After paying for my place in full I find out the "owners" do not own the mobile home and the taxes have not been paid since before I moved in. After meandering around what I can find out and talking to a lawyer, I realized my chances of staying here are slim to none and a lawsuit to remain would be futile. My neighbor has graciously offered me a spot over on his 18 acres. I talked to another friend recently and he told me his niece had a travel trailer she didn't want. I asked about it and was told they would just give it to me since it needed a TON of work.

So I got it here to the property and have already started demo. Bones are good except the slide out which needs a total rebuild. Electrical and gas systems are good, but I need an AC, new shower, new toilet and the slide redone. Since I have rebuilt 6 vintage campers, I am not new to the process, but this one will be the biggest one I have ever done. The result will be 300 sq.ft.

Since there's a court case against the owners in the county courts about the taxes, I have no idea how long I have until the auction starts. My neighbor is going to try and buy it via the online auction, but I can't count on that so I am diving in head first.

Here's what I am starting with.... the bunkroom and slide have both been demo'ed to the walls and the bunkroom will be the gun room and office combined. The slide will be the living room, but all the normal RV stuff has been removed and a few furniture pieces will get moved in. The last photo is the plan drawn to scale.

I am about to sell my portable building shop and downsize it as well and will move my little 4'x8' storage building to house the two freezers and dry food storage. Going to be quite a move but I will at least not have a house payment while I regroup and start a YouTube channel to fund the next place. No more buying from owner finance sales. One and done there.

... good luck with the demo & rebuild.

Thanks!

Even with “owner finance” you HAVE to go through a title company and this is exactly why I stress that. Sorry you got screwed. Good luck with the project.

Yees and that was even in the contract but suing them won't get me the house or the land at this point. I decided to just find another way to fund the acreage I want and am working on that now. Just a slight delay if things work out. If not I will be on 18 acres with friends and that won't suck.

Just put a lien on the property. Takes a little leg work in court, but might get some money back.

Hopefully you received a clear title from your friend's niece for the camper? If so, make sure it's a valid title and confirm with the state you can transfer it into your name before you start the project.

Regarding the mobile home you mentioned that sounds like you 'owner' financed, here are a few links you might find helpful:

Statement of Ownership and Location

Manufactured Home Ownership Records

Notice of Intent to Acquire Abandon Manufactured Home

States have different ways of dealing with abandoned mobile homes so check relevant state records to find the registered owner, rules regarding abandon manufactured home ownership, and county tax accessor records before you start a project. While I'm not a lawyer, I own a season campground in a different state that has manufactured homes on it so I'm familiar with the issue. BTW, if you ever want to beat the heat and spend a summer flipping a project up on a midwest glacier lake, send me a PM and maybe we can work something out.

Might have to check into that...if it's possible to do so I will.

Appreciate the post but I have no certificate of ownership, Vanderbilt Mortgage owns it apparently.

Manufactured Home Ownership Records returned no results found and home is not abandoned. I wish I had a recourse of some kind but even my lawyer says I do not have much of a chance of getting either the title or the option to pay the taxes and own it.

Big changes to the TT since last post...I have removed all the rot from the slide out, replaced the sub floor with 5/8 CDX, reframed some of the main slide out wall and all the roof framing using deck screws and hand cut 2x2's. Installed a center rib up top with 2x4s, decked it with 3/8 CDX and 30# felt. I may be getting some TPO for the top, but if not I will likely go with sheet aluminum if it's not too expensive.

I have also taken out the mini-tub/shower and will be installing a 36"x36" shower base and glass door after I build the wall between the shower and the toilet. Since I will be putting a few pieces of real furniture in the slide out area, it will get supported from below once moved with 4x6 uprights and a 4x6 beam down the center [not screwed in so that it can be moved if necessary]. I will be in the TT for at least two years in one place so the slide out will not move during that time.

I picked out a good sheet vinyl for the floor and will be hiring out for that installation. Going to be the same flooring from one end to another.

Got the slideout framed in full and the bed as well. Then found a great deal on Cedar shiplap so today I got the felt paper on and then half the slideout siding. Using this cedar I will have less weight than the 21 year old metal it replaced!

Got the outside of the slide out finished with the cedar shiplap. Roof is almost ready for flat metal, 26 gauge sheets are in the front room now waiting until I have time. Going to also install the shiplap inside the slide out on the three walls for the cabin look. Already have another wall in the main area done.

Coming right along

Got the insulation in and now putting up the cedar shiplap inside the slideout area as well. Going for the cabin look in the main living area. The roof is also on, two layers of 26 gauge flat R-panel stock.

Slideout woodwork is now finished until the floor goes in and then I will add some cedar base molding. Windows test fit went well, staining next.

Lookin good!

Dayum man that is a lot of work and it is looking good

Very nice work. Looking good, Sir.

Thank you!

Ran the slideout electrical today to the outside and then to the inside for my computer and phone charging setup. Now there are exterior plugs on both sides of the RV. The stain went on the exterior first, then a second coat in a different color. First coat was Dark Walnut, then Burnt Hickory [both Ready Seal].

Got the inside wood all stained over the weekend....

You have good carpenter skills

Thanks! It's a lot of fun since this is going to b e a full time home for awhile.

Picked up the erst of the paint today and the flooring...here's a sneak peek.... first one if the flooring itself [Florian Oak] and how it looks next to the cedar wall treatment...

Been working on the stove and this is what it looks like now. New burners, new igniter where there was none before, new grate and a paint job with epoxy appliance paint [yes, heat version]. Also got some flooring down in the gun room.

The gun room/office is just about finished!