Recently, we here at The Mobile Home Dealer, had a client who made a written offer on one of the mobile homes that we had under listing contract but, after it was accepted by the Seller, they were not able to purchase the mobile home located in Sarasota County Florida.
How is this fair?
The Buyer of the mobile home believed that all they would need to do to purchase the Sarasota mobile home for sale was make a written offer, have that offer accepted, and move forward with the purchase.
Although in most other transactions this would make sense, when we are dealing with a mobile home that is located on leased land within a mobile home park there is one more critical step that needs to be completed prior to the closing of the home.
The step that the Buyer overlooked is the importance of being approved by the mobile home park to live in the community.
We here, at The Mobile Home Dealer, are licensed bonded, and insured mobile home brokers with the state of Florida. As a result of our license being with the state, we are required to only sell mobile homes to those who have been approved by the mobile home park to live in the community. If someone wants to purchase one of the mobile homes we have listed but is not park-approved then we will not be able to sell them the home until they are approved due to this requirement.
Royal Palms-Sarasota Florida
Most mobile home parks will take an applicant’s application and be able to approve it or not within a few business days. Every park has its own criteria but, generally speaking, the parks will always check the applicant’s criminal background, debt-to-income ratio, credit report and to see if they have any evictions on file.
While I have asked several times, no park manager or owner can tell me what they weigh heavier than the other when it comes to how they approve an applicant for their park.
The mystery as to how or why parks will approve or deny an applicant is still very much present. However, one thing is for sure, regardless of how the park completes its approval process each and every Buyer does need to go through the process and become approved before they are able to purchase within the mobile home park.
If you are planning to buy a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area, it is important to understand everything about mobile home parks.
Does it even matter that this is done before buying a mobile home on leased land in Florida?
Many times those who are not familiar with the buying process of a mobile home on leased land do not realize that getting approved by the park is a part of the mobile home purchase process.
This then begs the question to be asked, what really is park approval?
When buying a mobile home in a mobile home park, every resident needs to be approved as a resident within the community in that the home is physically located. Different parks have different requirements but, generally speaking, if you are in an age-qualified community, every person who will be physically living in the home will need to be approved by the park. If you are buying a mobile home in an all-ages park, usually you will need to have approval for everyone living in the home who is over a certain age to be able to be approved for residency.
Each park has its own way of going about the actual approval process. Usually, every park will require each person that is going through to be approved to fill out a written application. Along with the application the applicant will need to provide a photo ID, pay a nominal application fee, and agree to have their background checked by the park. If you or your applicant friend does not have a current driver’s license that is okay as usual, a state-issued photo ID card or a passport will do the trick.
The reason is simple: if the Buyer is not park-approved prior to purchasing the mobile home through us as a licensed mobile home broker then we will not be able to close on the home.
The reason for this is that, as licensed mobile home brokers with the state of Florida, we are required to make sure that all parties who are looking at becoming residents within the mobile home park they are buying their home in have passed the approval process and are allowed to become residents within the mobile home park.
Many times, folks will skip this step and just assume that they can buy and move into any mobile home in any mobile home park in the Sarasota area without a second thought.
When looking at buying a mobile home on leased land within a mobile home park it is important to have an accepted written offer but do not think because you have that in writing that this guarantees you being able to purchase that home. Always look to get your approval done at the same time so that you are not let down by not being able to purchase the mobile home of your dreams.
The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home brokers in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.
This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer which helps mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.
See Also:
- Should You Sell Your Sarasota Mobile Home Now Or Wait?
- Should You Sell Your Sarasota Mobile Home In “As Is” Condition?
- How To Budget For Your Sarasota Mobile Home With Rising Lot Rent?
- Buying More Than One Sarasota Mobile Home In The Same Park? Read This First!
- How To Budget For Your Sarasota Mobile Home-Roof Repairs