Luxury living may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of mobile homes. But for many people, mobile homes aren’t just an affordable housing option. They can be a plush, picturesque – even luxurious – home style.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 20 million Americans live in mobile homes, and La Plata County has many people who have opted for the mobile-home lifestyle. Many working people, families and retirees live in mobile-home communities because of their affordability and minimal maintenance. A view of the mountains, Animas River and the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad doesn’t hurt.
Kathleen Baranowski moved to Durango with her husband, Loren, from England just over a year ago. After deciding that Durango would be their new home because of its small, quiet nature, the couple found themselves renting an expensive home while waiting to see if Kathleen Baranowski would receive a green card, she said.
She had never heard of a mobile home and remembered passing by some of them with her husband and asking, “What are those caravans over there?” Eventually, her husband found one for sale at the Animas Park for Mobile Homes through a classified ad and asked his wife if she would be interested in seeing one of those “caravans.”
Immediately the couple fell in love with the spacious 2,000-square-foot double-wide trailer.
Not only was it spacious with its four bedrooms and three bathrooms, laundry area, kitchen and backyard, but it was affordable.
“To me, it’s not just affordable. It’s logical,” she said.
The Baranowskis purchased the home for $102,000 and pay $500 a month for lot rent. One of the perks, she said, is that water, sewage, trash and snow removal is included in the rent. Baranowski didn’t want her husband, who is 80, to shovel snow in the winter, she said.
The couple has made several improvements to their home. They have a small garden, a deck and brand-new appliances. Loren Baranowski even has a man cave to watch sports, she said.
The park’s residents also feel a sense of community and look after each other when they can, said Cathy Clark, who lives in the same cul-de-sac as the Baranowskis.
When Clark has been homebound because of illness, her neighbors have brought her groceries and helped her out in other ways.
She also has one of the best views in town, she said.
“I have a beautiful view of the river,” she said, adding that she loves the wildlife that move through the area.
She purchased her 1987 model for $49,000 eight years ago and has made several renovations to the interior.
Park owner Wilma Cooper said she purchased the commercial property in 1980 with her husband, Ted. The first change they made was to make it owner-occupied only to improve the quality and uphold high standards, she said.
Many of her residents have lived in the park for more than 30 years, she said, adding that a lot of families whose children have grown up in the community.
Before new residents can move into the park, they must go through extensive screening.
“We have a responsibility to all these wonderful families,” Cooper said.
Potential buyers are screened for credit history, rental history and criminal history, she said.
“We want stable people,” she said.
Animas Park for Mobile Homes, on Animas View Drive, has 120 lots, with lots by the river being the most desirable. Upkeep of the yard and home is a requirement.
“We have a good reputation as far as aesthetics are concerned,” said Cooper, adding that she has heard from many train passengers how beautiful the area is. Some have even moved in, she said.
In addition to the sense of community residents of the park feel, Cooper said one of the biggest advantages of mobile-home living is the affordability. She believes mobile homes are one of few options for affordable homes in the real estate market, especially in Durango. An affordable single-family residence in La Plata County runs in the $300,000s, according to Durango Area Association of Realtor reports.
Gina Piccoli, a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Heritage House Realtors, said many real estate agents don’t handle mobile-home sales because they require specific knowledge and training. Most agents are not trained to handle those sales, which more often are handled as personal sales similar to car sales.
Piccoli agrees there is a demand for mobile homes because they are less expensive than site-built homes.
However, they are more difficult to finance because they aren’t on a permanent foundation, making getting a mortgage very difficult, she said. But there are other financing options available to people looking to buy a mobile home, she said.
Poor management of a mobile-home park can make a difference for residents, too. Management is a key component to running a successful park, and neglectful managers who don’t keep up the park and assist the community will make living in a park a terrible experience, Cooper said.
If you are looking for something just out of town, you are in luck. Several mobile-home communities are located off U.S. Highway 550 between Durango and Hermosa.
One of those communities, near County Road 203, is Durango Regency Mobile Home Community. Property manager Bernadette Paul has managed the facility for about five years. The community also does thorough screening, arguably one of the strictest, before accepting residents.
Durango Regency requires a background check, a felony check and a credit check, and the park will talk to your references and verify your employment, she said.
“We are serious about the people who live here,” Paul said.
The facility has 127 lots rented for $530 each, which includes water, sewage and snow removal. The community also values efficiency, safety and conservation. Water restrictions are in place to conserve water and prevent leaks if the well water rises. Because they don’t use the city’s water, the well water is tested once a week, she said.
Many residents have lived there 10 to 20 years, Paul said. Like many other parks in the area, Durango Regency is an owner-only community.
Though most of her residents also have been families and retirees, Paul occasionally has had college students whose parents have purchased their son or daughter a mobile home, she said. They get more for their money than living in a dorm or renting a small apartment, she said.
The prices range from $25,000 to $60,000, depending on the make and model. The average is about $30,000, Paul said.
Durango Regency, however, is a bit different than others. It has a clubhouse, similar to some apartment complexes, that can be rented for festivities.
“We’ve had a wedding, baby showers, family reunions and graduations here,” Paul said.
The only disadvantage of mobile-home living she could think of is the proximity to neighbors. When you buy a lot, she said, you can build your house five miles away from your neighbors if you want, but in a mobile-home park, you are closer and more in touch with your neighbors.
However, the residents who live at Durango Regency enjoy the sense of community, she said.
As the property manager, Paul has dealt with noise complaints and other small infractions, but overall, her experience has been positive. In her five years of managing 127 units, she’s only had to file for an eviction once, she said.
vguthrie@durangoherald.com
Myths vs. facts
Vulnerable to damage
Myth: Manufactured homes are more vulnerable to storm or fire damage than traditional site-built homes.
Fact: Manufactured homes sold after 1994 are built to the same HUD standards for construction, strength, fire resistance and wind resistance that are applied to site-built homes.
Poor construction
Myth: Manufactured homes are poorly constructed, use inferior materials or are not suitable for long-term housing.
Fact: Manufactured homes are built with the same materials and, in some cases, more-durable ones, because they’re reinforced for transportation by road to home sites.
Low-income homes
Myth: Only low-income people live in manufactured homes.
Fact: Some people who could afford site-built homes choose manufactured homes instead. It’s not unusual to find larger and luxury manufactured homes priced at $130,000 or more.
Source: http://homeguides.sfgate.com
