Everyday life in manufactured home subdivisions isn’t much different than living in a neighborhood subdivision. It’s not even much different than living in a manufactured home park. However, there are a few major differences that we’ll discuss and point out to you before this article is over.
What you can expect to find in manufactured home subdivisions
In a manufactured home subdivision, you’ll find that it carries some differences and similarities when contrasted with mobile home parks.
The land belongs to homeowners
In a mobile home subdivision, the land itself belongs to the homeowner. They are not rented lots like in a mobile home park. A mobile home subdivision is more like a neighborhood than a mobile home park.
This places the responsibility of home and property maintenance entirely on the property owner — in this case, the homeowner.
Your location’s zoning department will have a say on what the parameters of the mobile subdivision should be.
Affordability is king
With manufactured home subdivisions, you’re looking at affordable housing (land property included) that come with the perks of a yard. Mobile homes are built in a factory, from start to finish and then delivered to the manufactured home subdivision.
In essence, being built in a factory means that the mobile home construction process is streamlined.
In the construction of a mobile home, the workers are specialists in their task. There’s no having to stop and troubleshoot. These workers know their role very well, expediting the construction of the mobile home.
Affordability also comes with the materials being readily available within the factory. There’s no waiting for certain contractors or pieces to arrive mid-construction. Everything moves forward smoothly.
This affordability makes a manufactured home subdivision more appealing than a regular stick-built home subdivision.
Governed by regulations set forth by the city
Manufactured home subdivisions are parcels of land owned by the mobile home owner. The regulations that are at play in the subdivisions are at the discretion of the city.
So it is the city the mobile home owner will be dealing directly with if they fall out of line with a regulation. This is different than a mobile home park where the park resident must deal with the park manager — and the park manager must deal with the town or city.
This is a striking point of expectation you’ll find in a manufactured home subdivision.
Mobile homes only
Another thing you can expect to find in a manufactured home subdivision is this: mobile homes only. You won’t find a mix of various housing types.
These subdivisions cater to those who wish for affordable housing. And affordable does not mean a sacrifice in quality or safety.
While yes, you’ll find dingy mobile home divisions out there, don’t limit that to mobile home housing. You’ll find plenty of stick built home divisions in existence. It’s not about the house, it’s about the location that attracts that type of homeowner.
So don’t discount a mobile home subdivision because of a stigma that really shouldn’t apply today. Yes, at some point mobile homes were affordable because they were shoddy. But that’s not what we have going for us today.
Invest in a park
If you’re looking for recurring income, it’s best to invest in a mobile home park. In a mobile home park, you can own the land and rent lots out to tenants. The mobile home themselves can be owned by you or the tenant.
By renting out the lot on which the mobile home park sits or will sit, you can count on a monthly stream of income from that tenant.
Due to the cumbersomeness of moving a mobile home, it’s unlikely that the mobile home owner will move the home off your lot. This is good because it will ensure that you continue to receive rent pay for the lot. And if the homeowner decides to move, they’ll likely sell the home to the future tenant of your park.
And if it’s low enough, you may see a good deal in buying the mobile home from your tenant. That way you can rent out both the lot and the home that sits on it.
Workable options for mobile home owners
In closing, manufactured home subdivisions are a good thing for mobile home owners who want to live in a community where they own the property.
However, if you’re a manufactured homeowner who doesn’t want to deal with property tax, a mobile home park may be more to your liking. Read here for what to look for and what to expect in a mobile home park.
About Dan Leighton
