Park model homes and tiny houses are designed to be portable. For that reason, a lot of people think, “I will choose a home to buy today, and figure out where to put it tomorrow. After all, I can put it anywhere, right?”
Actually, there are two very important reasons why you should start thinking about exactly where you want to put your home early in the buying process:
- Not every type of tiny house can be placed in every location.
- When you know where you will put your home, you can start thinking about features that will complement that setting.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before you start shopping for a tiny home, you should always ask yourself these questions:
- Do I want to live in a community, or on private land?
- What state(s) do I want to be able to live in?
- How often do I plan to relocate in the future?
- In what type of geographic setting do I want to live?
- How private will the location be?
- What kind of climate can I expect?
- What state and local codes do I need to be aware of?
Why Park Model Homes are Easier to Place Than “Tiny Houses”?
We suggest you shop for a park model home and not a tiny home—and the reason is simple. Park model homes are built to code, making them safe and more acceptable from a regulatory standpoint than tiny houses.
In fact, there is no standardized legal definition for what a “tiny house” is.
As a result, regulators often do not classify them as “homes” at all, and may forbid them in certain municipalities. RV and mobile home parks often will turn them away as well.
But as a park model home has the legal classification of an RV, they are welcome in far more mobile and RV parks, and most municipalities have fewer restrictions on where you can place them.
Where You Can Place a Park Model Home?
Now that you know a bit more about park models versus tiny homes as well as some important things to think about with respect to placement, let’s talk about some of the types of locations where you can live in a park model home.
1. RV or Mobile Home Park
Living in a park model home means you have the option of living in an RV or mobile home park. If you had a “tiny house,” you might have few parks to choose from. But in a park model home, you should have many.
Pros:
- It is easy to find somewhere to live in your park model home right away.
- You do not need to do anything to prepare the land. The utilities are already in place.
- You do not have to worry about building codes for private land use.
- You can relocate to another park in the future if you need to do so.
- You will have a community of neighbors you can get to know. Sometimes they may become good friends. They also may be able to help you learn the ropes of living with a smaller footprint.
Cons:
- Not every RV park community is welcoming or stable.
- Privacy is limited in an RV park.
Useful Park Model Home Features
If you will be living in an RV or mobile home park, we recommend choosing a home that includes good features for privacy.
A home with smaller windows might be a good option.
The two-bedroom Athens 531 pictured above is one possibility. For a more rustic look, consider the Athens 516 below.
High-quality soundproofing will also do a lot to enhance your sense of privacy in a park.
2. Your Existing Home Property or New Land You Have Purchased
Another option is to place a park model home on private land, assuming that is allowed in your municipality. It could go on land with an existing full-size home as a guest house or other add-on, or you could place it on new land you have purchased just for this purpose.
Pros:
- The land is yours, and you can control it
- No one can boot you off the land. You can stay there as long as you own it.
- You have a lot more privacy than you would in a park.
- Depending on where the land is, you might have picturesque views.
Cons:
- You may have to set up utilities before moving onto the land.
- If you do not have the land yet, you will need to finance its purchase.
Useful Park Model Home Features
If you have wide open land around you with scenic views, make the most of them! Choose a park model which offers incredible views through huge windows, like our Denali model from Timber Ridge:
Another great idea is to buy a home with a big porch like the Athens 520, so you can fully enjoy the outdoors:
Other Considerations Regarding Locations and Park Model Home Features
Finally, here are a few more things to think about when choosing a park model for a site:
• Moving to a warm climate? Pick a home with ceiling fans as well as windows you can open for an effective cross-breeze.
• Putting your home in a cold location? Choose a home with top-grade insulation.
• If the area where you will live gets a lot of precipitation, pick a home with a sloped roof that will shed rain and snow.
Have Questions About Placing a Park Model Home? We Can Help!
Now you have some insights into where you can put a park model home, as well as some things to think about when selecting features appropriate for your site. Have additional questions? We would love a chance to go over some of these considerations with you and help you choose the perfect home to fit your needs. Please give us a call at 888-222-2699 to get started.
