HiMy wife and I just took a month long trip through California and Arizona. We are planning to spend next winter down there. We have looked at a few resorts with lots for sale. Could anybody help us with some feedback on the pros and cons about buying a lot? Is it a good investment? Anybody know about resale? We understand the financial decisions and costs of owning vs leasing as it is much like a house but it would be really great to get some feedback. Thank you!

I have looked into it myself. If you're looking at it from an "investment" position, I don't think it's a good investment. If you're looking at it because you want to use it all winter, then get your calculator out and see if it makes financial sense. And a calculator isn't the only factor. Some of those lots are just plain nice and you may want to spend the money for that luxury. Most of them let you put storage buildings and barbeques and I've even seen pools and hot tubs at some. One thing the sales people will tell you is when you're not there they will rent it out for you. That's fine and dandy, but most people use them in the Winter and that's the high season for the are you are talking about. In the summer it's 115 degrees where some of these places are and there are not a lot of people going out in RV's in those temps. So although they say they'll rent it, they may only be able to do that for a few days each month. So you can't count on rental income.

As stated before, location is a big factor in deciding where to buy any real estate.Other factors - does the lot have all the hookups you want or need? Who maintains them if the lot has them?How do you keep others from using the lot and any hookups when you're not there?Can you rent it out when you're not using it if you want to?

Unless you want to vacation at the same place every year, go for it, but if you like to travel around the country, NO. Re selling the lot may be hard, but as stated, location, location.

What will your neighbors be like?What will happen to the rest of the area around the RV park in coming years?Will property maintenance continue for the time you own the lot?If things go downhill in the area, the Nations economy, or with your own finances, can you sell?Will you still like this area in 3, 5, 10 years?Is driving an RV there, just to park it, less expensive than just driving there in an automobile and renting a house for the season?

Is buying an RV lot a good investment? | Good Sam Community

RVER
Explorer
Feb 19, 2014
Leasing a lot out in AZ can be Very cheap so I would look into leasing and can get an all year round lease, storage building on the property on your site etc.
hardtobe
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
thgoodman wrote:
hardtobe wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
99 year lease from $175,000 to $265,000, rent $350/month, taxes $74 to $94/ month, insurance, $30/month and the utilities are metered separately.

Yikes. You can buy 2 homes one in the south and one in the north for those prices and it would be a REAL investment.

Are those prices for an 'empty' lot? Besides the monthly costs what type of up front down payment is needed?

my thoughts exactly. one could buy a "home base" house in the North and one in the South and travel between them and elsewhere.
bumpy

Those lots are directly on the coast. If you want ocean front you'll have to pay for it. Personally, I don't care that much about ocean front to pay those kind of prices.

and the weather is only good there for the 3 summer months
U can buy a awesome lot in Beautifull outdoor resorts of Indio
which is a simply outstanding place for 37K.HOA is 390PM and includes
water,sewer,cable tv and garbage

Yes, but it's in California. Would you really want to open yourself up to that kind of regulatory and tax situation?

what regulatory and tax system? I have owned for 7 years and not experienced what your aluding to? I have run into ZERO problems owning my lot?I had the taxes reduced under prop 8 about 3 years ago and other than that its fine.Land tax went from 1500 to 730$
mena661
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
thgoodman wrote:

Yes, but it's in California. Would you really want to open yourself up to that kind of regulatory and tax situation?
Other than initial cost, home ownership isn't bad at all in CA. One of the few things that aren't.
thgoodman
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
hardtobe wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
99 year lease from $175,000 to $265,000, rent $350/month, taxes $74 to $94/ month, insurance, $30/month and the utilities are metered separately.

Yikes. You can buy 2 homes one in the south and one in the north for those prices and it would be a REAL investment.

Are those prices for an 'empty' lot? Besides the monthly costs what type of up front down payment is needed?

my thoughts exactly. one could buy a "home base" house in the North and one in the South and travel between them and elsewhere.
bumpy

Those lots are directly on the coast. If you want ocean front you'll have to pay for it. Personally, I don't care that much about ocean front to pay those kind of prices.

and the weather is only good there for the 3 summer months
U can buy a awesome lot in Beautifull outdoor resorts of Indio
which is a simply outstanding place for 37K.HOA is 390PM and includes
water,sewer,cable tv and garbage

Yes, but it's in California. Would you really want to open yourself up to that kind of regulatory and tax situation?
hardtobe
Explorer
Feb 10, 2014
msmith1199 wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
99 year lease from $175,000 to $265,000, rent $350/month, taxes $74 to $94/ month, insurance, $30/month and the utilities are metered separately.

Yikes. You can buy 2 homes one in the south and one in the north for those prices and it would be a REAL investment.

Are those prices for an 'empty' lot? Besides the monthly costs what type of up front down payment is needed?

my thoughts exactly. one could buy a "home base" house in the North and one in the South and travel between them and elsewhere.
bumpy

Those lots are directly on the coast. If you want ocean front you'll have to pay for it. Personally, I don't care that much about ocean front to pay those kind of prices.

and the weather is only good there for the 3 summer months
U can buy a awesome lot in Beautifull outdoor resorts of Indio
which is a simply outstanding place for 37K.HOA is 390PM and includes
water,sewer,cable tv and garbage
msmith1199
Explorer II
Feb 10, 2014
Bumpyroad wrote:
rockhillmanor wrote:
99 year lease from $175,000 to $265,000, rent $350/month, taxes $74 to $94/ month, insurance, $30/month and the utilities are metered separately.

Yikes. You can buy 2 homes one in the south and one in the north for those prices and it would be a REAL investment.

Are those prices for an 'empty' lot? Besides the monthly costs what type of up front down payment is needed?

my thoughts exactly. one could buy a "home base" house in the North and one in the South and travel between them and elsewhere.
bumpy

Those lots are directly on the coast. If you want ocean front you'll have to pay for it. Personally, I don't care that much about ocean front to pay those kind of prices.
John_Joey
Explorer
Feb 07, 2014
paulcardoza wrote:
While the web site photos seem to show more width than that, it is a typical Ocean Front setup, with sites squeezed in pretty tightly. Not for me with that high a price tag.

John&Joey wrote:
...snip....from 52 X 22 to 60 X 22.

22 feet wide :S. Lets see a rig is 9 feet wide, add a 2 foot slide on each side, that comes out to 13 feet, leaving 4.5 feet on each side to the lot line. To me that's simply crazy talk for that type of money.

Well I guess the good news is if you need to borrow a cup of sugar you can ask your neighbor without ever leaving the kitchen of your rig. :B
stripit
Explorer
Feb 07, 2014
I purchased a rv lot just outside of Casa Grande about 7 years ago. My intent was to be able to trade the lot to someone who owned a lot in some other state during the winter months,I pay the electric bill on their lot and they pay for what they use on mine.No other costs involved, this way we get to see other areas and so do they. Could never find a single person who wanted to switch, they said it sounds great but we have friends in the rv park they own the lot in and would miss their friends. I know since the economy dropped home prices it also dropped rv lot prices. I don't think I could recoup my original purchase price even with the improvements I've done. I now rent the lot out and it covers all costs, but I don't see me ever buying another one, I would rent and move on.
Don_Shar
Explorer
Feb 07, 2014
khogle2 wrote:
Don/Shar wrote:
Wife and I have been wintering in Yuma for 8 years. We would rent a lot every year so we decided to buy one in the Foothills. It has a brick fence all around and 2 drive lock gate in the front. We have
4 full hook-up and rent it out when not there. For us buying was no question.

That's a nice looking spot. How close to a restaurant or walmart? Noise, etc.

I considered one in that area to make trips easier to So.. Cal to visit family.

Very quiet, not to close to restaurants and shopping but with the roads its not all that far. We could get to the new big Fry's in about
10 minutes with traffic, Wal-Mart about 15 minutes. There are fast food close, Pizza, KFC, couple restaurants, the Boy's Pizza (very Good) all in all I would say we have it pretty well. More building.
You can get on I-8 and go to the mall, Sam's club and lots of shopping in about 20 minutes or less.
paulcardoza
Explorer
Feb 07, 2014
While the web site photos seem to show more width than that, it is a typical Ocean Front setup, with sites squeezed in pretty tightly. Not for me with that high a price tag.

John&Joey wrote:
...snip....from 52 X 22 to 60 X 22.

22 feet wide :S. Lets see a rig is 9 feet wide, add a 2 foot slide on each side, that comes out to 13 feet, leaving 4.5 feet on each side to the lot line. To me that's simply crazy talk for that type of money.