[wilmotcr]

We intend to buy a used mobile home in a 55+ park this fall to use as Snowbirds--we are Canadian. Two questions:
1) What sort of "closing costs" are we looking at?
2) We are going to buy something cheap (under $10k). Do we need to put some sort of liability insurance on it to satisfy the park regulations.

[CDusr]

I imagine every park is different. I would call around. Were you planning on moving it? As I understand you are a "vehicle" or w/ a proper foundation you become "real" property.

So your insurance may not just be according to park. Depending on the area parks can be very expensive so I would call around and get information on this also. Not unheard of to start at 500-600 a mnth in lot of areas. Often people are willing to let trailer go for cheap to avoid the lease renewal pmts.

[lynxville]

Mobile home insurance is expensive, I pay $800 per year and it has a $5000 dollar deductible for hurricane damage. If the mobile home is 1974 and older, good luck even getting insurance. There is only one company which ofers it and the state offers it. Watch out for home owner fees, your better off owning your own land. HOA'S often have a hughe rule book ie. no dogs, small dogs, no fences, no garbage cans outside, no laundry poles and on and on.

[wilmotcr]

We have spent quite a bit of vacation time in Florida--brother in law lives in Fort Pierce. I plan on retiring next year so want to purchase something in November when we go for a visit. What do you know about the area around Lakeland and the area around Mount Dora? Seems to be a lot of 55+ parks there and some are reasonably priced. Are some of these towns/villages to be ignored??

[DanBev]

Check zoning wind code,what is allowed.We are windzone 2,also the condition might be checked.If paying cash and home not worth much,why have insurance.

[d4g4m]

Any mobile home for sale at under $10,000 is-
probably a single wide.
really old and doesn't meet any building codes.
is in a really old mobile home park.
is in a lot lease park. [you rent the space]

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by d4g4m

Any mobile home for sale at under $10,000 is-
probably a single wide.
really old and doesn't meet any building codes.
is in a really old mobile home park.
is in a lot lease park. [you rent the space]

From what I have seen lot rent for an old single wide, and most would fall apart if you tried to move them to a different park, is in the $250-$500 a month and usually in an older trailer park that does not have good management and is not taken care of.

Personally, I would never consider living in a trailer or double wide in Florida anywhere ......but that is just my take on it. It is just too risky when the storms come. Seem to be rougher atmosphere around a lot of the mobile home communities in our area. Any of the 55+ parks cost a lot more than $10,000 to buy a home not infested with termites or having the floors rotting out and the lot rent is even higher than the old run down parks. .