Rancho Grande Senior Mobile Home-good idea? (Oakland, Concord: rent, landscaping, buying)

[catagonia]

Hi, my husband and I are thinking of buying a mobile home in Rancho Grande Rohnert Park in a Senior Park.
This seems on the surface to be a reasonable way to live in this very expensive area to be close to friends and family. Anyone with experience that could give us pros and cons on this? We don't want to make a costly mistake! Thanks!

[Tallysmom]

Check the lot rent. Lot rent can be very high here, making your bargain not a bargain at all. I saw the listings in that park -- and none of them mentioned the rent, just the amenities.

[catagonia]

Thanks Tallysmom! We were wondering that too! It is very expensive here and are debating whether to move out of the area, though my daughters and grandchildren are here. We don't even know if we would like living in a Senior mobile home park. Do you have any experience or advice about that? Thanks!

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by catagonia

Thanks Tallysmom! We were wondering that too! It is very expensive here and are debating whether to move out of the area, though my daughters and grandchildren are here. We don't even know if we would like living in a Senior mobile home park. Do you have any experience or advice about that? Thanks!

No idea on that -- but I did look at the amenities -- the place looked nice, with a large pool and community center. I know from dealing with HOAs those things cost a lot to maintain. Add to that lighting, and landscaping...

When we first moved to the Bay Area 31 years ago, we looked at mobile home parks for the same reason as you, and at that time we found lot rent to be too high -- to the point we found a house (granted in a not desirable area in Oakland) for less than lot rent in Concord. I believe at the time lot rent for this nicer place in Concord was 600 bucks. I know it was more than what we were renting for, which was 495 a month. Add the lot rent to the cost of the trailer and it wasn't a deal at all. When we bought our house payment was less than 600 bucks.

I googled the questions lot in rent in Rohnert Park, and found one place called Valley Village, with an average lot rent of $545 with the addenda that this is a rent controlled park. There also seems to be a county wide lot rent stabilization.

[catagonia]

Thanks! We are going to take a second look at this. We could move back to my husbands hometown of Colorado Springs and rent a three bedroom home in the old part of town (wide streets, old trees) for a thousand a month! A lot to consider, thanks for your help!