Arizona Snowbird Parks
Affordable Vacation Rentals and Listings
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How Much Will It Cost Me? If you are buying a place you can spend from about $5,000 to over $200,000. If you are renting, you can spend from about $1600 a month to over $2,000 per month. The price ranges are a reflection of the unit itself (see: the Park Model Trailers section) and the park. (see: the About RV Resort Parks section) Also, rental prices can be quite different depending on which months you are renting. January to March is the peak season and generally the higher rents. Some good bargains can be had during other winter months. NOTE: It should be noted that a lot of rentals only end up being rented for 3 months of the year. (Everyone wants Jan-Mar) The annual overhead is often more than the annual revenue. Until you have some idea what appeals to you your costs are hard to estimate. But ... ... it is Affordable !!! Any option, whether renting or buying, is more affordable than most alternatives you will find for spending winter time in a RESORT. And the parks are RESORTS! You are Buying a Lifestyle - Not Just a Park Model We keep referring to the lifestyle throughout the site. That is because it is exactly that. It is a lifestyle more than a piece of property. As with other decisions regarding your lifestyle there are choices to make when considering taking up residence in an RV Resort Park. You do need to browse around the site to see what is available and how that fits with what your interests are. Begin with the assumption that you are buying a lifestyle. No different than reviewing information on a vacation. You begin with your interests to decide where to go before checking out the rates for accomodation. This is really no different. Of course your budget is important and that needs to be part of any decision. So once you have a good idea what parks and situations appeal to you then you can look at some listings and see what you can afford. Choices and More Choices Just like any real estate marketplace the options are wide- ranging and will depend on some key factors and choices.
The park model owners we talk to have quite a range of opinions regarding the best way to approach this lifestyle. From renting every year to investing in a resident-owned park. Some say they do not want any long-term commitments at this stage of life. Others feel they can only relax if they have the security of ownership ... 'never have rented and never will'. Renting year after year is not that common. The uncertainty of not knowing where you will be next year is not too comforting. But renting first before buying is common. Trying it out by renting is often how people 'get sold' on the lifestyle . Because the investment can be so modest (when buying a unit and renting the lot) there are some who feel they hardly have much to lose if values drop. Even then any loss is hardly more than some people spend on a single vacation. And ... don't forget the option of a New Park Model
There are
a variety of options where it may make sense to actually
buy a brand new unit ... exactly how you want it. And
there are circumstances where it can be more affordable
than you may think. You can buy that old unit ... securing that very desireable location ... and place a new unit on the site. In some cases you may be able to benefit from a nice shed and other infrastructure such as a very usable awning and other outside infrastructure. Even in resident owned parks there are opportunities to buy some very desireable lots that are designed for parking RVs but have a nice outside setup in place including sheds with washer/dryer and awnings etc. But even in the resident owned parks you will see older park models (complete with lot) that are not priced much higher than an open lot. Again ... being older they tend to be in the (early) most desireable locations. Also ... something of note for those preferring larger units. We have seen some parks beginning to allow/accomodate larger units in their parks. That means you can benefit from that park lifestyle while having that extra bedroom for whern the kids visit. Each Park is it's own 'Miniature Marketplace'
While reviewing park model listings and sales we notice
quite a difference in prices from park to park. similar units
would be priced as much as double from one park to the
next one down the street. Its like they were in
different cities. The Current Market The combination of recession, depressed real estate market, bad winters up north ... and the higher value of the Canadian dollar ... all played a part in the RV Resort Park marketplace in recent years. But things have changed. In the past two years the weather 'up north' had played a huge role in creating more interest (incentive) to head south. This past winter up north was one of the worst and longest in memory. As a result we are seeing more interest for heading south. In recent years the American economy and Arizona housing market have been recovering and the Canadian dollar has taken a dive. It's that Canadian dollar that causes some concern. Canadians represent as much as 30% of the market in many parks. With the dollar hitting a low of about 70 cents (from a high of $1.05 in recent years) it results in some altered decision making. Some decide to sell and profit from that dollar change. Some decide to rent instead of buy ... a 'wait and see'. And some decide to stay north of the border. A couple years ago we had a large web host in SK do a survey of snowbird interest. Of the 1300 respondents (with snowbirds in the family) 50% are changing their plans as a result of the lower dollar. But ... there is an upside. The improved American economy has resulted in more interest ... at least on our sites ... in the Arizona winter. That traffic helped make up for a leveling off in our number of Canadian website visitors. Also .. for the past few years 100s of Canadians took advantage of the depressed home market in Arizona (and their high dollar at the time) to buy houses and condos in Arizona. But ... as the home/condo deals get harder to find it is reasonable to expect a shift to the more affordable parks. 'Affordability' is huge for many snowbirds ... especially those on smaller fixed incomes. Also ... older Canadians have experienced many ups and downs in the Canadian dollar. (It tends to follow oil prices) When it drops there is a huge reaction and less spending out of country. But ... after a while they get used to it and pay far less attention. And ... of course oil prices can change quickly and the dollar will probably follow. There may still be a bit of 'wait and see' happening by some but that could change quickly. It is a bit of a 'market transition' period. But snowbirds are usually not going to wait long at this stage of life. So ... some may still decide to rent instead of buy this year. But once they experience a park they will get attached and not want to move. They will then buy in that park. The 'Baby Boomers' are Coming!!! It is defineately 'baby boomer' retirement time. And that group of new retirees are somewhat different than the older generation. They come out of homes maybe twice the size as that of the older retirees. They generally have more money to spend/invest. And ... yes ... many are more likely attracted to the higher end condos and homes. But ... care should be taken when generalizing about this group. Average means may be better but there is also a huge number of 'boomers' of more modest resources who will opt for the more affordable lifestyle. The baby boomer generation is simply a disproportionately large age group and they are still as diverse as any other age group. Although that diversity has some different interests. A recent report done on interests of baby boomers found that the number one activity interest is hiking. Some of the hobby crafts are lower but golfing is high. The trend is worth watching by the parks and hopefully they will respond accordingly. 'Easterners' ... some new interest? Another thing we have noticed (from the emails we get) is some interest from 'easterners' in coming to Arizona instead of their traditional Florida winter time. While not a large number it does raise the question of 'why'. It may just be part of the total influx, but it is worth watching. This may not be anything new to the experienced park operators, but to us it is. In the 9 years since starting the website we have noticed an increase in the percentage of easterners inquiring about this lifestyle. The numbers are small but does seem to be growing. What we get are comments about the concern over hurricanes; the difference in prices; less bugs; the need for dry climate (for health reasons); and just general 'want to try something different'. Small but worth watching. This Market is Different The marketplace for park model trailers in RV Resort Parks is 'different' than the traditional real estate market. The owners are far less likely to face financial problems than the general working population and to most of them this is not their primary/permanent home. They are also not faced with mortgage problems and potential foreclosures. In most cases the motivation to sell their unit has little to do with 'needing the money'. Often the decision to sell is simply health related. As a result ... prices do not tend to follow the traditional housing market. It is unique to this segment of society. Alternatives
are now Less Affordable You may be attracted to that nice house or condo ... you have spent your whole life buying and upgrading to a larger and nicer home. But be careful, the deal may not be what it appears ... and ... in addition to missing out on the 'lifestyle' ... you need to consider issues like security and a lot more driving. The real estate market in the Phoenix area has been through considerable turmoil with bargains everywhere. But that is now changing as the market steadily recovers. Some may still want that larger home ... But be careful. The alternatives to the RV parks seldom offer the security and lifestyle available in the parks. There are a few horror stories involving short sales and properties with hidden problems.
"I
was about to finalize a condo purchase when I learned
that the building was
actually on 'leased' land. The 25-year lease was about
to expire and the new lease rate was wide open for a huge
increase. Had never heard of that before." 'Gated' community may not mean 'guarded'. That condo may be a great deal but remember you are not there for at least half the year. And you are looking for a lifestyle not just a building. Few condo complexes offer the lifestyle available in the RV parks. One advantage of the RV Resort market is that it tends to be far more stable. While impacted for sure it is not subject to the same dramatic swings. Again ... the market is different. Is it the 'Time to Buy'? Yes. The demographics of snowbirds means there is always a certain turnover of units so you will see many buying options available. And the somewhat 'flatening' in the market (see: above) has resulted in additional units on the market. Of course that does present some opportunity for good deals. (We have witnessed some of those) In our opinion ... if you like the lifestyle then at least shop around for buying options. Renting year after year can be a lot of hassle. And ... to Canadians ... remember this is no longer about investment in your home that may pay off in a few years. It is about the lifestyle. If that dollar were to take a quick jump you will see demand for park models go up and that means higher prices. But you are now about to enjoy that retirement. Don't make that decision on what may happen in a few years. Renting vs Buying There are a lot of discussions among newer park residents about what makes the most sense when it comes to renting or buying. Everyone seems to have a different point of view and it really comes down to personal circumstances. Some will suggest that if you can buy a reasonable trailer on a rented lot for around $15,000 then why rent. How much do you stand to lose? Others suggest that renting gives you that opportunity to see if you like it before you invest anything more long term. From those long time residents we have spoken to it seems most started off either renting a trailer or coming in an RV or similar. The one common theme is that they all ended up buying sooner or later. It is rare to find long time visitors who still rent. Renting a Park ModelRenting a park model can certainly provide you with a good opportunity to 'try it out' to see whether you like the lifestyle and the park. It also allows you an affordable way to spend as little as one month in the park in the sunny south if you are not yet able to commit for the whole winter season. Even though you are only renting you should give some consideration to whether the park is one you may later consider as a more permanent location. It is easy to become part of that park community and not want to change park locations should you later decide to buy your own trailer. The unit itself is actually less important than the park where it is located. Of course you want a clean and comfortable trailer but you are experiencing a lifestyle not just renting a place to sleep. Look at the park website and make sure it has the facilities, amenities, and activities that suit your interests and lifestyle. This is also a good time to compare the differences between privately-owned parks and resident-owned parks (see: private vs. resident-owned parks section). If you feel you would prefer a resident-owned park (should you later decide to buy) then you should focus your rental search to those parks. The wide range of rental prices of course generally reflects the quality of both the park and the trailer. They are also affected by location in the park. Those on the outside backing maybe busy streets will be less costly than those closer in and in easy proximity of central facilities. When you browse the park sites you will easily see the differences. The average cost of a rental in a quality park is probably in the area of $1500 per month. (Although a good trailer in a good size park can be found for as little as $1000 to $1400 a month). In addition to your rent you may have some utility costs including whatever telephone, television, and internet services you add. The term of the rental will probably impact the monthly cost. A shorter term can cost you more (per month) than taking the place for the whole season. The month(s) being rented can also affect the cost. An 'affordable' way to 'try it out' Renting for the most popular months will often cost more. That tends to be the January to March period. Some good deals can be found if you are willing to rent in the months of April, November, or December. Some rentals will be as much as 30 to 50 percent lower in those months. Try November/December/April. If you only have limited time (not quite retired yet) you may want to give the off-season a try. Some parks even offer rentals in the off-season for as little as two weeks. They realize you will get sold on the lifestyle and their parks. Buying and Renting the lot in a Privately Owned ParkThat wide range of prices for buying a trailer in a park is all for good reason. The lowest price of (say) $5,000 probably puts you into a very old trailer and possibly one that is smaller in size, has only propane heat and cooking, and may lack outdoor amenities. And of course it can be in poor repair but not necessarily. It can still be quite a comfortable unit and serve as an alternative to renting. The high end units are quite luxurious, will have more space and a lot of amenities, and would be located in a park where you are also buying the lot and your share of the park ownership. (see: private vs. resident-owned parks). If you are going into a privately owned park and renting the lot then you can get quite a nice unit with nice amenities for around $15-20,000. And then there are the annual costs to pay. The following is a general guide only intended to give you some idea of annualized costs. Owned unit on a Rented Lot
It is far more likely that your trailer will depreciate rather than appreciate like a house or other property. That can vary a lot but generally the trailers do in fact depreciate. (Also check the comments about trailer age under 'watch out for the rules' section in About RV Resort Parks.) Buying in a Resident-Owned ParkThe alternative of buying into a resident-owned park will make the original investment considerably more but will also provide more opportunity for hedging against inflation and somewhat reduce annualized costs. (see: Private vs. Resident-Owned Parks). If you browse the resident-owned park websites you can get an idea of the prices for trailers and lots. Prices range quite widely but an average investment can range from maybe $50,000 to $100,000 and some actually near $200,000 and over. An average may be around $80,000. It is important to remember that you are buying into the whole park, not just the trailer and the lot. (In fact legally you do not actually own the lot but rather a percentage of the whole park). The price variance in the resident-owned parks is impacted by your share in the asset value and financial strength of the whole park. As a result there can be quite a difference in the prices from park to park. Very much like buying into a condo apartment. The following estimate is for comparison purposes only. Every park and situation is somewhat different. Owned unit in a Resident-Owned Park.
Over the past 10-20 years the investments in these parks have generally produced good returns. But current economic conditions are hard to assess relative to these parks. So far they have not been impacted in the same way as the other real estate but they are also not immune. As alternatives to park model trailers become more affordable it is understandable that will impact these units. Private vs Resident-Owned ParksThe differences in privately-owned parks and resident-owned parks can be compared to renting an apartment vs. buying the apartment (condo). The resident-owned parks are just that ... 'condo type' ownership of the park which includes your lot. One real advantage expressed by some owners in resident-owned parks is that they do not have to put up with poor park management. Of course there are some park managers/owners who are better than others but there can also be some condo boards that are better than others. The important thing is to make sure you understand the differences and then choose based on your own preferences. Those who are shopping for the first time are often reluctant to make the larger investment of buying into a resident-owned park so will tend to 'try out' the lifestyle by renting their lot in a private park and only risking the price of the trailer. But once they settle on a park and become a part of the community they may tend to stay in that same park. Even if they regret (later) not buying into a resident-owned park it is now tough to move and start again. If you think you would prefer a resident-owned park, but are not ready to make the investment, then you should consider just renting the trailer in your chosen park to see what it is like. BudgetThe number one issue is budget. There is a considerable difference in the 'original' investment required to buy into a resident-owned park rather than renting a lot in a private park. (see: how much will it cost me section) The difference of buying at (say) $15,000 compared to (maybe) $100,000 or more is understandably a huge impediment to choosing a resident-owned park.
And you can feel comfort in knowing that any monthly fee increases are based on actual cost increases and less subject to inflationary market/supply forces. The 'Security' Advantages of Resident-OwnedThere are two 'primary' advantages of resident-owned parks. They both relate to the security that is important to many retirees.
There can be other risks associated with renting in a private park compared to investing in the owner parks. Although rare, it 'has happened' where a private owner decides to sell the property for some new major development. In that case all the trailer owners have a problem. The cost to move to another park is one issue but also the age of the trailer may even prevent that. A private park can also be sold to new owners who decide to change the rules, rents, or other things impacting the residents. But market forces are also at play and any owner is wise to provide good customer service if they want to be successful in the long haul.
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But there is also a budget
advantage. As you are not paying rent your annual operating
costs are lower. You will be assessed a form of 'condo fee' but
that is less than you would pay when renting your trailer lot in a
private park. 
