Park Model long term quality

Our camp in western NY is maybe 25% Park Models. We just ordered a Kropf park model that is to be delivered next May. Can't wait.

Park models typically have less maintenance. Appliances are serviced by home appliance repairman. No slide out maintenance. No holding tanks therefore no valve maintenance.

Our Park model has 25 year standard residential shingles and it also has vinyl siding. No more waxing the fiberglass fifth wheel.

We are getting a deck plus it will have an aluminum roof so no awning maintenance.

I wish there was a Park Model forum on here as they are getting very popular.

I'm looking at a destination TT for my seasonal lot. They hold up simply because there not moved down the road all the time. Another thing to keep in mind is resell is not as good as a regular TT, very limited market.

Another problem you need to check with the park if it is allowed. Some parks are not zoned for park models. That's why I'm going with a destination trailEr, self contained to conform to the rules.

B.O. Plenty wrote:
The rent is a set fee. How can they charge you more than the next guy? I was on a seasonal site for 16 years. yes the rate went up almost every year but it went up the same for everybody. It sounds like you shouldn't believe everything you read...

B.O.

Sometimes you sign a contract that locks you into a set price for a certain number of years, or limits the amount that rent can be increased. Once you sell it, the new owner has to pay the market rate, not the contract rate. I've never had a park model situation, but my neighbor across the street has one. He signs 10 year contracts to lock in the price. He saves some money over the long term and the owners of the park have "guaranteed" rent for 10 years.

tonymull wrote:
They all leak eventually. The only cure is a metal roof over. If that is done before too much damage has occurred they are great.

The same could e said about a regular sticks and bricks house. They all leak eventually. But to say the only cure is a metal roof over the entire unit is simply not true. I had a leak in my house. A new asphalt shingle roof solved the problem for another 25 years!

B.O. Plenty wrote:

blackeyed1 wrote:
Annual park fees, utility costs, and a darn good inspection of the unit. Read where park fees go up considerably once a new owner comes in.

The rent is a set fee. How can they charge you more than the next guy? I was on a seasonal site for 16 years. yes the rate went up almost every year but it went up the same for everybody. It sounds like you shouldn't believe everything you read...

B.O.

We have two good friends that bought into permanent parks. The selling owner told them one thing. Unfortunately they didn't ask the park owners, so once they purchased the parks raised their lot rents. I didn't read into anything.

blackeyed1 wrote:
Annual park fees, utility costs, and a darn good inspection of the unit. Read where park fees go up considerably once a new owner comes in.

The rent is a set fee. How can they charge you more than the next guy? I was on a seasonal site for 16 years. yes the rate went up almost every year but it went up the same for everybody. It sounds like you shouldn't believe everything you read...

B.O.

In the past Park models were limited to 400 sq ft and many were built with a storage "loft" to increase the area. I would look for one of those if you happen to have kids you can stuff up there with mattresses.
bumpy

If this is a "real" park model (11-12 foot wide, not the old style 8 1/2 ft with tipouts and EPDM roof) then I assume it's shingled like a house? Easy enough to put a metal roof on it.

Otherwise treat it like you're looking at a house, the park model I'm assuming is built with 2 x 4's 16" on-center, likely an 8" frame. Look at the floors, any leaks, warping, etc. Since you're in Michigan, assume frost will heave over the winter, keep an eye out for cracks in the walls/ceilings. Check the siding too. On second thought, have a professional inspect it for you.

Nice that you don't have to pay property tax. On ours, property taxes for the year on the entire lot that we own (Minnesota room plus park model) is only about $300. I can see it going up a bit in the future though.

Park's fees are published, and everybody pays the same rate. We were going to park our TT there, literally the lot right across from the park model, and seasonal rate was only a touch cheaper than year round rate on the park model.

No property tax, however there is sales tax charged on the purchase.

Pay for electric and propane (outside supplier).

Are you charged property tax on the Park model?