Category: Blog

Do Sarasota Mobile Homes Sell During The Holidays?
We get asked all the time whether or not Sellers should try and put their homes up for sale around the holidays. Do Sarasota Mobile Homes Sell During The Holidays? We got asked a lot of this question.

Oftentimes, many Sellers feel that having a home for sale during a holiday, whether it be July 4th or Christmas time is a fruitless task and one that will bring on more stress than what it’s even worth.

With all the excitement and planning that has to do with a Holiday, do they want to have a home for sale?

Even if they do have it for sale, will the additional stress of keeping a home ready for showings even be worth it?

Are home Buyers even looking to purchase homes during particular holidays?

Or is there a better chance to have a Buyer come forth on some holidays as opposed to others?

Now, that’s a loaded question. So allow us to take a little bit of time and answer that.

While keeping a home ready for showings is a stressful experience, we have found that no matter what time of year a Seller decides to sell their mobile home, there will always be Buyers looking to purchase it.

The reason is that when priced correctly and marketed right, mobile homes on leased land in and around Sarasota, Florida, will usually always sell.

Sarasota, and for that matter, much of the Gulf Coast, is a destination location for many. Meaning that folks specifically come here regardless of what time of year it is to enjoy all this beautiful area has to offer.

Many Buyers will be in the area when they have time off work to spend time with family and friends who are already living and experiencing the Florida lifestyle.

Knowing Buyers will already be in the area and motivated to buy since they are having fun with their friends makes it a perfect time to have your mobile home for sale!

Why do people visit Sarasota Florida during holidays?

Located between St. Petersburg and Cape Coral in the central part of the west coast of the State along the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota is known for its natural, historical, and cultural attractions. It is conveniently located next to Interstate 75, one of the main North-South highways in Florida.

Near other popular destination cities such as Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, and Tampa, there are also a variety of one-day excursion options, for those who do not mind spending a few hours in the car.

1). Sarasota farmers market

The Sarasota Farmers Market has been in existence since 1979. It is open all year, it rains or thunder, and it takes place every Saturday from 7 a.m. Until 1 P.M.

Although the market is probably better known for its fantastic variety of freshly cultivated fruits and vegetables, it is also full of other excellent products, many of which will not find any other place.

Arts and crafts, health and body products, freshly baked products, and prepared foods such as honey, pasta, and sauce are available in abundance. You will not want to miss a cup of vitamin C full of Florida Oj newly squeezed.

2). The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

Located on Bay Shore Road in Sarasota, the extensive lands that house the John and Mable Ringling Museum are full of incredibly original and reproductive arts and architectures of the classical, Roman Greek, and Renaissance times that make many visitors feel that they have been transported At a different moment and place. Consider taking advantage of the many free tours the facility offers.

3). Spring training site of the Baltimore Orioles
Sarasota is home to the spring training games of the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium.

The stadium is conveniently located a few miles from I-75, near the center of Sarasota. There are always several home games per season that offer all residents time to have a nice afternoon out at the ballpark

4). Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium

Located in Ken Thompson Parkway, the Marino Mote Laboratory and Aquarium presents a variety of exhibitions that include fascinating marine animals such as turtles, eels, and otters. There is even a dedicated shark tank that contains more than 100,000 gallons of water.

Although the admission cost is relatively high, most guests discover that it is a good value, taking into account everything to see and do.

The installation houses an annual reptile exhibition presented by American whore and crocodiles and is one of the favorites for both adults and children.

The Mote Aquarium offers several annual reptile shows that are a hit for all ages! The Mote offers free parking and public transport from Sarasota is available.

5). Myakka River State Park

Composed of a variety of unique habitats such as meadows, lakes, rivers, and wetlands, the Myakka River State Park extends for almost 60 square miles. It offers visitors a variety of activity options that will personally bring them closer to the natural world.

Hiking, cycling, fishing, and kayaking are among the most popular activities while guided tours are also available throughout the park

There are many reasons why people visit Sarasota during the Holidays. If you are looking to sell your mobile home during the Holiday season then this is certainly a great time to do so!

We understand that having a home for sale during the holidays can be stressful, but we also know that continuing to live in and pay for a home that you don’t want to be in any longer, is also a stressful situation too!

We believe if you are serious about selling or buying a mobile home in and around the Sarasota area, that shopping and listing mobile homes during that Holiday season is a great time to do it!

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
What Banks Loan On Sarasota Mobile Homes?
What banks loan on mobile homes that are located on leased land in Sarasota, Florida?

Is it even possible to obtain financing for a mobile home when you are buying the home, but not the land as well?

We were recently confronted with a Buyer who was interested in several of our listings. This buyer had gotten park approval from several local parks in the Sarasota area and was looking to purchase a mobile home using traditional financing instead of making a cash purchase.

After working with the Buyer for several days, showing them nearly a dozen properties, we finally were able to narrow them down to the one they wanted! I decided to contact the loan officer within the lending institution that the buyer was using to see what I could do on my end to help with the loan process.

Here’s what I found out.

Lending is very hard to come by on a mobile home where the land does not come with the home.

Mobile homes with leased land in the state of Florida are viewed and taxed as personal property, not as real estate.

This is the exact way a vehicle is taxed as well.

Lending agencies will not lend on any mobile home that is older than a 1976 model. The reason why the year 1976 is such a big deal in the mobile home industry is that in that year, HUD came into the manufactured home industry and began adding regulations to all mobile home manufacturers making sure that they all built the homes to a set safety standard.

Mobile homes that are older than a ’76 will need to have both, a home inspection and a mobile home four-point inspection completed before the funding of the home.

The Buyer identified a home that was older than a ’76 and ahead and ordered the inspections that were required by the lending agency. Upon the completion of the home inspections, there were a handful of repairs that needed to be addressed in the report. The lending agency required that the buyer have these fixed and provide receipts and photos showing that the work had been done. This agency stated that even after the repairs were done and proof showing them that they were done, they still may not land on the mobile home as the home had previous damage.

So, is funding for mobile homes on leased land available through traditional financing options? Yes, it is, but get ready for tons of hoops to be jumped through to obtain financing. And even if you can do all of this, the lending agency may not fund the home in the end.

Most of the homes in the greater Sarasota Florida area are quite a bit older than this but the lender does not care, their rules are their rules.
So with many of the traditional funding routes dried up, how can a mobile home Buyer purchase a mobile home on leased land if they do not have the cash for the purchase?
The answer is simple, third-party financing companies.

Currently, there are around three different companies that will lend on mobile homes that reside on leased land throughout the United States.
Most of them will require a certain amount as a down payment and a home inspection to be completed.

In our experience, most of these lenders will look to lend on mobile homes that are the year model 1976 or newer.

While most mobile home purchases that are on leased land are cash purchases it is important to know that the Buyer may have financing options through these outside lending companies to still be able to purchase their new mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area.

There are also other options for buyers that don’t have cash like chattel and personal loans.

The Federal Housing Administration also offers mobile home loans through its mobile home loan program. This includes Title I and Title II loans.

A Title I loan can be used to finance the purchase of a new or used mobile home or refinance a mobile home purchase. Lenders can offer Title 1 mobile home loans even if the mobile home sits on a rented lot. There is, however, a maximum loanable amount of $69,678 for mobile homes only without the lot, and $92,904 for mobile homes with the lot.

Title II loans are applicable only for mobile homes with the lot, have a minimum floor area of 400 square feet, and the house must be constructed after June 15, 1976.

Although there are available loan programs for mobile home buyers, having said that, financing a mobile home has limited options than traditional homes. It is therefore recommended that being financially prepared is always the best thing to do before deciding to buy a mobile home.

Many mobile home buyers prepare two to three years before buying a mobile home. This means that they are doing their best to save money within these years before they move forward to purchase their new home. They may not save enough money to pay the full cost of the mobile home but at least they have money for a bigger downpayment. Others also take private personal loans like borrowing from friends, family members, and relatives.

While we at The Mobile Home Dealer, are not loan brokers or any type of financing experts, we do suggest Buyers look at this route should their cash budget not work in the rising mobile home buying market.

Guys, this is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
Aretta Asks, “What Should Sarasota Mobile Home Owners Do In Bad Weather?
What Should Sarasota Mobile Home Owners Do In Bad Weather Let’s discuss and find out about this very important topic.

Hey Guys!

Today’s question for our blog was sent to us through one of our Facebook friends, Aretta Burkhead.

She asked, “Mark, could you please cover some of the dos and don’ts of mobile homes in bad weather?”

Sure, Aretta, I’d be happy to do so. Thanks a lot for the question. Now guys, just so you know, if you are interested in having us cover a particular topic any time, just connect with us through our website at sellmobilehome.com, or through our Facebook as Aretta did, and just give us a holler, let us know what you want us to discuss. We’d be more than happy to do so.

When discussing things to deal with mobile homes and bad weather like today, when we have a hurricane coming over us, I will discuss the obvious issue we are dealing with today and every other day living down here in Florida is hurricanes and the heavy rain and heavy wind that comes with them.

So let’s first discuss the importance of identifying and locating your hurricane tie-downs in your mobile home.

Now in this mobile home, you’ll see they’re right down here, right by the sidestep. You want to make sure that you know exactly where these anchors are. We want to make sure that you know where they are and that they’re fully functional because they do exactly that. They tie the home down should a hurricane come through and it prevents your house from blowing away. That’s the first thing.

After a heavy rain storm, Aretta, you want to make sure that you take a look at the ceiling of the mobile home and see if you find any wet spots.

Wet spots are going to have an off-whitish color on the ceiling. You’re always going to want to look for these all the time in any mobile home. These spots will initially look just like a plain wet spot, but if you don’t get to them early enough, they’re eventually going to look like a coffee stain on a white shirt.

Hopefully, you never see these on your ceiling, but if you do, you must address them right away.

If you do not tend to these then wet spots can lead to a sagging ceiling or, worse yet, they can leak through the roof onto the drywall enough that water will pool up between the drywall and the roof, and an extreme situation, it’ll break after sagging so far and will have the ceiling fall in on it.

I’ve been in several mobile homes where I’ve seen this, and it’s a shame because a lot of times that could have just been fixed by identifying the wet spot in the first place.

Now Aretta, mobile homes are much stronger than what people a lot of times give them credit for.

The reason for this is when a mobile home is made in a factory and shipped to another state for sale, it needs to meet the wind zone or snow load zone for the location that it’s being shipped to.

So for instance, if the home you bought has always been located in the same park in Florida since it left the factory, then chances are your home will be able to handle the winds that come through your area without much of an issue, and that’s required by the manufacturer when it leaves the factory.

And the snow load zone, for all you northerners who follow us, well, thank goodness we don’t have to worry about that down here, but the same idea applies there as well.

In addition to the above suggestions, being prepared before bad weather comes is essential. Here are some weather preparedness tips every mobile homeowner should know.

Secure everything that might be outside your mobile home. This includes lawn furniture, portable carport, bikes, toys, ornaments, and the like. These things can fly and hit your windows and can even hurt other people.

Make sure to have an active insurance policy. The state of Florida is always hit by storms and having active insurance will give you additional peace of mind.

Make sure your mobile home anchors are properly installed and meet the manufacturer’s requirements.

A storm cellar is not required but having one makes your life safer during the storm. A storm cellar is an underground structure and can cost $5,000”

Have a disaster preparedness kit and a NOAA weather radio. The radio will alert you any time of day if a tornado or hurricane is coming.

Make an escape plan. Even if you think that you are fully prepared, having an escape plan when things get out of hand is better than nothing.

Thanks again for your question Aretta. I hope this was helpful to you!

Lastly, Sarasota is known for its beautiful weather, but even paradise has its rainy days. If you find yourself stuck indoors during a storm, there are still plenty of things to do around town.

Here are some ideas to help make the most of a bad weather day in Sarasota:
- Visit one of Sarasota’s many museums, like the Ringling Museum of Art or the Florida Maritime Museum.
- Take a walk or bike ride through one of the city’s many parks, like Selby Gardens or Payne Park.
- Check out a local bookstore or coffee shop that you’ve been meaning to explore.
- Spend some time getting organized and cleaning your home or office.
- Catch up on some reading, either for pleasure or work.
- Plan your next vacation! Use the extra time indoors to start researching and booking your next getaway.
No matter what you end up doing on a rainy day in Sarasota, remember to take some time to relax and enjoy the downtime.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer, and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home broker in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, please contact us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

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September 22, 2023
What Are Sarasota Mobile Home Titles?
What are mobile home titles and what needs to be done with them when buying or selling a home in Sarasota?

Are you looking to buy a home but don’t know what role a title plays in the purchase transaction?

Are you looking to sell a mobile home but are not sure what you are supposed to do with your title when it comes time to sell the home?

This is understandable as many times when we get asked these questions they are asked by mobile home buyers or sellers who only sell or buy a few mobile homes their entire life.

Mobile homes on lease land are taxed in Florida as personal property, not real estate.

As such, these personal property homes have a title that shows proof of ownership and not a deed like traditional real estate has.

You may be familiar with the term title from when you bought or sold a vehicle. This is the same type of title we are referring to here. So, if you have any experience with vehicle titles then we’re halfway there already!

A certificate of title is proof of ownership of a mobile home in the state of Florida. Most mobile homes are required to be titled. The exception is mobile homes which are declared as real property.

When you purchase a new mobile home, bring a mobile home into the state, or there is a change in the ownership of the mobile home, you must apply for a registration and title in your name.

When you buy a mobile home it is a good idea to make sure the seller has the title to the home in their name.

Mobile homes must be registered with a current decal affixed to the mobile home unit at all times, even when unoccupied. For mobile homes affixed to land that is rented, mobile home decals will expire on December 31 each year. The registration fee for mobile homes is based on the length of the mobile home. Doublewide, triple-wide, or additional mobile home units require a separate registration and decal for each unit.

Individuals who currently have a regular mobile home decal and who own the land upon which the mobile home is affixed are required to have a permanent Real Property (RP) decal affixed to their mobile home. In such cases, the mobile home owner is required to obtain a Declaration of Real Property from the Property Appraisers Office. Then, the mobile home owner is to present their RP Declaration to a Tax Collector’s Service Center and purchase an RP decal for their mobile home.

Registration Renewal

Florida law requires mobile home decals and registrations to be renewed before they expire on December 31st. It is a violation of the law to fail to display a current registration decal. Mobile homes that fail to properly display a current decal are subject to late fees or tangible personal property taxation.

Mobile Home registration and decal renewals may be conducted online, by mail, or at one of the Tax Collector’s Service Centers.

To renew by mail, be on the lookout for your registration renewal notice! As a courtesy, the Tax Collector’s Office mails renewal notices to mobile homeowners. The courtesy renewal notices are generally mailed no less than 3 weeks before the mobile home registration expiration date (December 31st). The renewal notice includes materials that allow mobile homeowners to easily renew their registration(s) by mail. Florida law does not require mobile home registration renewal notices for vehicles to be mailed, and failure to receive a courtesy renewal notice by mail does not relieve the mobile home owner of their responsibility to timely renew their mobile home registrations and decals.

Here is your first tip of the day:

Do not buy a mobile home from someone whose name is not on the title as they do not have proof of actually owning the home in the very first place!

Check to see if the owner has a lien on the title.

If they don’t have a lien then it is referred to as the owner having what’s called a clear title. If a lien is present that means that the owner of the title has a lien against the property which also means that they owe money to someone or some agency before they own it in full. The lien information will physically be written on the title on the front page of it.

If you are selling a mobile home you will always want to make sure your title is ready for when the buyer is ready to buy and that you can sign over the title to the new owner.

Our second tip of the day:

Make sure you know where your title is and that you can physically locate it!

We, at the Mobile Home Dealer, work with buyers and sellers daily and help complete the entire title transfer process as part of our services.

Knowing what a title is and why it is important is the first step in knowing who owns the mobile home and the insurers you are buying the home from the correct person.

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 contact 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 and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
Is Termite Tenting Necessary In A Sarasota Mobile Home?
Hey Guys!

We are coming to you on location on one of our homes that we just sold here in Venice.

I want to talk to you about some termite tenting questions.

What is termite tenting for a mobile home and is it needed when buying or selling a mobile home in Sarasota?

Now have you ever wondered what exactly is termite tenting and how it works?

Are you curious as to why this process needs to be completed for your mobile home? But first, why would one need to be even concerned about termite tenting to start with?

What is termite tenting?

Termite tent or termite fumigation is a process by which a structure, such as a mobile home, is completely covered with a sealed nylon tent and then filled with poisonous gas to eradicate dry wood termites. These insects dig in the wood and cross it, leaving worms similar tunnels while devouring the structure. If attention is not paid, the damage caused by the colonies of dry wood termites will eventually weaken the structure.

This extermination method is expensive and normally takes one or two days. During this time, the mobile home is sealed, so arrangements must be made to stay with friends, family, or at a hotel. The fumigant, usually sulfuryl fluoride, is colorless and does not leave waste, but if enough time is left, it penetrates the remains of wood and kills the resident termites.

The preparation for termite tents includes removing pets, fish tanks and bowls, and all living plants in the house in advance. Foods and medications should be sealed in special plastic bags, sometimes provided by the fumigator service, or items can be taken out of the house. There may also be special instructions regarding mattresses or pillows wrapped in waterproof covers. It is possible that it is necessary to remove these items from their covers or the house.

The bushes and outdoor plants must be cleaned along the perimeter of the house to create a catwalk for the workers and allow the tents to reach the ground. The owner may remove one or two tables from the fences that meet the house if there is no door nearby. The floor that borders the house should soak up to prevent the fumigant from penetrating the ground and affecting the plants.

Here’s why;

Mobile homes use quite a bit of wood for the structure itself.

As you may know, underneath the floors that you physically walk on and see is a sheet of plywood, which is attached to wood support beams. These three layers of wood, the support beams, the plywood subfloor, and the flooring are what make up your mobile home’s flooring system.

Termites thrive on eating wood fragments.

When your mobile home floor is based largely on the wood itself, all buyers and sellers of a mobile home must be very well-educated on the importance of proper care of the wood structures in your home, so that you can have a safe and sturdy mobile home for years to come!

Failure to keep up with your mobile home termite treatment could lead to sagging floors, eroding floor supports, or even holes right in the middle of your kitchen floor!

Structural fumigation, which is better known as a type of termite tenting treatment, is a process where a trained professional enters your home and administers a specially designed chemical blend that kills all of the termites in your home.

These chemicals are used in all structures of your mobile home, including the walls, the floors, and the structural supports.

Structural fumigation is the more heavy-duty type of fumigation and is normally reserved for situations where there is a serious termite infestation.

For this type of treatment to be done, you will be unable to physically be in your home for upwards of two to three days after the service has been completed.

This includes removing all pets and plants, as well as your loved ones from the home, for everyone’s safety. Although the entire physical process of structural fumigation will only take a few hours to complete, it is a good idea to remain out of the home for the suggested time, as well as remove all food from the home that may gain exposure to the structural fumigation process.

Remember when looking to buy a mobile home, it is a good idea to always ask the owner if they know when the last time the home was tented for termites!

Having this information could greatly help you in deciding whether the home has been well taken care of by the current owner or not!

Termite tenting can be a necessary and important preventative measure to protect your Sarasota mobile home from termites. Termites tend to be attracted to humid, warm climates such as Sarasota, and the damage they can cause to your home is extensive. Tenting your mobile home with a specialized tenting material can effectively kill any termites inside the home and create an effective barrier against future infestations. It is best to consult with a licensed pest control expert to determine if tenting is necessary for your particular mobile home.

Leaving aside the cost, discomfort, and environmental problems, termite tents are not always justified. Often, the localized treatment may be sufficient. The fumigation of the tent should be reserved as a last resort and should be reserved for work with such an intense infestation that no other method is practical. In some places, however, in some cases, it is required before selling a mobile home to ensure that it is free of dry wood termites for the incoming buyer.

This is Mark Kaiser with the Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
Is Water Always Included In A Sarasota Mobile Home Lot Rent?
Is Water Always Included In Lot Rent?

Hey guys!

When it comes to living inside the mobile home park, one needs to learn and unlearn a lot of things. Mobile homes are different from traditional stick-and-brick homes and mobile home parks carry different sets of rules and guidelines than those HOAs. As a potential mobile home owner, one must do their research before deciding to live inside a mobile home park.

We’re coming to you from a location where we just sold another Sarasota mobile home very quickly!

I thought of a blog post that I wanted to bring you up to speed on. Questions we get asked all the time is, does lot rent always include your water bill in a Sarasota mobile home?

What is included in a lot of rent payments? Does lot rent include any other utilities, such as water?

These are common questions our team gets asked when we’re working with buyers of mobile homes in the Sarasota area daily.

Lot rent is the fee that is assigned to each homesite a home sits on within a land lease mobile home park.

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This fee can range in Sarasota from the low $500s to upwards of $1,200 per month.

The lot rent fee, although it fluctuates from park to park, will include certain utilities, such as water, sewer, cable television, lawn care, and usage of all park amenities.

Some parks do not include the water in their lot rent fee and some do.

The parks that do not include the water in the lot rent fee, then it will be paid through either an individual meter that is assigned to each home or through what is called a master meter system.

In a master meter situation, the park receives one water bill for all the homes in that park, and the monthly water bill is then divided by how many homes are in the park. The master meter idea is not nearly as common as an individual meter on the home or the park paying for it within the lot rent payment every month.

In our experience, it is more common in the Sarasota area for parks to include the water bill in the residents’ lot rent and to not divide out among all of the occupied lots within the community what the water bill is.

Water in Sarasota County is not as expensive as in other counties in Florida, but it’s certainly not the cheapest!

In our research, we have found that an average two-bed, two-bath mobile home in Sarasota County that has a washing machine on the property has a water bill between $20 to $25 per month.

This cost will vary depending on how much laundry the residents are using, how long of showers they take, how much water they use to water their plants or bushes, and how often they wash their vehicles.

When a park has a master meter, the bills are dispersed to the residents, usually around the first of the month, just like other utility payments, such as electricity.

What is a mobile home lot rent?

People who are not familiar with mobile home living may get confused by the concept of lot rent. renting a mobile home lot is different from renting just a mobile home. Paying for the lot rent means you own the mobile home while paying for the lot where your mobile home is sitting. If you are just renting a mobile home, whether you pay the lot rent or the owner depends on the agreement between you (the renter) and the mobile home owner. The lot can be owned by the mobile homeowner or the park owner.

What lot rent covers

In most mobile home parks in the Sarasota Florida area, lot rent covers most of the following.
- Water bill (some parks don’t)
- A piece of land to place your manufactured home on
- Access to the amenities and maintenance (the staff can guide you about the exact offerings)
- Swimming pool
- Playgrounds or play area
- Community center
- Laundry rooms with washers and dryers
- Lawn maintenance and mowing
- Trash collection
The amenities included in the lot rent vary from park to park and sometimes, the number of coverage can affect the lot rent amount.

What lot rent does not cover

Taxes: While property taxes may not be your headache, there will be taxes on the mobile home.

Insurance: Lot rent does not cover insurance. For the safety and security of your property, it is better to get mobile home insurance.

When buying a mobile home inside the mobile home park of your choice, make sure to know what specific amenities are covered by the lot rent. Parks that charge $1,000 and above usually cover most of the bills and other extra things that someone you may not need so it is important to know everything to avoid paying something you may not need.

No, water is not always included in Sarasota mobile home lot rent. While some landlords may provide water as part of the rental agreement, this is not always the case. It is important to read the lease agreement carefully and understand what utilities are included in the rent before signing a contract. Additionally, even if water is included, you may still need to pay for sewage or other related expenses. Be sure to ask any questions you have and clarify all terms before signing the lease agreement.

We believe we will see more parks move towards not including water in the monthly lot rent fee in the future as mobile home parks are increasingly turning that charge of the water bill over to the residents directly.

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 contact 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 and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
What Are Sarasota Mobile Home Soft Spots? Volume 2
Hey Guys! We’re back again for another discussion on mobile home soft spots that could be a problem.

Today, we will discuss how to avoid getting those pesky soft spots in the first place. But first, let’s review what soft spots are in mobile home floors so that we’re all caught up and on the same page before moving forward.

Mobile home soft spots occur when a portion of the floor gets wet and begins to swell, eventually causing a hole in the wood floor.

This can happen through an appliance that is running, a pipe under the home that has burst, or several liquid spills in the same general area that were not cleaned up quickly. Over time, the liquid will soak through the flooring and get to the wood subfloor, which causes it to begin to cave in on itself. If this is not treated quickly and efficiently, the wood floor will eventually sag so far that it will cause a hole in the middle of your mobile home floor!

Another common way to create soft spots is when a pipe under the home bursts and the water sprays on the underside of the floor, causing a soft spot from the bottom up.

This will often happen without even the owner knowing it’s going on!

Now that we have everyone up to speed on the basics of a soft spot in a mobile home floor, let’s discuss how to avoid them in the first place!

When discussing the most common soft spots, the ones that start from the top and then go down to the subfloor, we need to mention the obvious fix:

If you spill something, clean it up!

Generally speaking, a liquid spill will not create a soft spot, as it will have to soak through the over-flooring, which could be carpet, wood, or laminate, to get to the subfloor, where the soft spot will eventually occur.

We all grew up learning something very simple: if you spill something, clean it up!

Another familiar soft spot to avoid is the ones happening from a running appliance.

This can be done from a refrigerator, a bathtub, or a toilet.

As preventative maintenance, ensure you check that all of these items were correctly installed and sealed, as this is one of the most common issues we see with them. These house fixtures just were not installed properly from the start, which led to water issues without the owner even knowing.

The last common way to avoid those soft spots is by turning off the main water valve at the back of the house. I have seen that for this preventative maintenance to work best, remember to shut off the water if you will be out of the home for more than a few days, for sure a week or more.

Soft spots can also develop due to a lack of regular cleaning, especially those portions under the carpet. So, to prevent soft spots, we prepared some basic tips on how to clean and maintain your floor.

Tips for eliminating the spots on your mobile home floors

We know that cleaning the house can be exhausting most of the time. Cleaning bathrooms and carpets can be exhausting, and we know that kitchen floors are usually one of the most demanding because they are used a lot and are the most likely to get dirty or stained.

This time, we will explain how to keep the floors of your kitchen in optimal conditions for longer, give you some tips on cleaning the floors, and discuss how to wash, disinfect, and polish these surfaces.

1. For the daily cleaning of the floor, we recommend that you do not use any chemicals since they can easily spoil the floor if we use them a lot. Instead, use a soft bristle brush to apply the mixture with a bit of soap and warm water, wait a few minutes, and then dry the area with a dry cloth.

2. There is a wide variety of chemicals for disinfecting floors,; among them, we have to find the appropriate product for the type of your mobile home floor.

3. The floors may always be stained, and these imperfections require more than water and soap. Depending on the source of the stain, it can be easily fixed.

4. Wet spots, humidity spots, or mold often appear due to the presence of water, and they can easily be cleaned with warm water and detergent.

5. Food stains: If your floors have organic spots, you can remove them with a little ammonia. Just put some ammonia on the stain, let it act all night, and in the morning, clean the surface with soap and warm water.

6. For oil spots, immediately clean the oil with a cloth or a napkin and add some talc or flour to the damaged area. Then, wash the surface with soap and water.

7. Shoes or dirt spots: At this point, we recommend mixing water and hydrogen peroxide to clean the dirt. Then, use dishes to remove the final stain and leave the ground impeccable.

8. Oxidized spots: To eliminate oxide, special products must be used. Look for those specific to your floor type. For these products, performing tests in areas with little visibility is recommended.

I hope these basic tips have helped you better understand how to minimize your exposure to soft spots so that you can have a safe, dry floor in your mobile home for years to come.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
Sarasota Mobile Home Industry Update 10/20/2020!
Sarasota’s mobile home industry continues to evolve, reflecting the region’s dynamic housing market. In recent years, the Sarasota mobile home industry has witnessed notable shifts in demand and development trends. Developers are increasingly focusing on modernizing existing parks and introducing new amenities to attract buyers. Additionally, there’s a growing interest in eco-friendly and energy-efficient mobile home designs, aligning with Sarasota’s commitment to sustainability. Despite challenges such as rising land costs and regulatory changes, the Sarasota mobile home industry remains resilient, adapting to meet the evolving needs of residents and investors alike. Stay informed with regular Sarasota Mobile Home Industry Updates.

What are soft spots in a mobile home floor and how big of a problem are they?

Have you ever walked into a mobile home and felt the floor sag a little?

Have you been in a mobile home and looked through the window to see the light hit the floor and noticed there’s a bit of a ripple effect?

Or, worse yet, have you ever been like me and walked into the doorway of a mobile home only for the floor to feel like it was falling out from under you and you would immediately jump off to save yourself!?

No? Well, for your sanity I sure hope you haven’t had that experience!

What are soft spots in a mobile home, and are they that big of a problem?

The term soft spot is used in the mobile home industry which describes when a portion of the floor gets wet and begins to give way ever so slightly. If not treated correctly when the soft spot is initially noticed this could lead to an even bigger soft spot, which eventually leads to a hole in the floor!

Soft spots can be created from a spill of water over time.

Many times this happens through a toilet running over, a bathtub constantly being overfilled, maybe a dishwasher or sink that leaks regularly, or many times when a pipe under the actual home bursts and begins to spray water on the subfloor.

The owner doesn’t know that is even happening!

Water is one of the main issues that a mobile home faces that will hurt the structure of the home, and it is of utmost importance that all mobile homeowners keep on top of their floors if they ever sense that there is a soft spot beginning.

Make sure if you leave the home for a few months or even just travel for a couple of weeks that you go to the back of the mobile home and turn off the water from the main valve to help protect you from possible pipes bursting while you’re out.

This is not a foolproof fix for pipes breaking, but it is something certainly to be on the offensive to help protect your home from soft spots when the pipes may or may not burst.

We’ll continue to discuss soft spots in later blog posts in the coming weeks, as this is a common concern that many mobile home buyers and sellers come to us regularly asking.

The good news is that soft spots are not a big deal, especially if handled correctly right from the start.

5 things you should know about cleaning a laminate mobile home flooring.

Since mobile homes have laminate flooring, soft spots happen when water stays on the floor for a long period without cleaning or removing the liquid from the surface. So we prepared a simple but quick guide on how to properly clean your mobile home’s laminate flooring.
1. The brush and vacuum are vital
Every day floors receive large amounts of dust, dirt, and liquid spills. There are several materials to be removed from the floor surface. If you feel something’s wrong on the floor, a broom or a vacuum could help remove the undesired foreign materials.
1. Hot water
Unlike others, the hot water is doing well on the laminated floor, but not boiling. Why? Because hot water is the best liquid cleaner that exists!

Moisten your mop with hot water and pass it from one end to another end removing all specks of dirt and even oily spilled liquids. Do this to cover the entire area and until the mop water remains clear.

It must be wet, not soaked as laminate floors are not resistant to a large amount of water.

Do this at least once a week to keep your floor nice and clean.
1. For strong stains, use some vinegar
Vinegar is another agent to use when the stain cannot be removed by hot water alone. Use a microfiber sponge with hot water and vinegar and rub the stain until it is gone. If the stain is not removed, it could hold water that could eventually damage the laminate.
1. The best soap is baby shampoo
If you want to use a detergent, the best is baby shampoo.

Because laminated floors are delicate, therefore, the best thing to use is a shampoo that is not abrasive.

Dilute a couple of shampoo droplets in 4 liters of hot water. Remove to form bubbles, then moisten your mop in the water and rub it on the floor. Repeat the process until the mop is clean.
1. Nail polish can be a great option to remove other dried stains.
Nail polish is designed to remove dirt and stains without damaging even the most delicate things – human skin.

Some stains are left for days and turned into solid and cannot be removed by vinegar or shampoo. This is when you need nail polish. Apply nail polish on both the stain and microfiber cloth and rub it on the stain until it is removed.

Proper maintenance and regular floor cleaning is the best way to prevent soft spots on mobile home flooring.

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 contact 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. We help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
What Paper Work Is Needed To Sell A Sarasota Mobile Home?
What paperwork is needed to sell a mobile home in Sarasota, Florida?

Are you looking to sell your mobile home fast but are unsure what paperwork is needed to complete the sale?

We understand!

Getting all these documents correctly filled out and filed with the state can be a very confusing process.

One of the main benefits of using a licensed mobile home broker, such as The Mobile Home Dealer, for your closing is that the state of Florida requires us to walk both the buyer and seller through the documents needed to sell your mobile home. Ensuring that the proper taxes and fees are paid to the state on behalf of the buyer so that there is no issue with the title being transferred is another benefit of working with a licensed mobile home broker.

So, with all that said, what documents need to be filled out and filed to sell a mobile home?

First, you will need either a bill of sale or a sales contract. The Mobile Home Dealer uses a sales contract that covers everything that the home is being sold with, details of how the sale is being completed, and a seller disclosure sheet that clearly outlines what, if any, issues there are with the mobile home being sold.

We use that so there’s no confusion as to how the process will go during purchase.

Transfer of Title Form, also known as Form 82040, must be filled out and filed to ensure that the title is correctly transferred from the seller to the buyer.

Copies of the driver’s license or state-issued photo ID are needed to show the state exactly who is buying the mobile home. The actual title for the mobile home, which is filled out and signed over to the new owner by the seller, is needed.

If working with a licensed mobile home broker within the state of Florida, then a Power of Attorney form will be on file for both the buyer and the seller.

When the licensed mobile home broker has this form, they can sign on behalf of both the buyer and the seller, avoiding the need to go to the DMV to have the title properly processed.

Here is a word of warning!

If you are not familiar with these documents or how they are filled out, please look to utilize a licensed mobile home broker to sell your mobile home as they’re well-versed and all that is needed for the closing to be done right the first time!

If any of these documents are not filled out correctly or any fee is not paid at the right amount, it could prevent the transfer of the title from the Seller to the Buyer and prevent the completion of the sale process.

In Florida, when you buy or sell a mobile home on leased land, it is referred to as personal property and not real estate. The reason for this is that when the home is sold with the property attached to it, it is deemed real estate. When the property is leased by the home’s owner, it is viewed as and taxed as a vehicle in the state of Florida.

With this understood, then, when selling a mobile home on leased land, the Seller and Buyer will need to fill out and complete an 82040 Form with the DMV, which is more commonly known as a Change Of Title Application.

This form will allow the Seller and Buyer to sign off on the fact that the home was sold by the Seller and purchased by the Buyer for a disclosed amount of money and that this amount of money that the mobile home was sold for has had tax collected on it. This tax will then be reported to the Department of Revenue and the Buyer will be expected to pay this amount to the DOR within 30 days of the sale. Failure to pay these taxes may result in additional fines and penalties assessed to the Buyer.

It is important to note that the 82040 form will need to be filled out for each side of the mobile home that is being sold. Meaning, if the home is a double-wide mobile home within the state of Florida then two of these forms will need to be filled out, one for side A and one for side B. If the Buyer does not fill out one 82040 form for each side, then the DMV may reject the transfer of title application because both forms are not filled out correctly.

When selling your Sarasota mobile home, make sure you also have your physical title at the closing and can sign these titles over to the new Buyer of your home. If the Buyer does not have the signed titles on hand, then they will not be able to complete the 82040 form, as much of the information that is needed on this form is found on the front page of the title paperwork.

The Mobile Home Dealer is a licensed mobile home broker 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. We help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023
What Does It Mean In Sarasota To Be “Park Approved”?
What does park approval mean to Sarasota mobile home park residents?

When looking to buy or sell a mobile home in Sarasota, it is important to know the importance of what park approval means, and how it can affect both the purchase and the sale of a mobile home, both in positive and negative ways.

While deciding on the perfect Sarasota Florida mobile home to purchase is the fun and exciting part, one needs to make sure all of their ducks are set in a row prior to putting money down on the property and calling the moving trucks.

Most of the time, many Buyers will focus on the funding of the purchase, will they have enough money to purchase their mobile home in cash or will they need to seek some type of outside financing for the purchase?

While we, here at The Mobile Home Dealer, can certainly appreciate the focus on funding, we take a different route in focusing on the Buyer becoming park-approved before putting a focus on funding the purchase.

But, why would we focus on park approval and not on funding?

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 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, 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 way of going about the actual approval process. Usually, every park will require each person who 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 before purchasing the mobile home through us as a licensed mobile home broker then we will not be able to close on the home.

This approval is, usually, handled by the manager in the park. Or, if the park is small enough, it can be done by the owner.

Parks have different criteria when it comes to being approved, but it usually comes down to a credit check, a criminal history screen, verification of income, and an in-depth look to see if there has ever been an eviction with the applicant.

Most of the time parks, usually, put the most emphasis on the income and eviction portion of the application process.

The reason why they do this is that when buying a mobile home in a park where the owner leases the land they will be required to make a monthly payment to the park for the usage of that land, known as lot rent.

Many times, parks will have it laid out in the rule book that if the tenant does not pay the lot rent each month, then their home could be forced into eviction due to not paying lot rent.

Having a thorough screening of past evictions on every tenant applying for the park will ensure the park’s safety net, and is the park’s way of trying to get the most qualified tenants in their park.

The entire park approval process should take a few days after the tenant fills out their paperwork and gets it to the appropriate person who runs the process.

So, is it really necessary to get park approved before buying a mobile home within a Sarasota mobile home park?

YES, IT IS!

Failure to have yourself approved before purchasing a home could lead to the home that you just bought being evicted due to you not being approved by the park before this purchase.

This could create a very costly and stressful situation that could have been avoided should you have gone forward with the approval process before buying your mobile home.

While looking at mobile homes is fun and exciting it is of utmost importance for both the Buyer and the Seller to not get too excited due to the park approval process being a needed part of the closing puzzle.

Without park approval on file, there is no sale.

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 contact 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 and we help mobile home buyers and sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 22, 2023