Karens in my neighborhood
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I'm not joking.
There's a park across the street where the people have 50 year land leases.
The Karens there are numerous, on speed dial with every neighbor and the head of the Board of Governors.
East Germany during the Cold War is a good enough description of the vibe.
They spy on each other day and night, report to an owner when a family member with their own keys comes to the owner's house, and will confront anyone very aggressively and rudely when as I said you could well be a family member.
Well, they're here too! I had my worst encounter with one the other day. I've had a few.
I'm what they call an owner, i.e. I own my home. I'm a tenant in the sense here we don't own the land and have to pay lot rent.
Imagine this. I've lived here for six years.
The other day I walked to Circle K and was waiting at the back gate with two fountain drinks in the middle of the day. I was dressed and groomed as appropriate. I don't look threatening or like a criminal.
You see?! There's no logic to it.
This woman has a gate clicker, drives in, and of course I came through the gate.
She stops her car and rolls down her window.
Her (mean, judgment, suspicious, sanctimonious voice):
"Do you live here?!"
Me: "I'm an owner. I've lived here for six years."
Her: "Then it's in your interest."
Note: Here she is actually blaming me for her bad behavior.
Me: (if looks could kill)-- "It's in our mutual interest."
She's played her game. Of course she drove off in a huff having no other choice.
I'm holding two fountain drinks in my hands and minding my own business!
I'm actually thinking about buying in one of the more expensive parks to have the stability of the decades long lease hold and no lot rent.
There might be more Karens in my future not less. Lol.
BTW, I am the single resident in my park of 401 units who has the physical ability and know how to climb over the back gate. I even got an anonymous mention/ reprimand in a monthly newsletter about it.
So I now try very hard to refrain but sometimes if I have to come or go late at night I sometimes get impatient and climb over it anyway.
Your stupid gate won't stop me from robbing your house!
Too funny.
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I looked at the prices of listings at the park across the street with land leases. That park is out of the question for me personally because the average asking price is $150,000.
The Board of Governors has the same contractual right to evict you for rule violations as management does here. So it is a weakened land lease with the HOA breathing down your neck. Board of Governors is a pretentious term. Also you can't get a 50 year land lease. The land lease is 50 years but its start date is retroactive to date the leases were originally offered.
The danger to residents of lot rent mobile home parks, higher end, perfectly maintained ones, connected to municipal utilities, like mine, and rural mobile home parks alike, in all states is that they are being bought by hedge funds. The lot rents are being increased dramatically, and water and garbage removal are being charged as separate fees on top of the lot rent increases.
I've decided that if this happens here (and it probably will because the owner is in his '80's and his children have no interest in the park meaning of course they're going to sell) I will be able to absorb the rent increase and new fees.
My ability to adjust (very many people in every state are being evicted after these sales because they don't have the necessary income to manage-- and it's sad because many of them are elderly) combined with the terrible state of the market make me think staying here would be the best choice.
My favorite house (stunning renovation, luxury kitchen, luxury bathroom, peaceful energy, on a quiet street, next to an empty lot--I've linked to in another thread) was $59,500 asking during the pandemic, taken off the market and relisted many times without selling, was at $29,500 asking when I found it.
It was relisted three days ago at $27,000 asking. That's a steal.
I was told by the woman who had the listing previously that realtors haven't been very interested in this house and haven't tried very hard with it.
I think I've figured out why.
I think the reason it's a hard sale is down to the fact that it's only 600+ sq ft. That's 200 sq ft less than any other unit in the park. It's the only 1 bedroom in the park.
It would be perfect for me and allow me to pay $27,000 cash and be done with it.
I can make it work financially because of the money I will save.
I've decided to buy a Hyundai Accent from the last generation Hyundai sold the Accent in the US.
There many in pristine condition with around 40k miles for no more than 17k.
This will be a cash sale and likewise I will be in a position where I can afford the insurance (I've been told car insurance in Florida had risen dramatically), gas, and maintenance.
I will buy my place on the first day possible but I'm buying the car immediately.
It made my day to find out the house hadn't been sold.
My roommate is having a very hard time and taking it out on me or trying to every chance he gets.
It's been a long haul. I'm not taking anything for granted.
But the settlement of my father's estate can't last forever.