RV friendly homes

[plkitchen]

My wife and I would like to spend more time out with our RV but our current home makes it difficult to be away for long periods of time. We have a 48 acre ranch in texas that requires a considerable amount of maintenance. We would like to sell the ranch and move to a house of no more than 2000 sq ft with low or minimal maintenance that would also provide a place to park our 5th wheel. We would prefer a location with a moderate climate. I would like input on possible homes or developements that might meet this criteria.

[IdaD]

I'd definitely stay away from Idaho and really the northwest in general. It just sucks up here - not even worth a visit.

Trust me. :B

[mlts22]

I have thought about this myself, as I want an RV-friendly retreat.

First, HOAs... if there is one, run. The HOA that may start off with no rules, in no short order gets by-law amendments, and soon bans all RVs, and anything not considered acceptable in some posh LA suburb.

After that, I looked at RV Chalets (Bunzer Consulting has blueprints), which mainly are annexes onto the RV.

Once I buy some land, I probably will just build a small cabin that has its own water tanks, a cassette toilet, inside shower to a gray water system, and power for the A/C can come from the motorhome's genset or a portable generator. The motorhome will get a pole barn or carport (so it is out of the Texas heat, but engines can still run), and this will make for a decent home-away-from-home. Once I retire (crossing fingers), I add a power pole and septic system, and it becomes a "real" place to stay.

[cdlaine]

Paul...great topic... the Bride and I have consumed many cups of
coffee discussing this very same theme. Tough call. Current home is
paid off, HOA is reasonable ($95/quarter.... seems to be minimally invasive...
common areas kept up. and yards not turned in to salvage
yards, house colors reasonable...that's about what we get..but current trends
seem to indicate increasing "rental properties" . so we are
keeping an eye on things).

Would love to have covered/powered RV storage on site, currently paying $220 / month for same (ouch !). It seems every time we get motivated to make a change , the housing market turns, the stock market gets bearish, the cost of gas increases, and/or one of us gets some new medical malady. We are only 60'ish but that is right in that window of not getting a do - over if we screw up. Add in to all of this the question of "how long are we going to do the RV thing ? "

Bottom line...dont know the right answer so probably should maintain our status quo until we do....

Great topic , and I enjoy reading the variety of opinions/plans and willingness to spend other peoples money.:B
It is a tough call...

I foresee many more cups of coffee in our future. Good luck with your decision making.

Charles

[plkitchen]

Thanks for all of the input. You have provided a number of options to consider.

[C_Schomer]

I already have a great RV friendly home but I'm getting ready to move and I'm looking for a horse property with even less restrictions in the west to northwest valley. My realtor is finding places to check out. My cousin winters at Sierra Vista on a 5 acre horse property and he loves it. That is also a good place for year-round weather and property is CHEAP. A UP'er friend is at Welton, west of Yuma, for the winter on a RV 80'x100' lot with a Modular on it. He found a 1.25 acre place with a nice house last year for $47k and he's getting ready to build an RV garage. That's hot summer area, tho. Craig

[CavemanCharlie]

I have heard of "House Setter" services where you can hire someone to keep your house secure while you are away. Like everything else you have to make sure you find a good service and the right person to fulfill your needs.

[CavemanCharlie]

Sounds to me like you just need a smaller "Ranch" .

I don't know about moderate climate but, around here you can purchase a farm place for a lot less then your ranch would cost and then set it up the way you like with very little restrictions on how to park the RV etc.

There has to be some place down south that is still like that.

[tpi]

ncrowley wrote:


We came from New Mexico and it is windy in the spring like New Mexico was. March and April have windy days. Other than that, there are winds but they are far from constant and far from all the time. However, we can get windy here because we are in a valley. We do not find the winds to be an issue.

Since you have been in this area, you understand when I say that the views here are incredible! I walk the dog each morning and stop to take in the amazing views. You can see the hills of Zion from here as well as mountains to the northeast. There are so many beautiful walking and biking trails - we will never have the time to explore them all.

For sure..lot to like about the area. We visit SW Utah at least every year. And a great launching point for summer vacations..no traffic getting out of town.

[john_bet]

3oaks wrote:

john&bet wrote:
Suggest you build what you want on a corner of your current place and sell the rest. That's what my folks did. The sale paid for the house.

That was my first thought too. Accept I wouldn't part with most of the acreage if I didn't have to. Just sell the existing house with a couple of acres.

That's what the folks did, sold existing farm house and 10 acres to my brother. Now that the folks are gone my brother and I own the rest of our home place(167 acres) plus an newer house. The farmable ground is rented out and we share to profit.

[ncrowley]

tpi wrote:

ncrowley wrote:
We spent three years looking for just such a home and location. We live in Dixie Springs, in Hurricane UT. We have lived here for 2 years and we just love it here. Low crime rate, and the people are wonderful. It is hot in the summer but that is when we travel the most. We wanted to go somewhere that has no snow. We are about 5 degrees cooler year round than Vegas.

Many people have RV garages attached to their homes in addition to a 2 car garage. Our garage is 55 feet long with a 14 foot by 14 foot door.

There are plenty of stores and the hospital is great! We are close to St George UT and there is lots to do. You can get more information at these two web sites:

Dixie Springs

Dixie Springs ACC

I made note of that area when at Sand Hollow. What are the winds like there year round? I had a couple of wow moments there last Oct. as the MH rocked and rolled.

We came from New Mexico and it is windy in the spring like New Mexico was. March and April have windy days. Other than that, there are winds but they are far from constant and far from all the time. However, we can get windy here because we are in a valley. We do not find the winds to be an issue.

Since you have been in this area, you understand when I say that the views here are incredible! I walk the dog each morning and stop to take in the amazing views. You can see the hills of Zion from here as well as mountains to the northeast. There are so many beautiful walking and biking trails - we will never have the time to explore them all.

[tpi]

ncrowley wrote:
We spent three years looking for just such a home and location. We live in Dixie Springs, in Hurricane UT. We have lived here for 2 years and we just love it here. Low crime rate, and the people are wonderful. It is hot in the summer but that is when we travel the most. We wanted to go somewhere that has no snow. We are about 5 degrees cooler year round than Vegas.

Many people have RV garages attached to their homes in addition to a 2 car garage. Our garage is 55 feet long with a 14 foot by 14 foot door.

There are plenty of stores and the hospital is great! We are close to St George UT and there is lots to do. You can get more information at these two web sites:

Dixie Springs

Dixie Springs ACC

I made note of that area when at Sand Hollow. What are the winds like there year round? I had a couple of wow moments there last Oct. as the MH rocked and rolled.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
Here in Southern California, there are many 55+ mobile home parks and retirement home communities which have RV storage lots.

Huh?..:h

Just what part of "here in" Southern California are you referring to?..:?

Just for fun - name a couple (locations?) that have *any* - or more than 3 or 4 RV spots - for the entire mobile home park or "community"...:W

~

[ncrowley]

We spent three years looking for just such a home and location. We live in Dixie Springs, in Hurricane UT. We have lived here for 2 years and we just love it here. Low crime rate, and the people are wonderful. It is hot in the summer but that is when we travel the most. We wanted to go somewhere that has no snow. We are about 5 degrees cooler year round than Vegas.

Many people have RV garages attached to their homes in addition to a 2 car garage. Our garage is 55 feet long with a 14 foot by 14 foot door.

There are plenty of stores and the hospital is great! We are close to St George UT and there is lots to do. You can get more information at these two web sites:

Dixie Springs

Dixie Springs ACC

[Jim_Shoe]

I've seen pictures of developments, usually in Florida, where there was covered RV parking with FHUs next to a small sticks and bricks that had residential kitchen and bathroom facilities, A/C, full size washers and dryers, and storage. Probably appeals to folks that are nearly full time RVers.