Tag: what does park approval mean

Is Park Approval Necessary When Buying A Sarasota Florida Mobile Home?
Mobile home park approval is necessary for several reasons. Firstly, it ensures compliance with zoning regulations, ensuring that parks are located in suitable areas and adhere to safety standards. Approval also safeguards residents’ rights, guaranteeing fair rental agreements and protection from exploitation. Additionally, it promotes environmental sustainability by requiring proper waste management and infrastructure development. Furthermore, approval processes often involve community input, fostering a sense of inclusivity and accountability. Overall, mobile home park approval serves as a crucial mechanism for maintaining order, protecting residents’ interests, and fostering responsible development within communities.

When finally making the decision to purchase a mobile home in the greater Sarasota, Florida, area, many things need to be considered and completed prior to the close.

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

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

Mobile Home in Florida

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

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

If you are planning to buy a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area, it is important to understand everything about mobile home parks.

Does it even matter that this is done before buying a mobile home on leased land in Florida?

Many times those who are not familiar with the buying process of a mobile home on leased land do not realize that getting approved by the park is a part of the mobile home purchase process.

This then begs the question to be asked, what really is mobile home park approval?

When buying a mobile home in a mobile home park, every resident needs to be approved as a resident within the community in that the home is physically located. Different parks have different requirements, but generally speaking, if you are in an age-qualified community, every person physically living in the home will need to be approved by the park. If you are buying a mobile home in an all-ages park, you will need approval for everyone living in the home who is over a certain age to be approved for residency.

Each park has its way of going about the actual approval process. Usually, every park will require each person who is going through to be approved to fill out a written application. Along with the application, the applicant will need to provide a photo ID, pay a nominal application fee, and agree to have their background checked by the park. If you or your applicant friend does not have a current driver’s license, that is okay as usual; a state-issued photo ID card or a passport will do the trick.

The reason is simple: if the Buyer is not park-approved prior to purchasing the mobile home through us as a licensed mobile home broker, then we will not be able to close on the home.

The reason for this is that, as licensed mobile home brokers with the state of Florida, we are required to make sure that all parties who are looking at becoming residents within the mobile home park they are buying their home in have passed the approval process and are allowed to become residents within the mobile home park.

Many times, folks will skip this step and assume they can buy and move into any mobile home in any mobile park in the Sarasota area without a second thought.

This is a problem.

These uneducated Buyers think this may be because they come from a single-family home and not another mobile home community.

If the Buyer is not park-approved prior to the closing and tries to obtain approval after buying the home and gets denied residency, then suddenly, this Buyer owns a home that they are unable to live in!

Mobile Home for Sale in Sebring

When this happens one of two things may happen:
- The Buyer may be asked to move their home.
- The Buyer is told they cannot live in their home and will need to have another person live in the property.
In the first situation above, if the Buyer is asked to move their home, this is not nearly as easy as it sounds. The reason for this is that, in Florida, a mobile home mover cannot obtain a moving permit on a mobile home if it is older than 20 years of age.

In the second situation, many mobile home parks in the greater Sarasota, Florida, area do not allow anyone other than the property owner to live in a mobile home.

In each situation, you can quickly see how the Buyer of the mobile home can get into a sticky situation very quickly if they are not approved by the mobile home park prior to purchasing their mobile home.

Park approval is an essential aspect to consider when buying a mobile home in Sarasota, Florida. It is a process that involves the management of the community where your mobile home will be located, and it ensures that you are eligible to live in that particular park. Park approval usually involves verifying your income, credit score, background check, and other requirements set by the park management.

One of the reasons why park approval is crucial is that it guarantees a safe living environment for all residents. The rigorous screening process helps prevent potential problems such as criminal activity and non-payment of rent among others. Additionally, it also creates a sense of community cohesion among neighbors with similar backgrounds.

Moreover, obtaining park approval can increase your chances of getting financing from lenders or banks; this is because most financial institutions require proof of residency before approving any loan requests related to mobile homes.

In conclusion, park approval may seem like unnecessary paperwork at first but its importance cannot be overstated; Therefore taking time out to secure one’s application would save them possible future complications.

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

When buying a mobile home in Sarasota, Florida it is important to ensure that it has the necessary park approval. Without such approval, the buyer may face difficulty in finding a place to park their mobile home. Park approval is typically issued by the specific mobile home park in which the home is being purchased and it ensures that the park meets safety standards and regulations. It also serves as proof that the home is suitable for residing in the mobile home park. It is important to note that some parks may require additional documents or fees to obtain this approval, so it is important to research and understand all of the requirements before purchasing a mobile home.

Without park approval on file, there is no sale.

The Mobile Home Dealer are licensed mobile home brokers in Sarasota Florida and the surrounding areas. We provide professional buy and/or sell assistance to our clients. If you have any questions, 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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April 12, 2024
10 Reasons Why Mobile Home Parks Will Deny Your Application
The dream of owning a mobile home and residing in a mobile home park is a reality for many individuals seeking affordable housing options. However, the journey to securing a spot in these communities is not always smooth. Mobile home park applications can be denied for a variety of reasons, leaving applicants perplexed and disappointed. Understanding the grounds for rejection is essential to improve your chances of success.

In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the diverse factors that may lead to the denial of your mobile home park application. From credit history and income requirements to criminal background checks and adherence to park-specific rules, we explore the intricate web of criteria that park management assesses when reviewing applications.

Bay Indies Mobile Home Park Lagoon

By shedding light on these potential roadblocks, we aim to equip you with the knowledge and insights necessary to navigate the application process successfully, whether you’re a first-time applicant or someone reapplying after a prior rejection. Understanding the reasons behind application denials is the first step toward securing your place in a mobile home park community.

Mobile home parks may reject applications for a variety of reasons. While the specific reasons can vary depending on the park and its policies, here are ten common reasons why a mobile home park might reject your application:

1. Poor Credit History

A poor credit history is a significant factor in mobile home park application rejections. Most mobile home parks routinely perform credit checks on prospective residents to assess their financial stability. A history marked by unpaid debts, a low credit score, or past bankruptcy filings can be grounds for rejection. This is because a robust credit history is often seen as a sign of financial responsibility, indicating an applicant’s ability to meet their lot rent and other financial obligations.

To improve the chances of being accepted, individuals with suboptimal credit may consider addressing and repairing their credit issues or seeking co-signers to vouch for their financial stability.

2. Criminal History

Criminal History can play a pivotal role in mobile home park application denials. Certain parks may impose stringent restrictions on applicants with specific criminal convictions, particularly those associated with violent crimes or drug-related offenses. This measure is often taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the community’s residents. While the exact criteria may vary from one park to another, a history of such convictions can trigger apprehension in management, potentially leading to application rejection.

To navigate this obstacle, applicants may consider inquiring about the park’s specific policies regarding criminal backgrounds or exploring alternative housing options if their criminal history doesn’t align with the park’s criteria.

3. Insufficient Income

Insufficient income is a common reason for mobile home park application rejections. Parks often demand evidence of a minimum income to ensure that applicants can comfortably cover the lot rent and other associated expenses. This requirement is in place to safeguard the financial stability of both the applicant and the community. Without the assurance of a steady income, it can become challenging for residents to meet their financial obligations, potentially leading to issues like late payments or delinquencies.

To mitigate this concern, applicants can explore options to increase their income, provide co-signers or guarantors, or seek housing alternatives better aligned with their financial means if they do not meet the income requirements of their chosen mobile home park.

4. Previous Evictions

A history of previous evictions can significantly impede your mobile home park application. Mobile home park management is often wary of applicants with eviction records, as it suggests a history of non-compliance with lease agreements or an inability to meet financial commitments. Evictions can signal potential disruptions to the community’s tranquility and harmony. Consequently, applicants with this blemish on their record may find it challenging to secure a spot in a mobile home park.

To overcome this hurdle, it’s essential to demonstrate a commitment to responsible tenancy, potentially offering references from landlords who can vouch for your improved rental behavior and financial stability or opting for housing alternatives that may be more accommodating of your history.

5. Pet Policy Violation

Failure to adhere to a mobile home park’s pet policy can result in application rejection. Parks typically have specific rules governing the type, size, and number of pets allowed, as well as requirements for vaccinations and leashing. If an applicant’s pets do not comply with these regulations, or if they fail to disclose their pets altogether, it can create concerns for park management. Non-compliance can disrupt the community’s atmosphere and potentially lead to conflicts among residents.

To avoid rejection on these grounds, applicants should thoroughly review the park’s pet policy and be forthright about their pets during the application process. This allows the park to assess whether the applicant and their pets align with the community’s established guidelines.

Spanish Lakes Mobile Home Park in Nokomis Florida

6. Incomplete Application

An incomplete application is a common cause of rejection in mobile home parks. When applicants fail to submit all the required information or documents as outlined in the application guidelines, it can make the review process challenging for park management. Incomplete applications not only delay the decision-making process but can also raise doubts about an applicant’s commitment or organizational skills.

To enhance the chances of a successful application, it’s crucial to meticulously follow the instructions and provide all requested details, including proof of income, references, identification, and any other documents the park requires. A complete and well-prepared application reflects positively on the applicant, demonstrating readiness and responsibility in adhering to the park’s application procedures.

7. Age Restrictions

Age restrictions are a key consideration when seeking residency in a mobile home park. Some parks enforce age-related guidelines, either setting a minimum age requirement for residents or instituting policies that exclude children. These age restrictions are often implemented to cater to a specific demographic or lifestyle, such as retirees or older adults seeking a quiet and age-appropriate living environment. Applicants who don’t meet these criteria may face rejection.

To navigate such restrictions, it’s essential to thoroughly research the park’s rules and regulations beforehand, ensuring they align with your age and family composition. For those who don’t meet the specified criteria, alternative housing options that cater to diverse age groups may be a more suitable choice.

8. Poor Rental History

A poor rental history can have significant implications for your mobile home park application. It typically includes a record of late rent payments, incidents of property damage, or disputes with previous landlords. This history reflects on an applicant’s reliability as a tenant and their ability to maintain a harmonious and respectful relationship with property owners and management. Such blemishes on a rental record can lead to application rejection as they raise concerns about future conduct and financial responsibility.

To enhance the prospects of a successful application, individuals with a less-than-ideal rental history may consider providing explanations, references from landlords who can vouch for their improved behavior, or exploring housing options that might be more lenient regarding past rental issues.

9. Failure to Meet Park Criteria

Failure to meet the park’s specific criteria is a significant reason for mobile home park application rejection. These criteria can encompass a wide range of factors, including the condition and age of your mobile home, the type of utilities it uses, and compliance with aesthetic standards. Not meeting these criteria can lead to rejection, as it can disrupt the uniformity and quality of the community.

Lake Village Mobile Home Park

To navigate this challenge, it’s essential to thoroughly review the park’s requirements before applying and ensure your mobile home aligns with these standards. If your home doesn’t meet the criteria, you may need to make necessary improvements or seek alternative housing options that better match the park’s guidelines.

10. Unapproved Mobile Home

An unapproved mobile home can lead to the rejection of your application in a mobile home park. The park management typically has specific requirements concerning the size, condition, and appearance of mobile homes within the community. Failing to meet these criteria can result in application denial, as it can affect the overall aesthetics and quality of the park.

To navigate this obstacle, applicants should thoroughly understand the park’s standards and ensure that their mobile home complies with these guidelines. If the home does not meet the park’s requirements, it might be necessary to make necessary modifications or explore alternative housing options that better align with the community’s specifications.

It’s important to note that each mobile home park has its own unique rules and criteria for accepting residents, so it’s crucial to review their guidelines and be honest in your application to avoid potential rejection. If your application is rejected, you can inquire about the specific reasons and, if possible, work on addressing those issues to reapply in the future.

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October 23, 2023
What Does A Sarasota Mobile Home Park Check On The Park Application?
Ahh yes, the mobile home park application process! As licensed mobile home brokers in Florida, here at The Mobile Home Dealer are all too familiar with this process, as we cannot sell a mobile home to someone who is not already park-approved at the time of closing.

We are unable to sell a mobile home to someone who is not already park-approved because if we did sell these Buyers a home and then they went to get approved and were denied, then they, along with their new home, would need to be moved out of the park!

Mobile Home in Nokomis Florida

This can create a MAJOR problem for these new would-be Buyers as most mobile home transport companies within the state of Florida will not move a mobile home if it is older than 20 years old due to the transporter not being able to obtain a permit from the county the home is in to transport the home legally.

As you can quickly see, this can become an issue as now the Buyer has a home they legally own, that they can not live in, that can not be moved!

Now that everyone knows why it is so important to have approval on file with the mobile home park before purchasing a mobile home in the greater Sarasota area let’s go ahead and tackle the actual application itself.

Most mobile home parks that have mobile homes on leased land within the Sarasota area of Florida follow a standard application process.

Some parks are a little more tech-savvy than others and offer everything through their online portal and others are not that far advanced and require the application to be filled out in paper form either at the office or to have this application physically mailed to the Buyer’s residence.

The application usually is pretty short and checks the potential applicant on three main categories:
1. Credit History
2. Criminal Background
3. Reported Income In Relation To Lot Rent
Credit History:

While we do not work for any park and do not see or review any applications in the mobile home park approval process, we understand that each park will pull a basic credit history of each applicant. Required credit ratings are a bit of a mystery, but generally speaking, most parks look for over a 550 credit score.

For each household wishing to live in the community. A common benchmark for many communities is a minimum credit score of 550. However, other parks may have much lower or higher minimum credit beacon score requirements. Remember Update as of December 2022:

Since mobile homes on leased land in Florida are taxed as personal property and not real estate, they require different but specific documentation. It is important to prepare these documents in advance to expedite your sale.

These documentations include
- The vehicle title of the manufactured home (if titled as chattel) or the real estate deed (if titled as real estate)
- Bill of sale for the manufactured home, with both the seller’s signature and the buyer’s
- Tax records to prove the seller has paid all applicable taxes on the manufactured homes.
Most mobile home parks around the country will require a minimum credit score for those who apply for the park. If two people are applying to be on the same park application, many parks will average the two scores together to get a single score required for park approval

Criminal Background:

A standard background check will be done on each applicant. Usually, the fee associated with the application fee is used in part to pull the criminal background of all would-be applicants.

Most mobile home parks nationwide screen for criminal offenses locally and nationwide. Remember to be honest and forthcoming when speaking to Park managers about your past. Criminal restrictions in parks vary wildly from community to community. Some communities will not allow DUI offenses in the past 20 years, and others will not care in the slightest.

To protect their investment, mobile home & trailer park owners must screen park residents to be a good fit among their established residents. Background checks enable you to protect good tenants while enabling a calculated risk decision to avoid what could be a problem tenant.

Reported Income About Lot Rent:

This is usually a standard 2-3X the lot rent. What this means is that if, for example, the lot rent is $500, then the park would look for the entire household to have reported income somewhere around $1,000-$1,500 per month. The reason for this is that the park wants to do its part in making sure that the applicant has on paper enough money to cover their monthly lot rent payment.

Mobile Home for Sale in Sebring

In addition to the above three most common checking categories, some mobile home parks around the country screen for previous evictions. This will be a deal-breaker in many communities; however, the length of time since the last eviction will absolutely vary from community to community.

After being in the mobile home industry for quite some time, we at The Mobile Home Dealer have yet to find a park owner or manager who will provide us with a hard-lined set of standards that they require all applicants to meet.

Most park managers and owners we have spoken to send all of the information to a third party and the third party that completes the approval has a set standard on which they base their approvals or denials.

What we do for certain is that whatever a park requires the applicant to provide in order for the application to be completed needs to be sent in as soon as possible because if it is not then it will lead to additional delays in the approval process.

While certain mobile home parks may contain several restrictions, they vary from park to park. Aim to keep an open mind and proactive attitude when reaching out to park managers and aiming to get approved within the community. It is typically better to have more clarity rather than less clarity while purchasing or investing in any mobile home on private land or inside parks.

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
Should You Sell Your Sarasota Mobile Home Now Or Wait?
With the continuing rise in real estate prices throughout the Sarasota County Florida area the big question seems to be, should you go ahead and sell your house now or wait to see how much it will go up in value?

It is time to sell your mobile home in the greater Sarasota Florida area.

While this may be met with some sadness it can also be met with some excitement for the next chapter of your life and where it will bring you!

The immediate follow-up question is then if you sell your house now and reap the financial benefits of selling at a higher price will you really gain anything financially if you go to buy another home in the same area right afterward as the profit that you made from your current home sale will be eaten up by the high prices in the same market.

If you decide to not buy another home in the Sarasota area but go and rent for a few years until the market cools down and prices level out you may run into a shortage of rental properties available that has not been seen in the area for years, if ever.

Just last week we had someone come to us and tell us that they were considering selling their home but when they looked at apartments in the area most of them had over a year-long waiting list to get in!

With all of this real estate madness going on all around us, what does it all mean if you own a mobile home on leased land within the Sarasota Florida area?

Are Sellers seeing the same rise in prices as traditional real estate?

Mobile homes that are located on leased land within the state of Florida are viewed as and taxed as personal property, not real estate. What this means is that these mobile homes are sold with a title and not a deed to them which makes the transaction the exact same as purchasing a vehicle.

With this understood, there is no reliable way to pull sales comps when you are looking to sell your mobile home if it is located on leased land.

What we have seen throughout this crazy real estate market at The Mobile Home Dealer is that homes in good condition that are priced fairly are selling faster than ever, but not for more money in the traditional sense. What we mean by that is that due to the speed at which homes are being sold then the Sellers are paying less in lot rent which means that these Sellers are keeping more money in their pocket as opposed to “making” more money at the closing table.

Overpricing Your Mobile Home

Price is a deciding factor for most Buyers in the mobile home space, not necessarily features of the home or even location.

Pricing your home high will usually result in your home sitting on the market longer, while the Seller continues to pay lot rent, utilities, taxes, and all other carrying costs associated with owning that property. These continued monthly payments will eat into your profit even if you sell the home for a higher price.

We at The Mobile Home Dealer feel it is always best to price your home aggressively from the start and be willing to negotiate with the Buyer when they want to make an offer.

Making it easy to have the Buyer buy your home is the first step in getting your home sold fast.

Pricing your mobile home aggressively

When looking to sell your Sarasota Florida mobile home we always suggest pricing your home aggressively in order to bring the best cash offers to you as quickly as a time frame as possible. Getting caught up in the inflated pricing of a mobile home could lead to the Seller holding on to the home for several months with the added stress of continuing to pay for a mobile home they do not want.

Increasing the price of your mobile home will usually result in your home sitting on the market longer, while the Seller continues to pay lot rent, utilities, taxes, and all other carrying costs associated with owning that property. These continued monthly payments will eat into your profit even if you sell the home for a higher price.

We at The Mobile Home Dealer feel it is always best to price your home aggressively from the start and be willing to negotiate with the Buyer when they want to make an offer.

If you are looking to sell your mobile home around the Sarasota area we feel now is just as good of a time as any but we stress for each Seller to go into the marketplace with reasonable expectations. These expectations should be rooted in the speed at which the home sells and not for what the home sells at. If a Seller enters the marketplace with these expectations understood then we feel they will be pleasantly surprised at the speed at which their home may sell while keeping more money in their pocket by not paying additional lot rent.

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 a better place in life.

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September 25, 2023
Just Get Denied For Residency At A Sarasota Mobile Home Park?
When looking to purchase a mobile home that is located on leased land in the Sarasota Florida area one will have to go through the park approval process to make sure they are approved to become a resident in the park they are looking to live in.

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

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

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

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

If you are planning to buy a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area, it is important to understand everything about mobile home parks.

Most mobile home parks in the Sarasota area will have a straightforward way of going through their approval process for each new resident who wants to move into the park. Most parks will require a written application to be completed along with copies of the applicant(s) photo identification, social security number, and a small fee for each applicant on the park application.

The park will usually check three things on each applicant:
- Credit Check
- Criminal History Check
- Eviction History Check
Each park is specific in how heavy they weigh each item listed above but, generally speaking, the park takes all of them into consideration to decide as to whether the applicant will be accepted in the park for residency.

So, what happens if you fill out the application and provide the fee needed to run your background, only for you to be told that you are denied moving forward with your residency with the park?

Now what?

The applicant has the right to discuss their denial with the park owner or manager to see what the problem is and to see if an exception will be made. Most mobile home parks have a standard number system they go by for credit. If this is a concern for you then you may want to provide documentation to the office when you drop off the application that will help further explain why your credit score may be a little lower than what you want.

If your criminal background is a concern then, again, it would be a good idea to bring this up to the manager or owner before they run your background so they are not surprised should you have something in your past that will put you in a less than favorable light.

Most mobile home park managers and owners are understanding of an applicant’s past so long as they are upfront with what has happened and are willing to explain or provide documentation that shows why certain things have come up the way they have.

What we at The Mobile Home Dealer have seen in the past is that most parks consider all items to decide whether to approve or deny the applicant from the park for residency.

If you are denied and seek to find out exactly why then perhaps you will be able to work on the reason for denial right away so that you can reapply to the park and be accepted the second time around.

Before making any purchase offers to a mobile home seller, make sure to speak with the park manager and understand the park’s application process and approval criteria. Is the park easy or strict?

It is certainly not uncommon for mobile home park managers to deny certain applicants who do not pass the park’s criminal, eviction, employment, income, pet, and/or credit background.

If your application is turned down or denied it is important to try to figure out why and how you could improve this process moving forward. Learn exactly what the park manager is looking for in a future resident.

Some managers will be helpful and suggest that the potential buyer obtain a cosigner or pay a higher-than-normal security deposit to get approved.

If you have been denied residency at a Sarasota mobile home park, there are a few things you can do. First, you should review the application to check for any errors or omissions that could have led to the denial. If you find any, you should contact the park management to address these issues and determine if the denial can be reversed.

If that does not work, you should look into other parks in the area that may be willing to accept your application. You may also want to consider looking into other forms of housing, such as apartments and townhomes, since they may offer more flexibility in terms of residency requirements. You can also look into other low-cost housing options in Sarasota and see if any of them would meet your needs.

Additionally, you can contact local government offices and advocacy organizations that may be able to provide assistance or resources for those in need of housing. These organizations can provide information about available housing options and guide how to navigate the application process.

Finally, if all else fails, it is important to remember that there are often legal protections in place that can help prevent unjustified denials of residency applications. If you believe that your application was unfairly denied, you should consult a lawyer who specializes in housing law to discuss your options.

When looking to purchase a mobile home in a mobile home park within the Sarasota area always make sure you look to get park approved before closing on the home. The reason for this is that if you buy the home and then go through the park approval process and for some reason you are denied then now you own a home that you can not legally live 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
What Is Needed For A Sarasota Mobile Home Park Approval?
When looking to obtain mobile home park approval for a mobile home park in Sarasota, what will you need to provide them?

We here at The Home Dealer have a company policy where we will not sell a mobile home in a mobile home park to anyone prior to them obtaining and providing us their park approval.

But why do we do this?

As registered mobile home brokers in the State of Florida, we want to make sure that all Buyers are purchasing a clean, safe, and affordable property that they can call home for years if they choose to do so.

Part of providing this to our clients is to first make sure they are legally allowed to own the home that they live in!

Each mobile home park will have its own requirements for park approval, but usually, they are all about the same.

Each park has its own way of going about the actual approval process. Usually, every park will require each person that is going through to be approved to fill out a written application. Along with the application the applicant will need to provide a photo ID, pay a nominal application fee, and agree to have their background checked by the park. If you or your applicant friend does not have a current driver’s license that is okay as usual, a state-issued photo ID card or a passport will do the trick.

The reason is simple: if the Buyer is not park-approved prior to purchasing the mobile home through us as a licensed mobile home broker then we will not be able to close on the home.

The reason for this is that, as licensed mobile home brokers with the state of Florida, we are required to make sure that all parties who are looking at becoming residents within the mobile home park they are buying their home in have passed the approval process and are allowed to become residents within the mobile home park.

Many times, folks will skip this step and just assume that they can buy and move into any mobile home in any mobile home park in the Sarasota area without a second thought.
The park will need a copy of your driver’s license or a state ID card and will run a background check, usually a credit check, and in some instances an eviction check on all previous rental history.

Most parks charge a minimal fee for this service as well, but due to COVID, we have seen many parks waive this fee for the application.

Most parks will also have a paper application that is required to be filled out and on file which the park will use to judge if you are approved or not as a resident in the park.

Each park manager has their own approval system and works with their own sense of urgency, but it would be reasonable to think that if you have everything that is asked of you, you should hear an update on your approval notification within a few business days.

What we have seen is that if you are an out-of-state or out-of-country resident, then sometimes it will take a few additional days to obtain your approval from the park. Although I am not sure why this is, it does seem to always take a few additional days for those Buyers to get approval.

There is no universal credit score that is needed, to my knowledge, as everything on your park application is weighed pretty evenly in order to determine your park approval status.

One of the only aspects that I have personally seen that may cause an immediate issue with approvals is if the individual who is applying for residency does not meet the needed age for the park.

Many parks in the Sarasota area are age-restricted, requiring certain ages of those living in the park, to live there. If the potential resident does not meet the age requirement this could immediately cause a problem.

If the Buyer is not park approved prior to the closing and tries to obtain approval after buying the home and gets denied residency then all of a sudden this Buyer owns a home that they are unable to live in!

When this happens one of two things may happen:
The Buyer may be asked to move their home.
The Buyer is told they are unable to live in their home and will need to have another person live in the property.

In the first situation above, if the Buyer is asked to move their home this is not nearly as easy as it sounds. The reason for this is that, in Florida, a mobile home mover will not be able to obtain a moving permit on a mobile home if it is older than 20 years of age.

In the second situation, many mobile home parks in the greater Sarasota Florida area do not allow for a mobile home to be lived in by anyone other than the owner of the property.

In each situation, you can quickly see how the Buyer of the mobile home can get into a sticky situation very quickly if they are not approved by the mobile home park prior to purchasing their mobile home.

The key for you to know here is in order to purchase a home, make sure you are approved before closing on the property.

In order to get the park approved, make sure you contact the park and get them everything you need in order to make the approval process swift and easy for everyone involved.

If you don’t do this, expect quite a few delays and additional headaches!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you are planning to buy a mobile home in the Sarasota Florida area, it is important to understand everything about mobile home parks.

Does it even matter that this is done before buying a mobile home on leased land in Florida?

Many times those who are not familiar with the buying process of a mobile home on leased land do not realize that getting approved by the park is a part of the mobile home purchase process.

This then begs the question to be asked, what is park approval?

When buying a mobile home in a mobile home park, every resident needs to be approved as a resident within the community in that the home is physically located. Different parks have different requirements but, generally speaking, if you are in an age-qualified community, every person who will be physically living in the home will need to be approved by the park. If you are buying a mobile home in an all-ages park, you will need to have approval for everyone living in the home who is over a certain age to be able to be approved for residency.

Each park has its way of going about the actual approval process. Usually, every park will require each person who is going through to be approved to fill out a written application. Along with the application the applicant will need to provide a photo ID, pay a nominal application fee, and agree to have their background checked by the park. If you or your applicant friend does not have a current driver’s license that is okay as usual, a state-issued photo ID card or a passport will do the trick.

The reason is simple: if the Buyer is not park-approved before purchasing the mobile home through us as a licensed mobile home broker then we will not be able to close on the home.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

YES, IT IS!

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

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

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

Without park approval on file, there is no sale.

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

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

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September 22, 2023