Hi,

We currently live in Pennsylvania and are interested in 55+ manufactured home communities in Florida for the winter months. We understand some of them allow you to purchase your lot.

Anyone been there, done that, or have any ideas?

There are less and less of these communities in my area of Florida. Most of the ones I've seen are older communities. In Southwest Florida, North Fort Myers has several which are pretty well maintained on route 41. I know there are many other places. Have you googled for the answer yet? I'm not sure about owning your lot though.

here's a link to the ones near me. Looks like this site could get you started on your search. If I were contemplating such a move I would take a couple of months and do a summer rental in a few communities to see if I was compatible with the residents and area.

http://www.retirenet.com/fl/fla6/manu.html

Thanks for the response. No I ddidn't do a google but I do an IX quick megasearch. Pulled out a few, but I though some of the members here may have some direct knowledge. I'm not "old enough" for the community, but I want to start researching now so I have the time to look.

The Plantation in Leesburg is VERY popular with Pennsylvania retirees--in fact, they have their own club and host a lot of activities. The web site is www.theplantation.com
However, it has only a limited number of manufactured homes; most people live in "regular" homes. You can buy one of the existing manufactured homes, but can't put in a new one. Yes, you do own your lot. You can check the resales at www.plantationresales.com Houses are listed in descending order of price and I think you can find an existing manufactured home with lot for anywhere from $55,000 to about $70,000.
We have a few ex-Pennsylvania relatives living in The Plantation and they give it high marks. The gated community has two huge pools, golf course, tennis courts, etc., wonderful gardens and walking trails throughout (more than five miles of walking/biking trails, as I recall). Also, the residents look out for each other and will cheerfully keep an eye on your place while you are away during the summer months.
I always have a great time visiting family there.
Good luck with your quest!

My aunt & uncle have a place in Frostproof and they love it. Do a google search on Frostproof, Florida or Polk County, Fla. and you will find more info.

Why limit yourself to manufactured homes? So many retirement communities in North West Florida (Citrus County etc.) have affordable housing for less than 80,000. My folks live in Beverly Hills Florida and love it!

Manufactured homes may seem like a good bargain and if you have no interest in what your final investmenent is, then maybe they would be fine. But the worst real estate "investment" in Florida is mobile or manufactured homes. You can expect the resale value to actually decrease, while the resale value of nearly any regular real estate is almost guaranteed to go up.

I have spme friends from Pa. who recently moved to the Villages perhaps 45 minutes from Orlando. She loves it and raves about it constantly. I do not believe they are manufactured homes, however, but a very nice retirememnt community for over 55 group. I think it located in Lady Lakes.(??)

Thanks for your suggestions. I will check the sites you mentioned.
Just to let you know where I'm coming from..........The reason I am looking for a manufactured home living area is posted in BTilke's answer. I'm looking for a community with newly placed residents who have similar interests to me. I want to be in a community with neighbors interested in making new friends; and someone to trust to "watch over my home" while gone. There will be a time, hopefully many years from now, that they will also be part of my support system and be there for me. While I can afford to purchase a home or townhouse, I'm thinking that I would spend 30 or 40,000 on a manufactured home (since I will only use it 4 or 5 months a year) and spend the rest of the money traveling or doing whatever. If I don't like the experience, it's only $30,000 and I can move on. I'm not locked there.

A relative owns a townhouse in Sarasota and after 10 or 15 years, they know a few people in the building to say hello to in the elevator. Anything else, they must leave their property and drive 15 or 20 miles to visit friends. It's also harder in that situation to meet and make new friends.

Buying a home in a neighborhood also limits meeting people with the same interests. We all know that unless you have children you rarely have the opportunity to meet the neighors that live down the street from you. I would think that also in this situation you are the newcomer and the people that are there already have established friendships. Where do you then go to meet and establish friendships?

I own a house in a gated community in FL, and spend a few months there each year. Maybe I can answer your question about establishing friendships.

What I've seen is that the best places usually have an active "residents' association" that plans parties, etc. The nice thing about is that those who choose to be active can be, and those who want to be left alone can be.

The deal in FL is that in many communities, just about everyone's a transplant, so they're looking for socializing opportunities. In fact, if you're in an active community, you can get too much socializing.

I own a house on an island next to Sarasota and it is a very active, outgoing community. Dinner invitations are frequent as are boating outings, clubhouse parties, in fact: sometimes we have to decline a few cause we need a rest!

Do your research and trying renting at some that you like for a week, or month and see where you like it best. Perhaps if you expand your horizons and look at everything for sale: mobiles, villas, condos, homes you will find something that's right for just you. We started looking in our early 40's, bought a place and rented it out, and then retired at 55. Now we keep it just for us and we're pretty happy in our little place......

Brandessa, my parents have a little condo in Citrus Hills Fla in Hernando Florida. Its great, mostly all 50+ year olds. You should check it out.