Category: Blog

Want To Sell Your Sarasota Florida Mobile Home But Owe Back Lot Rent?
The time has come.

You have enjoyed your Sarasota Florida mobile home and have fond memories of your days in the Sunshine State but, as life often changes, you are ready to move on.

Before packing your bags and heading to start the next chapter of your life story you first need to sell your mobile home.

After alerting the park office that you are looking to sell your mobile home you are made aware that you owe back lot rent!

Oh No!

Many times we, at The Mobile Home Dealer, run into this situation with would-be Sellers and are happy to help walk them through this exact situation so that they can have all of their bills paid prior to moving out of their homes.

Mobile Home in 55+ community

When a mobile home is located within a mobile home park in the greater Sarasota Florida area and the mobile home is located on leased land where the resident is required to pay the park each month a fee called a lot to rent is generally owed on the first and late by the fifth of the month.

If a resident fails to pay their lot rent then the park may either begin tallying up what is owed (along with additional late fees) or they will immediately file for eviction on the resident’s home.

If an eviction is filed then, generally speaking, the park will evict the home and the tenant and not just the park resident. This is especially true in situations where the resident owns the home and leases the land.

The immediate problem that this creates is that most mobile homes in the Sarasota Florida area are over twenty years old. The reason why this is an important fact to state is that if a mobile home is looking to be moved then a moving company will not be able to get a permit for the home to be moved if it is twenty years old or older.

The problem that the resident winds up with is if there is an eviction filed on them and the home and they are unable to move the home out of the park they could be forced to hand over the title of the home to the park upon the eviction being completed.

Most parks do not want this as they are not in the business of selling homes but, rather, running a park.

The Seller does not want this either as, usually, they paid quite a bit of money for their home for it to only be given away to the park.

The way this entire situation can be handled very quickly is to have the home brokered for sale by a licensed mobile home broker, such as The Mobile Home Dealer, who is very well-versed in how to handle this exact situation.

There are several reasons why mobile homeowners fail to pay their lot rent on time and not just because of money. In some cases, owners who are not living in their mobile homes while selling them will miss a lot rent payments. These payments accumulate over time especially when the mobile home is sitting for sale on the market for a long period of time. Some owners also refuse to pay lot rent while they are not living in their mobile homes. This is not an ideal attitude and attracts trouble but unfortunately, some homeowners do this, often ending up either losing their property or selling at a very low price.

Mobile home in Sarasota Florida for sale

Situations like this make many mobile home park owners more stringent when accepting new residents.

Over a dozen times just this year have we been able to sell the home for the Seller who is in default of their lot rent and still get them some money while at the same time paying the park what they are owed.

The way we do this is we get a ledger from the park stating exactly what is owed on the home, we then sell the home to a park-approved resident, and before the Seller receives any money for the sale of the home the park gets paid in full for the owed back lot rent.

Having the sale handled this way gets the park paid, ends the legal proceedings against the Seller, and gets the Seller some money for their home.

By not following this basic process many times the Seller will have legal action taken against them for the back lot rent while at the same time getting their home repossessed by the park which doesn’t want the home in the first place.

If you are running behind on your lot rent and are looking to sell your mobile home don’t be concerned as we will be more than happy to help you navigate the process!

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.

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September 25, 2023
3 Reasons Why Selling Your Sarasota Mobile Home On Your Own Is A Bad Idea.
With the rising real estate market that we are all seeing throughout the country, it is natural to think that selling your Sarasota Florida mobile home is the right thing to do now in an attempt to cash in on all the Buyers looking to relocate to Florida.

While pending on the Seller’s situation, this may not be a bad idea, we at The Mobile Home Dealer stress that there are quite a few pitfalls with the idea of trying to sell your mobile home by yourself.

In this brief article, we will look to educate both Buyers and Sellers on why trying to sell their Sarasota Florida mobile home on their own is an idea worth rethinking.

House with FSBO sign

If you’re considering selling your mobile home without the help of a real estate agent, you might want to think again. Although it may seem like a good idea to save money on commission fees, there are several reasons why this is not a good idea.
First of all, selling your mobile home yourself means that you will be responsible for all of the marketing and advertising. This can be a very costly and time-consuming endeavor.

Additionally, you will need to be available to show the mobile home to potential buyers at all hours of the day and night. If you’re not available or if prospective buyers don’t like what they see, you could miss out on a sale.

Finally, negotiating the sale price of a mobile home can be difficult if you’re not experienced in doing so. An experienced real estate agent will know how to get the best possible price for your mobile home.

Reason 1: Overpricing Your Mobile Home

When buying a mobile home on leased land in Florida a Buyer or Seller does not need to report the sales price of a home to anyone. Many times this leads to no comparative pricing in the area for a mobile home. With this lack of information, we often see Sellers who are trying to sell their mobile homes themselves look online for their own comps on similar properties. The problem we see here is that most Sellers will compare their mobile home on leased land to that of a single-family home. The main issue here is that the Seller is comparing apples to oranges because a mobile home on leased land in Florida is personal property and not real estate.

Following this pricing guideline, we continue to see mobile homes sit on the market for extended periods of time because the home is considerably overpriced.

Reason 2: Not Completing The Closing Paperwork Correctly

When selling a mobile home on leased land in Florida the Seller needs to have the title transferred to the Buyer upon closing. This is to be done at the DMV in the county where the sale is completed. Many times this is not done as the Seller feels that after they get paid and move out they are not supposed to do anything else to complete the sale.

When the title is not properly transferred from the Seller to the Buyer then the Buyer never gets their title and, on paper, does not have all the paperwork they need to show ownership of their new home.

Reason 3: Taxes Are Not Paid To The State Of Florida

When selling a mobile home on leased land in Florida the correct taxes need to be collected from the Buyer and paid by the Seller to the Florida Department of Revenue. The sales tax amount is based on the amount the home sold for along with the county surtax that is assessed for the county once the sale is completed.

Mobile home in Sarasota Florida

If the tax is not paid on behalf of the Buyer then this could lead to additional fines and penalties that are owed which can lead to a very costly error.

Although selling your own mobile home is possible, there are more disadvantages and advantages. Here are some additional issues that you may run into if you choose to do it yourself.

You can lose money. According to statistics, mobile homes sold without a realtor are less than 15% compared to those sold by the agent. This is understandable because agents know what they are doing to maximize the price. The higher the price sold is the bigger their commission.

You can lose lots of time. You are losing time the moment you start the process. From posting online, researching where to post, doing the legal paperwork, and meeting with potential buyers, everything will be overwhelmingly time-consuming.

Paperwork. There is no need to explain here. Paperwork always means a headache especially if you are not an expert in this field.

Quality of buyers. Realtors know exactly what type of buyers your mobile home will attract. But by letting every interested party take a look at your home, you are not only losing a lot of time, but you are also wasting the time of quality buyers because you don’t know which is which. Realtors have contacts and a database of potential buyers.

At the end of the day, the money you lost by selling your mobile home yourself might be bigger than what you are supposed to pay the realtor, not to mention the time you lost.

If you are looking to sell your mobile home in the greater Sarasota Florida area in an attempt to cash out with the scarcity of housing currently available in the area we feel this may not be a bad idea. However, make sure you, as the Seller, continue to work with a licensed professional who can help guide you through the sales process so that you are able to not only get your home sold in the fastest time but also to make sure all of the paperwork and taxes have been paid.

If all of this is not done correctly then you could be in a world of trouble!

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
Selling Your Sarasota Mobile Home Yourself
Selling your Sarasota mobile home yourself empowers you with control over the sales process and potential savings on commission fees. With a booming real estate market and desirable location, Sarasota attracts buyers seeking affordable housing options. Utilizing online platforms, social media, and local advertising, you can effectively market your property to a wide audience. Highlighting the unique features and amenities of your mobile home, coupled with competitive pricing, can attract interested buyers quickly. By managing negotiations and paperwork independently, you maintain flexibility and maximize profits. Selling your Sarasota mobile home yourself offers a rewarding experience and a sense of accomplishment in achieving your real estate goals.

The time has come

You have enjoyed your days in the Sarasota Florida sun and have plenty of memories to go along with all of the photos you have taken from past events.

As the seasons of life change, there are times when one needs to leave what they currently know and return to what they feel most comfortable with.

We experienced this exact situation when helping one of our Sarasota Florida mobile home Sellers sell their home last week.

This Seller had moved to the greater Sarasota Florida area seven years ago to enjoy the palm trees and ocean breeze and had all of the fun stories to go along with living out her dream!

However, she had decided to go ahead and list her home with us in order to move back to New York in order to be closer to her family.

Mobile homes

Before she met with us to have us sell her Sarasota Florida mobile home, she tried to sell the mobile home herself when she was staying in New York and it quickly became much more of a headache for her.

This is why.

The Seller hid a key on her property under the back step and placed a For Sale By Owner Sign in her front yard in an effort to attract would-be Buyers to come take a look at her mobile home that she had for sale.

Here, the interested Buyers would call the number in an attempt to get a hold of her, take the key under the back step and walk themselves around the home with no supervision of any kind.

If they were interested in making an offer on the home then they would be responsible to contact the Seller again and make an offer on the property.

While all of this sounds like an easy way to go about things, the Seller quickly found out that this was the furthest thing from the truth!

The first would be Buyer called, acquired the key and when they were “showing themselves around” they removed a television and her coffee maker without her knowing. These thieves then returned the key and had another friend do the same thing, only this friend took the other television!

The lawn care team did not mow around the sign close enough in a matter of weeks the weeds from her flower box had grown so high that the number could not be seen due to the tall weeds that kept her phone number from being read. Who knows how many would be Buyers did not call the number on the sign simply because they were unable to read it!

The final straw was when someone else called the number, acquired the key, and then fell and injured themselves. This individual called the Seller back and threatened to sue her because they stated the front step was “too slick after it had rained”.

Luckily for the Seller, this would be a fruitless claim and nothing came of it.

After all of this, the Seller finally called us and explained to us all that had happened to her when she had been trying to sell her mobile home herself while living out of state.

We were shocked to hear all that one person had to endure just in order to sell their mobile home!

When looking to sell your Sarasota mobile home make sure you are ready and willing to sell the home and not just entertain the idea of it. If one is not totally invested in selling their mobile home then this could lead to quite a bit of frustration for the Buyer, sales agent, and everyone else involved in trying to help the Seller sell!

Update: “Another major reason why a mobile home is difficult to sell on your own is due to the fact that the owner will want to price their property over and above what the market will bring for the sale. With this thought, the home tends to sit on the market for longer, costing the Seller more money in carrying costs and a less profitable sale.”

Although it is okay to make a profit, pricing your mobile home way above market value will only prolong its selling time and will not likely get sold especially when there are cheaper options in the same mobile home category. Remember that buyers are also looking for the best bang for their buck and mobile homes that are at a higher

Sarasota Fl, Mobile Home

We, as licensed, bonded, and insured mobile home brokers with the state of Florida, are at every showing the home has. We make sure the sign is easy to read for all interested Buyers to easily call on and that we return all the calls within 24 hours, making the sales process as hands-off for the Seller as possible.

When looking to sell your Sarasota mobile home make sure you think about all that could go wrong before all that could go right to make the best decision on who should be handling the sale of your home!

The Mobile Home Dealers 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, 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
How Does A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Park Qualify Income?
One question that always remains a popular one with Sarasota Florida mobile home park residents is, how does one become qualified to live in the mobile home park that they buy in?

While we do not work for or are not associated with any one mobile home park within the Sarasota Florida area what we can say is one of the qualifying terms of becoming approved for residency is the applicant’s income level.

Generally speaking, most mobile home parks throughout the Sarasota Florida area want to see somewhere around three to four times the reported income to lot rent in order to pass the income assessment portion of the park approval process.

What this means is that in most mobile home parks the Buyers of a mobile home within the park have to make at least three to four times what the lot rent is in income every month.

Palm Terrace mobile home

For example:

If the mobile home parks lot rent is $500 then most parks will look for all residents applying for residency within the park to have somewhere between $1,500-$2,000 in reported income each month.

Mobile home parks do this because they want to make sure that each resident has the financial resources to pay for the lot rent each month. If the mobile home park did not use some type of financial qualification then they would not have anything on record that would help them see if the resident who is looking to move into the park has the financial resources to pay the monthly lot rent.

Without this precaution in place, mobile home parks could be in a situation where they are evicting people based on failure to pay their monthly lot rent bill.

To a mobile home park “stated reported income” can be anything from Social Security pay stubs, retirement or pension disbursements, wages from a job or business, or other investments that pay the individual money each month.

If there are two residents living in the home and they are both on the park application then, generally speaking, the park will look at both stated income amounts in order to assess if the residents will be approved from a financial standpoint.

Each mobile home park has its own version of the park approval but most parks will check the same three things for the applying resident which are the applicant’s credit history, criminal background, and income-to-lot rent ratio.

Each mobile home park will have its own credit requirements for park approval so it is of utmost importance that all Buyers check with the park prior to buying the mobile home they are interested in to ensure they understand all of the requirements that are associated with the approval process of the mobile home park they are interested in living in.

Most mobile home parks will approach the approval process with, what is referred to, as a “full picture” approach. What this means is that parks will take the applicant’s income, credit score, and criminal background together to determine the status of the applicant’s park approval.

Mobile home park

We certainly suggest that if you or any Buyer for that matter are unsure of what your credit score is go and pull a free credit report prior to applying for any park to see exactly where your credit score is and if it needs to be worked on prior to applying for park residency.

To people who are planning to move into mobile homes within the next two to three years and have bad credit, there is always an option given enough time to prepare.

Depending on your current job and financial situation, there are hundreds of ways to save money for a mobile home in the next two to three years.

Get rid of discretionary expenses. Many financial experts suggest that this is one of the majority of reasons why people, and even families, are not saving money. Check your monthly income and buy only the things you and your family need.

Decrease essential bills. Why pay for a higher Internet and cable package when you seldom use them? Turning off lights when not in use can save electrical bills, same with water usage. There are free ways to call your friends, families, and relatives so why spend money on phone bills?
Lifestyle check. How often do you go to fancy restaurants and bars? Will your monthly income support this kind of lifestyle? How much money can you save if you cut this activity off?

When looking to apply for residency within a mobile home park in the Sarasota Florida area always make sure you as the Buyer check to see what the lot rent is and what it includes. After you find this amount out make sure you verify this amount with the park owner or manager to ensure that the amount you have been quoted will be your payment and not an increased rate because you as the Buyer are becoming a new resident.

At times, some mobile home parks will grandfather old rates to the current owners of the property but when the mobile home is sold then the new resident will be required to pay a higher lot rent.

Having a thorough understanding of what the lot rent is and knowing what the financial requirements are prior to purchasing a mobile home within a mobile home park in the Sarasota Florida area will help you, the Buyer, in knowing exactly what it is you can afford and what you can not.

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
How To Know If Your Sarasota Mobile Home Has A Roof Leak?
Detecting roof leaks in your Sarasota mobile home is crucial for preventing costly damages. Start by inspecting for water stains on ceilings or walls, which indicate active leaks. Pay attention to musty odors or mold growth, which are common signs of water infiltration. Check the roof for missing or damaged shingles, cracks in seals, or deteriorated flashing. Additionally, monitor the attic for signs of moisture, such as wet insulation or rotting wood. Regularly maintaining your roof, promptly addressing any issues, and seeking professional assistance for thorough inspections can help safeguard your mobile home from extensive water damage and costly repairs.

Have you noticed a small water leak from your mobile home’s roof? It may seem minor, but ignoring it can lead to disastrous consequences. Water leaks can quickly become bigger problems, causing mold and humidity issues that can harm your health.

Mold thrives in moist environments, and if left unattended, it can spread rapidly throughout your home. This not only affects the structural integrity of your property but also poses severe health risks to you and your family. Exposure to mold spores can cause allergies, respiratory problems, and other health complications.

Moreover, excess moisture in the air caused by leaking roofs can create an ideal environment for dust mites and bacteria to breed. These allergens are known to trigger asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses.

Therefore, it is crucial to address any signs of water leakage from your mobile home’s roof as soon as possible. Regular inspections should be conducted on the roof structure so that potential issues are caught early before they become major headaches for homeowners.

What is the most difficult part to fix a leak on the roof? Many times, it is to locate the problem. Of course, it is quite easy to detect water spots on the roof or mold growth, sure signs of a leak.

But once the water has penetrated the roof, it is easy to deviate to other parts, such as ceilings and insulations. So, although you can notice evidence of a leak in the corner bedroom, the vulnerable point of the roof can be quite far from that side of your mobile home.

Therefore, roof repair works are in a way the work of the detective. With these tips on how to find a leak on the roof, you can solve the case quickly and cover the leak before the damage is greater.

Water leaks at home are a true headache. Surely you fear this because some people have told you that you have to break ceilings or walls.

The water leaks can come directly from the rain, a broken pipe or an accident such as the falling of a tree onto the roof causing damage. The fact is that this is a problem that, if not fixed on time, could be seriously complicated.

Mobile Home in Florida

Rain, rain, go away come back another day!

As we all remember reciting this catchy phrase throughout our childhood it continues to ring true, especially when you are moving to the beautiful Sarasota Florida area to enjoy all the sunshine and outdoor activities this area is known for!

If you are new to the Sarasota Florida area then you will need to realize that there is what is called a “dry” and a “rainy” season throughout much of the area.

The rainy season is, usually, from the Spring until the mid-Fall time, here during these months it will usually rain every day in the afternoon.

These rains will quickly be met with the return of sunshine which will dry all of the damp areas you see within minutes.

During this time of year, many mobile homeowners will realize that their mobile home roof has sprung a leak and will need to act quickly to fix the leak so that it does not lead to further damage.

When looking for leaks in your Sarasota mobile home, pay close attention to the interior ceiling. Make sure to spend a few minutes each week walking throughout your property to examine any small leaks that have sprung up since the last time you walked through your mobile home.

An easy way to spot if a leak has started to come up in your mobile home roof is to see small, off-white in color, damp areas. These areas will initially start as very small circular spots, about the same width as a pencil, and will eventually spread to a much larger area. When you see these damp spots press on them very softly to make sure they are wet and not just a color disfiguration of the white ceiling board that covers the interior of your mobile home ceiling.

Assuming these are damp spots, do not be alarmed as you have found them right after they have begun, congratulations!

Once you see these, make sure to keep an eye on them during your weekly walks. If they grow at all, make sure to quickly call a reputable mobile home roofing company in the area to take a look at your roof leak. There are several reputable mobile home roofing companies throughout the Sarasota, Florida, area that specialize in mobile homes.

Finally, start repairing your roof. Leaks only get worse. Act quickly once you have located yours.

Fortunately, in many cases, a modest roof repair is enough to fix the leak. However, if you do not feel comfortable with these DIY tasks or if the leak seems extensive, do not hesitate to contact a contractor for houses and roofs.

Mobile Home for Sale in Florida

When meeting with the mobile home roofing professional make sure you understand where the roof leak is and if a patch job will take care of the problem or if an entirely new roof (also known as a roof over) will need to be placed on your home to handle the leak.

If the leak is not fixed quickly it can lead to an ever larger spot which could lead to mold throughout your entire roof. In one case this year, we at The Mobile Home Dealer saw an entire living room ceiling covered with what appeared to be mold all from one single roof leak. This ceiling was so far gone that we believe the mobile home may have had to be torn down as the mold was so immense!

Like with anything in home ownership, the key to avoiding a large problem is property maintenance. With roof leaks in mobile homes, this starts with the owner of the home paying attention to any issues they see and taking proper action to make sure a small problem does not lead to something much larger!

Even if the water leak from your roof is not yet bad, it can get worse quickly, causing unwanted mold and humidity problems, which can affect your health adversely.

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 which helps mobile home Buyers and Sellers get a better place in life.

See Also:
September 25, 2023
How Many People Can Be On A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home Park Application?
The often confusing, rarely explained Sarasota Florida area mobile home park application.

A necessity for all mobile home Buyers to pass in order for the Buyer to be approved by the park so that they can move forward with the purchase of their mobile home.

The endless questions that these confusing applications cause is something of a nuisance in the mobile home park industry, especially within the Sarasota Florida area.

Today, we will go into further detail about how many people can be on a singular application, what information the park is looking for and if the incomes of both parties can be combined in order to meet the income requirements for the mobile home park application.

When working with a licensed mobile home broker during the purchase or sale of your mobile home within the Sarasota Florida area, we at The Mobile Home Dealer, require each Buyer to be approved by the park prior to closing on their mobile home.

Mobile home in a 55+ community

The reason for this requirement is that if the Buyer is not approved prior to buying the mobile home and waits until after the sale has been completed then both the Buyer and the Seller could be running into a large issue.

If the Buyer is not approved prior to the sale and waits until after the sale has closed to get approved and is denied then now they own a mobile home within a mobile home park that they are unable to own. In this situation, the Buyer of the home will need to look to either sell the home that they just bought right away as, legally, they are not able to live within the home. If the Buyer is able to and the home is of the age then the Buyer could look to move the home to another park or to private land. Sadly, this is not very common as the average age of a mobile home within the greater Sarasota Florida area is over the age that a permit will be written for the home to be moved.

If this turns out to be the case then the Buyer will usually have to sell the home that they just bought.

This terribly stressful situation could have been avoided if the Buyer of the mobile home went ahead and was approved by the mobile home park prior to making the purchase of their mobile home.

When filling out the park application it is imperative that every person who is planning on living in the home be on the application. Usually, there can be two adults per home are allowed on most park applications.

Here, the joint income of both adults is usually used in order to see if the applicants are approved for residency within the park based on the income requirements that they need to meet.

Most parks will look for a 3-4X reported income-to-lot rent ratio.

A simple example of this will be if the lot rent for the park is $500 then the park will usually want to see gross reported wages somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000 per month for all adult applicants who will be living within the mobile home.

Generally speaking, most park offices require the same information for each applicant:
- Reported Wages
- Credit Check
- Criminal Background Check
- Application Fee
- Copy Of Photo Identification
Once all of this information is properly filled out and given back to the park office then the manager or owner will be able to begin getting the application approved for the new Buyer to become a resident of the mobile home park where their new home resides!

Mobile home park

Other important things to take note of are the following.

Age – Most mobile home parks in the Sarasota Florida area are designed for people who are 45 years old and older. This means that if you are single and younger, you have to check with the park’s requirements first if you are allowed to live in your chosen park. The same applies if you are a young couple.

Children. Although a double-wide or bigger mobile home is designed for more than two adult people, many mobile home parks do not allow children. It is therefore imperative to check all the requirements before buying a mobile home in order to avoid problems that are impossible to solve. Because your family needs a triple-wide 3-bedroom mobile home doesn’t mean you can buy it. Even if you have the cash to pay, it is always the park that has the final say on whether you and your family are qualified and allowed or not.

Pets. Many mobile home parks in the Sarasota area allow pets but is always better to consult with the park first before looking to buy a mobile home in that specific mobile home park. Pets needed to be included when you fill out your mobile home park application.

Extended family members. Some older couples have children not living with them but visit them frequently. Although seldom visits are allowed, frequent visitations that require your family members to stay for several days could also create misunderstandings.

When buying a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area, knowing all the park’s policies before deciding to buy a specific property is a must in order to avoid issues that could lead to bigger problems in the future. This is the reason why a park’s approval should be secured before buying a mobile home.

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

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September 25, 2023
How Well Do Pictures Help Sell Your Sarasota Mobile Home?
Are you considering selling your Sarasota mobile home but are not sure how to market the home for a fast sale that will get you top dollar?

This is a question that gets asked to us several times per day by eager mobile home sellers and we are happy to help give all of you an insight into what has been the best tool to utilize when selling a mobile home on leased land throughout the Sarasota Florida area.

A popular proverb says, “A picture is worth a thousand words”, and why is this true? The first impression is an essential factor for human beings when forming an opinion, and we only have one opportunity to give a good first impression. It seems obvious, but this is applicable to any time in life we face. In the case of the sale of a mobile home, photography is the one that allows us to give the possible buyer, that first impression that can be decisive in the process.

As owners, when we put our mobile home for sale we usually seek to boost two things: that it sells as quickly as possible and is at the highest possible price. Although this is what we want, we do not have control of any of either factor but, by taking a few additional steps we will begin to see positive results.

Before seeing the subject more in-depth, consider the following points to give more context to your decisions:
- In their online search, a buyer usually invests 60% of their time in seeing photographs of the property of their interest, while only using only 20% to read the description of the house.
- Using high-quality photographs increases the perceived value of the house even before the visit.
- Good photographs can help sell the house up to 32% faster.
- Good shots of the property increase the number of interested parties to 118% from the digital point of view.
This is why we must pay attention to the way we capture and show the house through photos and video, before other agents and possible clients. A good impression can be translated into the next step to get closer to the sale of property or not.

When selling a mobile home on leased land it is important to note that when lot rent is involved in the monthly payment this then triggers the home to be viewed as and taxed as personal property in the state of Florida and not as real property which is better known as real estate.

The reason why this is to be stressed at this point is when a home is deemed personal property by the Seller then it carries with it a title and not a deed for the sale of the home. In these types of transactions, the vast majority of them are done with a cash purchase and not a traditional mortgage. Having a cash-based transaction will allow the Seller and Buyer of the mobile home to be able to close as soon as a sale price has been agreed upon.

When looking to get ready to sell your mobile home, what we have found is that the traditional photos and descriptions don’t sell a home quickly, nor do they sell the home for top dollar.

The reason for this is that many times the Buyer of these homes is buying the home virtually and needs to feel like they are buying the home that they can see themselves living in for years to come.

Traditional still photos just do not provide the ability to let the Buyer “feel” like they are living in the home that they are looking at.

To make the Buyer feel as if they are living in the home, we at The Mobile Home Dealer, feel that the usage of video is the best way to provide this feeling for the potential Buyer.

Each and every listing that we have within our firm provides the Buyer with a full-length video that shows both the interior and exterior of the home in great detail as well as the park where the home is located.

Providing this detailed information to the Buyer before they ever set foot physically into the home makes them feel like they are already “living” in the home prior to buying the home.

We feel giving the potential Buyer as much information as possible as early as possible is the best way to gain fast interest from a would-be Buyer. Providing answers to commonly asked questions to the Buyer before they are even asked speeds up the sales process and allows for a more streamlined sales process which, many times, will help provide a more lucrative sale to the Seller.

While traditional still photos are certainly suggested for each mobile home listing utilizing new technology such as virtual tours is a way to set your listing apart from all of the others in the area quickly!

Pictures can be an invaluable tool when it comes to selling a Sarasota mobile home. Visual content provides potential buyers with a sense of what the home looks like and can help to highlight key features that may be especially attractive or unique. Additionally, pictures can help to draw attention to a listing, as they are often more eye-catching than text-based ads. To ensure that your pictures help to maximize the appeal of your mobile home, make sure that they are clear and well-lit, and highlight key features such as the kitchen and bathrooms. Additionally, it can be beneficial to include lifestyle shots that offer potential buyers an idea of how the home may look when lived in.

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 25, 2023
How Many Sarasota Mobile Homes Can You Buy In One Park?
What is the first thing you think of when you read/hear the word mobile home? Mobile homes, better known as manufactured homes, are usually accompanied by countless myths and negative stereotypes that are far from the truth. Possibly, you think that it is intended for low-income people with financial problems, and a long list of the same nature. Today, mobile homes become one of the better options to have a home in the face of the expensive traditional housing in the real estate market.

According to data from the US government, more than 20 Million people live in manufactured homes. That amount is more than the sum of people living in public or rental housing subsidized by the Government.

Although there are many voices, among politicians and experts, who consider that manufactured houses are a problem, a new analysis carried out by the conversation between housing specialists, suggests that these housing options can be a part of the solution to the current real estate crisis. According to them, these are some of the erroneous perceptions around this type of properties and that precisely prevent them from being seen as a viable personal and family investment.

If this is not enough, these communities are usually more aware of environmental needs, they build their own shelters against storms and community centers, drainage networks improve, facilitate emergency responses, invest in renewable energy, and become more self-sustainable, reducing greenhouse emissions and costs for its inhabitants.

The Biden administration includes broad support for manufactured homes within its 2022 housing plan. In some way, this type of housing is expected to expand. Due to this plan, mobile homes could increase in value in the very near future.

Sounds exciting, right? Now that the mobile home industry is getting the government’s attention, you decided to buy mobile homes, but the question is, how many mobile homes you can buy in a single park?

Many people are taking this news for granted and you should, too.

Perhaps you were thinking of buying one mobile home to live in while buying a second mobile home to fix up and sell for a profit.

Or, maybe, you are looking to get into the world of mobile home investing and are looking at buying a few mobile homes to rent them out to homeowners who are in need of a safe, clean and affordable place to live.

Regardless of what you are looking to do it is important to know how many mobile homes one person can buy in a mobile home park before they begin investing in multiple mobile homes.

Each mobile home park within the Sarasota Florida area has its own rules and regulations that outline these exact questions. This document is called the mobile home park prospectus.

The prospectus is, essentially, the dos and don’ts of a mobile home park, who can live in the park, what can be done on the property, how many homes someone can own, and if they allow rental properties within the park.

Some mobile home parks around Sarasota will allow an investor to purchase as many homes as they want and either fix them up for sale or use them as rentals.

Many of these parks will allow the Buyer of the mobile home to be under the age requirement needed to be met to live in the homes. These parks are known as “investor friendly” mobile home parks and will require that anyone who is renting the mobile home from the owner be park approved but the owner of the home does not need to meet the age qualifications of the community.

Other communities will not allow rentals at all regardless of who buys or who is selling the mobile home.

While both of these tend to be on the opposite ends of the spectrum what we, at The Mobile Home Dealer, see most often is when mobile home parks allow an owner of a mobile home to own 2-3 mobile homes in the same park. This is where one single owner can have their primary residence and rent out or fix up and sell other properties all at the same time so long as the new Buyers who are moving in are approved by the park for residency.

It is important to always check with the park first to get a full understanding of what can and can not be done in each mobile home park you are looking at investing in. We would also stress to not just take the park manager’s word for it, but rather, get a copy of the mobile home parks prospectus and review it thoroughly so that you are well versed in all the inner workings and requirements that a mobile home park will have when you begin shopping for a home within the park.

When it comes to investing in mobile home parks, it’s important to do your due diligence and research before making any decisions. One crucial step is to always check with the park first to get a full understanding of their rules and regulations. Each park may have different guidelines on what can and cannot be done within its premises, such as restrictions on renting or selling homes. Understanding these rules will help you avoid any unexpected surprises down the road.

Additionally, speaking with current residents or owners of mobile homes within the park can provide valuable insight into their experiences living there. They can give you a better idea of whether the park is well-maintained, safe, and has a supportive community.

Overall, taking the time to gather information about a potential investment in a mobile home park will help ensure that you make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and values as a real estate investor.

If one does not fully understand all the regulations of a particular park and mistakenly violates the requirements set forth in the park’s prospectus it could lead to a problem very quickly.

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 25, 2023
Has Covid-19 Affected Sarasota Mobile Home Sales?
Mobile homes have become a cause of revolution in the housing market in Florida and around the country. Homebuyers are transitioning from purchasing traditional houses to buying manufactured houses. Their dream of homeownership is being given wings in the factories.

But will things stay the same way in the post-pandemic world?

Will manufactured homes still be the most affordable way to chase and achieve the American dream of home ownership?

As the real estate industry was reaching the zeniths of success, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the planet. From production to delivery, there was a change in every aspect of the industry. The production rate was sluggish as companies found it difficult to find employees. Everybody stayed indoors, and the factories shut down.

Because of production delays, the shipment was delayed as well. While the pre-pandemic delivery date was 6 to 8 weeks, it extended to 6 to 8 months due to the pandemic!

We hope everyone out there is staying safe!

Recently, we here at The Mobile Home Dealer, have been asked if the current Covid-19 Delta Variant has affected mobile home sales throughout the Sarasota area.

What we can on the front end of this question is, yes it has.

As we can all agree, business is not ever going to be run the same after Covid-19 has come about nearly 18 months ago.

This can be seen by the dramatic rise in takeout done at your favorite restaurant. Just last week, we were here at the office, went to our favorite lunch spot in Sarasota to, and had to wait, what seemed like forever to place our order. After getting to the front of the line we noticed that the problem wasn’t that the workers weren’t working hard, no, the delay was because of the massive amount of takeout orders other customers were making which backed up the rest of the line.

This is only one of several examples that we have all seen over the past several months as we all try to do our best to get back to normal after the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19.

Throughout the Sarasota area, we have changed our way of selling mobile homes as a direct result of the pandemic.

It is commonplace now that most of our homes are sold virtually to town Buyers instead of physically meeting them in person to see the home. To accommodate this, we have been utilizing virtual tours, Zoom Calls, and online videos so that all of the Buyers have a great idea of exactly what they are looking at when we discuss their new home purchase with them.

Mobile home sales throughout Sarasota have stayed constant throughout the time of Covid-19 as well.

What we have not seen, however, is a dramatic rise in mobile home prices which has happened to single-family homes, condos, and other real estate properties. Mobile homes on leased land within mobile home parks do not carry the same dramatic rises and falls as other real estate asset classes see so prices continue to stay just about the same across the board regardless of if the real estate market is hot, cold, or indifferent throughout the Sarasota Florida area.

Covid-19 has changed everyone’s lives and it would be a reasonable statement to say that nothing will ever be the same as it was before the pandemic began.

With every change comes opportunity and we feel that, although the mobile home buying process may have changed the same great service continues to be offered to each and every Buyer!

Low-income households make up a key demographic for mobile homes. Many low-income households have been affected by job losses or reduced working hours during the pandemic. Consumers who purchase mobile homes typically purchase the home and lease the land. Some lenders have made it increasingly difficult to secure home-only financing which could have an effect on demand for manufactured homes.

Operators of mobile home communities have seen lower sales during the pandemic however many anticipate that demand will return as lockdown restrictions are eased and more people return to work. The industry is also predicted to see increased demand from consumers looking to downsize as well as from those considering purchasing a vacation home as a potentially safer alternative to hotels and resorts.

What does the post-pandemic manufactured housing industry look like? Like all other industries, COVID-19 hit the manufactured housing industry as well. But surprisingly, the demand for manufactured homes never decreased. Though home buyers were aware that they would not get their dream home anytime soon, they were adamant about shifting to a factory-built house only.

What does this mean for the entire housing industry?

One thing is clear: people are embracing the mobile home lifestyle. And post-pandemic, new buyers in the market will still prefer to buy and own a mobile home.

This is because the prices of traditional homes have soared. There has been an increase of 14.1% in the prices of the site-built houses. The cost does shatter the middle-class’ dream of homeownership. But, thankfully, mobile homes have come to the rescue, and even people with meager incomes can dream of homeownership.

Besides, modern manufactured homes are equipped with all the facilities that people need. They are outfitted with both the necessary as well as luxurious features. Thus, people do not feel the need to buy a stick-built house when mobile homes are equally well-equipped and affordable.

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
Should You Sell Your Sarasota Mobile Home During Snow Bird Season?
Deciding whether to sell your Sarasota mobile home during snowbird season depends on various factors. Snowbird season typically sees an influx of potential buyers from colder regions seeking winter residences. This increased demand could potentially fetch higher selling prices. However, competition may also be fiercer during this time. Consider market conditions, your urgency to sell, and the condition of your property. Additionally, consult with local real estate experts for insights tailored to your specific situation. Ultimately, selling during snowbird season offers opportunities, but thorough research and strategic timing are key to maximizing your sale’s potential.

I know this is an early post but, as they always say, “the early bird gets the worm”!

The summer heat is still going strong throughout the Sarasota area so it is hard to think that in a few short months our lovely area will be flooded with all the snowbirds coming down to enjoy the beautiful weather and beaches this area is known for.

With only a few months until all of the shopping and restaurants are busier with out-of-town guests one should consider if selling their mobile home throughout the Sarasota area during this time is the right decision.

Getting your Sarasota mobile home ready for sale can take several weeks, if not months, to get on the market so we felt it would be a good idea to discuss why selling your mobile home during this time may be something you want to consider.

Many snowbirds who are coming down to Sarasota for the four to the six-month period known as the snowbird season are either staying in their current mobile home that they own year-round or they are renting one of several available mobile homes on the market.

What we have seen in years past is that most snowbirds who are coming down already have a place to stay when they are here, they aren’t looking to buy a mobile home right when they arrive to then move into for their winter stay.

Looking to have your Sarasota mobile home up and ready to sell right when these out-of-town visitors come into the area is not usually needed as, we have seen, if these folks are going to buy a mobile home in the area then they will look to do so after they have stayed in the area for several months to see what areas they like.

It would not be unreasonable to think that we will see an influx of snowbirds coming into the Sarasota area this year after the pandemic-stricken year of 2020 when many snowbirds did not come down due to concerns of getting sick during their stay.

While we do not know if our friends from Canada will be joining us this year yet we would expect to see quite an influx of visitors from the Midwest states which will bring several eager Buyers.

The key to getting your mobile home sold throughout Sarasota is to have your home priced right and marketed correctly.

Simply waiting around for someone to drive by and see your sign is a surefire way to not have the best or most Buyers seeing your property.

We, here at The Mobile Home Dealer, aim to do is to get the most exposure to your home in the fastest time possible which will lead you to get the most money for your Sarasota mobile home in the quickest way possible. As such, we feel that anytime throughout the year is a good time to sell your mobile home and not to focus on only a few months when additional Buyers are in your area.

Many sellers are tempted to sell their mobile homes only during the snowbird season, but we believe that since the Sarasota area is a destination location, their mobile homes should sell any month of the year so long as they are priced right and marketed to their fullest potential.

There are many reasons why snowbirds are buying all-yeard round and the following are some of these.

A.) Warranty. In the State of Florida, all mobile home manufacturers are required to warranty their homes for at least one year from the date of the sale. There is also another warranty when the home is installed and should not be less than one year from the date of issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. No homes should be purchased from an unlicensed mobile home dealer.

B.) Location. Sarasota Florida offers a number of mobile home parks and communities with many white sand beaches. Sarasota is one of the main destinations for people who stay during the Northern winter season. The mobile nature of mobile homes allows owners the ability to choose a location suitable to their needs and taste.

C.) Cheap. The Florida housing market is in inflation and the cost of real estate continues to increase. Buying a mobile home though won’t break the bank. Mobile homes are highly affordable compared to traditional onsite-built homes. And since Sarasota is one of the perfect locations for mobile homes, you’re not going to be alone.

D.) Live cheaper, simple, and minimalistic. Living in a mobile home gives the owner the ability to live closer to a minimalistic life while enjoying the luxury of Saratosa’s tourist attractions. Of course, with limited space, why bother buying things that are not so important? Many mobile homeowners actually learn how to declutter and become organized.

E.) Friendly neighborhood. Sarasota is known to have friendly mobile home parks with friendly homeowners. Unlike in conventional homes where neighbors often argue due to a number of things like fences, this is not happening inside a mobile home park because there is no fence to argue about, and no trees, plants, and other greens that could lead to neighbors’ altercations. Additionally, people who are living in mobile homes understand their responsibilities as homeowners.

This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer. We help mobile home Buyers and Sellers improve their lives.

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September 25, 2023