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RV Parks

5 Reasons to Retire to an RV Park

Senior Couple on Road Trip
Living the Dream: 5 Reasons to Retire to a Long-term RV Park

5 Reasons to Retire to a Long-term RV Park

After decades of clocking into a shift, putting in a 9-to-5, running a business, or following the winding path of your career, most people look ahead to the calm and ease of one thing—The Golden Years. The average American hopes to retire by the age 62, with each generation carrying their own idea of the perfect way to spend their time in their new work-free lifestyle. Boomers look forward to spending more time with family while Gen Xers are mostly excited for traveling around the US.
Despite visions of care-free days and tossing hectic schedules to the wind, the thought of retirement does carry more serious concerns for some. One in four Americans worry about feeling lonesome or bored in retirement, and almost one-third worry about dragging too much debt with them (notably with a mortgage).

Thankfully, there’s a solution that helps alleviate the stress of a mortgage while empowering retirees to live the life they dream about—RV retirement. It’s a chance to carve new paths, downsize your home, and meet new friends in long-term RV communities. But how do you know if settling into the RV lifestyle is right for you in your next chapter? Check out the top five reasons long-term RV retirement is like living the dream.

1. Save Money and Fit Any Budget

The way we think about money and retirement has been shifting for a while. Baby Boomers, for instance, typically head into retirement owning their homes, and 65% count on social security and pensions to fund retirement. Just over half of millennials, on the other hand, are counting on a 401(k) and personal savings to fuel their Golden Years, with more expected to bring a mortgage bill into retirement than their Boomer counterparts.

No matter the strategy for saving up, there are always going to be questions like “How much money am I going to need?” and “How long will I need to make that money last?” running through the minds of retirees-to-be.

Full-time RV retirement could be just the money-saving solution you’re looking for no matter your budget. Without the expenses of home ownership, especially big-dollar maintenance as the decades roll by in retirement, you could find yourself living freely without worrying about financing the next new roof or foundation repair. Plus, there are many ways to stay within even modest budgets.

Some cost-conscious tips include:

  • Invest in a used RV that doesn’t come with the big price tag of one fresh off the production line.
  • Plan extended stays in long-term RV parks and communities. Many times, a weekly or monthly rate is going to be less expensive than paying nightly rates.
  • Join an RV membership that comes with discounts across campgrounds, roadside service, insurance, RV service plans, and even discounted fuel.
  • Create a new RV budget. While you may feel like you’ve been budgeting your whole life in order to save for retirement, it doesn’t hurt to create and stick to a new budget for your RV retirement. This will help you stay on track and sock away extra money for peace of mind.

2. Sell Your Home and Reap the Investment

If you’re on the cusp of retirement, now is the best time to sell your home and reap the investment. According to the Home Price Index, the average home went up 18% in price from October 2020 to October 2021. That’s a record-setting increase and the biggest the market has seen in 45 years.

This is incredible news for homeowners who may now be able to reap more return for their home than ever expected. A move like this could eliminate your debt as you head into retirement, release the burden of a mortgage, or add some extra change to your piggy bank.

3. Live Wherever the Road Takes You

The most desired destination for retirees in the US is their own backyard. Forty-percent of retirees looking forward to traveling want to spend that time traversing the country, and 66.5% crave a more rural residence. Both the itch to travel and to experience rural America can be scratched with RV retirement.

In an RV, you’re never bound to one destination, one community, or one predictable life. Instead, set your sights on any state, park, or coastline and just go. Enjoy the solitude of a rural setting in your day-to-day life all while knowing you’re just a drive away from the bustle of a city if that’s what you want. Plus, every new RV community is a new opportunity to meet people, make friends, and enjoy camaraderie on the road. The life of an RV retiree is seldom boring or lonely (but if that’s what you want, just head off to any isolated park that’s just you and the towering pines).

4. Balance the Cozy Indoors with the Great Outdoors

Full-time RV living is the ultimate balance of indoor comfort with outdoor adventure. Unlike living in a stationary suburban home, the freedom of an RV empowers you to continuously turn the dial to fit your needs. If more amenities or urban comforts are what you want, explore the nearest metro. But if the mountains are calling, well, you have the freedom to answer.

The amenities of modern RV make it possible to enjoy lounging on the couch, cozying up with a book on your queen-sized bed, or working on your passion project from your designated office setup. Once you’re ready to get a breath of fresh air, simply step out your front door to the crashing ocean waves, awe-inspiring redwoods, or wide-open prairies. Change your scenery as often as you like. It’s the perfect way to tailor your indoor and outdoor living.

5. Host Family and Friends

If you’re most looking forward to spending time with family in retirement, the RV is the perfect vessel. Host reunions in a new place every year or simply drive yourself to your loved ones. Never miss another milestone or celebration again. With the power of mobility in your hands, you can control your schedule and travel without stressing about caring for your home, boarding your pets, hotel costs, and more while you’re away.

And when you’re staying at scenic destinations or just minutes from national parks and oceans, your schedule will be stacked with family and friends wanting to visit you. RV retirement happens anywhere you want, which means the opportunity to make more new memories with your kids, grandkids, and friends than you ever thought possible.

5 Reasons to Pick RV Retirement, Unlimited Adventures Ahead

Your retirement should be a chapter of life that’s just as thrilling as every one before it. Despite the feelings of stress surrounding financial planning, budgeting, and restrictions in retirement, there are ways to live a life free from all of those anxieties. With full-time RV retirement, your journey is up to you instead of being bound to one home, city, or lifestyle.

While these are just five reasons RV retirement is an exciting option, life on the road is truly full of endless possibilities, experiences, and environments waiting for you at any stage of life. If you’re retired or still weighing your options before taking the next step, remember that your path isn’t set in stone. Let the open road help you decide.

Featured Communities

Clear Creek Estates 13905 Trinity Mountain Road French Gulch, CA VIEW COMMUNITY
Rio Vista Estates 500 Rio Vista Avenue Red Bluff, CA VIEW COMMUNITY
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RV Parks

Working Remotely from an RV

Person sitting at a table in an RV looking out the window with a laptop on the table
The Benefits of Working Remotely from an RV

WFRV: Working From RV

When you imagine the American Dream, it’s not unusual for images of lush green lawns, white picket fences, and two-story Tudors spread across a sprawling suburb to flash through your mind. While that vision was the dream in the1950s, it’s time to fast-forward and realize the new dream taking modern Americans by storm.

One particular housing trend today is long-term RV living and all the luxuries inherent to life on the road. Recreational vehicles, or RVs, aren’t just wooing people because of their mobility, but it’s becoming more apparent that RVs are perfect for climbing career ladders remotely. Instead of “working from home,” it’s not unusual to see more people “working from RV” on the road.

What are the factors fueling this new remote working trend? What are the impacts WFRV could have on your life? Learn about the benefits of working while RVing and get inspired to make the next big move in your life.

Working Remotely from Your RV: The Big Idea Behind This Housing Trend

Thrive in your career, work from the comfort of home, and explore the US? This dream scenario seems like a no-brainer for most, and it’s becoming a reality as modern Americans explore housing options that fit their life and goals.

Remote work had been steadily growing in popularity for years before becoming the “new normal” due to the coronavirus pandemic. Modern technology made working from home a simple and accessible possibility while stay-at-home safety measures rendered it a necessity.

Remote work is here to stay and by 2025, it’s forecasted that more than 36 million Americans will be taking advantage of it—an 87% increase from pre-pandemic levels. With this newfound ability to work from anywhere at anytime, it leaves many people considering long-term RV living as a new and attainable possibility.

After all, RV life empowers people to explore new corners of the nation, customize their lifestyle and create the experiences they crave, and save more money than if they owned a more traditional home.

Long-term RVing Is an Opportunity to Save Money

While the coronavirus pandemic boosted work-from-home rates, it also caused a jump in something else—the cost to buy a home. Fewer homes were available for sale in 2020 just as a wave of millennials reached prime home-buying age, which created a hyper-competitive market across the US.

This perfect storm of remote work and a housing shortage pushed people to reconsider where they live. It’s simply no longer a requirement to pay exorbitant prices for homes in a big city in order to have access to popular or high-paying careers. In lieu of going house poor, there’s another option: long-term RVing.

Living in an RV gives people the perfect opportunity to pick a home that fits their lifestyle, goals, and adventures ahead. In January 2021, the typical US home had a price tag of $269,039. That’s up nearly 10% from January 2020 (and double the median home price in 1999). The price of buying a home is only getting steeper, but the price of purchasing a reliable RV is incredibly flexible and can be adapted to the needs of the individual buyer.

Similar to the rising appeal of tiny home living, long-term RVing inherently means also saving money on furniture, food, utilities, and beyond. (For instance, you’re much less likely to invest in that massive collection of porcelain dolls when you’re living in an RV.) Many full-time RVers report saving thousands per year compared with living in that stuck-in-one-place Tudor.

This promise for saving becomes even more real when you consider the costs of many metropolitan areas. For example, landing your dream job in Silicon Valley isn’t a mandatory sentence of jaw-dropping rent prices. Instead, work remotely from your RV in Fresno while fully realizing your career and savings goals.

Long-term RV Living Is Efficient and Adventurous

When selecting your new home-on-the-go, you have the freedom to tailor the space entirely. Keep your layout simple with a cozy studio-style RV, or opt for amenities like pop-outs or fold-out porches that create dream office spaces during your workday. Or stay curled up with your laptop, favorite coffee mug, and stylish ZOOM background as long as your heart desires. No matter where you choose to work, one fact remains: Making the perfect space to work from in your RV adds efficiency to your life in ways you might not have expected.

Wherever you’re most productive in your RV—whether that’s sitting at a desk or taking in the breathtaking views wherever you’re currently parked—your office is always just steps away. Eliminating an hour (or more) of commuting to and from a dreary office building means you get that time back in your day to do whatever you want. Have more time for new hobbies, meeting neighbors, side hustles, or exploring the excitement of your current homebase.

Investing in a home in a suburb ties you to one location, schedule, and experience. The culmination of remote work and RV living blows open those boundaries and makes seemingly anything possible.

Live the Life You’ve Dreamed of When Working from an RV

Without the confines of rigid schedules, commutes, working environments, and brick-and-mortar homes, your life becomes any adventure you choose. Dodge the pitfalls of being financially tied to an expensive home in an unpredictable market, and start customizing your day-to-day.

The freedom of RV living and working remotely means no experience is off limits. Spend your time settling into your pick of hundreds of RV parks and communities of manufactured homes across the US. Live amongst redwoods, oversee mountainsides, or listen to the lull of ocean waves all while answering emails and completing career-changing projects. All you need is a place to park, an internet connection, and a sense to live life to its fullest wherever you land.

The New American Dream Has Arrived

The suburbs will always be around for those eyeing a more traditional home-owning experience. But for those looking to take advantage of today’s remote-first workplaces and seeking an opportunity to own a home without going broke, a new American dream is catching on.

There’s never been a better time to live and work outside the box. Join the RV revolution and get ahead of the trend today. What are you waiting for?

Work from Anywhere. Experience Everything.

Find your next landing spot with Monte Christo Communities.

Featured Communities

Clear Creek Estates 13905 Trinity Mountain Road French Gulch, CA VIEW COMMUNITY
Rio Vista Estates 500 Rio Vista Avenue Red Bluff, CA VIEW COMMUNITY
Categories
Manufactured Homes

Top Reasons You Should Hunt for a Manufactured Home

Top Reasons You Should Hunt for a Manufactured Home in 2021
Top Reasons You Should Hunt for a Manufactured Home

Spoiler Alert: It’s A No-Brainer

With rent and mortgages bulging to unattainability, a growing population of people are hungry for another way of living. The advances in manufactured home technology, craftsmanship, and customization, coupled with price and the option to live practically anywhere, make this a more enticing option by the minute.

When you see the benefits laid out, it’s a choice that becomes a no-brainer for those on the hunt for a home.

1. The Answer to Affordable Housing

“Affordable housing” has become a bit of a buzzword lately, and it doesn’t take long to figure out why. The average rent in the US throughout 2020 was nearly $1100 while the median income per person was just over $34K, creating an environment where many people are cost-burdened.

This means for a single person looking for a place to live, it’s become the norm that nearly 40% of their income is gobbled up by rent alone—forget utilities, food, transportation, insurance, and beyond. To add injury to insult, it seems like every city continues to build housing with even steeper price tags. For people looking to own a home, the dollar signs only keep multiplying as the average sale price and demand are at an all-time high.

Buying a manufactured home is a smart, cost-effective alternative that’s catching more and more attention. More than 20 million people live in manufactured homes across the nation, and affordability is a huge reason why. The average sale price of a manufactured home in 2019 was $84,600—or less than 25% the cost of the average existing-home sale today.

Not only is investing in and owning a manufactured home more affordable, but renting one is, too. At the end of 2020, the average monthly rent for a manufactured home was just $568—roughly half that of a cramped apartment.

Manufactured housing has become “one of the few sources of naturally occurring affordable housing” in the country, according to a recent study by Fannie Mae. While so many people are searching for a more affordable way to own or rent while still having money in their pockets to experience more around them, the solution has been available this whole time.

2. Community Living Is Appealing

Typically, a manufactured home is built within or moved to an established neighborhood of fellow MH dwellers. There are anywhere between 35,000–40,000 of these communities across the US both in rural and metropolitan areas.

Whether you’re looking to settle in for the long haul, searching for a seasonal home-away-from-home, or seeking a new way of experiencing life, manufactured home communities are a breeding ground for good friends and good memories. Plus, many parks feature amenities such as pools, laundry, tennis courts, community rooms, and more. These perks are huge for people who want to simply step out their front door to get to everything they need.

Solo folks have seemingly built-in friendships with neighbors, while families with children are nearly guaranteed playmates. Snowbirds, nomads, and young travelers are all guaranteed an in-depth brush with local living, no matter how long their stay. And above all else, these communities are ripe with support and care from those who share the neighborhood.

3. Customizable to Any Lifestyle

When we say “any lifestyle,” we mean it. Manufactured homes can be found in buzzing metros to silent rural areas and anywhere between. Whether you want to wake up to a view of mountains, cornfields, city lights, or coastal beaches, manufactured homes can make that dream a reality.

Beyond location, newly built manufactured homes can be outfitted to align with any buyer’s lifestyle. Today’s manufactured homes are expertly crafted with high-end materials, appliances, and finishes that align best with individual tastes and needs. Think stainless steel refrigerators, granite countertops, hardwood floors—all for a fraction of the cost of an in-place home.

For folks seeking to build the home of their dreams without breaking the bank, manufactured homes are a hot option for any lifestyle.

4. Green Living at Its Best

Not only are manufactured homes inherently more eco-friendly, they can also be built using green materials that are better for the earth. New builds are typically made using energy-efficient windows, heating and cooling systems, appliances, and more. Plus, adding features like solar panels is simple and affordable for homes this size.

Aside from environmentally conscious construction, these homes cause less disruption to the earth itself while requiring fewer resources than a typical in-place home. And with a world of customization available in designing and building these homes, people looking to diminish their footprint could find that manufactured homes have everything they’re looking for for less than they anticipated.

5. Manufactured Homes Are Here for the Long Haul

So before you go hopping onto the high-rise new-build train, or sign your life away to paying an exorbitant mortgage, consider the unexpected—manufactured homes.

Older generations are seeking solace in retirement. Younger generations are on the prowl for affordable housing options. And everyone is facing the same heated demand and competition as national housing occupancy crests 90% in the US. The probability—and cost—of finding a home to match needs for wanderlust or wallets is dwindling in today’s market.

For decades, manufactured homes have been the premier solution for millions of Americans, and the current economy and housing market has primed it for a hot revival. It’s an ideal blend of affordability, customization, and community that’s tough to find anywhere else. Now is the perfect time to get in on this housing trend and all the benefits it offers to those looking to live life to the fullest.

Contact Us
For more than 20 years, we’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of families realize the dream of home ownership while rebuilding neighborhoods in partnership with Monte Christo Communities. CHRIS PODESTA
Casa Park Homes
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Featured Manufactured Homes

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Monthly Mortgage $809 VIEW LISTING
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Manufactured Homes

Are Manufactured Homes the Hottest Housing Trend in America?

manufactured home with front porch, two front windows and door
Are Manufactured Homes the Hottest Housing Trend in America?

A Hidden Gem You Should Consider

High-rise metropolitan condos. Cozy vintage brownstones. Suburban homes tucked behind picket fences. Everyone is after finding their own slice of paradise to call home, but what’s the right pick for people today?

When kids start leaving their childhood homes and forging their own independence all the way until adults start searching for the perfect place to retire, it’s clear that adults are nearly always on the hunt for a house. But with one in six adult renters falling behind on rent and median existing-home prices smashing records and topping $350K in May 2021, picking a humble abode is becoming…complicated.

Nationwide rent spikes and homes in higher demand than ever are two factors that make it seem like there’s no clear winner in finding a pad to lay some roots. However, there’s a resurging housing option that nearly 20 million Americans have already discovered—manufactured homes.

Without gouging monthly fees like new-build rentals, the astronomical cost of buying a home, and all the long-term restraints that come with both, manufactured housing could be the hottest housing trend in the US in 2021 and beyond. See why it’s such an appealing choice for today’s buyers and why it’s a hidden gem you should consider.

What Is A Manufactured Home?

First of all, let’s clear the air about what counts as a manufactured home. While you may think it’s just a fancy, long-form term for “mobile home” or “trailer,” a manufactured home is truly neither of those.

The history of mobile homes stretches far back into the nation’s past—think Conestoga wagons traversing the bumpy country. It wasn’t until the 1950s, though, that companies started sincerely designing these homes on chassis for full-time living. Trailers were suddenly being built with more home amenities while growing wider and longer. While they remained towable, they were often set up for the long haul in trailer parks dotting the US.

Manufactured homes made their debut in 1976 with the passing of the National Mobile Home Construction and Safety Act by the US Congress. This bill was designed to ensure these homes were safer and built to be more durable and sturdy for its long-term livers—and its benefits have been a boon to the industry as a whole.

Today, manufactured homes are at least 320 square feet in size, can have multiple rooms and levels, and still have a permanent chassis so it can be towed to a location and permanently installed (a major difference between these and modular homes). They can be built on-site or off-site in a factory, or employ a blend of both, but one thing’s always for sure: Manufactured homes are here to stay.

Contact Us
For more than 20 years, we’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of families realize the dream of home ownership while rebuilding neighborhoods in partnership with Monte Christo Communities. CHRIS PODESTA
Casa Park Homes
Visit Our Blog

Featured Manufactured Homes

NEW HOME
French Gulch , CA 13905 TRINITY MOUNTAIN RD #18 3 | 2 | 1056 Clear Creek Estates
Monthly Mortgage $809 VIEW LISTING
NEW HOME
Paradise , CA 1348 Elliott #2 2 | 1 | 780 Paradise Estates
Monthly Mortgage $734 VIEW LISTING
New Price
Red Bluff , CA 13 Casa Grande Dr 2 | 2 | 1056 Rio Vista Estates
Monthly Mortgage $1016 VIEW LISTING
Paradise , CA 1354 Elliott #15 3 | 2 | 1056 Paradise Estates
Monthly Mortgage $899 VIEW LISTING
MORE LISTINGS