Community Forums

JMonroe · 08-24-2015, 11:18 AM

We actually own two lots, one in Deer Creek / Regal Point (Davenport FL) and one on a BIG lake (Lake Greenwood Motorcoach Resort), upstate South Carolina. The first as we're fans of both the central Florida winter weather and Disney World. The second as we love using our boat, having owned boats back in our working lives. Didn't buy either anticipating a profit, only the enjoyment of using them. In both cases, if we use it 4 months each year the rents we didn't pay would cover our carrying costs (taxes and HOA fees). The Florida lot we could easily rent out for the winter season, should we decide to explore another snow bird location one year, easily covering 100% of our carrying costs if not a bit more.

When we retired, at the peak of the market and real estate collapse, I knew I wanted to own property somewhere so no matter what happened, we'd always have a place we could be. We've also established our primary physicians at these locations.

That said, it hasn't stopped us from using those wheels under our home. Last year we spent 4 months visiting family and friends up north and touring states west. We just got back to South Carolina after a 6 week trip north this season. Sometime in the next couple of years we plan a comprehensive trip to and up the west coast. I suspect we'll miss an entire season at the lake when we do. I see this as no different from the time we spent away from our working years stick and brick on weekends or vacations. The cost of ownership continues in either case, whether you're in residence or not.

I can certainly understand those that simply don't want any responsibility for anything that requires maintenance or regular contributions to the local bureaucracy, but for right now we're enjoying the lifestyle we've created for ourselves.

Yours has to be a personal decision based on what you think is best for you but I can tell you, space in or near our winter property location is becoming more and more at a premium the last few years.

Davidnfl · 09-19-2015, 02:29 AM

We bought two lots at Sunset Ridge RV Park in Franklin N.C. it has beautiful 180 deg. Panoramic views of the mountains in the Smokie's. Vary easy to get to right off major 4 lane highway. Its in the smokies but not on the crowded tourist side of the mountains. Sold the house will use that as our home base during the summer. Its nice to travel but nice to come back to our own lot that we have landscaped and its ours. Have a RV lot in Mt. Olive North in Polk City Florida. Might sell that lot and open our options for the winter.

deanjeep · 12-08-2015, 07:30 PM

As many have said this can not be a financial decision alone, it is a lifestyle decision. None of us has an accountant that has looked across his desk and advised us to go buy a motor home or a lot to put it on. My wife and I own a lot at Cypress Trail RV Resor in Ft. Myers where we spend winters and have a lot at Hearthside Grove Motorcoach Resort in Petoskey, Mi where we actually handle the lot sales. We still enjoy traveling and seeing places we haven't seen before but there is nothing that compares to the relationships you form when staying in one place for more than just a few days or few weeks. Owning a lot doesn't mean you give up traveling either. Most places where you can own have rental programs to facilitate renting your lot out when your not there if you choose to. This winter for example we will spend January and February in Ft. Myers and then travel out to California to visit some resorts out there and do some sight seeing.

brobox · 12-08-2015, 09:18 PM

After this summers travel season and the number of RV Parks that were booked solid when we called trying to make reservation along our route made lot ownership look a lot more attractive.

The number of RV's on the road now are going to make the prime locations harder and harder to get into. We experienced that all summer in our travels.

tim fm ct · 12-14-2015, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

After this summers travel season and the number of RV Parks that were booked solid when we called trying to make reservation along our route made lot ownership look a lot more attractive.

The number of RV's on the road now are going to make the prime locations harder and harder to get into. We experienced that all summer in our travels.

This is a great thread. I find it remarkable that we purchased a site in Tropic Isles in Palmetto Fl. (near sarasota) when we have an MH. Remarkable because a financial planner would laugh at us for doing such a financially "unsound" idea. We drove the RV from Ct. (close to $850 each way just a few years ago.) Maybe 1/2 of that with recent gas prices. We pay close to $200/mo in maintenance fees -- - every month. We aren't there more then we are there! Is that nuts or what? We are on fixed incomes yet we did this.

until 3 months ago. Found a nice 5th wheel. Parked it on our site. Where it will stay and plan to "commute" with our Ford Fusion Hybrid.
Who knows, maybe some day we'll get out from under these insane Ct taxes by being in Florida for 6mos AND 1 DAY.

So put us in the "we didn't buy our rv lot for financial advantages" column.

DSL417 · 12-14-2015, 12:47 PM

Take the car train and make your trip South easy.

Pepper2 · 01-27-2016, 08:31 AM

DW and I were just discussing this last night. She retires in 1 1/2 years. Enjoyed reading all the insights on both sides. Personally, I'm still leaning toward the purchase of 2-5 acre's.

CampDaven · 01-27-2016, 08:55 AM

We had 40 acres of Wisconsin woods for 23 years. It was glorious during our w&&k years. Then came the big adventure: retirement. The journey is now our destination. No way will I go to the same place(s) continuously. The "oyster" is much too big and calls us daily and loudly! Must explore until we are no longer able. Then, we will rent, so we can still move about on occasion.

Stripe34 · 10-16-2017, 06:35 PM

Ok, it’s been over 2 years since OP asked the original questions. It’s a great thread, and very useful to us as we also consider potential purchases.

Follow up questions: for the OP, original respondents, and others reading:

1) if you had a lot - do you still? (& where) Why or why not?

2) if you had a lot - have the finances become better or worse over time?

3) if you did NOT have a lot in the past but do now, what made you change your mind?

4) any other comments or advice for potential lot owners?

And PMs most welcome if you have a lot for sale or perhaps information about resorts that doesn’t need to be globally public & searchable.

Thanks everyone!!!

eddieelk · 10-16-2017, 07:01 PM

We bought our lot in what, at the time, was a Jellystone Campground in 1979. We had a 29' trailer, used to spend 160-180 days a year there. Now I have a 40' Park Model, and live there mostly full time. I also have 2 motorhomes. HOA is $1,200 per year, plus electric. It's a low cost home base. Eddie Elk.

gizmo123316 · 10-16-2017, 07:40 PM

Still enjoying our lot at the Palms RV Resort in Yuma, Az every winter. Must return to Canada in summertime and totally enjoy it there also.

jestal · 10-16-2017, 09:46 PM

Interesting thread. We are in the middle of trying to buy a site in Northern Florida:
- Because we stay there every year and like the place and the people
-Getting WAY too difficult to book anything in Florida during snowbird
migration.
- Prices on sites are getting beyond reason especially with multiple
month minimum stays
-Less stress knowing we have a place and we can always
take side trips from there
-The nicest site in the park went up for sale so we moved on it as we
know it would be easy to sell later if desired.
- Most resorts wanted a two or three or even four month commitment!
As long as we might stay in one place that long might as well buy it.

LasVegasRon · 10-16-2017, 11:26 PM

Purchased in 2006 Las Vegas Motorcoach, not for rental income but for use.
Most lots have lost 50% of the original cost, but now have increased in value, but still below original bare lot cost $160,000.
Here you have a cost factor of $400 a month HOA and $850 in property tax.
The only way to justify ownership is use of 4 months+ . Other then that your just paying more to use your patio furniture and BBQ.
Remember the electric also costs every month too.
They will never build another resort like this close to the Strip and prices will rebound as the economy gets better. Now is a good time to buy with the prices
still low.
Rental income is a possibility but will never cover costs.
This is Las Vegas and 24 hour action down the street and never boring like other places.

DebbieMH · 10-17-2017, 06:16 AM

I'm the OP of this thread back in 2015. Interesting reading it all again! So, what we did ... we did sell our main S&B back in the summer of 2015, lived in the coach and visited our 2nd home in New Orleans while we were still working. Retired in April 2016 and hit the road ... when we returned to the gulf coast, we weren't ready to sell our New Orleans home ... but knew we wanted to continue to travel in our Anthem for years to come. We also knew we couldn't "store" the motorhome without it getting musty, having problems, etc. We love the Alabama gulf coast as we had lived there for 17 years and like the beaches, food, etc.

So, we did buy a lot at Bella Terra in Foley, Alabama (Gulf Shores area). We keep our motorhome there when we aren't traveling away from the area. When we aren't traveling, we spend two weeks usually at Bella Terra and two weeks back in our S&B in New Orleans. Best of both worlds, at least to us. Reasons I'm very happy with our decision:
- what people say about "community" is true. We enjoy really getting to know other owners and long term renters. Some, I know, will be friends and travel "buddies" for life!
- nice to come back to your own stuff and place. We don't have to be escorted, know where everything is ... can come in at midnight and it's ok!
- we use our rv lot as our primary mailing address. The office gets our mail and packages and I don't have to worry about them disappearing like you do in the third world country of NOLA.
- have a large "big green egg" that I love to cook/grill/smoke on .... something you can't really take with you on the road.
- we have a "carriage house" ... really an unfinished "tool shed", but we like to call it a "carriage house" for our little cricket. Anyway, we are able to store things in there instead of in the coach and not carry everything with us all the time.

The question of would we do it again ... yes, in a heartbeat. It really works for us at this stage in our life. I can see us some day (If I can get Dan to part with all his "stuff"); going full time and getting a summer rv lot (north or west) ... a "dead of winter" rv lot (FL or AZ) and keeping this one for the shoulder season. October, November, December and March, April, and early May are just beautiful here. Bella Terra's prime time is snowbird season and I'm looking forward to all the activities, friends returning and making new ones.

Most people that own at BT let the office rent out their lots when they aren't here. I understand that usually pays for their COA fees. ($232 per month); but we don't. I want to come and go whenever I want and don't want anyone else to cook on my BGE!