FMHA Calls for Information After Irma

FMHA Director Asks for Information to Connect Resources to Areas of Need, Stories from Hurricane Irma

Manufactured home communities in the path of Hurricane Irma have experienced varying degrees of damage and flooding, and the Florida Manufactured Housing Association has put out a request for information that can bring resources to people in need and tell the stories of storm survivors.

“We’re still trying to assess the extent of the damage. We’re getting varied reports all over. There’s a lot of damage in the Keys and up the west coast and into Tampa,”

Hurricane survivors in Florida are asked to provide hurricane information after Irma. — USCG Search & Rescue Team in Jacksonville

FMHA Executive Director James Ayotte said. “The east coast has a lot of flooding from storm surge, if not damage from the wind.”

Hurricane Irma made landfall in South Florida on Sunday morning. Power is out to more than half of the state’s residents, and flooding and property damage is widespread for home owners.

Ayotte said FMHA is organizing a crew to fly over the region and will document conditions.

Rescuers and search personnel look for information after Irma — USCG team in Hastings, Fla.

In the meantime, the association would like to hear from homeowners and residents who need help, or have resources to provide, and also would like to document how the storm affected individual manufactured homes.

“We’re open for business, and working with state and federal entities to get the aid people need,” Ayotte said. “If people need assistance, please contact us and we can accommodate that. We have members who have inventory, with homes and sites that are available right now.”

Many Floridians are stranded or isolated for a variety of reasons, including communication and infrastructure disruptions, as well as because of health or socio-economic challenges. FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard and other state and national recovery teams have been working round the clock to lend assistance.

“As an industry, it’s of great interest to us how manufactured homes, particularly the ones built since 1994, are holding up,” Ayotte said. “We want the stories, we want people to share with us what they’ve experienced.”

Individual residents and community owners/managers should call FMHA at (850) 907-9111 to report the condition of homes, share experiences from Hurricane Irma, as well as to express any needs or ideas for providing relief.

Manufactured Home Communities Hit by Hurricane Harvey

South Texas Parks Recover from Varying Levels of Damage, Loss from Massive Hurricane

Green Acres is one of the many South Houston manufactured home communities hit by Hurricane Harvey. Residents today are emerging from water-damaged homes as community management and maintenance teams check on people and clear away debris.

“I’ve been able to walk through about half of the park now and everywhere I’ve gone, there has been damage, including water in homes and cars,” said Catherine Hinojosa, Green Acres community manager. “Water was definitely coming in from the rain, but also came in from the flooding. I feel so bad. Some ladies were crying and still very scared. This is their home.

“We have our residents asking about who to contact for clothing donations,” she added. “People are having to throw out a lot of what they own, including clothes and furniture.”

Green Acres is located off Hooper Road and neighbors a pair of other mobile home communities hit by Hurricane Harvey. While her community sustained damage, Hinojosa said, adjacent neighborhoods were under deeper water.

South Texas Communities Hit by Hurricane Harvey — Nebraska Task Force 1 sets out in Hurricane Harvey recovery.
-FEMA News Photo

“People needed to swim to safety, or boats were going in,” Hinojosa said. The Green Acres maintenance staff did a good job of limiting the flooding. Workers waded through and cleared away storm water drains.

“That’s hard to do, and I’m sure many neighborhoods weren’t able to find where the storm drains, or even if they did find them, they would be hard to clean under the rising water,” she said.

Expanded Deer Crossing Among Communities Hit by Hurricane Harvey

In Victoria, Texas, southwest of Houston, John Goldman had recently invested $200,000 in the expansion of his park, Deer Crossing. Goldman’s property sits about 30 miles off the gulf. High winds peeled off part of the roof on one of the multi-section homes in his community, and many others sustained lesser damage.

“Right now, I have about 20 people in my yard cleaning up, trimming trees and such,” Goldman said on Thursday morning, six days after Hurricane Harvey came ashore and stalled.

Goldman said Victoria received about 20 inches of rain, at least partly because the eye of the storm stalled above them during a short time when the Houston area was under a torrential downpour.

“We do have electricity and we have water, even though we need to boil it. But we’re doing OK all things said… we’re going to need to replace a lot skirting,” he said. “You can see the sky a lot more now. It’s weird to have all of that foliage and coverage gone. The trees are bare. The place looks different, but we’re safe.”

Harvey Dumps Historic Amounts of Rain

Some parts of Houston were hit with more than 50 inches of rain, the most rainfall ever recorded from a single storm in U.S. history. Nearly 40 people were reported to have died from the storm, as of midday Thursday.

One weather analyst said the amount of rainfall in South Texas during the last several days, 19 trillion gallons, would raise the entire Great Lakes water level by more than 11 inches.

Temporary and Replacement Homes Needed for Communities Hit by Harvey

With an estimated 30,000 flooded homes, finding places to live for area residents in need will be a primary task in the weeks and months to come. On Wednesday, in an effort to help with recovery, MHVillage and its sister company Datacomp, provided the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with a free report of mobile homes for sale in the state of Texas.

The report details more than 2,300 homes for sale across the state.

FEMA in recent days has reiterated its need to ramp up inventory of manufactured homes for relief efforts in Texas. Much of its inventory had been depleted during the last year given flood recovery efforts in Minnesota and Louisiana.

Ernie Sanchez is a salesman for RD Mobile Homes in Pearland, south of Houston. The storm and subsequent flooding kept the dealership shuttered for more than five days.

“We didn’t have any damage to inventory,” Sanchez said. “We had some flooding, but it’s subsided completely. Obviously, there’s going to be a need for housing. I’m assuming we’re going to be very busy,”

“We bought 20 houses yesterday, so we’re ready,” he said. “There’s going to be a need.”

However, Sanchez pointed out, the housing problem for communities hit by Hurricane Harvey is as much about a location for a new home as it is about the structure itself.

“It’s too early to know exactly how much of an impact on Houston this storm will have. But the way I look at it, people are going to be looking for homes, and mobile homes make sense, but there’s a limited number of places to put them,” Sanchez said. “In Houston, you can’t have a mobile home placed anywhere but in a community, so that’s something that might need to be set aside while this recovery is underway.”

If you’re interested in lending a much-needed hand to the recovery effort, here is a Houston Chronicle news story on a few ways to get involved.

Resident-owned Communities Take Hold

Minnesota Resident-owned Community — Natividad Seefeld is a leader in her resident-owned community.

ROC USA plants the seed of possibility with a resident-owned community

Home ownership is a giant step toward independence for Many Americans, but often it’s far from the last step. For those who own a manufactured home, the formation of a resident-owned community may be the path to a sustainable housing solution. Mike Bullard and those at ROC USA, a New Hampshire-based nonprofit, help residents ask “why not?”

ROC gains steam nationwide

ROC coaches residents as they form coalitions and navigate the tricky waters of purchasing property.

Residents — the majority of whom already own their homes — form a co-op and board of directors. Each community member pays a price up front to join the co-op. That amount typically is between $240 to $500, which also helps establish buy-in for the effort.

This model began at the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund in 1984. “Don’t lose the nun’s money,” became a common mantra after they made their first purchase with the Sisters of Mercy fund.

In 2008, the community loan fund joined with NeighborWorks America, Prosperity Now and Capital Impact Partners to form ROC USA, LLC.

Resident-owned Community Meeting — Residents cast votes.

Building Community

ROC residents lead the community together. They control who to admit, how to screen candidates and, of course, how to spend the money.

Each member becomes a shareholder, owning a percentage of the park’s land as a whole, rather than simply owning what’s beneath them.

This means it’s in each landowner’s best interest to help their neighbors. Monthly rent goes to the community, often used toward maintaining or updating the community, for garbage, snowplowing or landscaping.

As a result, community relationships improve as well. “People always used to say they knew their neighbors, and maybe a few other people in the community,” said Bullard communication and marketing manager for ROC USA. “It runs a lot deeper now, and I hear it all the time as I walk through a community.”

Resident-owned Communities Take Hold — New Community Owners Celebrate their Purchase

One Resident-owned Community in Minneapolis

Natividad Seefeld, board president of Park Plaza, a ROC near Minneapolis, uses the co-op model to create a thriving community.

As a fellow resident, she has vested interest in developing ways to improve the park. Seefeld organizes nights out against crime and lines up funds for huge projects. These include a new playground, paid for by raising private donations through the ROC USA website. Park Plaza also replaced the water system. One winter, in the middle of a cold snap, a pipe burst under a house. Water gushed out onto the street and froze.

The co-op had to bring in a crane to lift the house to remedy the immediate problem. Later they were able to fix entire water system.

ROC gains an Industry Name

Each year, ROC USA transforms an average of 15 parks. One of the most important aspects of the mission is the time spent with community owners, brokers and realtors. These are the professionals with an inside track on what communities are coming up for sale.

ROC USA aims to gain information through these connections and supporters. The organization’s employees inform everyone they meet how selling to residents can be the most beneficial exit strategy.

“Many community owners aren’t particularly interested in even contemplating a resident purchase,” explained John Wiltse of Pathstone, a nonprofit in the ROC USA network. “It’s different from the traditional business model.”

Pathstone is a CTAP, or Certified Technical Assistance Provider, one of nine nationwide. These nonprofits focus on making ROC known and building partnerships locally. This is done through joining the state manufactured housing association or by showing up at an industry-related event.

There is a prime challenge supporters face when attempting to convert a community owner to ROC’s cause, Wiltse explained. It takes effort to convince owners that the residents are good buyers, and ones capable of taking over the operation of the community.

“Many may believe their homeowners could never do what they do and have concern toward disclosing any part of their operation to their homeowners,” Wiltse said. “They’re used to a business model built around limiting access to that type of information, and they’re concerned that if the community goes to sale, everyone would leave or stop paying rent.”

Wiltse argues this belief is unfounded, but residents, too, often doubt their ability to own land and run a community.

New features in resident-owned communities — Natividad raises the sign on a new playground.

How to Create Buy-in

To show the residents it is indeed possible for them to get a loan, pay for the land, and manage the park, ROC USA offers a skills survey at the start. The goal is to identify people in the community who can serve as treasurer, bookkeeper or secretary.

“People don’t necessarily know the talent in their own community,” Bullard said.

In the beginning, residents can be “skeptical and jaded” with conversation between a willing park owner and the resident group, Wiltse said. But with time, a light comes on in their eyes as the potential for ownership builds.

ROC USA’s devotion to connection-building and overcoming obstacles has led them to a 100-percent success rate with their communities. Each community to enter an agreement with ROC USA has maintained payment on the property and continues to effectively operate it.

ROC USA continues educating people in the industry, and organizers hope selling to residents continues to have a growing place in the market.

Visit ROC USA to find out more about the work it does, and contact them here.

Maintain Your Home Through the Year

This fantastic home maintenance calendar comes to us from the folks over at Factory Built Owners of America. It is a member-driven nonprofit organization that represents the common interests of owners and prospective owners of manufactured homes.

A Home Maintenance Calendar for You

August

• Service and clean the furnace. Have your furnace inspected and cleaned by a professional, especially if you have a gas furnace. It’s better to find out now that you have a furnace problem rather than in the dead of winter.

• Do you have a fireplace? Inspect fireplace stacks and have chimneys cleaned. Fireplace stacks and chimneys are often overlooked in a maintenance schedule, but it is very important to keep these clean and free of debris. Otherwise, they can be a fire hazard.

September

• Test smoke detectors, and replace batteries. Most factory-built homes have two smoke alarms. I recommend having one smoke detector in each bedroom and at least one carbon monoxide detector.

• Winterize house and pipes. Time to make sure that all outside pipes are wrapped. If a home is going to be vacant for the winter, there are a handful of critical tasks to ensure the mobile home is properly winterized. This includes draining the water heater, blowing out pressure lines, and pouring an antifreeze type solution in the toilets and drain traps.

October

• Change the A/C filter.

• Check mobile home steps, porches and decks. These need to be in good repair and stable for the upcoming winter months. Because these areas get very slick when wet or icy, consider installing an anti skid type material on them.

November

• Clean carpets. Get ready for the holidays by cleaning your carpets. I prefer steam cleaning over shampooing because it leaves no residue.

December

• No maintenance this month. Enjoy the holidays!

January

• Change Air Conditioning (A/C)/furnace filter. Filters should be changed or cleaned at least every three months.

February

• Tighten toilet flange bolts. Toilets can become loose at the base and may leak past the wax ring causing extensive floor damage. Tighten the two bolts, usually covered by plastic dome caps at the base of the toilet, being careful not to tighten too tight or the toilet may crack.

• Tighten tank bolts. There are typically 2 or 3 bolts that secure the toilet tank to the toilet bowl. If you can rock the tank back and forth it needs to be tightened. Carefully tighten the nuts on the bolts that go from the tank bottom thru the holes in the base being careful not to over tighten or it may crack the bottom of the tank.

• Replace flapper valve. Many households use disinfect tablets to keep the toilet tank clean, but these tablets damage the rubber valve over time, making is necessary to replace it. These valves are cheap, and a bag of them can be bought from any of the big hardware stores for a few bucks. To replace the valve, pull the lid off the tank. Looking down you will see a black rubber valve with a little chain connected to it. Lift the valve out of the tank with the chain and replace the old valve with a new one.

• Tighten drain pipes and water connections under sinks. Reaching under the sink, follow the drain pipes from the base of the sink, and tighten each nut that connects the pipes and the traps together. Follow the hot and cold water lines up to the base of the faucets and tighten the nuts that secure the lines to the faucet with your hand. It’s so simple – no tools needed.

• Clean faucet aerators. These are the little screens that are on the end of each faucet. They simply unscrew. Pull them apart and soak in CLR, Lime Away or similar product to clear away lime deposits. Or buy a replacement at your local hardware store.

March

• Remove floor registers and vacuum ducts, then disinfect. Most factory-built homes have the heating and air conditioning vents in the floor. Dirt, debris and other objects can fall into the ducting through the floor registers. Once a year, remove the 2 screws from each vent and remove the registers. You will be surprised at what you find, especially if you have children. Remove any objects, and vacuum out the dirt. Take a spray bottle with a mixture of water and bleach, and spray into the ducts to kill any germs. While the vent is off, check the vertical riser pipe for any leaks. Seal any leaks with aluminum duct tape.

April

• Change the A/C filter.

• Inspect roof, seal stacks, edges, and seams. Inspect the roof of your mobile home once a year. Remove any loose sealer, and then paint on a roof patch product, or use an aluminum roof coating. Metal roofs should be completely re-coated every few years with either aluminum roof coating or white coating. Use aluminum coating around stacks and seams first, wait a couple of days to give the coating a chance to set up, and then paint the entire roof with white coating. This not only protects against water leaks, but helps save on energy bills. Inspect shingle roofs making minor repairs with black roof patch. Purchase these coatings thru a factory built home supplier like Atlas Supply or a large national supplier like Home Depot.

May

• Inspect the seal of exterior doors and windows and exterior mobile home siding. Caulk exterior doors, windows and exterior hardboard siding. Use clear silicone if you will not paint or a paint-able caulk if you will. Caulk small holes or cracks of vinyl siding with silicone, or replace sections of siding that are heavily damaged.

• Inspect and tighten screws in your metal siding. Be sure to tighten any ¼” hex screws that are coming loose on your metal sided home.

June

• Flush water heater. Many cities have very hard water causing hard water deposits to form in your water heater. This leads to inefficient water heating making it necessary to flush the water heater. Flushing the water heater should be done by a professional. But if you are doing it yourself, be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions.

• Inspect foundation blocking. If your home sits on concrete blocks directly on the ground with no base pad or concrete, your house will settle. This can cause structural damage to the home, and can cause doors and windows not to open or close properly. Look for cracks in the blocks; and look for signs of water passing under the home which can cause erosion leading to major settling problems in your home.

• Level home. Once a year, you should check to make sure the mobile home remains level. If it is out of level, be sure to have it corrected before your home becomes damaged.

July

• Change the A/C filter.

• Inspect and repair underbelly. While checking the underbelly, patch any holes you find with an underbelly material which can be bought from Atlas Supply. Take a piece a little larger than the hole, use spray-on contact cement to secure the patch.

• Inspect A/C and Heating crossover ducts. Multi-section homes have a 10” or 12” crossover duct that connects the ducting systems underneath your home. Keep these taped, connected and off the ground.

• Inspect and repair your mobile home skirting. Whatever type of skirting you have, keep it maintained. It is important for energy efficiency and to keep animals from living under your home.

With routine maintenance, a factory-built home will last as long as any site-built home. I hope this article helps put you on a schedule to keep your home in tip-top shape for years to come.

Factory Built Owners of America is a nonprofit membership association whose mission is to represent the common interests of owners and prospective owners of manufactured homes in acquiring, maintaining and improving their manufactured homes.

Factory Built Owners of America offers educational programs and services related to the purchase, financing, maintenance and improvement of members’ factory-built homes.

For more information about Factory Built Owners of America, contact:
Factory Built Owners of America
PO Box 100056
San Antonio, TX 78201
Email: info@factorybuiltowners.org
Phone: (866) 764-5505
https://www.factorybuiltowners.org

Living the Life in a Florida Senior Community

Are you considering retirement? In our last publication, we shared some of the fine retirement communities across the country. To contrast, today we shine the light on some wonderful senior community selections in Florida. Whether you are interested in golf, boating or relaxing at the pool, these destinations have so much to offer. Joins us for a stroll through some of the top retirement communities in the Sunshine State.

Senior Communities in Western Florida – Gulf of Mexico Coast

Colony Cove, Ellenton

The Herald Tribune of Bradenton named Colony Cove the Best Retirement Community in three consecutive years.

Colony Cove is located in Ellenton, Florida, in the Sarasota/Bradenton metro area. Ellenton is a small, quaint town with tropical breezes and a friendly atmosphere. In addition, over a fifth of the area within Ellenton is water. As a result, waterfront properties are everywhere, including at Colony Cove.

This resort-style senior community is a design for the active 55+ lifestyle. It has a private dock, great fishing and beautiful views. Also, the senior community has five heated swimming pools, shuffleboard and tennis courts. Colony Cove has on-site management, laundry, RV storage, woodworking shop, two fitness centers and a dog park.

Jamaica Bay, South Fort Myers

Jamaica Bay is a beautiful gated community of manufactured homes in South Fort Myers, Florida. This area is well known for its 50 miles of sandy shoreline, fantastic fishing and natural beauty. Jamaica Bay is a private community with a gate, and sits on 230 acres of palm trees in paradise.

Some of the many things to do include two heated swimming pools, a whirlpool spa, fitness center, tennis, shuffleboard and bocci ball courts as well as horseshoe pits. Add to that, free RV and boat storage and three fish stocked lakes. The residents also have access to numerous planned activities and events. As a result, it is a wonderful place to call home.

Oak Crest/Acorn Mobile Home Community, Largo

Largo is the fourth largest city in the Tampa area. Enjoy long walks on the world-famous Clearwater Beach, the highest-rated white sand beach in balmy Florida. Explore The Pier with its shops, observation deck, aquarium, boating and just plain fun. In addition, Largo is home to the Florida Botanical Gardens and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Oak Crest/Acorn Mobile Home Community is a gated senior community. It has a heated swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, and picnic area with a gas grill. A game room with billiards and library is in the clubhouse. Pets are welcome at Oak Crest/Acorn. So your furry friends can enjoy the Gulf too!

Windward Village, Spring Hill

Windward Village is located on Florida’s Adventure Coast, in Spring Hill, in Hernando County just 40 miles north of Tampa. The community is near U.S. 19 and Windward Boulevard, nestled over 81 acres of stunning landscape surrounded by beautiful nature preserves.

Windward Village is near numerous recreational activities such as golf, boating, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, canoeing and kayaking. But Lake Jared is on site and is the community’s own catch and release pond. A nature preserve that surrounds many homesites offers residents the inspiring sights and sounds of nature.

Del Tura Country Club, North Fort Myers

Del Tura Country Club is the perfect retirement destination for the avid golfer. It boasts an on-site golf course. When you aren’t out on the fairways and greens, there are five swimming pools, five spas, a fitness center, library and even a restaurant on site. Additionally, this waterfront property has a huge clubhouse, a fishing pond, shuffleboard and tennis courts and planned activities. You certainly never will run out of things to do or ways to enjoy Florida’s beautiful weather.

Central Florida Senior Communities

Mid Florida Lakes, Leesburg

Mid Florida Lakes can be found in Lake County. Located in the northwest segment of the Orlando Metro area, Lake County is a step away from the big city, but with a small-town atmosphere. In fact, Leesburg was voted one of the top 100 Places To Retire-2014 by TopRetirements.com.

This pet-friendly, gated senior community has a swimming pool, tennis courts, a fitness center and great fishing opportunities. Homes located on the water provide covered and open boat slips. With boat ramps and palm trees, you’ll get the full taste of Florida!

Sunlake Estates, Grand Island

Talk about natural beauty! Lake Yale sets the stage for this Central Florida senior community. Plus, Sunlake Estates is just five miles from the Ocala National Forest. It is ten miles from everyday conveniences, including restaurants, shopping, banks, medical facilities and churches. Add to that attractions and small-town charm, residents enjoy visiting the nearby towns of Eustis, Leesburg and Mount Dora.

Sunlake Estates residents enjoy the community’s fabulous clubhouse with resort-style amenities, 48-slip marina, nine-hole golf course, community garden and 10-acre recreational park with softball field. There is a lakeside park with BBQ and picnic areas. With great fishing and boat and RV storage, Sunlake Estates has everything you need for your relaxing water side Florida retirement!

Schalamar Creek, Lakeland

Winner of 2014 National Community of the Year award, Schalamar Creek is recognized for its attention to detail, amenities, community design and professional management. It has a history too! Schalamar Creek is the 1999 and 2000 Reader’s Choice first-place award winner for best community in a survey by The Lakeland Ledger.

Situated on 500 acres of waterways and natural beauty, the neighborhood provides fairway, lake frontage and wooded homesites. Schalamar Creek also offers one of the area’s finest golf courses. The Ron Garl-designed, 18-hole championship course can challenge even the most experienced golfer, as well as introduce someone new to the game. There are year round tournaments for fun, trophies and cash. Schalamar Creek has a PGA teaching pro on staff and offers a full-service golf shop. The course sits aside Saddle Creek Park, a bird 750-acre bird sanctuary. During a round, players may see a variety of beautiful birds.

Lake Point Village, Mulberry

Centrally sited to the south of Lakeland and just east of Tampa, Mulberry has all the charm of small-town living with all the modern metro conveniences. Mulberry is “The Crossroads of Florida” due to its central location in the state. Mulberry is a small town perfect for fun and exploration.

The design of this senior community is unique. Homesites encircle two large nature preserves and a crystal blue lake encompasses the eastern property line. In addition, residents at Lake Pointe Village enjoy an array of fun activities – from socializing in the beautiful 12,000 square-foot clubhouse to playing tennis, shuffleboard, and a 9-hole putting green. Poolside parties are a way of life, as is ballroom dancing, billiards, cards and bingo.

Heartland Estates, Haines City

Heartland Estates is a 55+ manufactured housing community in Haines City, regarded as “the Heart of Florida.” Heartland Estates is on lovely Lake Hester. There are a number of challenging golf courses in a 15-mile radius. Disney World is 18 miles away, and many other famous attractions also are within a short drive.

Heartland Estates is big enough to support a full, active lifestyle, yet still small enough to serve as a true neighborhood. It has a clubhouse overlooking the pool and Lake Hester. Other amenities include a library, billiards room and exercise room. Residents enjoy a wide range of activities and organizations, including bingo, craft shows, computer club, game nights, coffee hours, shuffleboard and much more.

Rolling Greens, Ocala

Rolling Greens has a perfect central Florida spot on the edge of the Ocala National Forest. Located in North Central Florida, there are many old trees, picturesque horse farms and pleasant year -round temperatures. A dream come true for horse enthusiasts!

As you can tell from the name, it also is a haven for golfers. Rolling Greens has an 18-hole Executive Golf Course and a Pro Shop. For the non-golfer, there are three swimming pools, tennis and shuffleboard courts, horseshoes and billiards. They also have group activities with everything from BBQs to dance lessons.

https://youtu.be/ou4J7Uz9108

Senior Communities in Eastern Florida – Space Coast

Lamplighter Village, Melbourne

Just off the Atlantic Coast, Lamplighter Village boasts one of the finest climates in Florida. The average temperature is 73 degrees, and the prevailing breeze off the ocean is lovely. Fans of the U.S. Space Program also know the area as the Space Coast serving as home to many who worked on the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. The Space Coast has 75 miles of coastline with nationally recognized beaches and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Situated on 110 acres, Lamplighter Village offers a 5-star clubhouse, heated pool and hot tub, pool-deck bar, dog park, spacious card and meeting room, fitness center, billiards room and tennis courts. This senior community is pet-friendly and has new and professional refurbished homes available.

Lauder Lakes, Fort Lauderdale

In sunny South Florida’s famous Fort Lauderdale, Lauder Lakes is minutes from seven miles of beaches, the airport and Las Olas Boulevard’s renowned shops and eateries.

This private community offers a large clubhouse and heated pool, sauna, laundry room, kitchen, billiards, shuffle board, petanque court and showers. Streets have tropical vegetation at every turn, and they’re closed to through-traffic. The combination of scenic and minimal motor traffic makes for ideal avenues to stroll. All residents have their own private and often covered parking. Also, homes surround two large lakes.

Find the Senior Community That is Right For You

Florida provides a nearly endless number of spectacular senior retirement communities. What we provide here is a glimpse, to give you the idea. If you are interested in learning more, check out our in-depth guide to finding the right senior mobile home park and you will be fully prepared to begin your search!

Virtual Tour Guide on MHVillage

A guide to the Virtual Tour on MHVillage

More and more we are seeing technology come to the rescue when it comes to convenient and efficient shopping. From automated search alerts to online communication between consumers and sellers, the urgency of response time continues to be more valuable every day. Our Virtual Tour feature is yet another tool to help follow this trend and give more information to your buyer up front.

MHVillage works specifically with home buyers and renters who shop online, and we’ve have found that a high percentage of these customers look at homes in cities and states that are far from their current location. This can be quite the obstacle for home sellers who are trying to set up a time for potential buyers to view the home.

This is one of the reasons we offer the option for home sellers to upload a Virtual Tour to their Premium Home listings!

What is a Virtual Tour?

This is a space on the home or community listing where you would add a link to a video. Once added it will load the video directly to your listing page near the photos, making it easy for a customer to view.

How do I create this video?

Our technology evolves rapidly and there are no excuses for a poor quality video these days. So, while a professional video would be ideal, a smartphone video can be surprisingly effective as well.

Here are some tips on creating a Virtual Tour that will show the best sides of your home:

Formatting: A horizontal view is the best angle when recording the tour. It not only allows for more of the home to be featured, but also formats cleaner on both desktop and mobile devices.

Style: A video simply walking the customer through the details as if they were right there next to you is the most effective style for this video.

Start with a steady view of the exterior and then end with the same. This will create a similar experience to the first and last impression of the home the customer would have if they were to take a tour in person.

Narration/Music: This is a matter of preference. If you choose to narrate the tour (meaning you speak directly to the customer off camera while filming), then be sure and check the audio quality in the editing process. If music is more your style, then you also want to be sure you have the rights to the song. There are multiple websites where you can purchase the rights to music for this exact purpose. (click here for a list of well-reviewed music options on the web)

Editing/Uploading: We also suggest editing the video before you load it online. This is so you can be sure the video starts and stops at an appropriate spot. Some smart phones have editing features built in, others are downloaded apps, and typically there are editing tools provided on video-sharing sites like YouTube and Vimeo.

Once you have the video filmed, edited and loaded online, then the next step is copying the URL and adding it to your Premium home listing. Voila!

If you have any additional questions about the Virtual Tour feature on our site, contact us!

Affordable Lending Program Launched

The Mortgage Collaborative Pilots Affordable Lending Outreach

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC) is the nation’s only independent mortgage cooperative and today launched a pilot program to focus on affordable lending.

The new Affordable Lending Outreach Pilot Program was developed to promote the cooperative’s lender members’ initiatives to expand lending to low- to moderate-income borrowers, and loans in rural and manufactured housing communities. It provides support and education for select lenders that are members of TMC’s network, using educational resources and materials provided by Fannie Mae.

The Affordable Lending Outreach Pilot Program will help participating lender members expand educational events with nonprofit organizations, enhance partnerships with community groups to promote affordable lending options, train targeted populations and assist with the cost of homeownership counseling for consumers. The innovative program will be tested with select lender members in 2017, and TMC plans to expand the initiative in 2018, allowing additional members of the cooperative to participate.

“TMC is pleased to promote affordable lending options to traditionally underserved markets in all corners of America with support from Fannie Mae,” said David G. Kittle, vice chairman and president of The Mortgage Collaborative. “Whether it’s rural areas or manufactured housing, TMC is committed to ensuring that mortgage access is available in all markets to households of modest means. We applaud Fannie Mae and its commitment to work with our members to fulfill this important mission.”

TMC’s Affordable Lending Outreach Program aims to help consumers responsibly obtain homeownership and by supporting the cooperative’s growing network of best-in-class lender members in their outreach and educational efforts.

About TMC

Based in San Diego, Calif., The Mortgage Collaborative was founded in 2013 to empower mortgage lenders across the country with better financial execution, reduced costs, enhanced expertise and improved compliance to help its members access the dynamic and changing consumer base in America. The cooperative is managed by its founding members: John Robbins, CMB; David Kittle, CMB, Gary Acosta, CEO of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP); and Jim Park, the former chair of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA). Robbins and Kittle are former chairmen of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA). For more information, visit http://www.mortgagecollaborative.com/.

All About Mobile Home Skirting

mobile home skirting mobile home curb appeal

Pick the Mobile Home Skirting Material that Suits You Best, and Watch Out for a Few Pitfalls

Mobile home skirting is required around the home’s bottom exterior to keep away pests and moisture. Additionally, the installation of skirting can enhance the visual appeal of the home by masking piers, tie-downs and the concrete slab.

Many online marketplaces and corner hardware stores sell mobile home skirting. However, the question remains, what feature set, what material and what look is best for you?

Standard vinyl skirting comes in 12-foot long panels. It’s cut to width for the average height off the ground from the bottom of the home. Vinyl is the least expensive option, and comes in solid panels or panels with vent holes.

Other Mobile Home Skirting Options

Chris Carpenter, manager of Southern Heritage Homes of Louisiana in Denham Springs, La., said vinyl remains the most common purchase for this product type.

“Another common material here is called K-ROK, which is panel that looks like stone or brick. You can get it in a great number of varieties, and it’s typically much more expensive than vinyl,” Carpenter said. “I tell my customers to go with the vinyl material. It’s cheaper, it ventilates your home better, and it’s easy to replace. And vinyl comes in about four or five different colors.”

vinyl mobile home skirting — New vinyl skirting

The cost of K-ROK skirting is about four times that of the vinyl product, which costs about $500 for enough sheeting to enclose a 16-foot by 84-foot single-section home.

Kurt Taubert, co-owner of Mobile Home Depot in Highland, Mich., said he sells nearly as much aluminum skirting as he does vinyl. Faux brick and stone, as well as textured varieties, make up about 20 percent of his mobile home skirting sales.

Regional Considerations

“Those two are the standard,” Taubert said of vinyl and aluminum “We have Rapid Wall, which is a flat pebbled finish and a higher-priced product. We also have Exteria, which is a faux brick, and is a thicker panel than K-ROK. We offer R-Cotec, which is a steel panel with foam for insulation and a painted brick texture.

faux brick mobile home skirting — New faux brick skirting

“That’s very popular in the northern states because it’s insulated,” he said of R-Cotec.

Transition zones such as the upper central plains require homeowner to weigh the winter benefits of insulated mobile home skirting. That same winter protection can create a summer home for termites and other pests.

“Termites will tunnel through from the bottom,” Taubert said. “They’re very hard to detect until it’s a real problem.”

Steel is trending

Larry Harmon, manager of Tulsa Siding Pro in Tulsa, Okla., has a product that has become a company of its own. With Strong Skirt, a bit more than six years in, he feels he’s met the original intent of offering mobile home skirting that is durable and FHA compliant, covers most cities’ ordinances, and is of value to the customer.

“Strong Skirt is an all steel product,” Harmon said. “It’s the most weed eater resistant. You don’t have to worry about getting your grill too close to it. And the 17 color choices really allow the homeowner to get the look they want.

Maintenance

“The installation tasks with Strong Skirt are about the same as vinyl,” Harmon said. “The cost is about double what you’ll pay for vinyl. Likewise, it takes about twice as long to install. But it’s much more durable and stays looking the way you want it to look.”

Typically, Taubert talks to his customers about maintenance and longevity when considering material types.

“Aluminum will dent if a ball is kicked into it, but it will hold up to a weed wacker,” he said. “The vinyl will get eaten up by the weeder, but it will flex and bounce back if a ball is kicked into it.”

Skirting of nearly any variety can sustain damage or be destroyed by a weeder. This will be unsightly and provide access for water to enter. Additionally, these compromises in the mobile home skirting provide an animal gateway to chew on wiring and harm other utilities. Worse yet, they could take up residence under your home.

So, there are three primary approaches to beating back skirting damage caused by weeding.

First, consider putting down a few inches of plastic and landscaping stone around the skirting. Second, you can spray chemical weed killer, which tends to yellow the surrounding foliage. As a result, the remaining spray could be toxic for pets and children. The third option is a bit of a manufactured home maintenance hack…

Mobile Home Skirting Installation Tips

“You can order an extra length of that thick vinyl tracking typically used on the top of the skirting,” Carpenter said. “You use that same product on the bottom and it will help keep the vinyl panel protected when you’re working in your yard.”

Additionally, Carpenter reminds customers to use a concrete bit with a drill for the hole and anchor spots in a concrete slab. The alternative, liquid nail products, will deteriorate easily and allow the wind or animals to pull up the skirting.

“With the top of the skirting, it’s a good idea to screw a couple of the panels in and pull them tight,” Carpenter added. “Then you get the other panels placed and screw them to the home about every four to five feet. This keeps the skirting secure on the top.”

The following tools will be required to install your own skirting: Drill and bit, a hammer, a tape measure, wood stakes, tin snips, spikes and nails, a level and a utility knife. Replacing skirting on a single-section home, if you’re a homeowner with some handyman skills, could take most of the weekend.

On the other hand, an experienced installer can finish the job in a day, and charges about $45 per hour.

Many times, mobile home skirting options are rolled into the home buying process. If the skirting is for a new home, it will be placed inside the home during mobile home transport. Buyers can ask for added lengths of siding that can be extended down in place of or in combination with skirting.

Keep the Moisture Away

One of the advantages to vinyl and aluminum is the ventilation.

The faux and textured panels are solid and trap ground moisture below the home. The recommendation is to only use the solid panels on three sides of the home and to use a ventilated material on the rear of the home. This approach provides some ventilation, but is less effective than having a home ventilated on all sides.

Unwanted moisture under the home will create mildew and possibly buckle the home’s floor joists, which is particularly common in wet states like Louisiana and Michigan.

“The fire marshal will inspect homes in Louisiana to ensure there is a well-prepared pad that has a ‘turtle-back’ curve to it that keeps moisture away,” Carpenter said.

Skirting Update:

Dennis Hermen, a sales manager for Rustique Enterprises, near St. Louis, Missouri, approached our MHVillage team during SECO17. He wanted to tell us about a new skirting product that might be of interest to our readers!

The product name is Rustique Rib, and it comes with a guarantee against weed eater damage.

“We used recessed vents and a flat surface, which means there’s no place for the weed eater string to catch and damage the skirting,” Hermen said. “We’ve eliminated the weak points in the panel. It’s the heaviest panel on the market today.”

About 25 percent thicker than most products on the market, Rustique Rib come in s six colors and can be purchased through the company’s website at $10 per panel.

“That’s not a whole lot more than people are currently paying for skirting,” Hermen said.

Free Kit For Home Sellers

Home Seller Kit for selling a mobile home

Selling your mobile home by yourself can be a complicated process. MHVillage would like to help. If you list your mobile home for sale on our website, we’ll send you a free Home Seller Kit.

The Home Seller Kit includes:

“Seven Costly Mistakes that Most Sellers Make” (And How You Can Avoid Them)
“Present Your Home Like a Pro” (17 secrets to making buyers fall in love at first sight!)
A large 15″ by 20″ full color For Sale by Owner sign
A sample mobile home purchase agreement
A sample seller’s disclosure statement
Financing and insurance information and much more. . .

In fact, even if you haven’t yet listed your home online, you can still receive our kit!

Just click over to our Sell Your Mobile Home page and tell us where you would like us to send it. As you can see, we ship these out by Priority Mail – so please make sure you give us a good address that can accept a large box.

If you are thinking about listing your home, spring is just around the corner and now is a great time to get started! Remember, home listings are just a one time fee until the home has sold, (Basic listings are just $49.95.) List your home now and attract those spring buyers – you can update, edit and change your listing at anytime.

Have questions? Email the Customer Service team, we’d love to help!

psssst…. if you are also thinking of purchasing a home, we have some excellent information for you too! Check out our guide to buying a mobile home for some great tips and checklists!

Eleven Gorgeous Resort Retirement Communities – Not in Florida!

People naturally think “Florida” when it comes to retirement plans at manufactured home communities. Rightfully so, as Florida has amazing resort communities designed for senior living.

However, there are many great manufactured home communities for retirees! As a matter of fact, senior mobile home communities are a wonderful way to live in style, at a reasonable cost, throughout the country.

Here are 11 manufactured home communities that stood out to us:

Saddlebrook Farms, Grayslake, Ill.

Saddlebrook Farms is just an hour from both Chicago and Milwaukee. As a retirement destination, Grayslake boasts natural forest preserves, inland lakes, and plenty of activities for the outdoor enthusiast. There also are nearby golf courses, theaters and the Volo Auto Museum for fun day activities.

Saddlebrook Farms, among the 55+ manufactured home communities, is located on fish-stocked lakes and is surrounded by miles of gorgeous walking paths.

Test your green thumb with the gardening club. You can explore new horizons with the travel group. Pick up a new skill with the wood carvers. With all of this and more, Saddlebrook Farms in the Midwest is a great place to retire.

Tropicana Palms, Las Vegas, Nev.

When you think of Vegas you think “fun filled vacation”. However, you may be surprised to learn this high desert locale has prime manufactured home communities for resort-style retirement.

And Tropicana Palms easily captures your attention.

This community has a pool, tennis courts and a wonderful fitness center. It offers billiards and card leagues. Plus, the activities team constantly arranges fun and engaging gatherings for the senior living community, including line dancing, Zumba, water aerobics, movie nights, costume parties and more.

Love the outdoors? Well, Tropicana Palms is adjacent the Clark County Preserve and Nature Center and has a private entrance to the park. It is minutes from McCarran Airport and the Las Vegas Strip. Beautiful scenery, loads of things to do and the excitement of Las Vegas? What more could you ask?

Dolce Vita at Superstition Mountain, Apache Junction, Ariz.

Love palm trees and warm weather, but looking for both of these outside of Florida? Dolce Vita is a premier active adult community in the Phoenix area. Check out these amenities: a 33,000 square-foot clubhouse featuring a stocked library, billiards room with eight tables, a top-of-the-line workout facility, craft room with a kiln, two card rooms, movie theater with video library, community kitchen, and a 6,200 square-foot ballroom!

Because the weather is so warm, you’ll want to head outside for the 3,000 square-foot pool and two spas. Additionally, the community offers tennis, pickleball courts and a putting green! Because you’ve played so hard, you’ll want to sit back and enjoy the spectacular Superstition Mountain views. As a result, “Where to Retire” Magazine selected Dolce Vita for the Short List of 50 Best Master Planned Communities in the United States.

Furthermore, nearby Apache Junction offers perfect activities for visiting relatives, including grand kids. There are noteworthy museums, state parks, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum and even a Ghost Town to visit!

The Oaks of Rockford, Rockford, Mich.

Oaks of Rockford was honored as one of America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities by retirenet.com and is currently a featured property among manufactured home communities. It is an upscale 55+ active retirement community near Grand Rapids, Michigan’s second largest city. However, this suburban neighborhood provides all the conveniences of a larger metropolitan area while retaining its small-town charm and ambiance. Neighboring the gorgeous Rogue River, Rockford is a city rich in natural beauty and recreational opportunity.

Because of this, nature enthusiasts from all around the area come to check out scenic views at the famous Rockford Dam, seek adventure in the city’s 12 public parks, including several park areas situated right on the river for some of the best Steelhead fishing in the whole state, not to mention the kayaking and tubing.

From there, navigate the 100-mile Fred Meijer White Pine Trail, featuring miles of trees, historic bridges and pathways and wildlife. Downtown Rockford is a warm, bustling community with charming boutiques, galleries, art fairs, historical museums, restaurants, festivals, and a great farmers market. Rockford also has 10 golf courses and a number of ski areas within short driving distance. If you are looking for an active retirement, this Midwestern gem is a great location.

Royal Palms, Bakersfield, Calif.

Royal Palms has carefree senior living in beautiful Bakersfield, Calif. Recently, Bakersfield was noted as a Top 100 Place to Live in the USA by U.S. News & World Report. Royal Palms offers a charming community atmosphere, friendly neighbors and affordability.

Royal Palms is a beautiful 60-acre community, perfect for outdoor activities, including a private three-hole golf course, putting green, swimming pool, spa and dog park. Residents enjoy walking and biking the private streets. There is a paved bike path only two blocks from the golf course. The social activities are a highlight for residents. Many programs are designed especially for seniors, such as card games, bingo, arts and crafts, and exercise classes. Other events include Pot Luck dinners, luncheons, morning coffee hours and social gatherings. Special social events for singles are scheduled every night.

Willow Lake Estates, Elgin, Ill.

Retirees looking for small town charm near a bustling big city will want to take a look at Willow Lake Estates. Located in the Fox River Valley, Willow Lake Estates is a beautifully landscaped community featuring mature willow, oak and maple trees in a country setting. Residents enjoy a private stocked lake and boat dock, a heated community swimming pool, and a fully outfitted fitness center. Proximity to major highways, O’Hare International Airport and Chicago metro area means that you will never be far from modern conveniences. In fact, local area shopping and dining opportunities abound all within a six-mile radius of Willow Estates.

Sedona Shadows, Sedona, Ariz.

Sedona Shadows is a pet-friendly and thriving 55+ retirement mobile home community. Located in the beautiful red rock country of Sedona, Ariz., Sedona Shadows offers its residents a relaxed and comfortable lifestyle surrounded by the beauties of nature. When USA Weekend compiled their Most Beautiful Places in America list, Sedona claimed the top spot.

The community features ample amenities including on-site library, Whirlpool-spa-hot tub, spacious club house and scenic picnic area. This community sets an easygoing tone for its residents even as the well-equipped fitness center, huge community swimming pool, and nice billiard facilities keep them active. For the traveling senior, Sedona Shadows also has RV storage for your home away from home.

Royal Villas, Tigard, Ore.

Oregon might not be your first thought for a retirement destination, but Tigard is a desirable and affordable community in the Portland metro area. The city has a lot to offer in the way of natural beauty, with access to more than 16 miles of paved trails and nearly 550 acres of parks and open spaces.

Royal Villas is contemporary and distinctive among manufactured home communities for the active adult in Tigard. Additionally, homeowners enjoy beautifully manicured grounds, lighted walking paths, fitness centers, a swimming pool with luxurious cabanas, shuffleboard courts and a putting green. The community center offers a library, relaxing fireside room, and a billiard and card room.

Royal Villas also is only minutes away from two challenging golf courses, many fine restaurants, shopping and healthcare facilities. For the theatre lover, there is the nearby Broadway Rose Theater at Tigard High School, featuring professional 0ff Broadway musicals and comedies.

Westbrook Senior Village, Toledo, Ohio

Residents at Westbrook Senior Village have the best of both worlds – peaceful, small town living matched with a fabulous urban location. This ideal location provides residents the opportunity to enjoy numerous urban attractions and activities. Toledo boasts a wonderful museum of art and a stunning botanical garden. More so, you can bring along the grand kids and check out the Imagination Station Science Museum or the famous Toledo Zoo. Of course, there also is shopping, restaurants and cultural venues.

Finally, Westbrook Senior Village has a heated pool, spa, shuffleboard courts and a community center – everything you need to relax near the big city.

Oak Ranch, Austin, Texas

Oak Ranch is wonderfully located just 15 minutes from downtown Austin. Austin is the fourth largest city in Texas and well known for its vibrant music scene. However, there is plenty to do there in all arenas – great food, walking and biking tours, swimming at Barton Springs, shopping, museums and many historic sites. Oak Ranch is a gated community with peaceful, tree-lined streets. In addition, the community offers amenities like an activity and fitness center, a beach entry pool and even a playground for the kids when they come to visit. Importantly, Oak Ranch is one of the pet-friendly manufactured home communities, and has on-site management and homes offering two-car off street parking and private driveways.

We have been focusing on communities that have age qualifications. However, just because you are over 55 doesn’t mean you have to live in a Senior Community. Rather, some all ages communities can offer quiet resort-like settings.

Sky Harbor, Cheektowaga, N.Y. All Ages Community

As a result, were were particularly taken by Sky Harbor, located only two miles from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. This beautiful development offers a blend of a quiet neighborhood with easy access to all that Cheektowaga, Buffalo and Erie County have to offer. In addition, residents are within 35 miles of world-famous Niagara Falls and just ten miles from the Canadian border. Especially relevant is the nearby the Walden Galleria Mall, boutiques, cafés, antique shops, galleries and restaurants. Cheektowaga also offers incredible wildlife, vast beautiful parks, and numerous recreational activities.

This closely-knit neighborhood provides residents a relaxed lifestyle with many exciting amenities including a community center, a meeting hall with fully equipped kitchen and 4 open park spaces. Sky Harbor is pet-friendly and has on-site management.

Curious about learning more about these manufactured home communities? Check out our article on How to Contact Communities.

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A Home Maintenance Calendar for You

August

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

Senior Communities in Western Florida – Gulf of Mexico Coast

Colony Cove, Ellenton

Jamaica Bay, South Fort Myers

Oak Crest/Acorn Mobile Home Community, Largo

Windward Village, Spring Hill

Del Tura Country Club, North Fort Myers

Central Florida Senior Communities

Mid Florida Lakes, Leesburg

Sunlake Estates, Grand Island

Schalamar Creek, Lakeland

Lake Point Village, Mulberry

Heartland Estates, Haines City

Rolling Greens, Ocala

Senior Communities in Eastern Florida – Space Coast

Lamplighter Village, Melbourne

Lauder Lakes, Fort Lauderdale

Find the Senior Community That is Right For You

A guide to the Virtual Tour on MHVillage

What is a Virtual Tour?

How do I create this video?

Here are some tips on creating a Virtual Tour that will show the best sides of your home:

If you have any additional questions about the Virtual Tour feature on our site, contact us!

The Mortgage Collaborative Pilots Affordable Lending Outreach

About TMC

Pick the Mobile Home Skirting Material that Suits You Best, and Watch Out for a Few Pitfalls

Other Mobile Home Skirting Options

Regional Considerations

Steel is trending

Maintenance

Mobile Home Skirting Installation Tips

Keep the Moisture Away

Skirting Update:

The Home Seller Kit includes:

In fact, even if you haven’t yet listed your home online, you can still receive our kit!

Here are 11 manufactured home communities that stood out to us:

Saddlebrook Farms, Grayslake, Ill.

Tropicana Palms, Las Vegas, Nev.

Dolce Vita at Superstition Mountain, Apache Junction, Ariz.

The Oaks of Rockford, Rockford, Mich.

Royal Palms, Bakersfield, Calif.

Willow Lake Estates, Elgin, Ill.

Sedona Shadows, Sedona, Ariz.

Royal Villas, Tigard, Ore.

Westbrook Senior Village, Toledo, Ohio

Oak Ranch, Austin, Texas

Sky Harbor, Cheektowaga, N.Y. All Ages Community

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