Why would you want to live in a Land Lease Community?

[David Oxhandler]

Hi Chrissy !!

This weeks article in the Lakeland Ledger from Len Bonifield. He explains beautifully what most people might just call "a good feeling" about the way folks who live in MHCommunies feel about their lifestyle. Here is, with the authors permission, a full reprint.
Reasons to Choose Community Living
By Len Bonifield

Florida is a haven for manufactured home communities. The Florida Affordable Housing Study Commission in August 2003 reported that about 11.6 percent of housing in Florida is manufactured housing. They also stated that approximately 12.5 percent, or more than 2 million, of the population in 2000 lived in manufactured housing. In other words, the owners/residents of manufactured housing make an impact on the state of Florida. These numbers have increased dramatically since the 2000 census.
If you look at the 2002 report by the Foremost Insurance Group, you find that, nationwide, the average age of the principal owner of a manufactured home is 54.1 and increasing yearly as the baby boomers reach retirement. Florida is one of the leaders in attracting retirees. Lots of sunshine and great year-round weather (except for an occasional hurricane) are prime attractions. There are substantial tax advantages for most retirees. There is a substantial number of Canadians who move to Florida, in spite of the current exchange rate, and there are many who wish to escape the cold winters of the upper Midwest and Northeast.
There were almost 2,900 landlease communities in the state and about 600 resident-owned communities as reported by FMO in June 2003. It is evident that the majority of manufactured home owners reside in land-lease communities. The question is why would people elect to live in a community where the monthly lot rent will increase every year, rather than owning the land under their home? Why would new buyers of manufactured homes purchase in a resident-owned community instead of land they own privately?
In other words, why choose community living?
One of the leading reasons is people who have picked up and moved hundreds, maybe thousands, of miles from their long-term homes up north, leaving family and friends behind, are looking for a location that will provide them with friends and things to do to keep them busy with all the new found time they have. When they buy and move into a community they usually will find people from similar circumstances who left all their friends and family behind. In other words, kindred souls to relate to.
A community of manufactured homes is like a small town up north. Everyone knows almost everybody in the community; they all have similar situations. It is easy to make new friends.
For example, both my wife and I had grown up in small towns up north. My home town had just under 1,000, and my wife's even fewer. Just prior to moving to Florida we lived in a community in New Jersey just outside Philadelphia where you were lucky to know the names of your neighbors, let alone socialize with them. Moving to a community in 1996 of about 700 homes returned us to our roots of small town living. We were quickly able to meet and make friends in our new community.
Communities offer enough activities to accommodate almost everything a couple or family would want to do. Dances, golf in some, tennis in many, swimming pools, horseshoe courts, volleyball courts, exercise rooms, card groups for bridge, pinochle and more, craft clubs, sewing clubs, computer clubs, entertainment events and many offer group travel, just to mention a few of the possible activities. To give you perspective, the community I live in has about 38 committees devoted primarily to providing activities for residents. Residents are often found walking the streets of the community for exercise, which gives them the opportunity to meet and chat with neighbors. Up north in many areas it was difficult to find safe areas to walk in.
Land-lease communities usually provide lawn care; they maintain the common areas of the community, and they provide a clubhouse for all the activities. They maintain the tennis courts, golf courses, streets, pools and equipment. They have rules and regulations that provide the style of living residents look for. For example those who are retiring and are over age 55 usually select a 55-plus community as they are free of small children in the streets and all the accompanying noise that goes with them.
Community living offers people the opportunity to be "big fish in a small pond," whereas many came from northern areas where they were "small fish in a big pond." Community living provides the lifestyle people moving to Florida are seeking.
Send questions or comments to Len Bonifield, 2914 Dollar Bonnet Lane, Lakeland, FL. 33810-2910. Or e-mail to [email protected] or fax to 863-853-8023.

[Maria Barilla]

I am interseting in building a modular home in a 55 and older community in New Jersey. Do you have anything to offer? I don't want the expense of paying high taxes when we retired. Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Maria Barilla

[David Oxhandler]

Manufactured Housing Multiple Listing Servicehas emerged as the web's number one most popular destination for buyers searching for a manufactured home and the easiest place in the world to sell. The Multiple Listing Service includes listings BY OWNER, BY DEALER, BY BUILDER and BY FINANCE COMPANIES Thousands of manufactured housing shoppers from across the country browse through the MLS every week searching for the home of their choice. Listings are searchable by city, state, number of bedrooms and baths, manufacturer, year built and price. Each listing also auto-interfaces with Yahoo Maps. There is a MAP link included each listings individual page. Almost like magic, When clicked it will auto-generate a map of the location of the home for sale and the surrounding area. Click to go to The Manufactured Housing Multiple Listing Service NOW!