Any one ever considered living in an RV for a few years?

I'm graduating in a year, obviously won't be able to afford to buy a house, but rent around here is pretty sick expensive.

To rent a modest three bedroom house in my neighborhood, you'll pay around $1500 a month (pre utility). In a year, this is $18,000 -- which is basically half of my expected starting salary. Thats a rough start to life.

The obvious method is roomates, but I think I could do even cheaper in an RV and for a relatively short time period (5 yearsish while I'm young and stupid) I don't think it would be a big deal. Particularly if I live in one of the many gorgeous nature reserves around central florida, access to tons of rivers and lakes... I'd have no roomates, it would just be my girlfriend and I.

Am I being an idiot?

is moving to a less expensive neighborhood an option?

Possibly. It definitely matters *where* I get a job, and where the girlfriend gets a job (I can basically get a job anywhere, hers will be a bit harder)

So..... you want to live in a van down by the river? :P

I've known a couple people in similar situations who, instead of renting, bought mobile homes. It may not be a whole lot cheaper THIS year, but at the very least you can get something back from it by selling it when you are done.

You are still out the lot rental, but it's less -EV than renting a house or apartment...especially if you already HAVE the girlfriend. ;)

Often you can find sellers willing to setup payments directly instead of needing a bank loan.

u could park it in wal mart for free, LOL

Why not just rent a cheap apartment and save up a good downpayment until you buy something you want? And when you say RV do you actually mean an RV or a modular home? A decent RV starts at like 100k and will only depreciate and you will have to pay for lo rental on top of that (assuming you don't plan on becoming one of those weirdos that parks in various mall parking lots for the night)

And how can a 3 bedroom home cost $1500 a month to rent? You must live in an insanely nice neighborhood. I charge the same price for my 5 bedroom house with a nice yard in a town that's been experiencing a heavy real estate boom for the past 3 years. Like Lukie says, maybe look for a more reasonable neighborhood.

Whatever the case, I don't think an RV is the way to go.

You laugh, but not many people can afford to buy a house at this point in life, but renting is just plain dumb and should only be a short term option at most (if at all possible).

All you are doing when renting is paying the owners mortgage and buying their house for them....or sending them on a nice vacation every year. (well, I guess having a place to sleep is getting something, but that goes for any option already)

It sounds really fun, but personal space could be a problem. I'm addicted to the internet so I couldn't do it, although for that you could maybe steal some wireless.

Also, if you haven't already, you need to figure the rapid devaluation of RVs into your apartment vs. RV equation.

If you work in one place and your gf works in another, how would you guys get to/from work?

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Originally Posted by Galapogos

And how can a 3 bedroom home cost $1500 a month to rent? You must live in an insanely nice neighborhood. I charge the same price for my 5 bedroom house with a nice yard in a town that's been experiencing a heavy real estate boom for the past 3 years. Like Lukie says, maybe look for a more reasonable neighborhood.

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Jesus maybe I do. No the neighbor isnt that nice, orlando is just fucking expensive I guess.

The good thing about central florida is there are TONS of RVS around. You can find awesome stuff really cheap.

And then Galapagos forgets that he lives pretty close to Vancouver, where I pay $1150 a month for a 2 bedroom basement suite ...

Why do you want a 3 bedroom house, eupho? Just rent a small one bedroom apartment for now and save some money. I would rather do that than have roommates, too ...

And Hawkfan, renting is not always the more -EV choice.

Get the hell out of Florida, the real estate market here is the worst in the country.

ballin' under control

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Why do you want a 3 bedroom house, eupho? Just rent a small one bedroom apartment for now and save some money. I would rather do that than have roommates, too ...

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Well it would be the girlfriend and I, so atleast a 2 bedroom with kitchen/laundry would be the minimum for us.

The more i think of it the worse idea it gets. heh.

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Originally Posted by snowboard_31

u could park it in wal mart for free, LOL

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I don't know why this struck me as so hilarious but I just spit Gatorade on my keyboard out my fucking nose when I read this

rent a cheap ass house or apartment in the ghetto like my (now) wife and I did, it was kind of fun and we have some good stories from those days.

while you're there save as much money as you can, put a ring on her finger, move to a better place if you don't have enough for a house, keep saving money and then buy a big house like we did.

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Originally Posted by euphoricism

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Why do you want a 3 bedroom house, eupho? Just rent a small one bedroom apartment for now and save some money. I would rather do that than have roommates, too ...

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Well it would be the girlfriend and I, so atleast a 2 bedroom with kitchen/laundry would be the minimum for us.

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I don't get this? This is your minimum? But an RV is acceptable?

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Originally Posted by Trainer_jyms

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Originally Posted by euphoricism

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Why do you want a 3 bedroom house, eupho? Just rent a small one bedroom apartment for now and save some money. I would rather do that than have roommates, too ...

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Well it would be the girlfriend and I, so atleast a 2 bedroom with kitchen/laundry would be the minimum for us.

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I don't get this? This is your minimum? But an RV is acceptable?

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lol I noticed that too

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Originally Posted by Trainer_jyms

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Originally Posted by euphoricism

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Why do you want a 3 bedroom house, eupho? Just rent a small one bedroom apartment for now and save some money. I would rather do that than have roommates, too ...

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Well it would be the girlfriend and I, so atleast a 2 bedroom with kitchen/laundry would be the minimum for us.

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I don't get this? This is your minimum? But an RV is acceptable?

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ROFL wtf

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Originally Posted by Hawkfan79

You laugh, but not many people can afford to buy a house at this point in life, but renting is just plain dumb and should only be a short term option at most (if at all possible).

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I hope you didn't mean me, I wasn't laughing at anyone. Also renting is not dumb, it's dumb to rent if you're paying the same you would for a mortgage. But often renting is your best option. You pay less than you would for the same space by owning it, this allows you to save a lot of money to put towards owning property. People underestimate how important it is to be paying a very reasonable cost of living even if it means that money doesn't pay off as an investment later in life. There's better options for different situations.

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Originally Posted by courtiebee

And then Galapagos forgets that he lives pretty close to Vancouver, where I pay $1150 a month for a 2 bedroom basement suite ...

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Wow, I really need to jack up that rent. See Hawkfan, just find some dumbass like me and renting can be pretty sweet.

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Originally Posted by Galapogos

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Originally Posted by Hawkfan79

You laugh, but not many people can afford to buy a house at this point in life, but renting is just plain dumb and should only be a short term option at most (if at all possible).

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I hope you didn't mean me, I wasn't laughing at anyone. Also renting is not dumb, it's dumb to rent if you're paying the same you would for a mortgage. But often renting is your best option. You pay less than you would for the same space by owning it, this allows you to save a lot of money to put towards owning property. People underestimate how important it is to be paying a very reasonable cost of living even if it means that money doesn't pay off as an investment later in life. There's better options for different situations.

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I've done quite a lot of research in this area having bought some property myself, and I can say for 99% of cases in the USA now (or in fact Australia), renting is more cost efficient than buying. If you want to know why, simply work out the ROI of the house you're going to rent, and if it's lower than a fixed interest vehicle then you know the homeowner is losing out and by extension you're gaining. Buying is only profitable if the property can be reasonably expected to appreciate by at least 3 or 4 percent each year.

Remember when renting there are also no repair bills, land taxes, and transaction costs when you move.

eupho i don't think it's ridiculous idea and I'm rather impressed you came up with such a creative solution. But looking at the numbers I still think you're better off with the mobile home option or living in a ghetto.

Surprized no-one has brought this up... Does the girlfriend have an income to contribute here?

Wow you guys think 1500 is expensive for a 3 bedroom? Makes me realize just how expensive california. Me and my roomies got a steal of a deal on a 3 bedroom because our landlord works with one of the guys but we are still paying 2200 for a 3br/2ba. I got one question, if your moving with your gf why not just get a 1br/1ba apartment? You will save a ton on rent compared to a house.

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Originally Posted by thizzSantaCruz

Wow you guys think 1500 is expensive for a 3 bedroom? Makes me realize just how expensive california. Me and my roomies got a steal of a deal on a 3 bedroom because our landlord works with one of the guys but we are still paying 2200 for a 3br/2ba. I got one question, if your moving with your gf why not just get a 1br/1ba apartment? You will save a ton on rent compared to a house.

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lol my (now) wife and I rented a 4-bedroom house in the not-so-great area of Kansas City for $700 a month, fucker was huge too

we got broken into twice, once while we were home (they couldn't get to the upstairs thankfully), but our rent was cheap

I can say for 99% of cases in the USA now (or in fact Australia), renting is more cost efficient than buying. If you want to know why, simply work out the ROI of the house you're going to rent, and if it's lower than a fixed interest vehicle then you know the homeowner is losing out and by extension you're gaining. Buying is only profitable if the property can be reasonably expected to appreciate by at least 3 or 4 percent each year.

This logic seems contrary. What does the homeowner's investment have to do with your own? And what do you mean "by extension you're gaining"? The money is passing from you to him, how can you possibly be gaining? You won't even own anything for your expenditure!

Renting works because you can get a relatively nice place within your short term budget. But it's not "cost efficient" by any possible reasoning. And I know nothing about Australia but in Britain, house prices have appreciated way more than 3 or 4% over the last 20 years.

uh u can find 4bedroom houses for rent for like 1200 in decent neighborhoods in atlanta

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Originally Posted by Renton

uh u can find 4bedroom crackhouses for rent for like 1200 in decent neighborhoods in atlanta

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Originally Posted by Trainer_jyms

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Originally Posted by euphoricism

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Why do you want a 3 bedroom house, eupho? Just rent a small one bedroom apartment for now and save some money. I would rather do that than have roommates, too ...

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Well it would be the girlfriend and I, so atleast a 2 bedroom with kitchen/laundry would be the minimum for us.

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I don't get this? This is your minimum? But an RV is acceptable?

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lol