Understanding Park Approval When Buying a Sarasota Florida Mobile Home
When the time comes to purchase the Sarasota Florida mobile home you’ve been dreaming of, remember that you must first be approved by the park before closing on your new home.
It’s often easy to secure a mobile or manufactured home in a leased-land community, but the real challenge begins when managing the different expenses that come with ownership.
These costs may include monthly rent, utilities, and moving fees. For those who own mobile or manufactured homes on private property, expenses also include property taxes and mortgage loan payments. In some parks, the landlord or property manager may cover certain utilities or services, making it slightly easier for residents.
Common Mobile Home Park Expenses and Fees
Living in a mobile home park can be smooth as long as you pay your lot rent on time and follow the park’s rules and regulations outlined in the prospectus. Failing to do so could result in penalties or even eviction from the community.
However, many new homeowners are surprised to learn that there are hidden fees involved in mobile home park living. These additional costs can catch buyers off guard if they’re not well-prepared.
When buying a mobile home on leased land in Florida, the property is viewed and taxed as personal property rather than real estate.
This means that your mobile home is taxed similarly to a vehicle, since mobile homes on leased land have titles rather than deeds.
Lot Rent, Property Taxes, and Registration Fees
When purchasing a mobile home on leased land, you won’t pay property taxes on the home itself. That’s because you don’t own the land — you’re paying a monthly fee to the park for the use and maintenance of the property. This monthly payment is known as lot rent.
Although mobile homeowners on leased land don’t pay property taxes, they must pay annual registration fees for their homes. The cost of registration depends on the home’s size (length and width) and the duration of the renewal period.
Understanding these expenses is important so you can properly budget for life in a mobile home park.
Why Park Approval Is Required Before Closing
At The Mobile Home Dealer, we always require that park approval be completed before closing on a mobile home purchase.
The reason is simple — if a buyer isn’t approved by the park before buying the home, both the buyer and the home itself could face eviction if the park later denies approval.
This situation can create serious problems. Many mobile homes in the Sarasota area are older and may not meet the requirements to be legally or safely moved to another park if eviction occurs.
To prevent these complications, always secure park approval before finalizing your purchase.
Understanding Mobile Home Park Application Fees
Mobile home parks typically charge a small application fee for every individual applying to live in the community. This fee is paid at the time the application is submitted to the park manager for review.
The cost generally ranges from $40 to $100 per person, not per home. So, if two people are applying to live in one mobile home, each person must pay the application fee separately.
This fee is usually paid directly to the mobile home park where you’re applying for residency and often covers the criminal background check conducted by the park management.
How COVID-19 Affected Park Application Fees
During the COVID-19 pandemic, several mobile home parks in the Sarasota area temporarily waived application fees to encourage new residents while travel restrictions were in effect.
However, those days are over. Most parks have now reinstated their application fees as normal operations have resumed.
It’s important to note that this fee does not go toward your monthly lot rent. Lot rent is a completely separate charge billed only after you’ve been approved for residency.
Preparing for a Smooth Application Process
When applying for residency in a mobile home park, expect to pay an application fee upfront. As a buyer, make sure you know how much the fee is and how many people will need to pay it before you submit your paperwork.
Being prepared with all necessary documents and payment in hand will help speed up the approval process — getting you into your new Sarasota Florida mobile home faster and without delays.
Connect With The Mobile Home Dealer
This is Mark Kaiser with The Mobile Home Dealer. We help mobile home buyers and sellers find better opportunities and improve their lives through mobile home ownership.
If you have questions about park approvals or application fees, feel free to reach out through this link.