Comparisons of resident owned mobile home communities in Tucson (Phoenix: for sale, foreclosure)

[Steve ketner]

Hello,
I'm seeking information about resident owned mobile home communities in Tucson.
I see only 3? Far Horizions, Copper Crest,and The Highlands.
Can anyone give me any first hand information about these parks? Are there anymore in the area that I'm missing? Looking for over 55+ only.
These parks are located in different quadrants of the city. FH, near thre University, TH, in Oro Valley and CC, west side near Tucson Mtn. Park.
I would like info from anyone who has lived in or known people who have lived in these communities. There convenience to ammenities, overall feel of the surrounding neighborhoods, appearances, any helpful information.
I'm exploring the idea of manufactured home living and living in a 55+ community.
Thanks for the input!

[Serenity1944]

Far Horizons is on the east side, Grant Rd, small MH park. If I remember correctly, they have a pool but no club house for activities. Tucson Medical Center is very close by, on Grant. St. Joseph's hospital is close also.

Copper Crest - west of the freeway. If you have medical issues you should locate yourself in an area close to medical facilities, specialists.

Highlands - very, very nice MH park, sits on a hill in Oro Valley. If you take walks every day but have bad knees/hips you may not be able to stroll daily. There is a beautiful view of the mountain - when I went there several years ago I went to the top of the community - mountain seemed so close I could touch it. Homes run approximate $100,000. Oro Valley has a good hospital.

[Steve ketner]

Serenity -
Thanks for the information, greatly appreciate your comments.
Fortunately, as of now proximity to medical facilities isn't a concern.
On FH's website it looks like they do have a clubhouse. Homes for sale seem older. Seems like the location puts you more into the thick of things ( not a bad thing).
I am familiar with the general location of TH and the commanding views. Doesn't appear to have much of anything for sale over the last few months. CC Homes seem newer and availability of homes are there. Is that a concern? I like the idea of being close to the parks but wondering how far removed are you from enjoying cultural activities of Tucson.
Do you know of other resident owned communities in the area?

[mortisha]

I am just chiming in about The Highlands. My husband and I are snowbirds from Wyo and have spent 3 winters in Oro Valley. Unbeknownst to me my husband had found the mobile home that we eventually bought on-line. He told me he was going down to Tucson "just to look around" and of course bought it. It's an older model and the owners really wanted to sell so we got a very nice deal. I was not excited about the whole thing as I thought the Tucson area just looked about the same as Wyo and had never lived in a mobile home, much less one that I had never seen.

Well, I love it! The area is beautiful and very different from Wyo. Our neighbors are so friendly and I feel safe enough to walk around the park by myself at night. Our home backs against a protected area around a wash so it's almost like living in the country. Our street is a dead end and we don't hear traffic, what we do hear are coyotes and night birds. We have bobcats, raptors, Javelinas and many birds that we don't see in Wyo. I can go swimming, walking hiking, bicycling on the extensive bike paths in the area and generally keep very active. We use the local library, attend music events in the area and overall have a much richer winter than we do in Wyo. Just my experience.

[Serenity1944]

Steve - I looked up Far Horizons & Far Horizons East. The MH co-op I said did not have a pool is next to Far Horizons Co-op and does not have a pool (can't remember the name of that MH park), I would not want to live there, picky me.

Far Horizons East, not a co-op, 55+, is on E Speedway. One of my neighbors moved there a few years ago. I went there a few times, did not like it. It has 2 pools & a club house.

There is one more co-op that I went to 4-5 yrs ago - on the west side, Comanche Wells I don't like the area. A MH realtor on the west side had told me it is a nice park. I checked listings a few times, only a few single wides, kinda shabby.

A friend of mine had lived in Rincon Valley MH park for 10 years, east side. I have been looking for a double wide there for 5 yrs. There is a lot of crime these days, includes MH parks. Rincon has a gate and guard 24/7, 520 something spaces, lots of activities. They have a kiddie pool - I like that because I do laps non-stop for 30 mins, need the pool to myself. I prefer the MHs built in the 70s (had 2 of them in Phoenix) know what's in them. Holding out for a double wide that has been taken care of, no tape & texture wallpaper, no laminate or vinyl siding. I found a few I really liked but the master bedroom is too small for my bedroom set, most just have room for a bed, nightstands and perhaps a chest of drawers. The space rent for a double is just a few $$s over $500. When I left Phoenix 5 yrs ago my space rent (north Phx MH park) was $630 mo, now up to $660 mo.

If you would consider a townhouse, I know of a really nice 55+ community in the Oracle & Magee area. 2 homes per building, side by side, single level, red brick. Two tennis courts & 2 pools. I almost bought a 2-bedroom, jerk realtor screwed up, long story. The name is La Cholla Hills. 1,200 sq ft homes run $150 - $175 thousand. My cut off for town homes is 1989 as after that the construction of most homes is chicken wire and stucco. I like brick or block.

Following is a listing, to give you an example:

Sold Price
$149,000
on 05/17/2016

2 beds /
2 baths /
1,225 sqft /
5,227 lot sqft /
1986 built /

[Serenity1944]

Steve-

I saw a really nice TH near Oracle, on Limberlost. One of the forum regulars lives there and loves it. I don't think it sold yet - 271 E Root Way, 85705. HOA fee for this (2-bedroom) is $135, they just have a pool. The location is near stores, etc., and there is supposed to be a hiking trail near/off River Rd in that area. I did not buy it because it is only 1,100 ish sq ft, too small for my furniture. Has a 2-car garage. $119,000.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Serenity1944

Steve-

I saw a really nice TH near Oracle, on Limberlost. One of the forum regulars lives there and loves it. I don't think it sold yet - 271 E Root Way, 85705. HOA fee for this (2-bedroom) is $135, they just have a pool. The location is near stores, etc., and there is supposed to be a hiking trail near/off River Rd in that area. I did not buy it because it is only 1,100 ish sq ft, too small for my furniture. Has a 2-car garage. $119,000.

Rumor has it there a full price offer on that one, Serenity. The same model / much better location (corner with more privacy and a small backyard) is about to be a Foreclosure Auction on the 27th of July.

No expert here but I bet it'll go for somewhere in the low to mid 80's as is. Add about $20k for upgrades, etc and it would still be a fantastic deal plus remodeled to your preference.

I've been thinking about "taking the plunge" myself but I definitely do not need two and I would probably make a horrible landlord.

[Steve ketner]

Mortisha - thanks for chiming in!! TH's sounds wonderful. Question, is there any inventory in the park? Haven't seen much of anything in months. Assuming this is because the residents don't want to leave there. We definately want to check the park out. How did your husband find your home, what site? Thanks for your response.

Serenity - we will check out Rincon. Looks nice, we took it off our list because we are primarily interested in resident owned communities. Does look like a nice place with newer homes. Thanks for TH info. Something to reconsider and to broaden our field some more.
Clarification please - are you saying you would not want to live in FH or the park next to it, or either park. If it's FH you wouldn't live at, why? We appreciate "pickiness".

Bummer - good luck to you if you take the plunge!

[Serenity1944]

Bummer- a realtor showed me 271 Root Way a few weeks ago, called me that someone was going to make an offer. Too small but very nice and taken care of. The empty lot at the corner - realtor said homes are going to be built there, will be a lot of noise and ? dust/dirt for ?? a year. I told the realtor to let me know if a 3-bedroom comes up for sale, with carpet flooring, as the floor plan for a 3-bedroom will work for me in the living area.

Steve - FH - both are small parks, spaces small. Think it's the one without a club house that has mostly single wides, small carports. Because of crime these days I prefer a gated MH park. Rincon and the 2 MH parks I lived in (Phoenix) had wide streets and homes taken care of.

CC homes = Copper Crest? CC is further west of the freeway, so a bit of a drive to stores, etc, but is said to be a nice community. The manager at Park West, when I asked, said they do have a lot of scorpions west of the freeway. Said they spray but once in awhile 1 or 2 will get into the homes, dead or alive - homes are ground set. By the way, should you move here and jump on a chair and scream "help, there are bugs in here", let me know & I will tell you what to do - that is, if you want to avoid monthly spraying inside and out by exterminators (I avoid chemicals).

[Serenity1944]

Steve-
I just saw a nice looking MH in Tucson Estates (large community, nice). Check out 5306 W Diamond K in Craigslist, just has outside picture, beautiful scenery. $99,000. You own the land...