My home is located in a Resident Owned Community, fondly known as a ROC, for residents who are 55 years old and older. My personal story is not unlike that of many folks residing in manufactured housing communities. Everyone’s details are a bit different, but the basic need is the same – the need for a stable and affordable home in a good neighborhood.
Several years ago, I sold my home in the New York metropolitan area and returned to Maine, bringing my corporate job with me. For several years I lived in various rental properties. As the housing market became more volatile and less available, I realized the need to stabilize my living situation for the future and my retirement years. After much searching, I arrived at what I felt was an affordable solution – buying a manufactured home and leasing space in a privately-owned park. I was lucky enough to find a well-run park with attractive owner-occupied homes in the town where I had grown up.
Three years after joining Mountainside, my real education in the world of manufactured housing began. The residents were advised that the park was up for sale. Since our location is a tourist destination and is prime coastal real-estate, our 27 acres were vulnerable to many forms of development. As homeowners, but not land owners, we were all extremely concerned for the stability of our resident status. Thankfully, rather than listing the property, opening it up to the highest bidder, the owner wanted to sell to the residents. He contacted Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) paving the way for us to purchase the park at a fair market value. With the assistance of CDI and ROC USA, many community meetings later, the residents of Mountainside became a not-for-profit corporation, formed a management team, and obtained financing. On December 11, 2019, we became owners of the land beneath our homes.
As we went through this process, I learned firsthand the rewards of owning our park:
With park ownership there have also been challenges. Through connection with other communities in the ROC network, I was exposed to the larger picture of manufactured housing communities.
I learned about other communities being bought up by investors, and rent increases that threatened the ability of residents to stay in their homes. I regularly receive inquiries from out-of-state investors wanting to add Mountainside to their real-estate portfolios.
I learned that manufactured homes in our state are not eligible for standard home mortgages. This equates to limited funding and high interest rates, making it difficult to get financing for a home in our community. Because lenders categorize manufactured homes as non-essential chattel, they become the substandard guest at the homeownership table.
I decided to join the Maine ROC Strong Legislative Team. While testifying for Offer to Purchase legislation, I clearly saw prejudice and misinformation surrounding manufactured housing communities and their residents. Some elected officials were unaware of how many of their constituents lived in manufactured housing communities.
Our state is making great strides, but considering the housing crisis which exists in our nation today, there is still a great need for education and legislative action throughout our country, to clear the way and raise awareness of the changing face of this important nonsubsidized source of affordable housing.
ROC’s structure provides a framework, guidance, and support for communities to be successfully owned and managed by residents. It was fortunate that we were able to adopt the process of park ownership. I will continue to advocate for my own community and to raise awareness so that others may have the opportunity to experience the stability and pride of home and park ownership.
Margaret Jones serves as Board President of Mountainside Community Cooperative, ROC Association New England Director, and is a member of the Maine Manufactured Housing Board. Since 2019, Margaret Jones has dedicated her efforts to the importance of raising the perception of manufactured housing communities and advocating for level playing fields for this valuable source of responsible and affordable home ownership.