Park Model Homes: What You Need to Know

What are Park Model Homes?

Park model homes are manufactured homes that can be customized to a buyer’s specific standards. They are constructed on a single chassis and placed on wheels. The manufacturer certifies them as ANSI A119.5 for recreational park trailers.

Park model homes can be built as big as 12 feet wide and 36 feet long. The roofs are peaked and can be made of shingles or metal. When it comes to how you want the exterior of your park model home to look, there are many unique and innovative choices.

Park model homes can be designed to look more like long RV trailers or even a small summer cottage. Most buyers opt for a built-in porch, deck, or a storage area.

Who Typically Purchases a Park Model Home?

People of many ages and different walks of life purchase and either live in or rent out park model homes. The benefits of downsizing has caught on to every age group now old enough to purchase a home.

Baby boomers are sometimes attracted to park model homes. After their children have grown up and moved out, they have likely gotten rid of many belongings and are ready to downsize their living situation. A park model home allows them the freedom and means to travel around to see grandchildren, old friends, or sights they have never seen before.

Currently, there is a trend in society for living in tiny houses. Many Gen Xers and Millennials are adopting a minimalist lifestyle and find that a tiny home suits their needs just fine. They are choosing to downsize their home and belongings in favor of the ability to travel and have more freedom.

Families choose park model homes in order to teach their children a simple way of life and show them the world. They may also do this for better financial stability and the benefit of a smaller investment.

Singles may enjoy their freedom to the fullest by purchasing and living in one of these homes. They have the time and opportunity to be able to go where they want to since they are not tied down to a spouse or family.

People who simply want to make some money off of a second home have invested in these tiny homes. They lease or rent them short term or as a vacation rental and pocket the extra money.

The Differences Between Manufactured Homes and Park Model Homes

While park model RV homes can often appear to look like small manufactured homes, don’t be fooled. Park model RVs need to be titled and registered by law, just like any other recreational vehicle. Since they are small and meet RV standards, these homes are not required to be taxed and treated like a permanent home.

Cost of Purchasing a Park Model Home 

With a low overhead, the savings are passed onto you with factory direct prices. Since park model homes are considered RVs and not a home, you pay taxes on it as if it were a vehicle and not the typical property taxes you would pay on a home.

The purchase price of a park model home can vary depending upon several factors like:

In general, you can expect to spend around $40,000 on a new park model home.

From Building to Delivery

Your park home is crafted in an environmentally controlled building with only the finest materials. Skilled craftsmen ensure that only quality constructed pieces come out of the park model warehouse. An automated assembly line allows the factory to maintain efficiency and still uphold quality in their product.

You have a lot of flexibility and options when it comes to the design of your park model homes. Standard construction features include:

Once your park model home has been built to your specifications, it will be delivered by a commercially licensed truck driver. It will be your responsibility to set it up or arrange for it to be set up and connected to the proper utilities.

Are Park Model Home RVs Subject to HUD Standards?

Technically, these homes are considered RVs and must be under 400 square feet in the United States. If they were to be built over these limits, they would be classified as a manufactured home and a new class of taxes and regulations would apply. A portion of their floorplans utilize slide-out or tip-out bays to help increase the available living space.

Even when these features are utilized, they are careful not to go over the set standards and specifications set by the law. You do, however, have options to widen or elongate a plan. Their engineers will work with you to create a home that meets your needs and also still qualifies as a recreational vehicle.

These trailers are designed to be ready for movement and remain on their axles and wheels at all times. Although they are not required to be built to HUD specifications since they are not considered to be a permanent dwelling, they do meet the codes set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A119.5 Standard.

Ideal Locations

Most frequently park model homes are placed in recreational campgrounds as either a vacation home or rented out to guests. The area where they are placed is generally rented or leased from the campground. Some owners also choose to place them on their own private property.

Although they are transportable, park model homes were designed to be placed anywhere a recreational vehicle or mobile home can be parked in a long-term or even permanent setting. When they arrive at their destination, these homes can be hooked up to all the utilities needed to operate a normal household such as water, gas, and electricity.

Over two-thirds of park model owners will permanently place theirs within an ideal distance so that it can be used as a weekend camping get-away. Others may use them on a seasonal basis to escape certain seasons in their home region.

Depending on where you plan to park your model home, it may be part of the local zoning laws or in the park’s regulations that you must secure it to ground anchors. Park model homes come with steel tie-down straps for this purpose.

Benefits of Park Model Homes

Substantial Savings

Since Park Model Homes South does not operate on a lot, they are able to pass their savings in inventory overhead down to their customers. In addition, since a park model home is considered by law to be a recreational vehicle, buyers will pay less in taxes and other fees than other types of homes.

Instead of paying higher rate property taxes on high-value homes, owners of park model homes simply pay for the licensing and registration of a recreational vehicle. In some states, this can be around $300 per year or less, compared to thousands of dollars each year in property taxes for a traditional home. However, it is important to note that if you purchase land to place your park model home on, you will still be liable for property taxes based on the land value.

Customized Floor Plans

A variety of Park Model Homes South floor plans as well as the option to modify your chosen model with the help of their experienced in-house engineers, allow you the freedom to design a home that not only looks beautiful but meets your needs.

Design Choices

Whether you prefer a modern or a rustic look or something in between for your home, a park model home can be built to your specifications in materials and design. You also have the option to upgrade your faucets, appliances, and other features.

Better Configurations

In order to meet your needs, Park Model Homes South can be designed with porches, lofts, and other configurations. Since a loft area is not considered livable space, the loft area does not count towards the allowable 400 square feet size limit. Additionally, these optional features can also improve the aesthetics of your home.

The Benefits of Buying from Park Model Homes South

Built in Clarion, Pennsylvania, and shipped nationwide, Park Model Homes South currently sells 21 different styles of park model homes. Their highly knowledgeable and qualified staff looks forward to serving customers like you, no matter where you’re located.

Park Model Homes South has the ability to purchase their materials at a deep discount in order to provide their customers with well-equipped, quality constructed park model homes at an incredibly low price. They have a stable workforce and stand behind all of their products.

The friendly staff at Park Model Homes South pays attention to detail and aims to meet your needs. They respond quickly to emails and telephone calls and pride themselves in answering your questions as fast and as thoroughly as possible.

Interested in seeing what we can do for you? Simply fill out the quick 1-minute form on this page to receive more information and your free price quote!