What You Need to Know BEFORE Buying a Mobile Home In a Park

[@chuckmaxon3727]

I live in a park with around 650 units. Many were old and the park started to replace them, I bought a new one 3 years ago. What I would suggest to people is to look at the condition of the homes, both newer and the older ones as well. Look for windows where the screens are gone, look at the lots to see if there is a lot of junk in the yards. Are there cars sitting around on blocks? Our park is low to middle income and some folks never repair anything. Another thing to check out is the skirting, bad skirting means a lot of cats and other critters living under homes. In the past 11 years that I have lived here the park has improved a lot.

[@KerryTarnow]

Thats great advice thanks Chuck

[@BigDaddy-nn8kf]

The before conditions sound good to ME. I couldn’t care less about people having junk cars and we love cats. We just want safety and access to what we love to do. At an affordable price.

[@drizzsmith2664]

⁠@@KerryTarnowif I’m renting to own from a property that I’m paying lot from but leasing to own from them but it’s another companies home am I able to move to another mobile home park for flexibility

[@amysays3980]

Kerry, what happens when parks change ownership and the new owner asks residents to leave? When we were in ON, that very thing happened to a park near our house. There was a great outcry from the residents, some of whom were there since the 70s. Many said that they could not afford to move as either there were none available or none affordable. I felt for both residents and new owner as residents had to find another location somehow, and the new owner has to find a way to afford their investment. The government's cap on rent increase based on CPI is a joke. CPI is no where close to reflecting inflation, never mind the run away real estate prices.

[@fight2flyphoto]

We are FINALLY closing on our first home in the next few days and it has been a nightmare. Apparently, we got stuck in the middle of a feud between the property manager and the seller over 90' of fence that has been out of compliance for 3 years that the seller had refused to rectify. We didn't know any of this until 2 weeks after our offer had been accepted. We had agreed to have the existing fence modified to meet the needs of the park at their expense. Then we get an email saying the seller is getting bids on a brand new chain-link fence, that the seller will pay for. Great. Our agent had some addendum put into the purchase agreement saying the sellers would cover it. Then appraisal came in $7k under offer. Sellers accepted appraisal value. The sellers completely remove the fence on their own. A week and a half pass. Our original closing day arrives and the lender says they need a week extension. Dang... but OK. The very next day I get a text from our agent saying now the seller won't pay anything for the fence because of the reduction in price. Mind you, the price is still $13k over what they were originally asking. Agent says we're SoL and the best bet is small claims court. But, in the long run, we are just excited to get out of apartment living. It's been a 12-year struggle to get this far.

[@arautus]

I appreciate that you brought up buying a home where it requires you to be 55 plus. Selling it would likely be more difficult in many cases.

[@ronalddean4834]

Great informative video Kerry. Trailer parks are a sore subject to a lot of people. One of my pet peeves is a lot of the parks around here is they allow any mobile home regardless of anything. And some of them I don't know how they survived the ride to the park. I've seen parks with nice new homes and the owner is working to keep his place beautiful and nextdoor a garbage dump. I know you have seen the same. Thanks for sharing

[@KerryTarnow]

Thats so crazy. Where I live (British Columbia) there is a shortage of pads so parks will usually only allow new or near new in great condition. I have seen nice homes beside homes that are in bad shape but those are the ones that have been there for years and years.

[@aaa-ix5nj]

I like your video and I'm sorry to nitpick, but if you got rid of the echo-yness of the audio, it would take your videos up a whole notch and a half. Keep up the great work.

[@KerryTarnow]

I appreciate the feedback! I’m just using a cellphone right now, not really a tech guy so don’t really know what to upgrade to but it’s definitely been on my mind. I think it’s time for an upgrade. Thank you

[@carolynnewyork6919]

Thank you , very informative I'm new an a first time mobile home buyer. So I made lots of notes . Thank you

[@KerryTarnow]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wendymathews1030]

I am so fortunate in the park I live in. This is a very rural area (population of my town is 4K!) but there are a handful of m/h parks. Some are nice, others are not, and I’m so blessed that the one I live in is “the crown jewel” of them all! There is a waiting list of folks who want to live here. The owner put this park in somewhere around 1973, and it’s maintained with very strict standards. At first I was a bit annoyed with it all, but as time has gone by, I’ve realized the importance of running a tight ship! This park is his baby, and it’s beautifully maintained. One thing I’m super grateful for is that in spite of the top notch quality of this park, he keeps the space rent low because many residents are on fixed incomes, so he charges $290/month. He was going to raise it to $320 a few months ago, but when the Covid crisis hit, the governor put a moratorium on raising all rent, so we’re holding at $290 for the time being. Thank God!!

[@KerryTarnow]

Sounds like a great place to live! Having a owner that cares is so important, glad to hear you're still at $290, that's a really good deal!

[@RYANARRADI]

Hi may I know how much insurance and taxes and power bills you pay a month?thank you

[@wendymathews1030]

@@RYANARRADI My insurance is approximately $74/month, but the amount you pay depends upon how much your home is insured for. I have my insurance through Foremost; they only insure mobile homes. As for power bills, there are a few factors that determine your cost, such as how well your home is insulated, local rates, etc. I recently had my home insulated, and last year I had a heat pump installed. Since I am on disability, I get a reduced rate, so my power bill is approximately $60-$80 a month, but is higher in the winter months. I do not pay taxes on my home as I receive an exemption due to being on disability and being a senior citizen. I hope this helps you!

[@infunerous666]

Where do you live that the rent is that low? Here in California the Lot itself is going over $1200

[@wendymathews1030]

@@infunerous666 I live in Washington (state) in a small rural community. We are very fortunate that the owner has been able to keep the rent so low. It’s even low for this area! A m/h park on the other side of town is twice that. But as soon as our Governor lifts the moratorium on rent increases, it will go up an extra $15/ month. Still quite cheap.

[@kaystill3843]

Q: is an "Acquisition Management Company" acting as an agent on behalf of a mobile home park even "Legal"? I'm in southern California in a park that was developed in 1955. Thanks for the help.

[@BigDaddy-nn8kf]

Do you know if you can place park models in such mobile home parks?

[@jaynebennett8398]

Can you move a home purchased at a park to your own property?

[@KerryTarnow]

Yes you can. Usually it’s expensive compared to buying new but in this market who knows! Also wouldn’t have to wait 8-10 months. Thats a good idea if you can find one for the right price.

[@jaynebennett8398]

@@KerryTarnow Thank you! A new one in Florida with less than 500 square feet is over $72,000 With tax, permit, move, and set up! I think we’ll take our chances on a used one.

[@zachhindenach2997]

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[@knittinggirl13]

That is in Huntsville Alabama? Which park? I put that in the search. Blablabla. I would love to find something in the area.

[@KerryTarnow]

Im in British Columbia, Canada

[@rustyshackleford7288]

Ya California some places are 1000$ some are less like 400$ like in az or Washington Oregon.❤🎉

[@marklindquist2352]

My question is can you actually buy the home and the land surrounding the home?

[@KerryTarnow]

This is in a mobile home park. If you bought a lot and put it there then yes

[@SenorChuubs]

My lease rent in El Cajon CA is $1365! 😂 Gotta love it!

[@KerryTarnow]

wow!

[@farrahtittle6675]

What would you do with a property large enough for 10 units two miles from a huge lake and 10 miles from a major university?

[@KerryTarnow]

Well I’m biased because manufactured homes is what I do... In 2018 we tried to do 70 units less than a mile to a lake however the property wasn’t close to a major uni. The council didn’t support the rezoning application 😞.

[@farrahtittle6675]

@@KerryTarnow That's terrible! Best of luck next time!

[@KerryTarnow]

@@farrahtittle6675 thank you 🙏🏻

[@scarface11385]

My area is 765$ to rent the land plus about a 10$ increase a year New Jersey

[@KerryTarnow]

Sheesh! Pricey

[@jessicalinton3680]

@@KerryTarnow What about parks in North Carolina?

[@bhthat5856]

What are pad rents in Vegas ares for retirement?

[@KerryTarnow]

Great question! I don’t know the Vegas market at all but would be very interested to find out.

[@auniversalwoman]

Carlsbad is near $3k

[@KerryTarnow]

woah!

[@kevinbrown2926]

Yep. Many parks in Orange County CA are around $2,300. And a lot of those are 55+. Even if you can afford that for a while, when you're a senior on a fixed income, how do they expect you to handle the big increases every year?

[@lindanorris2455]

1) MOBILE HOMES ARE VERY, VERY COLD INSIDE. 2) MANY TRAILERS ARE OUTDATED AMD INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE TO UPDATE. 4) MANY, MANY DRUG CRIME ISSUES PREVAIL INSIDE THE PARKS. 5) SOME ARE REALLY, REALLY NOISY! 6) IN THE RUST BELT STATES, THE SNOW IS OVER THE TOP AND SNOW REMOVAL IS A BIG JOKE! 7) SOME HOME TRAILER SELLERS LIE AMD LIE AND LIE ABOUT THEIR HOME AND ITS QULITY IN ORDER TO DECEIVE.

[@KerryTarnow]

Thank you for the feedback

[@Candanciee]

Talk to the residents in the park also, see if they are happy living in the park, and look to see how many homes are for sale in the park, if you see allot of for sale signs, that is a red flag there are problems with the park and people are fed up and want out. We have lived in a park for 25 years, first 15 years where great, the park sold and it turned into a nightmare. They got rid of management and perform zero maintenance on the park and are trying the manage the park from 5 states away with the assistance of a local lawyer's firm, someone from their office drives through the park once a week and if they see a kids bike sitting out or something else..you get a notice and a $25 fine. Don't pay the fines. The lawyer then takes you to court. We have been trying to sell for 5 years to no avail because the word is out..don't move to this park. Look for a home on private land...own the land, own your future !!!

[@momof2momof2]

100% true

[@KerryTarnow]

Thank you!

[@Sunrise_Streaming_Services]

Mine is 250

[@johnstancliff7328]

This is always a problem. cities are constantly trying to rid themselves of manufactured parks because of multiple issues... its sad... I love my park, but the owners don't want to be responsible...

[@hermangoetter8821]

As a previous mobile home owner for over 30 years, of I had it to do over I definitely would NOT buy one , negatives are ,poor quality, resale value declines , insulation poor , siding quality poor VERY POOR LONG TERM INVESTMENT, short term only , 10 years or less .

[@antwanandreas6358]

Oh yeah. Do you love me? 😍💋 💝💖❤️