Island in the Sun

(July 2009) Island in the Sun is a smaller 55+ manufactured home community in Clearwater, FL. Although we could not find anyone at the clubhouse office, information and a tour were provided by Shirley Vallen of Island in the Sun Realty. She has a sales office at the park. This park offers double-wide homes only, lots of mature trees, shade, and Spanish moss. There’s a heated pool, spa, shuffleboard, games and community activities. Home prices are reasonable, with resales in the $20k -$50k range.

There are share owners as well as land lease residents. Owners pay $55k for a share plus $35/mo HOA fee, as well as $310 for maintenance. This fee for non-owners is $570 and covers maintenance of common areas, lawn care, community amenities, but not trash or utilities. Shirley pointed out that while all manufactured home parks are evacuation zones, this one is on some of the highest ground in Pinellas County.

For more information, feel free to contact Shirley at 727-686-9900. She also has a web site at www.islandinsun.com and can provide info and show homes in other parks, as well. The community has a website at www.islandinthesunroc.com

Lake Haven

(July 2009) Lake Haven is not far from the hotel where we stayed in Dunedin, FL. We can’t say enough nice things about the charming community of Dunedin, and we enjoyed our stay there immensely including the Holiday Inn Express. Lake Haven is in eastern Dunedin and is a very clean and well kept 55+ manufactured home park. All homes have at least a small back yard, and some back up to dense foliage. There are 3 clubhouses with pools in different areas of park, remarkable for a park with less than 400 homes. Fitness, fishing, shuffleboard, games and picnic areas are among the amenities, but best of all are the lakefront homes. The lake views are very nice indeed.

In spite of the fact the community has been around for over 40 years, the homes are in great condition. Although there are almost as many single-wide homes as doubles, the single-wides have add-ons and are quite nice. There are lots available for new homes, and new homes are for sale in the $50k – $100k range. Resales are available in the $5k to $50k range. Fees for land lease and maintenance are $572 – $615 with lake fronts running the highest. The fee covers land lease, water, sewer, trash, lawn care, amenities and facility upkeep.

For more information contact Bobbie Tschirhart or Dennis Morden at 727-733-1244. There is a corporate website at www.equitylifestyle.com, but it provides little information about individual parks. It’s best to call Bobbie or Dennis.

Little Manatee Springs

(July 2009) Little Manatee Springs is a manufactured home community located in the southeastern Tampa Bay area. This very nice park is bordered by the rather primitive (in a good way) Little Manatee State Park. Although it has a very rural feel, it is just 3.5 miles to shopping at Sun City Center mega retirement area. The mostly large homes are very well kept, and some accommodate RV’s. Many homes have double garages — most unusual in manufactured home communities.

Amenities include a recreation center, heated swimming pool, exercise room, shuffleboard, nature trails, horseshoes and 9-hole pitch-and-putt golf (no fees). There’s also billiards, ceramics, river walk trails along Little Manatee River, and fishing. HOA dues of $36/yr cover activities and clubhouse events. Maintenance fee ($350/mo) includes water and sewer service, garbage pickup, lawn cutting, and electronically gated security. There are new homes available in the $100k – $150k range, and resales run $60k – $179k.

For more information, contact Dave Kasper at 888-634-2395, by email at lmtsprings@aol.com or by visiting Little Manatee Springs online.

A Crystal Lake park

(July 2009) Crystal Lake is a manufactured home community just west of Zephyrhills, FL. This is a relatively new 55+ gated community about midway between Zephyrhills and I-75. Bill, the community manager, was very pleasant to talk to. His community is well kept, with pocket parks, many lake view lots, attractive common areas and had a “new” look as it is only 20 years old. Many homes had screened porches across the entire front, and most all were attractively landscaped. Even though it is out of town, shopping is only 1 mile away.

There are lighted streets, a picnic area and putting green. There’s as a modern beautifully landscaped clubhouse with fitness center, billiards, games, library, heated pool, and activities. The land lease is low ($348/mo), but utilities are all paid by residents. The lease payment covers the all park amenities, lawn and common area maintenance. Trash pickup is $10/mo. There are 1 and 2 bedroom homes with new homes in the $85k – $110k range and resales $30k – $95k.

For more information, contact Bill Hagerman at 800-541-4362, by email at bhagerman@hometownamerica.com or by visiting Crystal Lake online.

Ramblewood Village

(July 2009) Located in Zephyrhills, a nice small town just 30 minutes from Tampa, is Ramblewood Village. This 55+ manufactured home community offers the conveniences of being in town, but has a country feel, with large mature trees dripping with Spanish moss, a covered bridge, a small lake and just oodles of charm. There were several home lots dedicated to large trees (sort of “intentionally left blank”). Although a land lease only park, the fee was just $302 per month and included water & sewer, lawnmowing & trimming year ’round, trash pickup twice weekly, a clubhouse and heated swimming pool, street lighting, gated security, real estate taxes and no hidden costs. This was the least expensive lease-only park we visited on our trip to Central Florida.

The 2 and 3 bedroom homes were nice; some were older, some newer, with much personalized landscaping. Some lots back up to foliage. Since the homes were affordable (new homes $86k – $100k range, and resales $49k – $78k), you could buy the home outright and live pretty well for $500 a month including lease, maintenance, insurance, taxes and utilities.

For more information, contact David Baerman at 813-788-7219, by email at ramblewood@floridacommunities.com, or visit Ramblewood Village online.

A Park in Americana Cove

(July 2009) Americana Cove is a unique 55+ gated community in the vibrant city of St. Petersburg, FL. Many of the 756 manufactured homes of this park are waterfront homes on mangrove lined waterways with canal access to Tampa Bay. This resident-owned park is what Florida living is about. And talk about value, where else in Pinellas County can you own a home on the waterfront with a boat slip for under $120,000 (including an ownership share)? Plus owners’ monthly maintenance fee is just $176 . The park is a short drive from the Pier, shopping and dining at Baywalk, Museum of Fine Arts, Salvador Dali Museum, and the one of the nations top beaches at Ft. Desoto Park.

We met with Buddy Green, an on-site realtor and then toured the park on our own. Not all of the 2 BR homes were newer models, but most were well kept. There were new homes in the $65k – $220k range, and resales for $10k – $215k. The owner shares are $37,500. Shareholders comprise about 80% of residents, and non-owners pay lease and maintenance of $493-$598 per month. Fees pay for trash, water/sewer, lawn care, guarded gate and reserves.

Pets (up to 2 dogs, up to 25lbs) are permitted in a separate pet sector of park. About 35% of park is pet approved. Indoor cats permitted everywhere. Residents enjoy a heated pool and sundeck, 7000 sq.ft. clubhouse with theatre, stage and dining, boat ramps and boat slips (selected lots), fishing areas, a small but beautiful park on the mangrove waterfront, 30 activity clubs, and the Mangrove Bay Municipal Golf Course is adjacent to the park.

For more information, contact Deb Brown Realty at 727-528-8809, by email at debrownrealty@yahoo.com, visit Americana Cove online, or Buddy Green’s web site.