You can buy a park model for as low as $3,999 USD and can range up to $250,000 for both new and pre-owned homes in Privately-Owned parks. Many buy into Arizona Active Resort living for less than $30,000. Today’s prices are extremely affordable.
In 2020, you can find an Economy park model for under $20,000; a Mid-Range model from $20,000 – $50,000, a Deluxe model from $50,000 – $80,000 and a Luxury model for $80,000 and up depending on the age, size and location in the park. For instance, if it has an Arizona room or it backs the golf course you may be paying on the higher end.
With all the different price ranges available, your options of affordability are endless. Whether you’re looking for a fixer-upper or new, you can find either one in your price range.
WHAT YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY?
Different price points offer different options and features. Knowing what some of these features are can be helpful when determining what you can, or hope to, afford. You may be pleasantly surprised when you realize just what you can get for your dollar!
ECONOMY PARK MODEL – UNDER $20,000
You may be asking what can you get for under $20,000?
The answer is this! There are many older pre-owned park models that just need a little TLC, and maybe some renovations or upgrades are in store…. but this also means your initial investment doesn’t have to be expensive. Shop around and you’ll find just the right one that won’t hurt your pocket book.
Keep in mind Park models in this lower price range aren’t all bad. They can be very well-kept and have had several upgrades along the way, but the owner is just Pricing To Sell! So you will find advantages to these older homes as they may already have some of these great features:
- an Arizona room
- a second bedroom
- a developed yard with mature landscaping and fruit trees
- covered patios and decks
- are closer to community facilities and amenities than the newer areas
And if you’re looking for a newer Park Model under $20,000, well, you can find that too!
1 bedroom 1 bathroom units are available for as low as $14,000. It won’t come with all the bells and whistles and probably won’t have landscaping and an AZ room but you’ll get that new look and feel.
MID-RANGE PARK MODEL – $20,000 – $50,000
The Mid-Range Park Model sales are by far the most common and you’ll be sure to get the best Bang for your Buck! But you’ll also see quite a variation in prices in this range for what appear to be very similar, so it may be harder to determine why one is more than the other.
Features of Mid-Range models are:
- They may be more than 10 years old on average but have many upgrades both inside and out
- They are move in ready with all the furnishings
- Like the Economy models the outside lot is developed with mature landscaping and trees
- They are closer to community facilities and amenities than the newer areas
- The newer models in this price range have 1-2 bedrooms and bathrooms but minimal outside development other than covered driveway
Deluxe PARK model – $50,000 – $80,000
A Deluxe Park Model is still an affordable choice and boarding on the edge of Luxury!
- These park models are usually 10 years or newer
- Many are larger with up 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms alleviating the need for an AZ room
- Open concept kitchen and living room
- Are generally found in the larger parks
- Some have a double wide lot
- More commonly they back a golf course or green space
- Large back patio area view of the golf course
- Covered deck and carport
LUXURY PARK model – $80,000 AND OVER
Luxury Park Models are exactly what they say…. Pure Luxury!
- These park models are usually 10 years or newer
- Superior construction and craftsmanship
- They have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
- Open concept kitchen and living room
- Are generally found in the larger parks
- They are often in a newly developed subdivision of the park backing a golf course or they sit on a corner lot
- They have a large back patio area view of the golf course
- Covered deck and carport
DON’T MISS OUT ON UPGRADES AND SPECIAL FEATURES!
With many Park Models being over 15 years old, chances are previous owners have made upgrades to the home and have added many special features that you won’t find in other Park Models.
…..And how do we know this? Our 1988 Cavco trailer has the most wonderful 6 year old IKEA kitchen that is one of a kind and we just love it. It’s what sold us on our own place!
Here are some things to look for when considering what to buy:
Upgrades – Having upgrades to the home you choose can mean savings in your pocket. If the park model is pre-owned be sure to look for essential costly upgrades that you don’t have to worry about for some years such as:
- New electrical and plumbing
- Upgraded kitchen cabinet
- New bathroom vanities, sinks and toilets
- New appliances (fridge, stove, washer/dryer)
- Waterproof flooring
- Tape and Textured walls
- New water heater
- Updated Central A/C and Furnace
- New Roof
- Exterior paint
- Dual paned windows and sunscreens
Special Features – If you want your purchase to be more enticing and feel like you got your monies worth? Look for these special features that can be a nice added bonus to your investment:
- Arizona Room
- Extra storage and walk-in closets
- Separate laundry with full sized washer and dryer
- Cathedral Ceilings
- Walk-in shower
- Workshop
- Covered patio
- Mature fruit bearing trees (Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemons)
6 ADDITIONAL COSTS TO KEEP IN MIND
There are several other factors that can determine the cost of your investment.
Although special features and upgrades to the home are important considerations, remember you are buying into a Community.
Your cost can also depend on the size of the park, whether it be large or small, and what community, facilities and amenities they have to offer.
#1 – DOES IT HAVE THE COMMUNITY FEEL YOU WANT?
Not only are you buying a park model on a lot but you are buying a Lifestyle! And this means you want people around you that are like-minded and share common interests.
It’s difficult to put a dollar amount on Community, and you may wonder how this will cost you money? However, the cost of buying in the right community can make all the difference in the world and save you money later if you find yourselves wanting to change locations.
All the costs that you incurred when buying that first place will now cost you double if you decide to move. For example:
- Realtor Fees (if you use one); or advertising fees
- Change of utilities
- Change of Insurance
- Taking a loss if you don’t sell for what you paid
You don’t want to be enduring these costs again, so be sure you choose the right location the first time!
#2 – DO FACILITIES AND AMENITIES COST EXTRA?
Amenities can make or break your experience so be sure to do your research when considering your purchase. Determine what is important to you as far as things to do and then weigh the amenities vs annual park fees across the parks.
Of course, the more amenities there are in a park can also mean higher prices on an annual basis, so they do come with a price tag.
For instance, the park we chose came with higher annual fees than most parks but we find the cost to be well worth it for what we get. See the section below on Park Sizes.
Any additional costs will depend on what activity or sport you get involved with. If you plan to ride in the Motorcycle club your expenses might be more for gas, travel and maintenance of your bike vs someone that plays Pickleball at the local Pickleball courts that are free and all you have to do is buy a racket.
Point being, like any sport or activity you can get involved for as little cost as you want or as much.
If you are new to Resort Living then you’ll be surprised at the endless lists of amenities these parks provide. Below is a list of a few but definitely not all:
| Arts & Crafts | Horseshoe Pits |
| Ballroom/Banquet Room | Laundry Facilities |
| Basketball | Library |
| Baseball | Live Concerts |
| Billiards | On-site Restaurant |
| Bocce Ball Fields | Pickleball Court |
| Clubhouse | Picnic/BBQ Area |
| Crafts Classes | Pottery/Ceramics |
| Dancing | Private Mailbox/Mail Centre |
| Dinner Theatres | Putting Green |
| Dog Park | Quilting & Sewing Room |
| Fitness Facility | RV Storage |
| Games Room | Shuffleboard Courts |
| Golf Courses (both 9 & 18 holes) | Stage Shows |
| Glass-making | Scrapbooking |
| Hair Salons | Tennis Course |
| Heated Pools | Woodworking |
| Hiking Trails | Whirlpool/Spa |
#3 – SIZE OF THE PARK MATTERS! – FOR THOSE ANNUAL FEES
There are many different sizes of parks ranging from small to very large and these differences may help to make your decision, but they will also determine your cost! Yes different sizes have different price tags.
Have a look below at the advantages and disadvantages and their costs:
Large Park
- Advantages – more people, more amenities, and generally more security……This also means more activity, socializing and livelihood
- Disadvantages – means higher annual pad fees [Range from $6,000 – $7,500 U.S. per year]
Small Park
- Advantages – the upside to a small park is they have a more quiet, cozy, small town feel you may be looking for, AND lower annual fees [Range from $2,500 – $5,900 U.S. per year]
- Disadvantages – having less people means less amenities and sometimes less security as they don’t have the finances to support having 24 hour security.
#4 – THOSE PESKY UTILITIES
No matter where you go you just can’t get away from utility costs. Be sure to know these are extra and not part of your Pad Fees. Some parks bill differently but generally use the same rule of thumb:
- Water, Sewer, Cable, Garbage, and some have a Local phone are usually billed all in one fee by the park on a monthly basis for about $80 per month
- Electricity is usually the owners responsibility to call the Power company (some parks do direct bill for Power) and costs for this can run you approximately $150 per month. The good thing to know is cancelling and hooking up power from season to season is an easy process and takes only mins on the phone.
- Internet is an extra cost but you can get it for just $39.95 per month at Jabbas Communications and can be easily cancelled.
#6 – DO I OWN MY LOT?
Some may not realize but there are two types of parks when it comes to owning or leasing the land your park model sits on! So be sure you know the difference between the two:
Buying your Park Model in a Privately-Owned Park
Most parks in the State of Arizona are Privately-Owned parks meaning on a rent pad basis. This means you buy your Park Model so you own this outright but you do not own the lot, it is leased or rented. You pay an Annual park fee to the Park called ‘pad fees’ to keep your Park Model on the lot. The pad fees also cover maintenance, amenities and security.
Pad fees can run anywhere from $3,500 in the smaller parks to $7,500 per year in the larger parks as mentioned above.
Although the initial investment can be very economical, the disadvantage to the privately-owned parks is the trailer themselves may depreciate in value rather than appreciate. Keeping them upgraded and well maintained will lessen your chances of that happening so that you get a fair return on your investment.
Buying your Park Model and Lot in a Resident-Owned Park
Buying your lot in a Resident-Owned park means you buy the Lot and Park Model within the Park so you own everything; but you still need to paid HOA fees for maintenance, amenities and security. Much like buying a Condo.
HOA fees can run an estimated cost of $600 quarterly or $2,400 per year. In addition you pay taxes, phone and utilities.
Another thing to know is Resident-Owned Park Model prices start higher at $50,000 ranging to $100,000 when you are paying that additional lot price. However, your investment is more likely to appreciate and provide you with a better return when time to sell.
All of this said, we can tell you that we are a little split on this… one of us would much prefer to own the lot and the other considers the HOA fees and restrictions of an owned lot to be of equal value as a rented (leased) lot. In short, it really comes down to a preference on decision making.
RENTING VS. BUYING
You may decide you just want to rent at first and not jump into making a big purchase. Renting is a great way to take your time and find out what it is you’re looking for and where you want to be before buying.
We have friends and family that rent in Arizona each year. They love the variety of staying somewhere different each time and simply don’t want the responsibility or hassle of owning their own place. If this sounds like you then Renting might be for you.
Keep in mind, if you plan on this being an every-year thing, renting on a seasonal basis can run you anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 US per month. You may be able to find rent for around $1,000 in the small parks, or you know someone or you’re renting longer term. But this could cost you up to $9,000 per year on the high end if you stay for 3 months. That $9,000 you just spent on renting will pay for an entire year expenses if you choose to buy!
However, if you love the idea of that Home away from Home feeling and you like the idea of ownership and investment then Buying is definitely for you!
And should you choose to buy, consider renting your home out for a month or two when you’re not there to help pay for some of those annual costs. Taking $4-5,000 off of your annual costs is a great way to add to the affordability. There will always be months where you can’t be there so why not let someone else enjoy it!
If you want to learn more about renting your home, have a look at my page on Renting.
IN CONCLUSION
There are several costs to keep in mind when buying a Park Model in Arizona and it may feel a little overwhelming, and frankly just a bit scary at first! But I guarantee there is something for everyone in every price range.
So… determine your budget, weigh your options for park locations and amenities, shop around for that perfect Park Model that suits your needs and…. go for it!
There’s no time like the present and you can’t put a price on happiness. 🙂