How much money do you need to buy a mobile home in Florida?
A land-lease mobile home in Clearwater and Tampa Bay parks costs $50,000 to $100,000, paid once, plus lot rent of $650 to $1,200 a month paid to the park. Budget for 3 more costs: the park's non-refundable application fee, the annual mobile home decal from the county tax collector, and home insurance.
| Cost | When you pay | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Home price | At closing | $50,000 to $100,000 locally |
| Lot rent | Every month | $650 to $1,200 a month |
| Park application fee | When you apply | Set by the park, non-refundable |
| Mobile home decal | Every year, expires 31 December | Set by Florida law, by home length |
Can you finance a mobile home in a Florida park?
Financing a mobile home in a Florida land-lease park is possible on qualifying homes only. Welcome Home Mobile Homes uses 21st Mortgage for those loans. The lender checks credit score, income and current employment, with 2 or more years of stable work preferred, and needs a home inspection, an appraisal, a deposit and an approval letter before closing.
Most buyers skip the loan: about 99.5% of land-lease buyers pay cash from funds already in their account, which removes the lender's checks from the timeline.
How do you choose the right park?
Choose the park before the home, because the park sets the age rule, the lot rent and the rules you live by. Decide first between a 55+ park and an all-age park, then compare what each park's lot rent includes and which rules matter to you, such as pets, guests and vehicles.
- All-Age and 55+ Mobile Home Parks in Pinellas County explains the two age rules.
- How to Choose a 55+ Mobile Home Community lists 10 questions to ask a 55+ park.
- The mobile home parks in Pinellas and Pasco County directory names every park on the company's list.
How do you choose the right home?
Choose the home on 5 checks: price against your budget, size and layout, age and condition, the title, and the lot it sits on. A Florida mobile home is titled like a vehicle, so the title must be in the seller's name before the sale.
| Check | What to look at |
|---|---|
| Price | Home price plus 12 months of lot rent against your budget |
| Size | Bedrooms, baths and square feet; single-wide or double-wide |
| Condition | Roof, air conditioning, plumbing, floors and any added rooms or carports |
| Title and decal | Title in the seller's name and a current mobile home decal |
| Lot | Position in the park, parking and what the lot rent covers |
What does park approval check?
Park approval checks 4 things about the buyer: background, credit, verified income and past evictions. Each park charges an application fee that is non-refundable, so confirm you meet the park's rules before you apply. Every park is its own business with its own bylaws.
In a Florida park with 26 or more lots, the park owner gives you a prospectus before you sign the lot rental agreement, and the agreement can be cancelled by you for 15 days after the prospectus is delivered.
What happens at closing?
At closing the buyer pays the seller, the mobile home title moves into the buyer's name through the county tax collector, and the lot rental agreement with the park starts. The new owner then buys the annual mobile home decal, which expires on 31 December each year.
What are the 6 steps, in order?
- Set a budget that includes lot rent.
- Choose a 55+ or all-age park.
- Choose the home and check its title.
- Make an offer through a licensed broker.
- Apply to the park and pass approval.
- Close, transfer the title and start the lot lease.
Short answers to single buying questions are on the mobile home frequently asked questions page.
Welcome Home Mobile Homes has handled these steps on more than 500 sales since 2021. See today's mobile homes for sale in Clearwater.
