I recently bought my first home in Iowa. I was only a couple years into my career and wanted to start with something small which would allow me to build up equ

I recently bought my first home in Iowa. I was only a couple years into my career and wanted to start with something small which would allow me to build up equity so I could eventually trade up for something I'd want to keep long term. At first, I considered a few mobile homes, but I soon learned to ignore them. The houses themselves were cheap, but the association fees were outrageous. I ended up getting a town home instead, which was valued much higher but the monthly payments ended up being comparable thanks to the much lower association fees. I have more property rights, more of that money goes into equity, I get a much bigger and nicer home, and I don't have to worry as much about tornadoes, derechos, and other nasty Iowan weather so much. With the prevalence of town homes and cheap housing here, I don't know how trailer parks keep their residents.