The Benefits of Living in Mobile Homes in Parks. What Could Go Right?

Advantages of Buying a Home in a Mobile Home Park

A mobile home park with greenway and pond

This post is about the benefits of living in mobile homes in parks. And about the ideals that every mobile homeowner expects and about how the city, the economy and the world benefit from manufactured mobile homes in parks.
Be sure to read “What Could Go Wrong” and the “Mobile Home Park Industry” to get a balanced perspective.

Many manufactured / mobile home owners have enjoyed good benefits while living in mobile home parks. While no park is 100% perfect, homeowners may experience many of the below benefits of living in mobile homes in parks. And mobile home owners are helping to solve major problems. Their housing has great potential to accomplish more good things with proper promotion, protection and acceptance.

Many people have grown up, lived, retired and spent the last years of their successful lives in mobile home parks. Some of the mobile / manufactured homes today have beautiful interiors and creature comforts that rival many conventional homes.

Graphic of expectations being checked off

What Makes Living in Mobile Homes in Parks Beneficial?

Generally, all mobile home owners want physical shelter that is secure, and dependable. They want reliable and predictable land costs with park stability, financial predictability and good value for what they pay. These are the bare minimums that any renter would expect, whether in a mobile home park or apartment.

But a secure and stable home and finances enable greater things. Many homeowners want to be secure enough to make progress in their lives, in their communities and their nation. Investing in human beings may produce the greatest economic benefits to everyone. The ability to maintain a job requires a good place to rest and revive. The ability to save for a better future requires affordable and predictable living costs. The ability for adults and children to study, learn new things and progress requires enough savings to afford the time to study and a reliable home in which to focus, free from worries and disturbances.

Everyone benefits when our neighbor’s basic needs are met and the community has peace in which to progress. When people are secure, they can take advantage of opportunities. That is how society progresses and citizens contribute to making a better world. This system produces growth that benefits everybody and creates a virtuous cycle. A rising tide of secure citizens lifts all boats.

A rising tide of secure citizens lifts all boats

Once a citizen meets his needs, there is spare time available to be active, to work on greater things such as education, raising a family, starting a business, learning new skills, participating in civics, volunteering in charitable ways, contributing to the economy and building a better life.

When a mobile home park is reliable, stable and steady, free from disruption, the residents can be free from struggle over basic needs and be free of deep worries about their financial survival.

America is not a cold cruel nation. Almost everyone is concerned about the housing crisis and they want their fellow citizens securely housed so they can have the base from which to improve and contribute to the economy and the country.

In a well-run, for-profit mobile home park, the landlord makes a decent profit and the residents are able to prosper. When everyone is fair they prosper and enhance the neighborhood and the city and build a stronger America.

As mentioned, generally, all mobile home owners want physical shelter that is secure, and dependable. They want reliable and predictable land costs and good park maintenance and services with park stability. They seek financial predictability and good value for what they pay.

Here is a list of the benefits of living in mobile homes in parks:

Homeowner Benefits

Personal Benefits of Living in a Stable Mobile Home Park

Affordability – savings, a foundation for prosperity
Pride in ownership, pride in self-sufficiency, paying your own way
Responsibility
Potential recovery of investment when you sell
Base of operations for achievement, improvement, further success
Building and contributing to community, community membership, fellowship
Homeowner recognition for reducing waste and pollution, conserving land, conserving energy
Being a leader in conservation, reducing global warming, solving density issues
Fulfilling the “American Dream of Home Ownership”
- Optimism
- Trust
- Hope
- Good business relationships

Benefits Over Apartment Living

Greater privacy
Parking
Home ownership – potential to recover some expenses when sold
Potential for more amenities

Benefits Over Conventional Homes

Smaller and easier to maintain
Less energy costs
Less expensive to buy
Lower carbon footprint, pollution and land wastage

Global Benefits

Community / Neighborhood Benefits of Living in Mobile Homes in Parks

Less homeowner turnover, stable neighborhood / community
Pride in ownership
Responsibility
Non-subsidized housing, self-supporting
Patriotic, “American dream”
Closer-knit community

Benefits to the City

Parks are denser – housing supply over land efficiencies
Economic benefits – affordability means more disposable income circulating locally
City meets affordable housing requirements
Affordable local housing for essential workers

For the Globe – Ecological Benefits

Density, less land destruction
Fewer precious resources wasted in construction
Fewer precious resources wasted in maintenance
Less pollution due to smaller impact
Less fossil fuel burnt in heating and cooling – lower carbon footprint
Entire home is replaceable
Discourages overconsumption

More Good Things About Mobile Home Parks

Tax Breaks, Awards, Recognition of Mobile Home Value to Society

Tax breaks, subsidies for lower carbon footprint
Tax breaks, subsidies for less resources usage
Tax breaks, subsidies for less consumption
Mobile home of the year award
Community appreciation, ecological appreciation,

Potential Protections

Park closure ordinance
RSOs
Senior overlays – age-restricted park protection
Possibility for park to become a resident-owned co-op, reduced costs, secure future

Dependable Mobile Home Park Management

Fair rent raises
Full disclosure: Infrastructure issues, future park sales plans, park closure, rent raise schedules
Less homeowner turnover, stable neighborhood / community
Enforced senior age restrictions
Enforcement of the Rules and Regulations
Park patrolling for security, maintenance, Rules and Regulations enforcement
Working with residents on late rent
Sell park to residents
Maintain park infrastructure
Maintain park commons
Maintain park standards of appearance, maintenance, services
Activities: BBQs, dinners, awards, contests
Scholarships
Maintain library, clubhouse TV, games, pool, etc.

Future Movements to Secure Affordable Living in Mobile Home Parks

Mobile homes can be officially designated as affordable housing
Help with becoming a resident-owned community
Tax breaks / subsidies for reduced consumption
Tax breaks / subsidies for greenhouse gas reduction
Movement to build new mobile home parks
Appreciation of MH parks by the public, business, civic leaders, media
Specific government breaks for MH owners
Right to counsel
Real property instead of chattel
Tax breaks and subsidies for greenhouse gas reduction

Other Benefits of Mobile Home Park Living

Non-subsidized affordable housing
Some states are doing more, some less
Homeowner protection programs
State-level regulations and requirements
State-level laws and considerations for mobile home parks
Funds for park acquisition by residents or nonprofits
Funds for home repair
Local rent stabilization, senior overlays, and park closure ordinances
Help for residents to buy their own park
Growing appreciation of low-impact housing