Mobile Home Park News Briefing

DAVIS COUNTY, Utah — Pat Blake is the manager of two mobile home parks in Davis County, whose selfless and kind-hearted nature knows no bounds.

“She doesn't buy herself clothing. She rather take that money and help people here.” said Pat’s daughter and Dream Team nominator, Anita York.

She regularly arranges for a Bountiful Food Pantry bus to visit each park twice a month, providing tenants with all the groceries they could ever need.

She also uses money from her own pocket to help children with school supplies and holiday gifts.

“Because that's what we're here for is to help other people. They need help. And that's what I'm here for,"...

Rep. Cheryl Golek, D-Harpswell, presented L.D. 815, “An Act to Provide Energy Efficiency Program Outreach and Assistance to Manufactured Housing Residents,” before the Legislature’s Labor and Housing Committee on Tuesday.

The bill would require Efficiency Maine and the Maine State Housing Authority to develop an education program and conduct outreach to residents of manufactured housing to increase the awareness of the energy efficiency programs available to residents. Additionally, the proposal would establish a program to provide financial assistance to qualifying individuals to purchase and install high-efficiency heat pump systems and...

California-based 3D-printing construction tech company Mighty Buildings says it’s on a new and ambitious growth trajectory. From Hawaii to Saudi Arabia, it plans to build communities of sustainable, net-zero, 3D-printed houses fabricated in microfactories that can be spun up virtually anywhere in a matter of months.

“The scale economics of our microfactories makes it feasible to build anywhere,” says Scott Gebicke, Mighty Buildings’ CEO. “This microfactory approach is one of the main reasons I joined the company because the scalability is really impressive.”

Gebicke has been at the helm of Mighty Buildings for just three months, following...

ROLLING FORK, Miss. — Carolyn Washington was watching the news in her trailer Friday when a cousin called with a warning that wasn’t on TV: A tornado was about to touch down.

She raced up the street to Chuck’s Dairy Bar and sprinted to the bathroom, screaming, “Tornado!”

When the winds calmed down, she looked up: The restaurant’s roof was gone, and the tail end of a pickup truck was hanging over her head. Her home, where she normally shelters during tornado warnings, was on top of a nearby carwash.

“If I had been in there, I wouldn’t be talking to you,” she told a reporter.

Unlike her, other mobile home residents in this town of...

The manufactured housing sector has gained prominence in the past few years due to its resiliency and stability, particularly when economic conditions deteriorate and demand for affordable housing reaches new highs. While it is true that the sector is still experiencing decades-old stigma, some owners and operators are stubbornly determined to show that well-managed manufactured homes can be a palpable solution to the nationwide affordable housing crisis.

“We are in a unique position to contribute to the national conversation about the benefits offered by manufactured homes, including their affordability, contributions to increasing the...

DENVER — A broad coalition of lawmakers, cities, counties, climate advocates and even the business community came together on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol on Wednesday to unveil a massive bill that’s aimed at addressing the housing crisis in the state.

Senate Bill 23-213 is 105-pages long and is the result of many months of work and 125 meetings with stakeholders around the state.

“Housing and the cost of housing and high cost of living Colorado is an issue that we know we need to take action to do something about for the state,” Gov. Jared Polis said during a news conference Wednesday.

Last year, Colorado lawmakers passed...

In all of the hand-wringing over the lack of “affordable housing” in not only Hancock County, but the state of Maine and the nation as a whole, there is never any discussion of why housing costs have increased so dramatically and become increasingly unaffordable for large segments of society.

It starts with dirt.

Land prices have sharply escalated as our population continues to expand. Yet, to turn the first spade, or backhoe, of dirt for any housing construction we must understand how the basic costs have magnified.

First you need a permit, and more often than not, lots of permits. They cost money (and time) for you, or your...

Severe storms in the South that killed at least 21 people in Mississippi and Alabama highlight the dangers of being inside a mobile home or manufactured home during severe weather.

Many of the dozens of homes destroyed in the storms were manufactured. In the hardest-hit community of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, 24% of housing units in the county are manufactured homes according to the Census Bureau.

In fact, of the 104 tornado fatalities in 2021, 23 were in manufactured homes, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. In 2020, 39 of the 76 tornado deaths that year were in manufactured homes. Through Nov. 30 of this year, more than half...

Denise Dougi had to leave all her worldly possessions behind apart from a few essentials when disaster struck at Green Valley Mobile Home Park last Thursday morning.

“It was my sanctuary,” she said. “Nobody lives there but me. I’m really sad not to be able to go into my house with my things.”

Flooding caused a sinkhole behind Dougi’s home, resulting in 17 residents being ordered to evacuate by emergency crews.

Since then, Dougi has been staying with her mother. She has no idea when, or if, she’ll be able to return.

“I’ve just decorated my living room," Dougi said. “I’ve been there three years and I finally felt comfortable enough to start...

The Phoenix City Council voted Wednesday to spend $2.5 million to assist residents of three mobile home parks in finding new housing but stopped short of supporting a controversial zoning move that might have allowed residents to stay.

• The parks are scheduled to close in the next two months to be redeveloped. Residents will be evicted if they don't move willingly.

State of play: The council's decision came after more than four hours of emotional testimony from park residents facing possible eviction.

• Children who missed school to attend the meeting, seniors who lived in the parks for decades and parents afraid their families will be...

MOUNT WASHINGTON, Ky. — The residents of the Live Oaks Mobile Home park and Spectrum News 1 are finally hearing from the management company about multiple rent hikes.

Spectrum News 1 began investigating resident claims in January and hasn’t been able to speak with management. The company wouldn’t return our calls, so the Mount Washington city council asked them to watch our stories and respond.

Heather Thacker spoke before the city council on Monday, March 27. Thacker works for Lasso Capital, the New York City-based private investment company that owns Live Oaks.

She was at the meeting because Live Oaks wants a nearby property to be...

Three Phoenix mobile home parks are expected to close in the next two months to be redeveloped into pricier housing projects, impacting more than 120 families.

State of play: Some Phoenix council members are trying to force park owners to keep them open, but they're likely to hit several political and legal hurdles.

Why it matters: Mobile homes are among few affordable housing options left in metro Phoenix. Despite their name, they are very difficult to relocate, meaning residents are often left without housing when parks close.

What's happening: Earlier this month, at a meeting to discuss how to help residents at risk of eviction, a...

LAKELAND — A few days before St. Patrick’s Day, a swarm of green-clad volunteers busily dug, sawed and drilled outside a mobile home in a rural patch of the Kathleen area. Posts went into the ground, preparing for a front deck and wheelchair ramp to be installed at the front of the structure.

Though it didn’t reflect the expected image, the activity was part of a Habitat for Humanity project. The Lakeland chapter of the international nonprofit is providing both materials and muscle to help the owner, Sunil Persaud, with a complete renovation of the decades-old manufactured home.

It is just the second time that Lakeland Habitat for...

Property investor Josh Scronce told Truesdale city leaders last week that he followed through with his purchase of the Belaire Mobile Home Park in February, and is taking immediate action to restore the run-down neighborhood.

Scronce first announced in January that his business, Signature Investment Group, was planning to purchase the mobile home park.

Since closing on the sale Feb. 17, the first course of action has been to become familiar with residents and assess the condition of various mobile homes that need to either be renovated or removed, Scronce said.

“I’ve met about 75 percent of the people, and so far, so good,” Scronce told...

Looking for something affordable? Talk about pride of ownership. This home is 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom with over 924 sq feet and new carpet throughout. In an established court. A perfect first home or an investors dream. Can be moved. Owner occupied. Buyer/occupants must be approved by park management. Call Luke/ Sassion Den Herder at 406-459-5180 or your real estate professional.

Cozy, clean, fully remodeled one bedroom trailer with washer & dryer, office/den and new shed in...

GREENSBORO — City officials are considering a new way to keep housing affordable: creating a community land trust.

While the concept of community land trusts (CLT) has been around for 50 years, it would be a first for Greensboro.

CLTs are nonprofits that buy or build housing, retail or offices using public or private money. Those structures are then sold to a low-income buyer who qualifies for a mortgage. However, the CLT retains ownership of the land, holding it in trust with a 99-year lease to the buyer.

As part of the agreement to buy the structure, the buyer agrees to sell it at an affordable price.

Buyers would be...

To provide its latest home for a family in need, an area housing nonprofit took a different approach that it believes is the first of its kind among its regional peers.

Habitat for Humanity–Powhatan recently provided a mother and son with its first modular home, marking what Executive Director Susan Winiecki described as a new approach for Habitat affiliates in the region to provide lower-income families with housing.

Also known as prefabricated or factory-built homes, modular homes are a type of manufactured home that are mostly built in sections off-site and then delivered and assembled. The home is placed on a foundation using a crane,...

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) — Rent could be going up again for seniors that live inside the Laguna Vista Mobile Home Park, a senior community, but the seniors say they can't quite keep up, especially on a fixed income.

This mobile home is all Frank Kazerski knows.

"I've lived here since 2009," said Kazerski.

He doesn't know what could be next if his rent is increased again.

"The rent portion is $631. The rest is for trash, sewer, water bill," he said.

Every July, the residents expect an increase of some sort to account for inflation but the owner of the park filed an application to have rent raisedeven more.

"I can't be making these extra...

Rockrose Ranch at Lake Conroe, a 700-home community, will celebrate its grand opening March 25 in Willis, developer Inspire Communities announced in a March 16 news release.

The community spans 170 acres at 11848 Calvary Road, just west of I-45, and features a gated active adult village as well as a section of homes open to all ages, according to the release. Rockrose Ranch has prices starting in the $110,000s to $220,000s and floor plans ranging from two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, front porches and open-concept living areas.

According to its website, Inspire Communities claims to provide affordable, modern manufactured homes for...

MAHOMET, Ill. (WCCU) — Kodiak Property Management bought Candlewood Estates in Mahomet back in September, and according to residents they've had a number of issues since then. Many residents still don't have their new leases despite asking for them continually, and those who do have their leases say they see a number of issues and concerns.

"In the new lease, some people have released the new lease in the community, and it states that the lot rent has been $525 for five years?" Jaelyn Survance asked her husband.

"2018, yes five years, which is not true,” said Tate Survance.

Jaelyn and Tate are former residents of Candlewood Estates, and...

Can recreational vehicles and mobile homes mix?

That’s the question at issue in a Baldwin County land use debate that’s gone to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s desk.

Last week, the Baldwin County Commission authorized a request for an opinion from the attorney general’s office on whether the county can legally prohibit RV park sites in a mobile home park, a rule in its subdivision regulations.

The question comes down to whether the rule is a matter of zoning or a matter of health and safety.

According to the request sent to the AG’s office, an unnamed owner of a mobile home park wanted to add RV sites to his park, which is...

Bobby Riley moved to Stockton Park Village to live out his days in peace.

In 2018, the 87-year-old retired construction worker tucked his used camper trailer into the farthest lot of the horseshoe-shaped mobile home court off a tree-lined street in the outskirts of Stockton. The community’s handyman, Buzz, helped him build a porch and a patio to ground his trailer and enclosed it with a white wooden fence. He set up a swingset on the grassy common area across the way for when his granddaughter, Brooke, came to visit.

But the little piece of heaven he sought soon became a living hell.

Park owners Howard and Anne Fairbanks appear to have...

indsay and Eric Wood bought and flipped a few houses in their day. Still, they didn’t have a home of their own. But in 2017, after years of being subject to the rising whims of the rental market in Marin County, they said, “enough.”

The pair decided their best path to homeownership was to shrink their footprint and go tiny.

They found a contractor to build them a tiny home, a compact and efficiently designed residence on wheels that would have all the comforts they needed but not a square inch of wasted space.

“We had spent a total of $100,000 in rent in seven years. That pretty much could have paid for a tiny home,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay...

RICHMOND, Va. -- Catarino Salvez Galvez and his family have lived in a mobile home park on Richmond's Southside for six years.

The home he owns currently is falling apart.

The floor has sunken in, the roof caved, and it has cracked in multiple places.

The windows do not close, keeping it cold during the winter and swelteringly hot during the summer months.

His 11-year-old daughter has been sick because of the conditions, he said.

"I don't feel good sharing it, I don't want to share the conditions I'm living in," Galvez said.

It's a reality for many of his neighbors who own trailers in his neighborhood but cannot afford to fix them.

"It's...

VISTA, California — Flooding of unknown origin forced the evacuation of a dozen mobile homes at Green Valley Mobile Home Park in Vista on Thursday morning.

Denise Dougi said she woke up and discovered her home had shifted.

"I woke up this morning and heard running water; there was no reason for me to hear running water. I went outside; I noticed things were not right. I noticed my stairway had moved; there’s no reason my stairway should’ve moved," she said.

"I went down my stairs. My concrete driveway has buckled up; it has trapped my car," said Dougi.

She said she also noticed her front door wouldn't open. She called 911.

"There’s...