I lived in one for two years when I got married and I don't consider myself white trash and my mother in law lives in a very nice one and my son is wanting one and this may be the only way he can own a home of his own and he certainly is not white trash. You certainly see alot of people that live in traditional homes that could be considered white trash.
2007-03-27 08:47:24 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Manufactured Housing has come a LONG way in recent years. The inexpensive trailers of the past are NOT manufactured in the same fashion but are HUD regulated. You should not consider manufactured housing to have any type of stigma attached to them, or the Federal Housing Administration would not be loaning on them.
People and the way they choose to live are more the issue you are speaking of. In the past, mobile homes were inexpensive and it was quite common for low income families to purchase them. But, as you said, it is not the house, it is the people that occupy them.
I would highly recommend today's manufactured housing as an affordable (not cheap) way to own a home. If it is at all possible, it is best to buy land and have the home installed on a permanent foundation. This would make the investment "real property" versus "personal property" which depreciates in value.
2007-03-27 08:57:28 · answer #1 · answered by carmensellsthehighdesert 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Trailer homes have changed a lot in just a few decades. When I was growing up, all trailer parks looked like crap. The homes were run down, the people looked miserable, there was trash everywhere . . . it just looked like a horrible life.
But now, the homes are really starting to improve. In my home city, they've destroyed a lot of the old, run down trailer parks, and they are building trailer "communities" that are quite lovely. Upon first glance, you wouldn't know they were trailers!
So, I think the times are changing, but the stereotype will take a long time to fade.
EDIT: Ryan S., I watched what I would consider "white trash" (a judgment on appearances only and nothing I'm actually holding against them) move into my apartment complex this weekend. Also, there are these apartments in the 'burbs here that run about $950 a month for a one bedroom (totally unjustified and way above market price for the rest of the city). The justification for this was to "keep out the riff raff." Yeah, right. The people that can afford that may look good, but they still act like trash.
2007-03-27 08:52:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
You're absolutely right. I think that stereotype began long, long ago and should be considered an ethnic slur, just like all the other stereotypical slurs. Its unfortunate use came about when poor people had no other means of housing and the mobile homes were nothing like they are now. Neither fair, nor kind, since the last ones to be picked upon should be the poor.
Mobile homes nowadays are very nice and as you said, it's a great way to own your own home. There are plenty of people who live in expensive homes, drive expensive cars and have admirable diplomas without ethical or moral values.
Don't take it to heart, I don't think the reference is necessarily aimed at those who live in mobile homes anymore. Seems to be more of a slur toward illiterate whites.
2007-03-27 09:11:02 · answer #3 · answered by leslie 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I too live in a mobile home. I live in California and I can not afford to buy a home. Real Estate is way too over priced here. It's a sad thing. Some times I am embarrased by where I live. I am a model and a realtors assistant and I definately dont look like white trash. Sometimes we just have to settle for what we can get.
2007-03-27 09:26:56 · answer #4 · answered by chevycamarogirl 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
People that believe that are ignorant. I know a lot of really good people that live in mobile homes. It's not where you live it's who you are that makes you white trash or not. Some of the wealthiest people I know can be considered white trash because of the way they carry and present themselves. Don't ever let anybody judge you because of where you live. We do what we have to do, live where we can afford to live but that doesn't make us who we are. Our actions and the way we treat others make us. I hope this helps you out. Remeber there is only one true judge of us when it really matters... and he doesn't like others judging us.
2007-03-27 08:59:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's an old stereotype, as the other posters have noted. As expensive as houses have become, I think the trailer image is going to change. There are a lot of middle class people who can no longer afford to buy a house. More of them are buying nice double wides for $40,000 and going into nice parks with very strict regulations. As the baby boomers age, more of them will be downsizing and going into mobile homes. It will lose it's stigma in time.
2007-03-27 08:57:36 · answer #6 · answered by Annie D 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I think this is one of those things where one bad apple has spoiled the whole carton.
The idea of white trash in trailer parks may come from a picture (in ones mind) of old junk cars, trash, dogs chained up, beer cans, etc in the yard of an old style trailer set up in a trailer park.
What if I were to tell you I grew up in government (subsidized) housing? Would a picture of a multistory, graffitti touting building with broken windows, gang shootings, in a downtown city come to your mind? You would be completly wrong. I grew up in a nice neighborhood with ranch style duplexes, a community park, and children able to play outside without violence-no shootings, in fact, no crime at all. I grew up in a small town in the midwest where my mother raised me (and 8 others) in government subsidized housing.
It's a picture that we create in our minds. A picture that the media (perhaps) has helped create by making movies of 'white trailer trash' in the conditions I mentioned above.
Anybody can be white trash, you don't have to live in a trailer.
2007-03-27 09:09:07 · answer #7 · answered by mysticgraystar 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It is just a stereotype. Many years ago trailers and trailer parks were like the one Becky and Mark lived in on the Roseanne show. Today a double wide can run you $100,000 and park rents can be upwards of $500 per month so I do not think the old stigma stands.
2007-03-27 08:53:24 · answer #8 · answered by ebosgramma 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think it says a lot about your character. You want the most for your money. You are owning your own home and you are avoiding the high cost of living that is not necessary. You are very smart to do so. I do think this idea about trailer homes are changing.
2007-03-27 09:40:06 · answer #9 · answered by Mrs. Morality2 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's an assumption that
1) if you made more, you get a bigger/bette place
2) Salary and possessions = worthyness asa person.
I agree, plenty of people in the burbs are scum. It's a mix everywhere. Trailer parks have a bad rap because of poverty, etc, but it is no worse than any other high-density living like apartment complexes.
2007-03-27 08:56:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋