally means away from metro areas and both coasts where land costs and taxes are highest. Avoid popular destinations where competition for RV sites & services will be higher.
• Do a lot of the maintenance and repair work yourself. Even if you have limited skills now, you can still learn IF you have the aptitude for such things. Sites like this can help a lot. YouTube as well.
• Don't be picky about RV park amenities or locations. Obviously you want to be safe and avoid conflicts, but it doesn't have to be a resort either.

Some of the factors that will dictate your success include:

• Freedom to move around at will - not tied to certain places by job, family, medical needs, or strong climate preference.
• Modest need for space, both for yourself, your pet, and for "things" (all but the largest RVs have very limited storage, closets, and drawer space). If you have an extensive wardrobe or enjoy collecting things or mementos, Rv living may be challenging. But be cautious of opting for too small a unit; that cute little rig can become terribly confining after several months. Or even in a rainy weather.
• Budget is a big factor, both for the initial cost of equipment and ongoing expenses. You might luck into a highly reliable but bargain-priced motorhome or trailer, but the odds aren't good and the search to find it is likely to be long. As the old saw goes, you will have to kiss a lot of toads to find a prince.
• Will you have a steady income or are you counting on picking up short term jobs as you move around? Do you have portable skills that make this easy, e.g. medical services or professional mechanical, or the ability to work from the RV via internet & phone? Odd jobs at campgrounds or local stores seldom pay well.

Since you don't have an RV and probably have never even spent a weekend in one, it would be wise to get some experience. That probably means a rental and some travel. It's not cheap, but you are talking about gambling on a huge change in your lifestyle and living quarters. Best to learn more about it before committing.