Lately I've noticed around Omaha and Topeka areas that campgrounds that are normally empty this time of year are full of campers with vehicles sitting there. People are actively living in their campers. Are there that many people in trouble? At todays housing market it's not a bad idea to sell a house for a ridiculous price. But then there's that capital gains tax.

People do what they have to, to survive.

Only capital gains on your primary residence (lived there at least 5 years) if over a certain amount difference from when you bought until you sold. It used to be a $300,000 difference before capital gains applied. It might be higher now.

There's a lot of people who like the mobility and freedom of living that way. If Marty was still here, he might chime in on such situations.

I have couple relatives that are retired and no longer own a home. They have one camper parked here in the north country and one down south. They migrate back and forth between campers. When they first started doing it the pulled their campers wandered around. Eventually they found a place they liked down south. Not wanting to drag camper back and forth they now have two. So yes there are people living like Gypsy.
Now we also have here locally what they call unsheltered people. Those campers usually stand out because they only move around town. Also most look like they shouldn't be on the road. Have blue or brown plastic tarps on roofs.. Those are whole different type of people.


Mac

The work from home era lets people live that lifestyle. If I didn’t have a decent job that I have to show up to every day I would consider it.

I knew a couple folks that bought campers when they retired to "see" the country, after a couple years they got real tired of it, lot of logistic problems.
They eventually land in year round campgrounds, think Trailer parks, obviously some are nicer than others..... lol

It makes me think of "travellers" or the derogatory term gypsies in the UK.....maybe it's gaining popularity here, but over there it's most definitely a thing.

Not only campers but in smallish sheds either pre-fabbed or built on site.

The folks spent 10+ years towing an Avion trailer with a boat on top of the truck shell. Back then gas was cheap and they bought into a national campground chain and paid a buck or so a night. Also camped on BLM land often. Dad had the west charted as to when the best fishing was and where. Good ride 'til he had a stroke and then they retreated to a house. Never had a problem with bad guys, but I wouldn't recommend it today.

camper living in the winter with wind howling has to suck. the price of housing anymore I can understand why folks are trying different living arrangements though

Tiny home/ suppose 'd off grid life

Wonder what the daily, weekly, monthly or annual rates are for campgrounds ?
Where we go in the summer is $100 or better but half that in the off season.
Seems the "lot" rent would be near $ 1500 or so a month (on average) ?
Plus all the other stuff one needs.
Seems expensive to me.
But, I never really looked into it.

I see campers in this cold country that people in here. I see more of it now than I ever have before but not sure what the reasoning is or why.

There are people who live in state parks and move positions every couple of weeks. If they use "primitive" sites and generate their own power, it can be pretty cheap. If a park is near a larger town, they can get a gym membership to have decent, year-round showers. I suspect it more common in the lower half of the contiguous 48 than more northern latitudes

Want to get an idea of how many have become "nomads" ? Visit Quartzite AZ sometime in the winter.

I think you get a break or out of the capital gains tax if you sell your primary residence and have lived there at least the last 2 years. If it's a rental you can do the 1031 exchange and also not pay any taxes. I don't know the details since I'm not going ro be selling anything anytime soon and programs tend to change. But reading up on tax benefits of owning rental properties has me really thinking about buying some if and when we have another collapse in the market. That or build one or two on the farm for 55 and over zero steps, wide doors walkers and wheelchairs can get through, zero entry showers and tubs, extremely well insulated and solar electric systems to help with very low energy cost. The boys and I could keep all the yard and landscaping perfect. Seems like a nice added income stream for when I retire. And would be there if and when I need to down Size when I age and have limitations.

Good way to avoid property taxes.

Good way to avoid property taxes.

Alot here are moving into tiny houses. Or sheds. Not much property taxes on them, they are movable and not a set permanent dwelling here.

Crazy housing in Mt .Thousands of 2 nd homes (most vacant 90% ) Lower income folks priced out of rent or buying . I have NEVER seen it like this ! They are living like this (the OP post ) because lots have no choice . I know many like this .

What keeps them camping in Montana in the winter? They have good jobs and just cant find a house to rent? Back in 2011 I couldnt find a house to rent or buy in western N Dakota due to the oil boom and lots of workers were camping - but they were all making more money than the locals pre-oil.

While putting myself thru college. I lived in my truck at a campground. Many many people I met lived like that. Retired couples. Folks that just sold there house. Etc……
Best years of my life. Simple and free!!!

About8 years ago I had a site at a year around campground. Rate was $1500.00 for the year. You payed for electricity. Pretty sweet deal IMO. But not for everyone.

I believe a camper placed inside a pole barn would be pretty good living ! Out of the elements they last. Be enough shelter from snow and wind inside the building.

Very common for Michigan snowbirds. Build a pole barn on some rural land. Back in the big travel trailer for the summer. Septic and electric hookup and property taxes only on the barn.

Treeda blackdog ,They just just live and work in the area ,not here for vacation.

They working oil also? Think it would be cold in a camper thru winter there

My friend has 4 sites on his place
I have 1
875 per month to park including hookup and internet

I live adjacent to a rv park. There are many people that live in them year around because of work. We have had wind farms put up for the last 5 years. Almost all these workers live in campers and they know how to survive cold winters in them. The landlord charges $100 a month more after November 1st. Most have several electric heaters in them. I was visiting with a young guy that worked for the erection crew. He was paid $1050 per week per diem. Thats $4100 a month. His camper and pickup was paid for. He sunk his whole per diem check into a retirement fund and easily lived on wages. He plans to be retired at 50.

Buddy of mine lived a few winters in a tiny camper in the back of an early 90s 2wd S10. He wouldn’t even pop the camper up all the way as it stayed so much warmer. Luckily he was even shorter than me! lol. I’ve spent a. Purple summers living in campers, one even had electricity! I sure wouldnt want to live with a wife and two kids in a camper year round, but if a guy had to it would work. Happy trapping! ScottW

Wonder about that with satellites and drones off grid is out of the question anymore.

I could easy, and my wife would love it we stay from May through august in a trailer, Tho be it we stay in one place, we had planned on finding a place down south for the winter, but plans change, now we are raising kids

I get a kick out of these people with their ( Tiny Home) thing. Just a modern version of a 1960 trailer home with no wheels. . In fact most are just that a wheel less version of what now called a park model camper. My sister in-law and her husband have a park model camper on a seasonal site. That thing has never moved since they parked it and is hooked up to utilities. Park has a closing date in fall and opening date in the spring. Their version of camping which is way nicer than what my family called our cottage.
Everything is nicer and lighter weight with modern materials. Just how it is now.

Mac

Living In a camper with another person for any length of time would have me leaving for parts unknown. I don't know how you could handle It.

https://www.granddesignrv.com/travel-trailers/reflection/297rsts
This is one of three similar models we are serious about.

Looking at one of these for spending the winters in FLA, AZ and Texas, probably a month in each, mostly on BLM land. From Christmas to April then back to MN in the summer.

I would like to be south for longer but with 14 grandchildren, my wife thinks three months is enough to be away.

Alot less grandkids than there used to be. Grandkids also go to daycare then sit on a iPad when they come home, grandparents are "less needed". I don't know how my wife and I would manage without my parents helping with the kids but I don't see my friends as being dependent on their parents as they go through the daycare/iPad cycle.

My dad will take month long vacations but my mom likes to stay home with the kids/grandkids even if we encourage her to go.

Are you talking junky campers or nice ones? I've got friends and family who have pretty awesome 5th wheels and snowbird and some who do the traveling RN / PA thing. Crazy some of the offers and signing bonuses they give them in certain areas that are in need of medical stuff. 6 month contracts and huge bonuses. They tour all over. Wife does her RN thing ang the husband works from the trailer. Not sure I'd want to do it in the northern states in winter, but those new campers are insulated better than they used to be. Fireplaces and everything.

Nice,,,, but 70 g ? Ought
And no generator....or outdoor kitchen.....
I would want solar also when dry cramping....

Ive lived in one twice both times in Wyoming and over a few winters combined, once as a single guy in a 35ft fifth wheel, and the last time with my wife and a one year old in a 42ft fifth wheel. The first time tricked me into thinking I could do it a second. Never again at least not without some serious changes like building a porch and mudroom off the front and installing a wood stove(unless you traveled south in the winter.) when it gets down to 15-20 below its dang near impossible to keep them warm, lots of space heaters, heated blankets and burning a metric ton of propane. As a single guy I just slept in the same bedroll I use in wall tents and rolled out next to a fire and did alright. I also fought with keeping it from freezing up in the winter even with commercial skirting, hay bales and some risky heat lamps, the last straw for my bride was 4 days of no water during a week long -20 spell. Went and bought her a house without wheels after that.

I won't buy a new one, there are a LOT of good used ones available for less than half the price of new. I'll customize it somewhat including adding a solar panel to the roof. Most of them are solar ready these days. I'll also carry a small Honda generator and use lithium batteries.

Figure out a way to haul a side by side or a quad,,, and AZ has a lot to offer for free.

If I wanted to be close to town.... ,(30 mile)
Off 17 by lake pleasant
I think the exit is for the town of. Carefree....
Go west a bit and it is big AZ public land

Couldn't ever convince myself to do it. They are a quickly depreciating asset and I dont like the thought of that. Rather find a spot we like and purchase a structure. I know that doesnt allow for the truly 'nomadic' lifestyle, but if we want to go someplace, we can get in the truck and go....