CONCORD, NH – Homeowners in the 190 Manchester Street Manufactured Home Community closed Jan. 31 on the purchase of their 25-unit park, making it New Hampshire’s 128th resident-owned manufactured-home community (ROC).
Using training and technical assistance from the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund’s ROC-NH team, homeowners organized and formed Top of the Hill Cooperative last August.
The cooperative’s members elected a board of directors and worked closely with ROC-NH to make the purchase a reality. They negotiated with the park’s owners, S & M Properties, Inc., reached a purchase price of $630,000, and finalized the deal Jan. 31 with a mortgage from the Community Loan Fund.
After seeing the success of two other ROCs in Concord (Fisherville Cooperative #82 and Fisherville Cooperative #107), the now-former owner of the community said the opportunity to sell to the residents was one she couldn’t pass up.
“Twenty-five years ago, my parents sold two manufactured housing communities in Concord to the residents. When it came time to sell 190 Manchester Street, I knew I wanted to do the same,” said S & M Properties President Carmella West. “It is nice to know that the future of the community is in control of the residents.”
Top of the Hill board members agreed wholeheartedly with this.
“We feel very fortunate to own and preserve our community,” said Vice President Linda Lord.
“Thank you to ROC-NH for the support and making the process easy,” said President Charles Fairfield.
Cooperative ownership means Top of the Hill Cooperative homeowners are now eligible for products and services, including real mortgages, that haven’t been available to them. Studies show that the availability of home financing, when the land is secure, improves the home’s value, the owner’s ability to make improvements, and overall housing affordability.
Board Members will work with the Technical Assistance Provider from ROC-NH for the duration of their mortgage — at least 20 years.