Category: Blog

What Are Land Owned Mobile Home Parks In Sarasota Florida?
Winter season is here and your family is planning to buy a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area. You find a lot of beautiful mobile homes online and you decide to pack and visit these mobile homes.

before going down south and making the decision to buy a mobile home here in Sarasota, there are some important things people who are not familiar with mobile home living should know and one of these is the type of land ownership where the mobile home sits.

When looking at buying a mobile home in a mobile home park within the greater Sarasota Florida area the Buyer of the mobile home has to look at what types of parks exist and what will best fit their lifestyle needs.

Coachman RV Resort

Mobile home parks around the Sarasota Florida area come in two types:
1. Land-Owned Mobile Home Parks
2. Land Leased Mobile Home Parks
Land-Owned Mobile Home Park in Brief

Land-Owned Mobile Home Park, popularly known as Resident-owned Mobile Home Park is a type of mobile home park ownership where every resident shares the ownership of the park. As a resident, You do not own the land that your mobile home is sitting on. Instead, your ownership is comparable to being a stockholder owning an interest in the entire community. The monthly fees are generally half of the lot rent fees paid on a land lease basis for those mobile homes sitting on parks owned privately by a single owner, family, or company.

Cooperative properties are listed on the Multiple Listing Service or MLS alongside conventional real estate. When purchasing or selling a mobile home that is part of a co-op you are able to gain massive exposure in both selling your manufactured home or searching to buy your next mobile home.

You pay real estate taxes just as you do on real property. Because the purchase price is relatively low, your taxes are not that high. If you are or will be a Florida resident, you can homestead the property resulting in significantly lower real estate taxes. Other qualifying reductions in real estate taxes include disability and more.

Land-Owned Mobile Home Park in Depth

When looking at buying a mobile home within a mobile home park where you own the land you will be purchasing both the home and a share of ownership in the mobile home park.

A share is similar to a stock certificate that states you as the new Buyer of the mobile own a percentage of the entire mobile home park. This stock certificate means that all of the residents in the mobile home park own an equal share of the entire ownership of the mobile home park. Having this percentage ownership allows the Buyer of the mobile home to vote on certain rules and regulations that the park will look to obtain throughout the year.

When buying stock in a mobile home park within Sarasota Florida the purchase does come with a pretty steep price.

As of this writing, the average price of a mobile home park ownership certificate is just over $50,000.

What this means is that when you buy the mobile home you will also be required to purchase the stock certificate in addition to the price of the mobile home, they are two separate numbers tied into the same purchase price.

The pro of buying stock certificates in a mobile home park that is located in the greater Sarasota Florida area is that lot rent will usually be about 50% less than that of a land-leased park.

One of the major cons is that the amount of money saved each month on lot rent is a small percentage of the cost of the initial stock purchase price.

For example, the average lot rent for a mobile home on leased land in Sarasota County Florida is $750.

The average lot rent for a mobile home in a land-owned mobile home park in Sarasota County Florida is $250, which usually does not cover your lawn care, water bill, or sewer bill.

Sarasota mobile home

If we consider for a moment the cost of the above bills that are not included we could look at another $150-$200 extra per month added on top of the $250 HOA. This would bring the total cost of the monthly bills to around $400.

A $350 savings or, around $4,000 per year.

With the average cost of a stock certificate being $50,000, this means that the owner of the property would need to live in the park for at least 13 years to break even.

If you are planning on living in the park for 13 years just to break even then this may be a good option to follow, especially if the new Buyer can afford the additional $50,000 purchase price.

If this is not feasible then looking at a land-owned mobile home park with all of the amenities already included in the monthly lot rent may be a better option.

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

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 26, 2023
Is It Possible To Finance A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home?
With mortgage rates continuing to rise and the cost of real estate at a record high in most of the United States mobile home Buyers are in need of different ways to pay for their mobile home within the greater Sarasota Florida area.

Where can a mobile home Buyer go to get financing for a mobile home on leased land in Florida?

Does financing even exist?!

This is an important topic to discuss but first, we need to fully understand what type of mobile home we are looking to finance so we can best understand the financial obstacle that needs to be overcome.

Mobile Home for Sale in Sebring

With record low interest rates, so many home Buyers are looking to maximize their buying dollar by obtaining a low-interest loan for their home mortgage.

The question, though, that needs to be answered is; does a traditional home mortgage application for a mobile home on leased land within the greater Sarasota Florida area?

Mobile homes on leased land in and around the greater Sarasota Florida are viewed as and taxed as personal property and not real property as the ownership of these homes comes with a title and not a deed when purchasing them. If this sounds awful like buying a car instead of buying a traditional home then you would be correct as mobile homes in Sarasota Florida are titled at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

With this understanding, it is safe to say that the loan process is not like traditional home loans in the state of Florida whatsoever.

The reason why loans on mobile homes that are located on leased land are so different is that many times lending institutions will think that the mobile home can be picked up and moved at any time for whatever reason and thus will have a harder time funding mobile homes when they are on leased land.

Here, in the state of Florida, it is not allowed to move a mobile home off of leased land that is older than 20 years of age due to most counties in the state of Florida not providing permitting for the transportation companies to be able to move a mobile home of that age.

Even though the average age of a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area is well over 20 years old this does not mean that the traditional loan companies will see past that and provide a mortgage to a mobile home on leased land.

Oddly enough, this theory changes with many of these lending agencies if the mobile home on leased land includes not only the home but the land that the home sits on as well. The reason for this is that, in this situation, the mobile home and land attached will then qualify as real estate and not real property so the lending agencies will view this as property they would be more willing to loan on.

Crazy, huh?

There are mobile home lending agencies who will lend on a mobile home in the greater Sarasota Florida area when the mobile home is located on leased land. These lending companies are known as third-party lenders and carry their own credit, down payment, and interest rate requirements that may be different from the traditional banks that normally would loan on a traditional stick and brick home.

There are also other ways to acquire a mobile home through different types of loans.

Chattel Loans

Chattel loans work similarly to traditional mortgages in that your mobile home can be seized if you fail to pay your mortgage on schedule. The good thing about a Chattel loan is that your house doesn’t need to be affixed permanently. Chattel loans can be used whether you own the land or rent a lot.

Florida Mobile Home

Personal Loans

There are many types of personal loans but because most of them don’t require collateral, the interest is always higher compared to traditional loans. There are also secured personal loans if you want a lower interest rate. Some loan companies accept mobile homes as collateral for personal loans.

Borrowing money from your family, friends, and relatives can be another option if none of the above fits your situation.

One of the many great things about buying a mobile home on leased land is that there are several different ways to purchase and move into your new property that is not normally available to single-family homes.

Having several different options and being educated in all of them will certainly put you ahead of the curve when looking at buying your new mobile home!

When looking at financing a mobile home located on leased land within the greater Sarasota Florida area every Buyer should understand the limitations that come when looking for financing a mobile home located in these parks.

By having a good idea of what is and what is not available for financing the Buyer will have a much better idea of where they need to be financially when looking to buy a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area that is located within a land leased mobile home park.

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 and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

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September 26, 2023
When Is The Best Time To Buy A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home?
The time has come. After three years of saving, you finally decided to retire and picked Sarasota Florida as your new home. But buying a traditional home seems expensive so you are exploring your options to buy a mobile home.

Living inside mobile home parks is an affordable alternative compared to living in a traditional site-built single-family house. Since tenants are paying for their space and own the house, this means they pay lower monthly rent with bigger space. Mobile homes come in three different sizes: single, double, and triple wide depending on your family’s needs.

Mobile Home in Florida

Many aspiring homeowners know how hard it can be to purchase a home in the current housing market. It’s no surprise why many people are seeking more affordable options – including tiny homes, RVs, and mobile homes (aka manufactured homes). In fact, it’s estimated that about 17 million Americans reside in mobile homes alone.

If buying a traditional home is just too daunting, consider mobile home living as an alternative option. Because mobile homes are extremely customizable and cost-effective, they’re a great choice for families and individuals of all sizes and walks of life. Keep reading to find out if living in a mobile home is the right choice for you.

One of the biggest benefits of living in a mobile home is that most of the mobile homes in the Sarasota Florida area are organized around the needs of older people and seniors. This means that mobile home parks are a peaceful community without teenagers creating noises or babies crying in the neighborhood.

Aside from the obvious affordability especially for seniors who have limited financial means, mobile home parks are highly organized with almost everything the residents need.

Knowing all of these benefits, one might be interested in moving into a mobile home but don’t know when is the best time to buy.

With all the talk right now being how hot the real estate market is throughout the Sarasota Florida area one can begin to wonder, when is the right time to buy a mobile home in Sarasota?

This question gets brought up on a regular basis and we, here at The Mobile Home Dealer, feel we have a good idea of how to answer this commonly asked question.

When looking at buying a mobile home in the Sarasota area each Buyer needs to first figure out if they want to buy a mobile home in a land-leased mobile home park or in a resident-owned park.

The difference here, although it seems small, is actually a huge determining factor on when and why one would look to buy a mobile home.

If the Buyer is looking to buy a mobile home in a resident-owned park then, in this situation, the Buyer is purchasing real property instead of personal property. The reason for this is because, in Florida, when a mobile home is sold with the land included in the sale it is now viewed as real estate and not as a personal property purchase.

When one purchases real estate then traditional mortgages can be used along with most other financing options available to single-family homes.

In this purchase, the mobile home will be subject to the ups and downs of the real estate market which, as we all know, is a roller coaster!

Mobile home for sale in Florida

If the Buyer is more interested in buying a mobile home on leased land where they own the own and pay a monthly fee each month to the mobile home park for the usage of the land then they are buying personal property and not real property. These homes are viewed and taxed in the same way a vehicle is taxed in the state of Florida. When purchasing this type of mobile home the purchase comes with a title and not a deed if they were buying a mobile home with the land included in the sale.

When buying personal property, such as a mobile home in a mobile home park with lot rent, these homes are not subjected to the ups and downs of the real estate market nearly as much as the resident-owned properties. The reason for this is that a mobile home on leased land is not required to have the purchase price recorded with anyone or anywhere which makes pulling sales comps nearly impossible.

What we can say with confidence is that a mobile home on leased land does not see the ups and downs of a real estate cycle as much as resident-owned communities do. This can be a positive or a negative pending on where in the real estate cycle you are buying your mobile home.

If you are looking to buy a mobile home at the high time of a real estate market then the Buyer may want to entertain buying an in a land-leased mobile home park as the prices stay pretty much the same year in and year out. However, in a down real estate market, there are plenty of deals to be had in a resident-owned community as well.

With all of this understanding, the main question each Buyer needs to answer is, when are you ready to start living your Florida dream?

The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home brokers in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy-and-sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to 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 and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

See Also:
September 26, 2023
What Is Expected To Happen To Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Lot Rents In 2022?
With the Holiday decorations packed away until the end of the year and the rush of snowbirds in full effect, one needs to ask, what will happen to the lot rent you are paying on your mobile home in Sarasota, Florida, for the year 2022?

Mobile Home in Florida

If you are looking at finally taking the plunge and buying your piece of paradise here in the Sunshine State, you need to be conscious of the fact that lot rent will increase sometime throughout the first quarter of the year. Knowing when this increase will happen and how much it will help you, the mobile home Buyer, get a better idea of how to budget your dollars when purchasing your new mobile home.

Mobile homes in Florida located within land-leased communities are viewed and taxed as personal property, not real estate.

This means that purchasing a home is very similar to purchasing a vehicle. In this transaction, you do not own the land, so property taxes do not apply, but monthly lot rent is a bill that every Buyer needs to budget for.

Lot rent is a fee that is paid to the mobile home park for the usage of the land that your home sits on.

Certain parks may include additional bills within the lot rent, such as the homeowner’s water, sewer, trash, lawn care, and usage of park amenities such as the pool and clubhouse.

Lot rent will never be paid off, and rather, this is a bill that will be paid monthly for the foreseeable future.

In order to pay the lot rent, the home’s resident will need to sign a land lease with the mobile home park. The lease names the resident as the responsible person who is required to pay the lot rent each month to the park.

Failure to pay the lot rent may result in the tenant and their home being put through the eviction process so, needless to say, this is a bill that needs to be taken seriously and paid on time every month.

It is reasonable to expect that lot rent will increase by 1-3% annually regardless of its current level.

The increase is because the cost of many of the bills included above increases each year, and the mobile home park needs to account for the additional fees that their service providers charge. These additional costs will then be passed on to the residents themselves.

Most mobile home parks increase the lot rent amount each year based on the national inflation percentage as the price for all goods and services rises each year.

With the higher-than-normal inflation, we are seeing throughout the United States we, here at The Mobile Home Dealer, are seeing higher-than-average mobile home lot rent increases across the board.

Mobile Home in Florida

What we continue to see at the time of this writing is instead of lot rents increasing 1-3% we are seeing 3-5% and in some cases as high as 10% for each lot within the mobile home park.

As you can imagine this is a sizeable increase, much more than the previous years.

With the higher-than-average increase for 2022, we hope to see a smaller if any at all increase in lot rents for 2023 as the rest of the world economy begins to get back to normal post-pandemic.

When looking at purchasing a mobile home within the greater Sarasota Florida area that resides in a land-leased park make sure you fully understand what the lot rent is and what it includes. Another important question to ask the park manager is a list of all past lot rent increases over the past several years to see how the park has increased its fees and compare these to other parks you are interested in purchasing within.

Different mobile home parks in the Sarasota, Florida, area require different amounts of lot rent. Your options will be based on your financial capacity, preferred location, and mobile home size.

Thorough research is essential if you are looking to buy a mobile home in the greater Sarasota area.

Don’t get fixated on a beautiful mobile home you just found online. That mobile home might be sitting on a mobile home park that requires a land lease that costs more than your targeted budget. If you have limited time and resources to search for the most appropriate mobile home for yourself and your family, hiring a professional brokerage firm like The Mobile Dealer will ease your burden.

Being a well-educated mobile home Buyer will help get you a better idea of what exactly to expect when purchasing your mobile home within Sarasota Florida.

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 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 and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

See Also:
September 25, 2023
Can a Buyer Cancel A Mobile Home Purchase Agreement in Sarasota Florida?
You have finally decided to make the tough decision to sell your Sarasota Florida mobile home.

The memories have been great and ones you will forever cherish but, as often times happens, life has changed once more and it is time for you to sell your Sarasota Florida mobile home and move on to the next step in your life.

Palm Terrace mobile home

The closing day finally arrives and something unexpected happens, the Buyer cancels the purchase agreement and is now no longer ready to buy your mobile home.

Wait, can that happen?

We, here at The Mobile Home Dealer, have seen this happen a handful of times and wanted to address what can and cannot happen when the Buyer decides to not go through with the purchase of a Sarasota Florida mobile home on leased land.

In Florida, when a mobile home is located within a mobile home park that is on leased land then this property is viewed and taxed as personal property, not real property.

What this means is that the property you are looking at selling is the same as buying or selling a vehicle here in the state of Florida.

With this understood, can the Buyer of the mobile cancel the purchase agreement before actually buying the mobile home?

Disclaimer:

We at The Mobile Home Dealer, are not attorneys, nor is this any type of legal advice, this is simply our experience within the mobile home industry and nothing more.

In all of the mobile home sales that we have completed at our firm, we have seen the Buyer cancel a mobile home purchase agreement a handful of times. much to all of the parties involved in misery.

After the first time this event took place we moved forward and required that the Buyer of a mobile home within the greater Sarasota Florida area be required to put down a $3,000 deposit towards the purchase price of the home they are buying.

This down payment will be put towards the total sales price of the mobile home that they are purchasing.

The reason for this deposit is that we feel this requires the Buyer to have a little skin in the game so that they are unable to go around Sarasota County tying properties up without actually having the desire to ever purchase them.

This required deposit is taken in either a cashier’s check or money order, personal checks, business checks, and cash are not accepted.

Once we have the $3,000 deposit put down on the home we then will require that the Buyer is in a position to close on the property within 72 hours unless the Seller needs additional time to move out.

Requiring a down payment along with quick action to close on a property has helped us at our firm bring down the cancellations of Buyers backing out of the purchase agreement to it nearly never happening again.

While everyone involved in a transaction certainly hopes that the agreement will go through without issue and the closing day will be a happy one for all to remember it is important to note that a sale is not actually closed until all documents are signed and the money has been transferred from the Buyer to the Seller.

Allowing yourself to have proper expectations throughout the entire sales process will help you, the mobile home Seller, in understanding what can happen at a mobile home closing.

Mobile home in Florida

How to avoid the cancellation of a mobile home purchase agreement?

For sellers, it is highly recommended to be fully prepared before listing your mobile home for sale. One of the many reasons why buyers are canceling their purchases is due to unexplained repairs. If the house needs repairs, make sure to explain everything to the interested buyer and make them agree and understand everything before they give their downpayment. being honest about the mobile home’s condition could save you from purchase cancellation. Cancellation is stressful for both parties, even with agents involved. No one is winning when a sale is canceled.

For buyers, make sure to ask the seller everything you need to know about the mobile home you are interested in buying. Questions about the history of repairs, leaks, wet spots, and other maintenance issues should be clear to both parties before giving away your downpayment cash.

Allowing yourself to have proper expectations throughout the entire sales process will help you, the mobile home Seller, understand what can happen at a mobile home closing.

Selling your mobile home puts some stress on you already, and having a purchase agreement canceled is a big both emotionally and financially.

When a purchase agreement is canceled, it can be a big blow both emotionally and financially. Here are some tips on what to do if your purchase agreement is canceled:
1. Don’t take it personally. Remember that the decision to cancel the purchase agreement is usually not personal. There may be a number of reasons why the buyer has decided to cancel, and it’s important to try to stay calm and objective.
2. Try to negotiate. If the buyer has changed their mind but you’re still interested in selling the mobile home, try to negotiate a new purchase agreement. It’s possible that you can come to an agreement that works for both parties.
3. Put the mobile home back on the market. If you’re not able to reach a new agreement with the buyer, then you’ll need to put the mobile home back on the market. This can be stressful but try to stay positive and remember that there will be other buyers interested in your home.
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 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 and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life.

See Also:
September 25, 2023
3 Things You Need To Look At When Inspecting A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Roof!
The roof is the most important part of any building regardless of its type, build, and size. Since mobile homes have smaller roof areas than most conventional houses, mobile homes have often flat roofs and are made of one layer of shingles. They can be less expensive, lighter, and easier to maintain.

Sarasota Mobile Home

When looking at buying a mobile home within the Sarasota Florida area it is important to understand what condition the roof of the home is in before moving forward with the purchase of your new home.

Mobile home roofs are one of the most expensive repairs that will need to eventually be done on a mobile home and it is important that you, as the Buyer understand the condition and possible issues with this important component of your new mobile home before purchasing.

Mobile home roofs usually have a 20 or so year life span when coming from the factory. The age of life can be extended several years if the owner(s) of the home have taken great care of it over the years. Like with anything, the life span of a mobile home roof can be cut dramatically short if the previous owner(s) have done little if any upkeep to the roof during the time the home has been lived in.

The way mobile home roofs can have a longer life span is if the area where the mobile home is located has been free of major storms, high winds, and hurricanes. While mobile home roofs are sturdy in theory and are built to the local weather specifications of the factory where the home was built any additional stress that is put on the home could wear the roof out early.

It is important to always seal the roof of a mobile home every few years. Sealing the roof of the home is a simple process where a thin layer of coating is applied to the roof insuring that an additional layer of protection is put down on the roof that will help the roof withstand the elements of the heat, sun and rain that we see every year down here in South Florida.

Failing to keep up on the roof sealing along with the addition of bad weather on a yearly basis could wear the roof out faster than the usual 20 or so years that a mobile home roof should last when leaving the factory.

Below are 3 things you, as the new mobile home Buyer, need to take a look at when inspecting your new mobile home:
1. Coffee Stains On Ceilings
“Coffee Stains” is a slang term that is used within the mobile home industry and is used to describe the look of when there is a wet spot that has come through the roof and has dripped into the ceiling paneling. Once it has hit the ceiling paneling and dried these leaks look like coffee stains one sees on a piece of clothing.

When there is a wet spot that dried on the ceiling, it is clear evidence that there is a leak on the roof. The hole on the roof might not be parallel to the wet spot as water could flow from the top and drip on other areas of the ceiling. This means that a repair is needed on both roof and the ceiling

Mobile Home for Sale in Florida

2 Mold Around The Ceiling Line

Mold can grow if there is a leak from that roof that gets into the ceiling and is then not treated. There are several different kinds of mold but the most common we, at The Mobile Home Dealer, see is black mold around the perimeter of where the ceiling meets the wall paneling. Another way to detect mold is a smell of dank wetness that permeates throughout the entire room or home of where there has been a roof leak.

Molds on the ceiling are costly to repair because one cannot identify how big the damage on the ceiling is by just looking under.

3. Ruffled Wall Paneling

When walking through a mobile home always look if the home has paneling on the walls and it is starting to ruffle. If you see this make sure you run your hand along it to see how deep the ruffles are and if you feel moisture as this could be a sign that water is in the walls and pushing the paneling out which can cause the ruffle you see in the wall paneling.

When looking at purchasing a mobile home it is important to always know what you are looking for and what you are looking at.

Understanding a few basic signs of when there could be a roof leak will help you as the mobile home Buyer identify issues that could lead to much larger and more expensive problems down the road. Having this knowledge on the front end could very well lead to you avoiding a home with major roof issues that could cost you several thousand dollars to fix!

Living under a roof free of defects and leaks will not only provide safety for you and your family but can also demand a higher selling price when you decide to sell your mobile home in the future.

When inspecting a roof, there are several things you need to look at in order to ensure its integrity. The first thing you need to check is the condition of the shingles. If they are cracked, missing, or otherwise damaged, they will need to be replaced. You also need to check for any leaks around chimneys or skylights. If you find any, they will need to be repaired before the roof can be considered safe.
Additionally, you need to check the gutters and downspouts to make sure they are clear and free of debris. This is important because clogged gutters can cause water to back up and damage the roof.

Finally, you should inspect the flashing around the edges of the roof. If it is damaged, it will need to be replaced in order to prevent water from leaking into the home.

There are other many things to check when buying a mobile home and we have other articles and videos that discuss these things

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

See Also:
September 25, 2023
Here Are 3 Ways To Help Prolong The Life Of Your Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Roof!
Whether you have a site-built traditional home or a mobile home, the roof is the most important part of your house and is also the most expensive to repair. The reason why it is one of the most expensive parts of the house to repair is that there is a high risk of safety involved, and one must climb and be in an uncomfortable position to do the job

Installing a new roof is one of the most expensive repairs you can make to your Sarasota, Florida, mobile home!

Many of our Facebook followers and YouTube subscribers are asking how to prolong the life of their mobile home roof, and that is exactly what we want to discuss in this episode.

Mobile home in a 55+ community

You have tried to drag this roof along as long as you could, but over the last several years, you have come to the decision that now is the time to move forward with your new roof purchase. But before you do, what exactly are you looking for?

Mobile home roofs are among the four most expensive items to replace in a mobile home, and it is important to realize when it is time to replace the entire roof or when it would be more beneficial for you as the mobile home owner to get it patched.

Before we jump into the signs of when a new mobile home roof is needed, we want to stress the importance of proper maintenance so that you can prolong the life of the roof in the first place.

First, look to have the roof of your mobile home sealed at least every other year.

This sealant can be applied quickly over the entire roof to help keep moisture out and provide additional coverage throughout the sunny Sarasota, Florida, sunshine. It is sold in five-gallon buckets and has a slightly off-white appearance and the consistency of a glue compound. It is applied by putting paint rolled into the bucket to absorb the sealant and then rolled over the top of the entire roof.

Do not worry if you do not have the tools needed for such a project, as there are several reputable mobile home roof sealing companies in and around the Sarasota, Florida, area who will be able to help you with this job.

Next, anytime there is excess debris in the form of branches, leaves, or shrubs in your gutters or along your roof, make sure you do not let that sit on your roof for prolonged periods of time, as this will add additional weight to the mobile home roof that could break down the structural qualities of the mobile home roof itself. It is very similar to the roof sealant project listed above.

If you do not have tools to reach the top of your roof to pull the debris down, don’t worry. Most sealant companies will clear the roof and gutters of a mobile home before getting on top of the roof to perform the sealant task.

Sarasota Fl, Mobile Home

In addition, the following list could be your friend for life if you want to avoid that high roof repair cost.
- Keep your rain gutters clean. Different seasons bring different challenges. Make sure that your gutters are clean, free of blockages, and free of holes. Water leaks from gutters could destroy everything under it, especially your outside walls during the windy season.
- Trim trees near your roof. This is to prevent falling leaves and small branches from falling from your roof. Accumulated falling leaves may clog your gutter.
- Remove snow from your roof, and don’t let it just melt. Thick, heavy snow can deform your roof and can cause leaks.
- Get a roof inspection. If you are not sure of your roof’s condition, it is better to have a professional inspector examine it and give you professional recommendations.
Inspection and appraisal done by professionals are critical early steps when selling a mobile home.

Lastly, anytime you see any water spots on the inside of the home, either on the walls or on the ceiling itself, quickly call a local mobile home roof professional to alert them of this issue. If you see these issues and they progressively get worse without taking any action, then there could be a mold issue that is starting to develop under the ceiling and into the walls.

Mobile home roofs are one of the most expensive items that will ever need to replace on your mobile home. The other high-ticket items will be your air conditioning system, electrical system, and plumbing system. In further articles, we will go into what basic maintenance items of these high ticket items are and what you, as a mobile home owner within the Sarasota, Florida, area, can do in order to help get the most life out of all of these items within your mobile home.

Keeping up no these basic maintenance items will help prolong your roof and add years to the structure which will further get your money out of the existing roof that is on your mobile home.

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, don’t hesitate to contact us by clicking this link. You may also visit our Facebook Page and send us a message.

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

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September 25, 2023
3 Ways To Prolong Your Sarasota Mobile Home AC Components!
As we sit in the Sarasota Florida winter without our air conditioning on at this time of year it is easy to just open the windows and let the warm winter breeze run throughout our homes.

Since mobile homes are smaller than traditional on-site fixed houses, conventional home AC systems are not suitable for them. Mobile homes AC experts suggest the following types of AC units for mobile homes.

Mobile Home for Sale in Florida

Packaged HVAC System. The most common air conditioning system used by mobile homes. This system provides both cooling and heating options.

Central Air Conditioning Split System (or just Split Type). This set-up consists of two parts – an outdoor fan that releases the heat and an indoor fan that releases the cool air inside.

Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioning System. This type of unit is similar but smaller and more efficient than the central air split system because it is small, it is highly used by many mobile homes.

As enjoyable as this is one needs to think that in a few months, the air conditioning will be turned back on as we all get ready for the hot summer months that are ahead of us.

With that understood, it is important to realize that proper maintenance will help prolong the usage of your central air conditioning system in any Sarasota Florida mobile home.

Central air conditioners are one of the most expensive repairs within a mobile home if they need to be totally replaced and knowing how and when to service them will help save you, the mobile home owner, thousands of dollars!
1. Proper Professional Service:
There are a number of reputable air conditioning service companies in and around the Sarasota Florida area that can help you service the unit on a regular basis. It is always a good idea to get your unit serviced twice per year in order to make sure the unit is working and running as efficiently as possible. Many of these companies will offer a yearly discount service if you sign up with them to have two services done per year which can help save you additional money on your bi-annual services.

2. Rid The Unit Of Excess Debris:

Anytime a storm comes through that blows up debris from the yard and other areas of the park make sure you take a quick look at your air conditioning unit to see if there has been any additional debris that has gotten caught into your unit. Unscrewing the top of the unit and manually pulling these items out of your unit will help in the running of your air conditioning system.

Mobile home in Florida

3. Replace Your Filters:

This is one of the most inexpensive parts of owning a central air conditioning system but one of the most imperative when looking at having a properly operating unit. Air filters come in a variety of sizes and the technician who is working on your unit during your bi-annual services will be able to provide you with the correct size, shape, and brand that your unit uses. Each unit will specify when and how often you are to change these filters but keeping a few extra on hand within your home will make this job easier for all involved.

Having a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area with central air is great for resale. The key here is to have a functional unit that is in good working order as that will bring additional value to you when looking to sell your home.

Aside from the above three most important things to do, the following can save you a lot of time and money if you observe and follow regularly.

Always keep an eye on the outdoor AC unit – most mobile home AC units are located outside and are exposed to different weather conditions, weeds, and other things like debris, water, etc. The outside unit must also be exposed to clean air and there should be no barrier that can result in overheating. Air should be able to pass through easily.

Maintain temperature – frequent changing of temperature is not good for the thermostat. Set the temperature to your ideal settings and let it stay there without adjusting up or down from time to time.

Maintain coolant levels – all AC systems would not work if the coolant level is low. If the AC is running with low coolant, this can destroy many AC components.

There are other simple things to do to take care of your mobile home’s central air conditioning system and one of these is cleaning. Although filters must be regularly checked, cleaned, and/or replaced, cleaning the outside structure of the AC system is also vital in prolonging its life.

Dust accumulating on top of your AC unit outside could be a major issue if left uncleaned for a longer period of time.

Maintaining AC in your mobile home is crucial for a comfortable living experience. Without proper maintenance, your AC may suffer from frequent breakdowns and inefficient performance. The first step to maintaining your mobile home’s AC is by keeping the air filters clean. Dirty filters can cause the system to work harder than necessary, leading to higher energy bills.

Another important aspect of upkeep is scheduling regular maintenance checks with a professional technician. They can identify potential issues before they turn into major problems and provide thorough cleaning services that will improve overall efficiency.

Additionally, it’s essential to keep an eye on the refrigerant levels as low levels can lead to poor cooling performance and even damage to the compressor unit. By staying proactive with maintenance, you’ll ensure that your mobile home stays cool throughout the year while also saving money on energy costs in the long run.

Remember that neglecting AC maintenance not only impacts comfort but also affects indoor air quality and health conditions like asthma or allergies. Therefore don’t underestimate this critical task!

Following the basic maintenance steps listed above very well may help prolong your unit for several additional years saving you thousands of dollars in the long run!

The Mobile Home Dealer is a licensed mobile home dealer and broker in Sarasota Florida and neighboring areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to 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 and we help mobile home Buyers and Sellers get to a better place in life!

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September 25, 2023
Your Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Flooring System Explained!
As any Buyer or Seller of a Sarasota Florida mobile home knows, the structural components of a mobile home are quite a bit different than that of a single-family home.

One of the main differences between a single-family home and a mobile home is that of the flooring system.

Most mobile home flooring systems consist of two parts:
1. The Over Flooring
2. The Sub Flooring
The over-flooring can be laminate, carpet, tile, or wood.

Laminate

The laminated floor is one of the most affordable options in the market, as well as one of the easiest to clean. Drinks and spilled foods can be easily cleaned without leaving evidence. Most laminated floors are made to resemble wood with different designs and colors to choose from.

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Carpet

Quality carpets that are installed correctly can last more than 15 years before they need to be replaced, as long as you take the necessary care. You can find carpets from different fibers such as acrylic, wool, polyester, and nylon. You can also find both long and short carpet lengths to adapt to the needs of your room.

The carpet usually comes in a colored rainbow with a price range that varies from around $1 per square foot (0.09 m2) to more than $5 per square foot (0.09 m2). The carpets can be stained and the dirt can be put between the fibers, so passing the vacuum cleaner and the steam cleaners on a regular basis is necessary.

Tile

The tile is another easy-to-clean floor option ideal for mobile homes that see a large amount of traffic on foot. From flat tiles to elaborate designs and colors, there is always an adequate option for each room in the house. While it consumes a lot of time, they can easily be installed by a single person if necessary. You can expect to pay around $10 per square foot (0.09 m2).

Hardwood

Hardwood can withstand spills better than other options for floors such as carpets but is susceptible to scratches with intensive use. Most wood floors are dyed for the color chosen by the owner, but some people prefer to paint their wooden floors with colors that coincide with those in the room. Wood floors vary in price from $10 to more than US $20 per square foot (0.09 m2).

This is the portion of the flooring that one will see and be walking on as they live in their Sarasota Florida mobile home. All of this flooring can be used interchangeably between that a mobile home and a single-family home.

The subflooring is where a mobile home and a single-family home begin to differ quite a bit.

A subflooring system is what is between the over-flooring that one walks on and sees on a daily basis and the physical concrete pad that the home is built on.

In a single-family home, this is usually concrete or some type of material similar to this when the home is located within the Sarasota Florida area.

With a mobile in the Sarasota Florida area, this subflooring system is usually particle board or 3/4 inch plywood both of which will be nailed into either 2X8 or 2X6 boards that create the box the floor sits on.

Particle board is exactly what it sounds like, different wood particles that are glued together at a factory to make a solid wood composite style flooring. This type of subflooring is what normally comes from the factory in mobile homes as the base of the subfloor system.

Particle board has the tendency to break apart when it gets wet and will cause what is known as “soft spots” in a flooring system.

Soft spots are when the particle board begins to sag and, if not treated correctly, can lead to gaping holes in the flooring system that are dangerous to walk on and can lead to injury.

Most mobile home subfloors that are installed with particle board can last anywhere between 10-30 years depending on how wet the underbelly of the home gets and how well the floor of the home is maintained by the owner.

For sale mobile home in Florida

Eventually, the subfloor of the home will either need to be patched in order to fix the soft spots provided by the particle board or completely replaced with the 3/4 inch thick plywood.

The plywood option is one that is much more expensive than particle board but will hold up much better over time than a particle board subfloor.

When a subflooring system needs to be replaced due to soft spots or other issues rarely do the supporting beams of the subflooring need to be replaced as well as the 2X8 or 2X6 are usually in good shape and can be reused if the subflooring is replaced.

Although replacing subflooring can be a more expensive repair it is always suggested that it be done before the subflooring of your Sarasota Florida mobile home is too far gone as if this repair is not tended to quickly it may lead to injury when falling through the flooring system of your mobile home!

You can install many of the floor coverings in a mobile home floor that you could put in an average fixed house. Some options for less flexible floors, such as ceramics, may require cement reinforcements in plywood and agglomerate wood soils before they can be installed, and in some cases, the carpet has to be cut away from the walls of a mobile home before it is installed on the floor with a simple adjustment. In case of doubt, it is best to contact a professional to know what needs to be done to prepare the area correctly for your new floor.

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 25, 2023
3 Things You Need To Know About The Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Park Application Process!
If you’re looking for an affordable place to live with a temperate climate and white beaches, Sarasota Florida is a great option. The weather is favorable all year round, making it a popular destination for retirees and families alike.

Mobile homes are a popular choice for those looking to relocate to Sarasota, as they offer a more affordable housing option than traditional homes. There are many mobile home parks in Sarasota that offer residents access to amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts, and clubhouse facilities. If you’re considering moving to Sarasota, be sure to check out the mobile home options available to you.

Affordability, temperate climate, white beaches, and favorable weather all year round are some of the many reasons why people are buying mobile homes in Sarasota Florida. Although some may find it easy to get one, others take months to search and visit several parks before they can find the mobile homes that are suited for them.

Mobile home on leased land

Congratulations!

You have been looking and looking for quite some time and have finally found the right mobile home for you and your family within the greater Sarasota Florida area to begin living your best life!

Before you unpack your suitcase and head for the beach you first want to make sure that you are approved by the mobile home park that the home is located in for residency.

This may sound foreign to many, but why would someone need to be approved by a mobile home park if they already have the cash ready to buy the mobile home in the first place? Sounds odd? Continue reading to find out.

How does that make any sense?

We understand your concern, believe us, so let The Mobile Home Dealer walk you through the three things you will need to know about the mobile home park approval process and how you can prepare yourself to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible.

Mobile homes on leased land within mobile home parks in the greater Sarasota Florida area will always require each would be Buyer to go through some type of application process in order to make sure that they qualify to become a resident.

The reason why mobile home parks in the greater Sarasota area do this is that they want to make sure that everyone who calls that park home is meeting the same basic guidelines.

Most mobile home parks have a standard process where they will check the applicant’s credit, criminal background, and reported income to lot rent ratios in order to make sure the applicant can afford to pay the monthly lot rent due to the mobile home park each month.

While no park manager or owner has ever been able to coherently explain how they weigh each of the above three criteria we do know that most mobile home parks will take a look at everything as a whole in order to get the best picture of who the applicant(s) are in order to make the best decision possible for park approval.

Most mobile home parks within the Sarasota Florida area will want to see around 2-3 times the reported income to lot rent amount. This can come in the form of retirement, income, savings, or other investments the applicant has. It is also important to note that this is all added together for both applicants who are on the application. Expect to have to provide written documentation for all income sources that are added together for your total monthly income.

Regarding the credit score and the criminal background check most parks will do standard credit pulls and federal criminal background checks, and expect to have to pay a fee to the park for the processing of these two reports.

Lastly, expect to have to provide photocopies of your identification card(s) as well as pay a small fee to cover the entire process for both applicants.

It is always important to come prepared with even simple things like copies of IDs, pictures, and other important documents when you deal with anything that requires documentation.

Understanding that the mobile home park approval process is another step in purchasing your Sarasota Florida mobile home will help you as the new Buyer plan and organize your time when going through the purchase process.

Once approved, your work should not stop there. These tips will allow you to understand more about the rules and policies, including the do’s, don’ts, and other important things while living inside the park.

Florida Mobile Home

Ask questions. If you are not sure of something, ask your mobile home park manager or owner. It’s better to ask the earliest you can before doing things that would jeopardize your stay in the park later. Things like restrictions that involve pets, past criminal records, past evictions, credit records, income restrictions, etc., should be cleared and understood.

Mobile home parks have certain specific restrictions but they vary from park to park. Keep an open mind maintain a proactive attitude when dealing with the park manager and aim to get accepted within the community.

We have other articles and videos that are useful for everyone who wants to sell or buy their mobile homes here on our website. The more knowledge we have about dealing with mobile homes, the fewer problems we may encounter. If you have questions and need assistance, you can always contact us through this website, or visit our Facebook Page.

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 25, 2023