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During our quest to figure out housing options, we have been considering a winter home in a 55+ mobile home community. Unfortunately we have found that most have been acquired by corporations or other business ventures. They used to be mom and pop operations. The one we zeroed in on because of its location is an example. It was purchased about a year ago by an LLC that specializes in that type of housing. They raised the lot fee from $350 to 480 per month on acquisition. They now require application and other fees to equal one month's lot fee. Each resident even if married must submit a separate application. Anyway, we scratched that option off our list since there are no guarantees that all their fees would not rise appreciably as time goes by. Kinda sad for whom that type of housing is one of the last affordable options out there.
In my opinion, if local governments really want to alleviate the affordable housing squeeze--as they often say they do--they should find a way to increase the number of mobile home parks available with lots included, as well as with traditional lot rentals.
iris lilies
8-11-22, 4:25pm
During our quest to figure out housing options, we have been considering a winter home in a 55+ mobile home community. Unfortunately we have found that most have been acquired by corporations or other business ventures. They used to be mom and pop operations. The one we zeroed in on because of its location is an example. It was purchased about a year ago by an LLC that specializes in that type of housing. They raised the lot fee from $350 to 480 per month on acquisition. They now require application and other fees to equal one month's lot fee. Each resident even if married must submit a separate application. Anyway, we scratched that option off our list since there are no guarantees that all their fees would not rise appreciably as time goes by. Kinda sad for whom that type of housing is one of the last affordable options out there.
What kind of services do you get for that money?
In this case, they offer cable/internet, water and trash. There is a pool and clubhouse if one considers that as an amenity. Strangely, one must still pay property taxes of $450 a year on your 1000sf metal box. We are thinking about looking for a fixer cottage instead since we would only be there for 3 months or so. I found a little 1940s cottage for under under $200K but it's on a large lot full of pecan trees.
iris lilies
8-11-22, 5:15pm
In this case, they offer cable/internet, water and trash. There is a pool and clubhouse if one considers that as an amenity. Strangely, one must still pay property taxes of $450 a year on your 1000sf metal box. We are thinking about looking for a fixer cottage instead since we would only be there for 3 months or so. I found a little 1940s cottage for under under $200K but it's on a large lot full of pecan trees.
I don’t think this cost, $13,000 ish a year, is bad at for a winter getaway. Isn’t there a chance you would go once or twice during the year at other times?
You wouldn’t have anything to maintain there, right? Or would you have some sort of lawn that has to be trimmed by someone or plants that have to be attended to even if in a minimal way.
My mother rented a two bedroom apartment in Texas for a couple of winters and it probably cost about that much. Her apartment was bigger than what she needed but she had the money so cost didn’t really matter.
frugal-one
8-11-22, 9:01pm
In this case, they offer cable/internet, water and trash. There is a pool and clubhouse if one considers that as an amenity. Strangely, one must still pay property taxes of $450 a year on your 1000sf metal box. We are thinking about looking for a fixer cottage instead since we would only be there for 3 months or so. I found a little 1940s cottage for under under $200K but it's on a large lot full of pecan trees.
Being retired, where it is difficult to meet people, this gives a way to meet people and establish a sense of community. YLMV
After spending a few winters in the Rio Grande of Texas, I am an avid proponent of retirement trailer communities. I love the community aspect, as well as, the low maintenance. There is always something to do and the weather can't be beat. It doesn't pay IMO to buy though unless you plan on living there year round.
I haven't found one yet where there are rentals but will look into that.
iris lilies
8-12-22, 12:39am
I haven't found one yet where there are rentals but will look into that.
Seems like this community was talking about this very issue just a few years ago. Somebody said they had luck renting a mobile home in Florida from an elderly person who could no longer make the trip to Florida from the north but wasn’t ready to sell the mobile home yet. I would guess there’s quite a lot of those but I don’t know how you tap into that resource.
Teacher Terry
8-12-22, 1:11am
Locally the lot rent keeps increasing and many times a developer comes in and buys up the land and all the people with trailers are displaced. I would rent but not buy.
frugal-one
8-12-22, 3:00pm
I haven't found one yet where there are rentals but will look into that.
Many times if you contact the community, they will have listings of people who want to rent. Some buy just for the sake of renting them out. Our landlord has 2 rentals.
iris lilies
8-12-22, 4:42pm
Many times if you contact the community, they will have listings of people who want to rent. Some buy just for the sake of renting them out. Our landlord has 2 rentals.
Are they running the mostly for the winter season, or are they rented year round, or?
frugal-one
8-12-22, 8:08pm
IL.. it depends on the landlord. We rent for the season. We pay a flat fee to stay up to 7 months. Some rent by the month or just a few months (depending on what else they have going on). Obviously, most would rather rent to those that stay longer. I have not seen many in the retirement communities that rent year round but there probably are some.
iris lilies
8-13-22, 9:52am
IL.. it depends on the landlord. We rent for the season. We pay a flat fee to stay up to 7 months. Some rent by the month or just a few months (depending on what else they have going on). Obviously, most would rather rent to those that stay longer. I have not seen many in the retirement communities that rent year round but there probably are some.
How much do you pay for a seven month stay?
My other little problem with doing the two house thing is two neurotic senior cats who go ballistic at any mention of a car ride. It would mean hiring a petsitter or house sitter for several months.
iris lilies
8-13-22, 10:22am
My other little problem with doing the two house thing is two neurotic senior cats who go ballistic at any mention of a car ride. It would mean hiring a petsitter or house sitter for several months.
Oh, yikes. That is a problem.
For our crew in past years I could have gotten by with one pet sitter visit every two days, so that would work out to around $50 per months. Our cats were eating dry food.
littlebittybobby
8-13-22, 10:42am
Okay----"Mobile Home Communities"? Are they anything like a good old-fashion "Trailer Court"? I figure they offer the worst features of home ownership & renting, combined. The only thing worse is "owning", and having a HOA to contend with. Yup. 47084709
frugal-one
8-13-22, 11:38am
little bobby... have you lived in a senior mobile home community? If not, "figuring" doesn't cut it.
Interesting topic as I have been reading all I can on the manufactured home regulations in MI, as it is something we may be looking into. Yes many have been being bought up by private equity firms or large corporations specializing in this. I see there are some new bills the state is looking at to stabilize rent increasing,. MI does not have a cap on raising the lease fees currently. Or if they real estate becomes more valuable then a park.
Today I walked through the local park and new home. This was a family owned park for 60 years, sold two years ago to a large company. It is still a lovely park and an extension onto the lake is being developed. As I understand there was no set lot rent price, many had very different prices depending on how long you had been there. The new company is equalizing rents to bring all up to a level that seems very acceptable. This however has angered those that had been there for years/lifetime. I understood the anger, but on the flip side the ones that paid twice as much are probably feeling better.
The home was lovely, but not sure if that is really an option for us, but we are on wait list for lake front.
Okay----"Mobile Home Communities"? Are they anything like a good old-fashion "Trailer Court"? I figure they offer the worst features of home ownership & renting, combined. The only thing worse is "owning", and having a HOA to contend with. Yup. 47084709
From my standpoint, a standalone dwelling without common walls, with low buy-in and low property taxes, plus minimal grounds upkeep would be nearly perfect. I won't likely buy another house, and I have no desire to rent.
From my standpoint, a standalone dwelling without common walls, with low buy-in and low property taxes, plus minimal grounds upkeep would be nearly perfect. I won't likely buy another house, and I have no desire to rent.
I live full time in a 386 sq ft home- 29 years old, one of the first “park model RVs” (it has no holding tanks of any kind). I pay monthly lot rent, which includes water, sewer, and garbage/recycling fees, as assessed by the county run “garbage” company.
And I pay electricity directly to PG&E. My taxes consist of the annual DMV fee for my home, which is less than $200. There is a community coin laundry, which I use; I love being able to call the office when a machine goes down, and not have to pay for the service call/repair etc!
The draw for me was country living, where no one blinks an eye over me having 3 dogs- I was restricted to 1 dog in the apartment in the city- and all the trees and wildlife, and the river right here. I can garden to my heart’s content- or not. Nobody cares. We are 20 miles to shopping, medical services etc.
My home was incredibly inexpensive; it was an overstuffed house, husband died of cancer 5 weeks after diagnosis, then wife packed a few things in her car and moved to Illinois where she has family. I spent the best part of a month cleaning it out, then painted inside, and had new subfloors and sheet vinyl floors installed before I moved in.
Most of the year it’s very quiet and peaceful with only about 40 of 100 homes occupied full time, everyone else is Seasonal. They pay monthly lot rent, and come when they want. The park pays for the upkeep of the roads and our driveways, street lights, mosquito abatement. There is a convenience store, and restaurant. The park also operates an adjacent 54 space campground that it used mostly by fisher people in the river fishing seasons, March-April and September- early October.
California has pretty strict laws regarding park owner responsibilities- and they do check up routinely.
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