When you are choosing a type of tiny house to build or buy, one of the many options you can consider is a park model home. That, of course, is the type of home that we specialize in.
Why choose a park model home, as opposed to a different type of tiny house such as a tiny home on wheels (THOW), a modular tiny house, a shipping container home, or some other type? Here are a few of the unique advantages of park model tiny houses as compared to other types of tiny homes.
Important to Know: Park Model Homes are Classified as RVs
Before we jump into the meat of this post, a basic fact about park model homes that you need to be aware of is that they are classified by states as recreational vehicles (RVs).
That might sound strange, since they look like houses, not like traditional RVs. Nevertheless, they are legally RVs, which means that they are regulated under RV laws.
- Easy to finance
For starters, financing a park model home is usually pretty easy. Instead of having to apply for tiny house financing, you can apply for an RV loan.
RV loans have been around for much longer, and the process is an established one. You should find it fairly straightforward, which lets you move more quickly on your purchase.
- Built to specific regulations
“Tiny house” is a vague term on its own. The legal definition of a tiny house varies from state to state, from county to county, and from city to city. So do the building requirements, if any.
RVs, however, are built to the same safety standards as other recreational vehicles. That means that while they may not feature quite as much customization as some other types of tiny homes, you can rest assured that park model homes are safe to live in and take on the road. They also still offer plenty of customization options.
- Wide and comfortable
Park model homes tend to feature a wider, more spacious design than some other types of tiny houses. Their interiors feel open and airy. That is especially true when they boast high ceilings and large windows, as our park model houses do.
What the interiors of other types of tiny houses feel like can vary quite a bit. Some are airy and open, but others can feel cramped and enclosed. You will never feel claustrophobic in a park model home. In fact, on some days, you might forget to think of your house as “tiny” at all.
- Can look and feel like a traditional home
Speaking of forgetting your house is tiny, one of the best things about park model homes is that they are designed to resemble traditional houses.
While that isn’t the look everyone necessarily wants, many people do. A park model home doesn’t look or feel like an RV, nor does it just seem like a “box on wheels,” as many tiny homes do.
Once it is on its foundation, someone could easily see your park model home and assume it is a regular, stick-built home, just on a tiny scale.
- Can feature a downstairs bedroom
Technically, other types of tiny houses can include a downstairs bedroom. But the reality is that they usually don’t. The only sleeping space available is in the loft.
But park model homes frequently include a downstairs bedroom. Unlike the loft, it is a regular room that is completely enclosed and private.
This is a fantastic feature for people who cannot use stairs or ladders, or who simply do not like the idea of sleeping in a loft. You get the experience of a regular, traditional bedroom.
It also can be very useful to have a downstairs bedroom if you are going to be living in a park model house with children. The kids can have the bedroom, and the privacy that comes with it (or, if they prefer the loft, they could always have that instead).
- No property taxes
There is one more advantage to living in a park model house, rather than another type of tiny home, which has to do with the fact that it is legally an RV.
Recreational vehicles are not considered to be “real property” the same way houses on foundations are.
You do have to register your park model home with the DMV, as you would a regular RV, and pay the corresponding fees.
But you do not need to pay property taxes on a park model home, just as you would not have to pay property taxes on an RV. That is reserved for people who live in tiny houses on foundations.
That said, in some states, if you put your park model home on a foundation, its status may change from a tax standpoint.
So, while you might get out of paying property taxes on it, it really depends on your location and the specific scenario. You should double check with your state.
Learn More About the Benefits of Park Model Homes
We have gone over some of the reasons why park model homes can be ideal compared to other types of tiny houses. To keep exploring the benefits of park model homes, continue to read our blog, or contact us to get answers to your questions or find out more about our park models.
