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Why Resident Ownership?

In traditional manufactured home communities (sometimes still outdatedly called “mobile home parks” or “trailer parks”), even though residents own their homes, the community owners control the land, set the site fees and make the park rules. They also control the condition of the community – including roads, water, electric, waste-water systems and landscaping. Each time the community is sold to a new owner, the rent is likely to increase.

Benefits of a ROC?

Unlike traditional manufactured home communities, ROCs are not subject to market-based rent increases, and there is no profit margin in monthly site fees. This cooperative ownership gives homeowners the ability to control costs, improve facilities and make their own rules while providing the peace of mind of land ownership.

What makes a ROC different?

Control

Members have a say in their ROC, with major decisions made by democratic vote. An elected Board of Directors appoints committees and hires a property manager to manage daily tasks and oversee the community’s needs.

Eviction Security

Members continue to own their own homes individually and own an equal share of the land beneath the entire neighborhood. They sign perpetual leases and enjoy lifetime security against unfair eviction.

Liability Protection

Members are not personally liable for loans made by the cooperative. Their only personal financial investment in the ROC is their Member share, which is typically $250-$500 and paid back when they move out.

Strong Sense of Community

Homeowners in ROCs get to know their neighbors like never before. They help one another, check in on one another, and get together for potlucks, cleanup days or simply to enjoy their secure neighborhood.

Site Fees Compared

Each year, ROC USA commissions a market rent study to measure how ROCs are doing relative to the market on the important question of affordability. The data is remarkably consistent: ROCs are not just secure, they’re stable, too. And the affordability in ROCs gets better with time. Our longitudinal study by a national appraisal firm shows ROC Members’ site fees are already 11% below market after just five years, and 21% below market after 10 years.

Site Fee Predictor

Resident Owned Communities vs. Commercially Owned Communities

This tool compares site fee increases in two communities, one a ROC where annual increases average 0.9% and the other a commercially owned community, where annual increases average 7.1%.*

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Future Monthly Rent Resident Owned
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Future Monthly Rent Commercially Owned
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Lifetime Savings For ROC Residents

A tale of two communities

The journeys to resident ownership in Longmont and Golden, Colo., involved overcoming challenges related to rent increases and unstable living conditions under private ownership. Both communities benefited from the support of nonprofits like ROC USA and Thistle, as well as local government.

Longmont’s success hinged on a significant loan from the Longmont City Council and robust community collaboration. In Golden, the community’s purchase involved a larger financial transaction and more direct city involvement.

Click below to see what happened in Golden when first a large out-of-state owner took over and then see how things changed when the residents purchased and where they are one-year later.

Residents in Golden deal with the aftermath of a private company buying their mobile home park

How life — and rent — improved when residents took ownership of a Longmont mobile home park

How does a ROC impact the homeowners who live there?

We set out to make improvements, and in just the first year finished all the tree work, treated septic systems, upgraded electric panels, and painted speed bumps and fire hydrants. We’re able to pick and choose vendors. We’ve made capital improvements, and saved money in reserves for the future. It’s the best thing we ever did.

Kathy Zorotheos
Oak Hill Taunton Resident Association, Taunton, Mass.

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