Unbelievable Security Deposits for Communities

[P.J. Rutkowski]

I am in the process of purchasing a reposessed Mobile home from a sales agent. I have already paid cash for the home and had to fill out an application for residency in the community. I have recently had to file for bancruptcy, and had my $120,000 home reposessed due to medical bills for my spouse (Heart condition), and we had to downsize to a mobile home to house my family of five. I thought we were finally over the sleazy bill collectors and banks, had everything going well, no debt, wife getting well, good job for 10 years. Then the commununity says I have to pay six months of lot rent up front before they allow my family to live in the community. I had to borrow from my retirement and scrape up the cash to buy the home now the park wants $2700. I know my credit report is not good, but this seems like alot to pay up front for a 360 dollar lot rent that we can easily pay each month. Does anyone know if this is a common practice. It seems illegal to me.

[Mark]

6 months seems excessive, but it's thier park, they can charge whatever they want, _as long as it's consistent_.

They may have had a problem in the past of people not paying their lot rent, as it takes several months to evict someone, the 6 months covers their expenses while the eviction process goes on.

Honestly though, if you've got $360 a month to pay for lot rent, surely you can find an empty lot to buy in that price range.