RV site as a home base?

[Jayco-noslide]

Just wondering how it works out to live in your RV full time but to own a site somewhere as a "home base"? In other words if one wanted to full-time in an RV and be free to travel around quite a bit but not all of the time so have a known place to anchor; probably in the warm part of the country but not necessarily. Or better to just find a site to rent; maybe with seasonal rates?

[bobsallyh]

oldgrape, there are so many different situations to describe on here. The lot we own is in a residential area. Permissible on the lot is a mobile, single wide, double wide, stick built, two RVs. There are gated places, places with sewer, or septic. We have been coming to Yuma for 14 years, and when we first got here, we had never seen anything like this scenario in all our years of travel. If you go to Craigs List, Yuma, AZ. under rentals and for sales. There are pictures with many that you can look at, but doesn't give a real picture. There are so many options. Quite a few are for sale by owner and some with real estate agents. There is really only one way to become familiar with the situations and that is take no less than a week with an area visit. Another thing is the real estate agents. Don't know if this an area thing or what but I don't trust them anymore than an RV salesperson! If I can be of more help, just PM me.

[Oldgrape]

bobsallyh wrote:
We have an RV lot in the Foothills area of Yuma, AZ. Two FHU 50 amp hookups. Two sheds. We can rent the 2nd if we so desire. We are usually here October thru mid April. The rest of the time we are on the road mostly in Idaho and Montana.

We are about 2 years away from retiring and are looking at various snowbird locations to create a "home base". You mention Yuma and I have seen many RV 55+ communities there from city center to the Foothills area. Can you provide any insight on the various areas (good/bad/in-between) there in Yuma. Also has anyone looked at the Augusta, GA area for possible wintering?

[Oregon_Viatorem]

Great reply Smitty! The “phases” you mention are a really good point.
I recently learned about RV resorts in AZ that come with detached “casita”. Something like that may satisfy my need for a garage. Wouldn’t be a nice spacious 3 or 4 bay shop... but, trade offs! Selling my house may need to fund the purchase of said lot(s) and an RV. We shall see. That’s definitely going “all in”.

[Smitty77]

Lots of variables, and my view is the importance of one variable over another changes as time goes by. We know several members of the Escapees, who have a 'home base' space in one of the Escapees CO-OP's. Some have two or more places. For example we know people who have a site in Eevergreen CO-OP in Cmimacum Washington, and then another site in the Jojoba CO-OP in southern California. Same with a few we know who have sites in Oregon Suthelin's Timber Valley CO-OP's with sites also in Saguaro CO-OP in Benson Arizona.

These are members whom have full timed for decades, and now have a Northern and Southern base. Many have Park Models on their sites.

Same thing happens quite often with Idaho private RV Parks like Idaho, Dakota, Wyoming, etc. - and then go to Arizona, or Alabama, or Rio Grande Valley, or Florida for winter.

I'm rambling a bit here:)! But depending upon the phase you're in. Early phase of more frequent traveling, getting out and going around the country. Vs more towards the later phases with less frequent miles and travels, and enjoying a home base, or two...

My wife and I have kept a Stick & Brick home in San Diego. Now our 'vacation' home, where MIL lives full-time. We're Domiciled in South Dakota, and follow the laws remaining out of California for the times per year required. (We travel 8-9 months a year, and do San Diego check in on MIL and catch up maintenance for her on this 'vacation' home. We'll probably sell it when MIL is no longer able to live their on her own.

As we travel, we're constantly scouting out locations for 'mini home bases'. For example, we like the Prescott, AZ area. And may buy a few acres of land with a home and put a RV Barn on it which includes a living area within it too. (Sort of a combo RV Barn/Casita.). We'd rent the house out, and retain the RV Barn/Casita for our longer term winter home base. (Though it can get down right cold in Prescott, it usually does not have snow stick for any period of time:)!).

We're not golfer's, but see many people that choose locations for home bases that include golfing privileges too.

One other factor we've noted. More people we know have been buying sites at popular winter locations, say Florida as an example - because it can become such a PITA finding a site in a park during peak snowbird season. And many of them have made 'winter friend's' and wish to have a site in a specific park available for them to be with their friends. With the increase in RV sells, and the increase of Baby Boomer's now jumping into this lifestyle in quantity - the demand for sites in popular snowbird area's is only going to increase...

The above ramblings are just some of the many variables involved on why, how many, where, people choose to establish home base(s) - or not!

Best to you,
Smitty

[Oregon_Viatorem]

Hi everyone.... 1st post here on RVNet. WOOT! This topic immediately caught my eye, as this is a topic I am currently pondering as well.

We love the idea of the "full-time" RV life, but in reality we need to have a "home base" here in OR within ~2hour drive from my ageing mother-in-law. Winters will likely be spent in AZ, NV, SoCal. Likely domicile in SD or FL for the income tax break.

The conundrum: Keeping a house or condo seems silly, to me at least. Why maintain a house or condo when the RV should be the "condo" right? But...I really love having a big garage/shop where I can work on my Jeep (the toad), work on the RV, store the 2nd car, etc. Storage is also needed, and will always be (long story).

So, my idea is finding a semi-rural lot (1 acre or so); building a 3-4 car garage/shop with an attached 1-bedroom apartment. Single-level (no stairs). Adjacent to the garage/apartment is the RV pad with FHU, 50amp. Between the RV and garage is a large outdoor living space, patio, BBQ, etc. The apartment is merely to comply with zoning regulation, or perhaps live in it if needed when we are there. Renting the RV site is also an idea when we are on the road.

Maybe I will get lucky and find a lot with a cottage like someone here described. Then all I need is the Garage and RV pad.

So much to ponder... LOL

[Jayco-noslide]

After reading all the good advice I think, if we ever were to go FT, I would probably try to develop a relationship with a campground whereas I would know I would have a site to stay at, long term if desired, at a seasonal rate. Could still go the purchasing route later if desired.

[valhalla360]

Dutch_12078 wrote:

Your $1800 total seasonal site comes to nearly the same cost as our year round full hookup site next to our cottage. Plus we get the cottage thrown in for free in that comparison... 😉

And no, we're not "flipping real-estate". The cottage was originally built by my father-in-law in 1947, and we have no interest in selling it. Our daughters frequently use it during the year, especially during the summer boating and swimming season and the winter cross-country skiing and ice fishing season.

If you already have the site and will keep it regardless of the camping situation, of course it comes out pretty well as the incremental cost is minimal.

That doesn't really apply for the OP has he will have to factor in the cost of buying land, upgrading the land, ongoing costs and eventual sales costs.

Might break even in the long run but as you say, the annual costs are likely about the same. But if the OP buys, the money sunk into the land is a lot less liquid and if it doesn't work out, there is a good chance of significant losses.

Spending a year or two with a seasonal site to make sure you like the lifestyle and area makes a lot of sense.

[bobsallyh]

We have an RV lot in the Foothills area of Yuma, AZ. Two FHU 50 amp hookups. Two sheds. We can rent the 2nd if we so desire. We are usually here October thru mid April. The rest of the time we are on the road mostly in Idaho and Montana.

[tjfogelberg]

I like the co-op or condo parks that take care of all maintenance and have low “buy in” and low ongoing maintenance costs.

The escapee parks look good to me...visiting the one in Wachula Florida next week. In central Florida I toured Ancient Oaks in Okeechobee yesterday. very reasonable and well maintained. (Ancient Oaks is 55+, Escapee parks vary).

These can be very hard to sell...you really need to take your time before buying, renting makes a lot more sense until you have a very definite and consistent plan.

[Captain_Happy]

Here's another option. Have you checked out Escapees RV Club. They have co-op parks in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, and Washington State. You put yourself on a waiting list for an opening for a lot. Pay for the lot, and at some point you decide to move on to other parts of the country you put your lot up for resale and you get all your money back. Something worth checking into.

[Dutch_12078]

valhalla360 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We have a lakeside cottage in the Adirondacks Our costs to maintain the cottage including utilities and taxes only come to a couple of thousand dollars a year, much less than what a year round RV park site would cost in most places.

Last couple years we've had a seasonal site (with year round storage included if we choose) for $1600 in southern Michigan. Only thing extra is electricity which totaled about $200 last year.

Now if you are flipping real-estate and happen to use it as a site, that can work but I wouldn't count on making money unless you have a history of investing in real-estate. This is particularly true if you need to hire out work to add driveways and utilities.

Your $1800 total seasonal site comes to nearly the same cost as our year round full hookup site next to our cottage. Plus we get the cottage thrown in for free in that comparison... 😉

And no, we're not "flipping real-estate". The cottage was originally built by my father-in-law in 1947, and we have no interest in selling it. Our daughters frequently use it during the year, especially during the summer boating and swimming season and the winter cross-country skiing and ice fishing season.

[valhalla360]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We have a lakeside cottage in the Adirondacks Our costs to maintain the cottage including utilities and taxes only come to a couple of thousand dollars a year, much less than what a year round RV park site would cost in most places.

Last couple years we've had a seasonal site (with year round storage included if we choose) for $1600 in southern Michigan. Only thing extra is electricity which totaled about $200 last year.

Now if you are flipping real-estate and happen to use it as a site, that can work but I wouldn't count on making money unless you have a history of investing in real-estate. This is particularly true if you need to hire out work to add driveways and utilities.

[path1]

Just sold last summer 2 lots that we had for over 20 years. Over that time period we saw many lots of "full timers" that used lot as home base. Within hour of medical and no income tax state. Neighbors right of us, he died and she wouldn't drive motorhome. She left it parked and picked up a trailer and lot in snow bird county and then she flew in between. Motorhome was her "home base".

We still have rv site in AZ that we use as "home base" for center of operations when we're south. Great to boondock but also great to come back to washers and drier and elec.

Only thing I don't like about "home base" set up is I bet I have about 2 of everything (tools, etc)

In my opinion most places that "full timers" hang out at, it really doesn't matter how new or old park is, there are good people everywhere it seems.

[Bob_Olallawa]

Tough question for sure. I think you do need a home base if for nothing else just a place to return to and call home. Where it is, hard question. That depends on how you think or have family.