Tag: Rent or own a mobile home

With 828,000 mobile homes in Florida alone, the mobile home life is thriving. If you want to rent or own a mobile home in the state, you have many options available. Before you dive into the search for the perfect place, however, here are 6 things you need to know.

1. You have lots of options for buying or renting

The sheer number of mobile homes in Florida means you should have no difficulty finding a beautiful and affordable place to live in the Sunshine State. However, you also have choices when it comes to the type of mobile home you select.

a) Renting your mobile home

In this situation, you rent your home and the land on it, typically within a mobile home community.

b) Buying your mobile home

In this situation, you purchase your mobile home and own it yourself. You may or may not own the land on which the mobile home sits.

c) Renting to own your mobile home

In a rent to own situation, you rent your mobile home, but according to your lease you have the option (or requirement) to purchase the home after a specific period of time. Your rent may be applied to your down payment when the time of purchase comes.

2. Chances are, you will need to pay for the land

When budgeting to rent or own a mobile home, you should always take the land into consideration. Choosing to rent? The lot rent will be included in your monthly lease amount. Planning to own a mobile home? You will either need to rent a lot within a mobile home community (Usually only a few hundred dollars a month) or buy land on which to put your mobile home. In order to avoid financial stress in the long run, find out how much land expenses will impact your rental or purchase costs before you settle on a home.

3. Familiarize yourself with the costs of buying or renting

Regardless of the mobile home you choose, planning ahead for your expenses can help ensure the affordability and financial security of your choice. Here are some of the expected costs associated with both renting and owning a mobile home.

Costs to Rent a Mobile Home:

• Security Deposit
• First and last month’s rent due upfront
• Periodic rental increases
• Utilities
• Trash removal
• Monthly rent

Costs to Own a Mobile Home: 

• Mortgage Payments
• Lot Rentals
• Maintenance
• Upgrades and Improvements
• Utilities
• Trash Removal

4. Buying or renting a mobile home makes Florida living attainable

While there are financial obligations that come whether you rent a mobile home in Florida or own a mobile home in Florida, the reality is that mobile homes make Florida living attainable for almost any budget.

For example, while the median home price in Florida is around $400,000, used mobile homes average around $48,000. With lot rents of just a few hundred dollars, many people can sell their stick-built homes elsewhere, move to a mobile home community such as those offered by Bedrock Communities, pay cash for their home, and enjoy a comfortable retirement regardless of their income level.

With Bedrock Communities in some of Florida’s most desirable locations, that means that sunny Florida life is within financial reach. Living in a mobile home may even give you the financial leeway you need to enjoy life’s little luxuries in some of the nation’s most beautiful locations.

5. Mobile homes in designated communities have a lot to offer

Some people choose to purchase a mobile home and put it on their own land. However, many mobile homes are available in dedicated communities that have endless amenities and activities to offer residents. Here are just a few of the features that mobile home communities have to offer, whether you choose to rent or buy your mobile home:

• Social activities and clubhouses
• Friendships and support networks nearby
• Laundry
• Fishing
• Pet-friendly housing
• Boating
• Shuffleboard and pétanque
• Swimming pools
• Lake or ocean access
• Libraries
• Billiards
• And more

A strong community, practical and recreation amenities, and access to some of Florida’s most exciting destinations make Bedrock Communities’ 55+ mobile home communities an appealing option when you are seeking out mobile home life.

6. Mobile homes are beautiful and reliable homes

The rundown mobile home of years past is no longer the reality in many mobile home communities across the nation. Trading in a stick built home for a manufactured or mobile home does not have to mean trading down.

Instead, whether you choose to own a mobile home in Florida or rent one, you can expect to find beautiful, reliable, and desirable housing. For example, at Bedrock Communities, you can expect quality, beautiful finishes, new appliances, and other features to come standard in many of our homes. That can make retiring and living in a Florida mobile home as rewarding as living in a stick built home, without the expenses that could make Florida life impossible to enjoy.

If you are thinking about moving into a mobile home in Florida, you are making a choice that has served thousands of Florida residents very well. Learn more about Bedrock Communities and the mobile home life we can offer you today!

With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 every day, the question of where to spend one’s golden years is a pressing concern for many Americans. Everyone wants to enjoy a relaxed and fulfilling life in an ideal location, but, with limited retirement savings (One-third of people have not saved for retirement), finding an affordable AND satisfying place to live can be a challenge.

Enter mobile home parks. Offering beautiful surroundings, amenities, and community, they are becoming an increasingly popular choice among retirees, particularly in desirable locations such as Florida. Read on to learn more about retiring in a mobile home park, and whether it might be right for you.

Mobile Home Retirement: An Overview

Mobile home retirement, as its name implies, occurs when someone chooses to spend their retirement years in a mobile home park. Often, these individuals or couples choose to relocate from their previous stick-built home to a manufactured home in a community dedicated to serving the 55+ population.

Mobile home parks are in high demand among all age groups: About 22 million Americans live in a mobile home, and construction of mobile homes accounted for 10 percent of new home construction in 2017.

Among retirees, however, they have a special appeal, thanks to the wealth of advantages they offer older adults who may struggle to find the funding they need to enjoy the retirement life they are dreaming of. These benefits include the following:

Affordability

Retirees who lack retirement savings must find another way to pay for their golden years. Mobile homes offer an appealing option: Retirees can sell their stick-built homes, purchase a mobile home in their preferred location, make any necessary updates, and still have ample money left over to use toward their retirement.

For example, if they sell their home for $200,000 and spend $45,000 on a mobile home, they have more than $150,000 left to put toward living during retirement.

In addition, lot rents for mobile homes are also often very affordable (Often just a few hundred dollars a month). Our Little Manatee community, for example, charges a lot rent of just $520 a month. That means that an older adult can enjoy a beautiful home in a desirable location for significantly less than they would spend renting an apartment in the same city.

Community

Mobile home parks, especially 55+ communities, offer built-in connections that can be vital to retirees who desire social activities and friendships in their golden years.

55+ communities not only provide affordable housing, but also create an environment where it is easy to create meaningful social connections. Mobile home parks offer the following relationship-building features:

• Walkability
• Proximity to neighbors who can offer support and assistance
• Community centers
• Pools
• Clubhouses and activities
• Community events
• Dog parks
• And more

Desirable Locations

Finally, mobile home parks offer an appealing retirement option for older adults because they often exist in some of the country’s most sought-after locations. Want to spend your retirement in warm weather? Sunbathing or fishing on the beach? Near big-city attractions? Mobile home parks exist throughout these areas in the United States, making it possible for retirees to move to their favorite places without breaking their retirement budgets.

Mobile Home Retirement: Locations

Retirees often have very specific ideas about where to spend their post-work years, and it isn’t often in cold Northern states. The South and Southeastern areas of the United States are prime retirement destinations, including the following most popular retirement states:

• New Mexico
• Florida
• Arizona
• South Carolina

As the second most popular retirement destination, Florida has lots to offer retirees, starting with year-round sun and warm weather, sparkling white beaches, and many outdoor recreational opportunities. Retirees also flock to this state for reasons, including the following:

• Tax breaks
• International travel access
• High-quality healthcare

While in-demand locations are often very expensive, retirees can afford to live in these locations, including areas in Florida near big-city destinations such as Tampa, Clearwater, and Orlando, because of mobile home parks like those offered by Bedrock.

While homes may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars (The median home price in Florida is $334,000), mobile homes often cost less than $50,000. Even building a custom manufactured home can be significantly less than purchasing a stick-built residence. That puts a great location, and a great home, within reach for many retirees.

Mobile Park Retirement: How It Works

Practically speaking, mobile home retirement tends to be easy, appealing, and safe. Here is a look at some of the most important elements of retiring in a mobile home park:

Safety

Mobile homes, and trailer parks, have long had a bad reputation for a lack of safety and security. However, the reality is that this stigma simply does not apply to many of the thousands of retirement communities, in Florida and throughout the United States.

In some ways, 55+ mobile home communities offer more safety than do traditional neighborhoods because neighbors are closer together and more likely to notice changes in daily routines, strangers in the park, or other warning signs that all is not right.

That can mean that a resident experiencing a health emergency or other problem receives  prompt support from their neighbors. In addition, 55+ communities with mobile homes also frequently provide accessibility, such as wheelchair ramps, that make it easier, and safer, for all their residents to get around.

Many mobile home parks also come with safety features such as gated entries and security cameras. Add in the fact that many of these parks, such as Bedrock’s many communities, exist in safe and appealing areas of Florida, and you have a location that will keep you secure throughout your golden years.

Amenities

Retiring in a mobile home park also means gaining access to numerous amenities that make life more convenient, and more enjoyable.

The specific amenities and services you will enjoy will depend upon the specific park that you choose. However, here at Bedrock, our communities provide some or all of the following:

• Fishing dock
• Clubhouse
• Heated pool
• Social activities
• Laundry
• Boat ramp
• Shuffleboard
• Billiards
• Pentaque courts
• Onsite restaurant
• And more

For retirees who want to bring their furry companions, all of our parks are also pet-friendly and ready to welcome your best friend.

These amenities make everything from mailing cards to doing laundry, hanging out with friends to pursuing hobbies, easy so you can focus on enjoying your work-free years.

Freedom

Retirees who are financially strapped to high rent or mortgages often lack the freedom they desire to pursue their hobbies and interests during retirement. Retiring in a mobile home park, however, provides incredible freedom to do all the things you have been dreaming about doing during your work years.

For example, owning your own mobile home, or renting it for an extremely affordable price, frees up money in your budget to travel, golf, fish, boat, shop, visit family, or do any of the things that make your life feel richer and more satisfying. That can make living in a mobile home park the key to a retirement you actually find fulfilling.

Communities

Every mobile home community is different. Retirees can choose from basic parks with a few amenities to luxury locations with gated entries and big mobile homes.

Regardless of the type of community you choose, you will want to choose a park that has the following features:

• Amenities that suit your preferred lifestyle
• Safety and security
• A location where you want to live
• Quality homes and lots
• Convenience
• Friendly neighbors
• Lots to do
• Affordable homes and lot rents

Taking your preferences, lifestyle, and retirement goals into consideration will help you to select the mobile home park where you can comfortably enjoy your retirement years.

Renting vs. Buying

When you retire to a mobile home park, you can choose to rent or buy your home. There are pros and cons to both choices, and ultimately, the decision you make will depend upon your preferences, finances, and retirement goals. However, here are a few factors to consider when it comes to renting vs. buying your mobile home:

Maintenance

Retiring to a mobile home park means enjoying maintenance on your property regardless of whether you rent or buy. However, the maintenance and repair of your home itself will be your responsibility if you purchase your home, but the park’s responsibility if you rent.

Upfront Costs

Purchasing a home will always come with greater upfront costs than renting it, due to down payments and closing costs (and a mortgage if you choose a home loan). However, owning a home that can appreciate in value may be worth it to you, particularly if you wish to leave your investment behind for your family.

Flexibility

If you choose to relocate to a different living situation, renting may be a better option than buying your mobile home because you can more easily move on from a lease.

Customization

Your home should reflect your personality and style. Purchasing a mobile home will enable you to create exactly the kind of space you feel most comfortable in. However, renting the right home can give you a beautiful and stylish home without a lot of work on yoru part. When you own your own home, you have the option to make it exactly the way you want. Engage in renovation, updates, and personalization projects that can turn your home into the retirement oasis you have spent your life working toward.

The foundation of a comfortable and rewarding retirement is a home that fits your budget and your lifestyle. While mobile homes retirement communities may not be your first thought when it comes to living your best post-work life, 55+ communities are quickly gaining in popularity, and with good reason. Easy to afford, easy to maintain, and often desirably located, there are many advantages of living in a mobile home retirement community. Here are just a few.

Mobile home retirement communities are affordable

Many retirees need to work with a limited budget, but that shouldn’t put a great retirement home out of reach. Mobile home retirement communities, like the ones at Bedrock, provide affordable access to beautiful manufactured homes.

The cost of a manufactured home is, on average, 10-35 percent less per square foot than a traditional home, and one study showed that manufactured homes’ monthly costs were, on average, one-third that of traditional homes.

Manufactured homes also cost less to maintain (with maintenance conducted by the property management) and come with lower utility expenses. Sometimes, your utilities are included in your lot rent. Even better? If you rent your land instead of purchasing it, you may also be able to avoid paying property taxes.

Mobile home retirement communities are desirably located

Inexpensive housing may be easy to find, but affordable homes in great locations are a little harder to get, unless you choose a 55+ mobile home community. You can, for example, enjoy Florida’s beautiful beaches and warm weather without exceeding your budget, if you choose the right mobile home retirement community.

Mobile home retirement communities are often located near beaches, within bustling towns, or beside sought-after cities. That leaves you the ability to choose exactly where you want to retire, without worrying about whether you can afford it.

Here at Bedrock, we offer a wide range of communities throughout Florida. Each is located in beautiful locations where you can easily access some of the state’s most sought-after cities, towns, and beaches. That makes pursuing your retirement dreams more rewarding, and more achievable.

Mobile home retirement communities are easy to maintain

Often, 55+ manufactured home communities will provide maintenance of the homes and grounds through property management. In addition, many of these communities provide services that make it easy to keep up with your daily to-do list. For example, trash collection or on-site laundry facilities make it convenient to get chores done so you can focus on enjoying your retirement.

Mobile home retirement communities offer social connections

When you join a 55+ mobile home community, you don’t just get an affordable house in a great location. You become part of a network of people who offer support, friendship, and assistance along your retirement journey.

For example, your neighbors may watch your pet while you go on a trip, check up on you if you deviate from your daily routine, or offer support such as meals or laundry help if you become ill.

Add in social activities organized by the community, clubhouses where you can gather with others for fun and games, and the ease of stopping by to say hello to your neighbors, and your retirement community can become a source of meaningful connections and friendships that will ensure that your retirement years are never lonely.

Mobile home retirement communities have lots of amenities

Never be bored when you choose to live in a 55+ manufactured home community. These locations are known for offering a wide variety of amenities that allow you to be as busy as you want to be.

For example, here at Bedrock, each of our communities boasts clubhouses, social activities, games, boat ramps, pools, or other amenities that make pursuing your favorite activities easier than ever.

You can rent or purchase manufactured homes

There are advantages to both renting and purchasing a home, and mobile home retirement communities allow you to do both.

Benefits of renting

Why consider renting your mobile home? Consider these benefits of renting:

1. No Home Maintenance Costs

Regardless of whether you buy or rent, property maintenance is provided through your mobile home community. However, when you choose to rent your manufactured home rather than buy, you also avoid the costs, and stress, associated with maintaining that home. That can give you freedom to pursue a more relaxed retirement.

2. Fewer Upfront Costs

When you choose to rent a manufactured home, you also incur fewer costs upfront. You do not, for example, need to provide the down payment or closing costs that are included in a home purchase. That can put your manufactured home within financial reach.

3. Ongoing Flexibility

Renting also gives you flexibility. If your home doesn’t work for you, or if your housing needs change, you can relocate more easily than if you purchase a house and then need to sell it.

Benefits of buying

Why consider buying your mobile home? Here are few advantages of buying:

1. Consistent Monthly Payments

Your monthly mortgage payments might change a little bit, but you never have to worry about rent increases that eat into your monthly budget.

2. Appreciating Property

Homes often appreciate value over time. That makes purchasing a manufactured home an investment that can improve your financial health over the long-term.

3. Customization Options

When you own your own home, you have the option to make it exactly the way you want. Engage in renovation, updates, and personalization projects that can turn your home into the retirement oasis you are dreaming of.

Here at Bedrock Communities, we offer manufactured homes within our communities for both rent and sale. That means that you can afford attainable luxury in Florida’s most desirable locations regardless of whether renting or buying works best for you.

Bedrock Communities exists to make affordable and relaxing retirement possible. Check out any of our 55+ mobile home communities today and discover the comfort of a community designed with you in mind.