Category: Mobile Homes

What you need to know before moving to a mobile home community in Central Florida is that these houses are safe and affordable, and offer a number of benefits like clubbing, swimming pools, and outdoor activities for their residents. Every year, more and more seniors search for affordable housing.

Just like Central Florida is the most favored retirement destination, mobile homes, in particular, are their top choice for housing. It certainly doesn’t hurt either that Central Florida has the largest number of retirement homes offering affordable and safe living.

Fort Pierce, Davenport, Lakeland, Peak Drive Tampa, Mt. Dora, Auburndale, and other prominent locations in and around Central Florida are slowly turning to be the major haunts of retirees.

What to know about living in a mobile home park? Here are the top 7 things:

1. Significantly lower taxes

When you live in a mobile home park or a trailer park, you can enjoy a lower cost of living. Florida has significantly lower taxes as compared to the rest of the country. This straightway adds to your saving.

Most senior living communities have single-storey houses that are easier to maintain and feels like you’re forever on vacation. Each community has its own rules regarding buying or renting a home there and provides seniors with safe, entertaining activities within the premises.

2. Warm weather and lots of outdoor activities

So before you make a list of things to do before moving into a mobile home, take a look at the reasons most 55+ retirees prefer going to Central Florida, the Mecca for seniors planning to retire in mobile home communities.

The pleasant Florida sun is an added attraction. Warm weather is one of the major attractions of relocating to the state. You have sun all through the year and can enjoy lots of outdoor activities. Even tourists flock to Florida in search of mild winters and warm summers.

A plethora of outdoor activities keep seniors busy. Although synonymous with white beaches, Florida has plenty of lakes and bays. You can also go hiking through forests and take a boat trip down rivers. Fill your leisure hours with camping, swimming, and riding the waves, especially if you love the sea.

3. Planned communities and reliable healthcare

If you have questions like ‘should I move into a manufactured home?’ lay them to rest in Florida. The state has well-organized manufactured housing and this sector is expected to grow steadily. If you own a mobile home, facilities like trash collection, surveillance, emergency medical care, laundry, and recreation come within easy reach. Also, healthcare facilities for retirees are excellent. And since many retirees move to mobile communities here, hospitals have come up with specialized treatments related to them.

4. Low living expenses

Seniors have spent a big part of their lives in their dream home, renting it or building one. If you think moving from a house to a mobile home is going to be strange and unsafe, here’s what you might find interesting: Mobile homes come with low living expenses. While you need to buy or lease the plot, pay maintenance fees and home association charges; they are still lower than what would you pay for a single-family, custom-built house. Particularly, you pay less when it comes to cost for each square foot of space. As for comfort levels, you live in a quieter neighborhood, socialize with like-minded neighbors, and spend time doing things you like. Walk your pet, tend to your small garden or take a dip in heated swimming pools.

5. Central location

Most of the community homes are in close proximity to supermarkets and medical institutions. Central Florida is not typically beach fronted, you might need to drive a few miles to hear the waves crashing. Yet it has a lot of inland water bodies so you don’t miss out on water activities. It is also cheaper since real estate prices are remarkably lower than in other parts of the country. Another reason is that you can find homes that suit not only your budget but your lifestyle too.

If you are thinking of moving, it is better to take a look at the properties available. Check out its neighborhood and its model houses, and talk to residents if possible. Even if you are not moving, it is always a good option to just take a trip to the state and enjoy the warm sun. In fact, one can see recreational vehicles stopping by such parks frequently. Also, Florida is the annual snowbird destination, with people from all over the colder northern states congregating here to wait out the cold.

6. Easier to maintain

Keep it clean: a no-brainer, but a clean, stain-free, dust-free home is a healthier home. Mobile home ceilings, walls, and floor are not ordinary and might need specialized care if regular upkeep is ignored.

Get fixtures and furnishing especially meant for mobile homes: You can’t buy a doorknob from home depot and expect it to fit on your mobile home door.

Leveling: Once in a while, the house will need to be leveled. Check for wall and floor cracks to know when it’s time for a leveling.

Use appropriate home improvement materials: It is helpful to repair or replace vinyl drywall or printed panel with professional help.

7. Building codes and permits

It usually depends on the community you are moving into. Talk to the association to know about the process and the timeframe. This will give you room to get your papers in order. Check out the available houses. They usually have two bedrooms and baths but features may vary by communities and the budget you set.

Central Florida counties mobile homes info:

• Seminole County Mobile Home Process & Requirements
• Polk County Mobile Home Setup (PDF)
• Hillsborough County Mobile Homes Requirements
• Palm Beach County Mobile Home Requirements (PDF)

For more information about living in a trailer park in Central Florida, get in touch with us. We will help you select and buy your desired house while providing you with financing options. Regular on-site management makes it easier to maintain your home. Drop by one of our locations or contact us today.

Mobile home parks are quickly shedding their stigma and becoming the homes of the future. The opportunity to enjoy an affordable, quality home within some of the most desirable locations within Florida makes them increasingly popular, especially among retirees.

Central Florida offers many mobile home communities from which you can choose. The 10 best mobile home parks in central Florida all belong to Bedrock Communities, thanks to their commitment to creating attainable luxury in beautiful Florida locations.

Check out these 55+ communities to learn more and to decide which one might be best for you.

1. Little Manatee

Little Manatee 55+ Mobile Home Community

A 55+ community nestled along the peaceful Little Manatee River in Ruskin, FL, Little Manatee offers residents on-site access to fishing along with a wealth of other amenities, all located moments from the community’s beautifully-crafted homes.

Close to Tampa Bay, the community offers easy access to the big city and gorgeous beaches, while allowing residents to access more local dining and shopping attractions in Ruskin. With city and town, beach and river, all within reach, Little Manatee offers a truly desirable location.

Add in low housing prices and reasonable lot rents, and Little Manatee earns its place as one of central Florida’s best mobile home parks.

2. Crescent Lake

Crescent Lake Mobile Home Park

Fishing, boating, and relaxing can become part of your daily routine when you purchase a home in Bedrock’s 55+ Crescent Lake mobile home park. This community exists in the middle of enormous natural beauty within Riverview, Florida.

Nestled along Crescent Lake, near the Alafia River, you enjoy relaxation along the water right outside your front door. Bell Creek Nature Preserve is close by, and amenities such as a boat ramp and fishing pier are situated on site.

This natural beauty gives way to the convenience, attractions, restaurants, and beaches available just 10 miles away in Tampa, 23 miles to St. Petersburg, and less than 100 miles to Orlando.

At Crescent Lake, affordable housing is desirable housing, with a beautiful locale and wonderful amenities for you to enjoy.

3. River Haven

River Haven 55+ community

For the fisherman at heart, River Haven is the place to be. This 55+ community boasts 59 reasonably-priced home sites just one street away from the Little Manatee River and the state’s best fishing.

For more fishing and big-city attractions, you can take a short boat ride over to Tampa. On-site amenities, including Fish House Restaurant and numerous social activities, as well as a quiet location, allow you to enjoy a beautiful life inside and outside the big city.

For those who want a long vacation and not a permanent relocation, River Haven also offers RV sites that enjoy access to the same amenities and attractions for a beautiful place to live for a season, a year, or a lifetime.

4. Rose Lake

Rose Lake 55+ Community

Located in the heart of Tampa, Rose Lake offers a place to relax, unwind, and enjoy everything Tampa has to offer. Strike out to explore the beaches and attractions of Tampa and stay as busy as you like within the bustling city.

When you tire of the big city life, you can relax within the Rose Lake community. Amenities include many social activities and chances to connect with others, as well as the opportunity to enjoy peace and quiet in your beautiful and affordable home.

Rose Lake is ideal for both permanent residents and snowbirds, for introverts and extroverts. Stay as busy or as relaxed as you like in a community that is designed to help you feel at home.

5. Lake Bon Bon

Lake Bon Bon 55+ community

Comfortable community living awaits at Lake Bon Bon, located in desirable Pinellas Park, Florida. Built around a peaceful lake, this community is beautiful and quiet, the perfect place for quiet retirement living and close-knit community. Take advantage of year-round social activities in the town and in the community, as well as amenities such as a library and a clubhouse.

6. Georgetowne Manor

Georgetowne Manor 55+ community

Lakeland, Florida, is a popular city known for its architecture, history, and lakes. All of the incredible entertainment and shopping in the city is available to residents of Lakeland-based Georgetowne Manor, which is situated within walking distance of numerous attractions.

The community is close-knit, with many social activities throughout the year. Amenities also make this a desirable place to live and include a clubhouse and a heated pool.

7. Lake Bonny

Lake Bonny Mobile Home Park

Retirement living is at its best at Lake Bonny Mobile Home Park. Also located in Lakeland, FL, this community offers access to the antiques, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, and natural beauty that make Lakeland a desirable Florida location. Enjoy Hollis Garden, the Polk Museum of Art, Lake Mirror, and access to Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Orlando.

Within Lake Bonny itself, you can enjoy a beautiful community that will welcome you with social activities. Access a boat ramp to enjoy the water, a clubhouse, and other amenities for Florida living that is both affordable and desirable.

8. Citrus Center

Citrus Center mobile home park

Quiet community living is available at Lakeland-based Citrus Center. This 55+ community is situated within Lakeland, FL, where you can enjoy all the natural beauty, architecture, and history the city has to offer.

If you want to travel further for big-city fun and beaches, Tampa is a mere 35 miles away. If you want to stay closer to home, you can enjoy local restaurants, culture, and entertainment, or take advantage of the community’s social activities and amenities.

9. Sunny Pines

Sunny Pines 55+ community

If Disney appeals to you, then Sunny Pines might be the 55+ mobile home park that is right for you. This small community of 50 home sites and 6 RV sites is situated near Orlando and all of its attractions.

If you want to enjoy entertainment closer to home, you can also shop in Mount Dora or at other major shopping centers about 5 miles from the community.

10. Singing Forest

Singing Forest MHP

Tranquil, simple living beckons at Singing Forest Mobile Home Park. The appeal of this community is its stunning natural beauty, including tall trees and quiet pond, and lighted fountain.

Take advantage of this beauty in one of the community’s beautiful and affordable home sites, and enjoy access to boat docks, Orlando, and Tampa. Numerous social activities, a clubhouse, billiards, and more offer ongoing opportunities for connection and relationships with those in the community.

Bedrock Communities‘ numerous mobile home parks are all pet-friendly and designed for luxury, affordability, and desirability. Find your perfect Florida home at one of them today!

Manufactured homes are not the latest trend to hit the U.S housing market. Take a look at these Google Trends to see how far ahead ‘manufactured homes’ is in U.S. interest since 2010. Also, they have been around for decades as war veterans can testify.

Manufactured housing trend

What is most recent about them is the technology upgrade they have realized. As these prepare to hold significant stakes in the country’s housing industry soon, pre-built homes have begun offering customers affordability and unlimited choices for customization.

What exactly are manufactured homes?

Think of them as a home that arrives in the mailbox. These houses are entirely manufactured and assembled in factories. Post-production, they are transported to the site, and they remain there, usually permanently. With building codes and compliances kicking in, these houses are now built with high-grade materials that minimize the need for repair and restoration.

What are the features of factory-built mobile homes?

They may be single-wide or double-wide units and usually cover at least three hundred square feet of living area. Customers can select features they wish to be built in, for instance, decks and patios. They are especially favored by many first-time homeowners who want to possess a small, low-maintenance house for themselves.

7 Reasons Why Seniors Love Factory-Made Homes

Modern static caravan on campsite during summer.

These are useful options as post-retirement lodgings. And every year, the number of retired seniors is rising. The upsides of owning such a home are many:

1. Zero Anxiety of Homeownership

With some of these homes making up age-specific communities, the elderly population does not have to worry about the labors of homeownership – lawn mowing, trash removal, maintenance and such additional duties.

2. Health and Leisure Benefits

These mobile home communities or parks are usually equipped with facilities like community clubs, jogging tracks, gyms, swimming pools, tennis courts and occasionally, small golfing areas.

3. Security

Most of these are gated communities. There is always some form of surveillance actively protecting their properties, especially when there’s no one around.

4. A Sense of Belongingness

With like-minded neighbors, seniors find it easy to make friends. This chance of companionship is also what draws them to these homes.

5. Custom Designing

These houses are no longer humble trailers that looked unflattering on its owners. Shabby, rickety trailers are out, and custom-made models are gaining footing. Single or double storied, these living spaces often reflect their owner’s personality in terms of the paints, finishes, floor plans, furnishings and accessories.

A home needs to be built around a family’s needs. More so with modular homes that optimize the available area. There are walk-in showers, Jacuzzi, floor-to-ceiling windows, fireplaces, and wooden floors – anything you want to be added to your home building project can be added to your manufactured unit. All these are installed, and most are ready to use when your house arrives at the location.

6. Energy Efficiency

Modern mobile homes are made with an eye on energy usage. Unlike older homes, these living spaces come well-equipped with HVAC systems, high-grade fixtures and equipment that cut down on energy waste and regulate its use inside the house. So, on the one hand, you enjoy low utility bills while on the other, you reduce your carbon footprint.

Not just that. In the construction of such homes too, builders frequently make use of recycled and biodegradable materials, reducing the load on landfills. These homes are recommended for the long run since they decrease stress on the environment and are sustainable.

7. Affordability

Mobile home communities are growing in popularity not only for the close community bond it fosters. Pricing plays a significant role too. While traditional homes cost around $200,000 for a basic, single-family unit, a pre-made house can come at a fraction of the price tag. In some states, for instance, pre-owned is up for sale at $10,000 and up, while new ones around $90,000. An attractive offer, retiring seniors cannot afford to miss.

Why? Because in most cases, they own a house too large for their living and too expensive to maintain. By selling off their older home, they can achieve two targets at once:

1. Own a low maintenance house, and
2. Put some money in the bank.

Another factor that affects the final cost is the parking fee. The house price does not include the land it stands on, and park owners can charge upwards of $100 each month for park fee. Yet, community members often end up owning those parks and do away with recurring expenses.

Furthermore, without an owned piece of land to anchor the home, it is often treated as a motor vehicle. And as such, it undergoes depreciation over time. However, once it is attached to the ground, the decline in its value slows down as it is then considered an item of accommodation.

The Bottom Line

Manufactured homes are gradually emerging as the next big home option for most Americans. They are compact, built around safety codes, and offer flexibility on features and design. All these, without burdening you with loans or eating into your lifestyle choices.

In other cases, they offer Millennials the chance to move away from time and resource-consuming home building and give them something that follows modern trends. It is now seen as a practical and respectable financial choice to buy or rent manufactured homes.

With communities gearing up security features and big investors entering the segment, mobile homes are all set to push past conventional housing and forge ahead of its time. While it is not slated to be the next home out of a science-fiction saga, it is certainly built at the junction of inexpensive housing and future-forward technology.