The Manufactured Housing Forums

This is really a great site - nice to see people working together on common goals.
I've decided that my middle class home in the Chicago suburbs is way too expensive per month and that I work I job that I can't stand to pay my mortgage and ridiculous bills. I've also decided that I will, in the near future, solve this problem by finding a MH in a MH community on the Florida shore (don't really care which part of Florida - just trying to find the right purchase price). I've been researching possibilities for some time now, and find that the pricerange on these MH's is very large. For example, I've seen an ad for a 1999 Redman already placed in a community that is 32' x 52` for $21,995. From my perspective, this is a fabulous deal. I've also seen ads for smaller MH's in similar locations for $75,000. Since I'm looking to buy, not finance, my MH and also afford the move out of the midwest and time to find another job, I really like the sound of the 1999 Redman for $21,995. What is the usual land rental price for a small lot? Do you pay taxes on the MH if you rent the land? Are utilities fairly inexpensive as well for a MH, or just the same as any other house depending on square footage? What is the yearly "tag" fee for a MH in Florida? Is it unreasonable to try and find a MH that has 1300-1600 square feet near the beach for under $25K? Any help you all can provide is much appreciated. Thanks!

The most important factor in Florida manufactured home community sales is the community...NOT..the house..That $21,900 price might be way over priced if you are in a really bad park...In Florida..park rent varys from about $ 250/mo to $800/mo....Many coastal parks are for adults only...meaning 55 yr old and up..

You need to get an idea of the location first...Most coastal property would be far more expensive than you have mentioned..The least expensive areas near the water could be St.Augustine, Fernidina Beach and areas outside of Panama City...Most Central Florida areas..Daytona South to West Palm and Brooksville South to Naples are retiree parks or very rough..There are some decent parks in Tampa area...but the water is a long way off...Same can be said of Ocala..Gainesville..

Taxes are very inexpensive...about $130 to$160 per year for the home...Of course the park rent includes taxes on the park...Some parks include garbage/water and sewer...some do not...

My dad used to tell me that Electric was terrible in Florida...He live in the SW suburbs of Chicago and is on Edison electric..Chicago area Electric is the cheapest in the nation...You will run your a/c much more..your furnace less..but electric in the summer can be very high..This is why most retirees leave the state during the warm months..It will take you a few years to climatize to the heat and humidity...

I grew up in Downers Grove...which suburb do you live in??

Aurora - I moved there last year after a few years in Naperville. Naperville recently has officially been labelled as the fastest growing city in the nation.
Thanks for you prompt reply - you were very right about Panama City, considering this was the most reasonable price range that I found for coastal Florida MH living so far. I'm 29 so I definitely need an all-age community regardless of my maturity (!). The 1999 Redman is in Panama City. With winter coming in a few months, I'll probably wait until the spring to put the house up for sale.
Thanks again-

When I was a kid..we took the "long" trip to uncles "farm" in Aurora...He had 5 acres...for those of us in that area..this was huge..

It has changed a lot..I am sure..

Hi,
Just found this great website. I've been looking for a few months now and I live in the Orlando area of Florida. The one thing I have learned about 55+parks is that all the ones that I have called around here they have a 80/20 ratio where 80% has to be 55+ and the 20% they allow under 55 but over 18.
As for the panhandle area it is really beautiful up there...small towns but it does get cold..
The one thing that scares me about rented land is that the parks I have inquired about have a lot increase of about 5% a year with no cap..Is this the norm?
Thanks