Category: Mobile Homes

Pet-Friendly Do’s and Don’ts in Mobile Home Parks

Posted on November 24, 2020 by - Mobile Homes

Smiling Woman with happy dog

If you own a pet, you know a precious kind of love. They come to share not only your home but also your life. However, if you live in a mobile home community, you have to abide by their pet policy. There are neighborhoods that do not allow residents to own any pet (bird, animal, or fish) while there are others that are more favorably disposed towards animals. Even those who do allow pets have very clear rules in place.

Before you bring home your new companion, here are some Dos and Don’ts you need to know for their welfare (and for your peace of mind):

Do’s

1. Understand how the community’s pet policy works

Does the manufactured home community you are looking to settle in allow pets? If they don’t, look elsewhere. Bringing along your pet in such a community is a breach of contract, and no one wants to get into the mess that follows.

Even if you can’t find a pet-friendly place within your preferred location right away, don’t lose heart. Sometimes community websites do not reflect the most recent updates. Pick up the phone and call them to ask about the details of their pet policy.

2. Find out what breeds are allowed

Little Manatee bark park with fence

Bark park in Little Manatee mobile home community, Ruskin, FL.

Some mobile home communities, like Little Manatee, value your relationship with your pet and even have a dog park where your pooch can romp about. This kind of amenity makes your life easier, since your pets can get their daily dose of exercise without disturbing others.

Some communities do not allow more than one pet. Some only allow certain breeds, and they may even have restrictions on animals over a certain weight.

3 Get them licensed and tagged

Certain mobile home communities require owners to keep their pets vaccinated. Their animals must wear a collar with the owner’s name, contact number and the location of their lot. This helps when you need to retrieve a lost pet. Also, owners must have proper pet licenses as mandated by local authorities.

4. Keep them on leash at all times

Even if you live in a pet-friendly community, it is a good practice to keep your dog or cat restrained and safe. Most manufactured homes do not have standard fences between lots and this can become problematic if your pet develops a habit of checking on your neighbor. Leash training is a must for pets, since it keeps them calm and relaxed around other people. Keeping pets leashed also prevents them from escaping or losing their way home.

5. Spay or Neuter

Some pets need to be spayed or neutered when they reach a certain age. This not only ensures a healthier life for existing pets but also makes for a successful co-existence of your pet babies and human friends. Check community policies regarding spaying and neutering, and ensure a healthy life for your fur babies.

All the above contribute towards safe living for both your pet and your neighbors.

Don’ts

1. Don’t bring in pet breeds deemed ‘dangerous’ by the community

In many places, Pit Bull, German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher and Siberian Husky’s are out of bounds. Similarly, pets in a water tank are also not allowed in certain communities. If you plan to bring along exotic or banned breeds, you might as well look for another place to hang your coat.

2. Don’t leave your pets unattended at any time, especially when outside

Sometimes your cat or dog may venture far from home, bark at a neighbor or tear into their flower beds. You will end up paying for the damage. In addition, some of your neighbours may be allergic to fur. Some communities accept a pet deposit as insurance against accidental damages brought about by your four-legged friend.

Additionally, communities usually provide spaces where your pets can relieve themselves. Homeowners must make sure they train their animals to use those spaces. It is also required that pet parents clean up after them and follow approved ways of bagging and disposing of pet waste. They should help maintain hygienic conditions in the entire community.

3. Don’t set up commercial pet breeding without authorization

Things like commercial breeding of pets might be restricted in some areas, so make sure you know the community policy on this. Besides, unless you are a properly licensed breeder, your practice may come into conflict with local authorities.

Consider all these Do’s and Don’ts before you decide to bring a pet into your new mobile home. Make sure pets are allowed before you seal the deal and save yourself heartache later.

Are Manufactured Homes the Future of Housing?

Posted on September 21, 2020 by - Mobile Homes

Futuristic modular house

Manufactured homes are not the latest trend to hit the U.S housing market. Take a look at these Google Trends to see how far ahead ‘manufactured homes’ is in U.S. interest since 2010. Also, they have been around for decades as war veterans can testify.

Manufactured housing trend

What is most recent about them is the technology upgrade they have realized. As these prepare to hold significant stakes in the country’s housing industry soon, pre-built homes have begun offering customers affordability and unlimited choices for customization.

What exactly are manufactured homes?

Think of them as a home that arrives in the mailbox. These houses are entirely manufactured and assembled in factories. Post-production, they are transported to the site, and they remain there, usually permanently. With building codes and compliances kicking in, these houses are now built with high-grade materials that minimize the need for repair and restoration.

What are the features of factory-built mobile homes?

They may be single-wide or double-wide units and usually cover at least three hundred square feet of living area. Customers can select features they wish to be built in, for instance, decks and patios. They are especially favored by many first-time homeowners who want to possess a small, low-maintenance house for themselves.

7 Reasons Why Seniors Love Factory-Made Homes

Modern static caravan on campsite during summer

Modern static caravan on campsite during summer.

These are useful options as post-retirement lodgings. And every year, the number of retired seniors is rising. The upsides of owning such a home are many:

1. Zero Anxiety of Homeownership

With some of these homes making up age-specific communities, the elderly population does not have to worry about the labors of homeownership – lawn mowing, trash removal, maintenance and such additional duties.

2. Health and Leisure Benefits

These mobile home communities or parks are usually equipped with facilities like community clubs, jogging tracks, gyms, swimming pools, tennis courts and occasionally, small golfing areas.

3. Security

Most of these are gated communities. There is always some form of surveillance actively protecting their properties, especially when there’s no one around.

4. A Sense of Belongingness

With like-minded neighbors, seniors find it easy to make friends. This chance of companionship is also what draws them to these homes.

5. Custom Designing

These houses are no longer humble trailers that looked unflattering on its owners. Shabby, rickety trailers are out, and custom-made models are gaining footing. Single or double storied, these living spaces often reflect their owner’s personality in terms of the paints, finishes, floor plans, furnishings and accessories.

A home needs to be built around a family’s needs. More so with modular homes that optimize the available area. There are walk-in showers, Jacuzzi, floor-to-ceiling windows, fireplaces, and wooden floors – anything you want to be added to your home building project can be added to your manufactured unit. All these are installed, and most are ready to use when your house arrives at the location.

6. Energy Efficiency

Modern mobile homes are made with an eye on energy usage. Unlike older homes, these living spaces come well-equipped with HVAC systems, high-grade fixtures and equipment that cut down on energy waste and regulate its use inside the house. So, on the one hand, you enjoy low utility bills while on the other, you reduce your carbon footprint.

Not just that. In the construction of such homes too, builders frequently make use of recycled and biodegradable materials, reducing the load on landfills. These homes are recommended for the long run since they decrease stress on the environment and are sustainable.

7. Affordability

Mobile home communities are growing in popularity not only for the close community bond it fosters. Pricing plays a significant role too. While traditional homes cost around $200,000 for a basic, single-family unit, a pre-made house can come at a fraction of the price tag. In some states, for instance, pre-owned is up for sale at $10,000 and up, while new ones around $90,000. An attractive offer, retiring seniors cannot afford to miss.

Why? Because in most cases, they own a house too large for their living and too expensive to maintain. By selling off their older home, they can achieve two targets at once:

  1. Own a low maintenance house, and
  2. Put some money in the bank.

Another factor that affects the final cost is the parking fee. The house price does not include the land it stands on, and park owners can charge upwards of $100 each month for park fee. Yet, community members often end up owning those parks and do away with recurring expenses.

Furthermore, without an owned piece of land to anchor the home, it is often treated as a motor vehicle. And as such, it undergoes depreciation over time. However, once it is attached to the ground, the decline in its value slows down as it is then considered an item of accommodation.

The Bottom Line

Manufactured homes are gradually emerging as the next big home option for most Americans. They are compact, built around safety codes, and offer flexibility on features and design. All these, without burdening you with loans or eating into your lifestyle choices.

In other cases, they offer Millennials the chance to move away from time and resource-consuming home building and give them something that follows modern trends. It is now seen as a practical and respectable financial choice to buy or rent manufactured homes.

With communities gearing up security features and big investors entering the segment, mobile homes are all set to push past conventional housing and forge ahead of its time. While it is not slated to be the next home out of a science-fiction saga, it is certainly built at the junction of inexpensive housing and future-forward technology.