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| Welcome to ResidentOwnedCommunities.com. If you are looking for a retirement home, a getaway "snowbird nest", or just want to learn more about this unique and affordable way of living, then this is a good place to start. If you already live in a "ROC", see how your park compares to others. This directory lists over 110 ROC communities that have a website. They represent only a partial listing of the total number of resident-owned parks, as most do not have their own website yet. Most listed here are located in Florida; a few properties in other states are also shown. New sites are added as they go online. If you have a website you would like included, email me the url and I will list it. (mgfreeman@residentownedcommunities.com) I would like this directory to be as complete and accurate as possible. If you find any of the inevitable errors or omissions, please email me so I may correct them. The term "resident owned community" is most commonly used to describe a manufactured/mobile home or rv development that is incorporated and operated as a not-for-profit co-operative, with each resident shareholder owning an equal voting and equity share of the park. A board of directors is elected, and they in turn appoint the corporate officers and management personnel who are responsible for day-to-day operations. Regular meetings are held in which issues affecting the community are discussed and voted on by the resident members. As a non-profit, all the income of the park after expenses is re-invested in the community. There are many advantages to co-op parks. A great appeal to many residents is the security they have against the park being unwillingly "sold out from underneath them". In the unlikely event co-op members were to vote to sell, any profits thus derived would belong to them. Rents and fees cannot be arbitrarily raised. In Florida, state residents may enjoy the tax benefits and protections of homestead exemption, as well as a cap on future tax increases. Also, there is the likely appreciation in the value of the individual shares of the co-op, providing the benefit of equity growth. For example, if you look in the California section of this directory, you will find mobile homes over 30 years old selling for hundreds of thousands, and some for over a half million dollars! In many cases, the purchase of a share may be financed just like a regular mortgage. This extra monthly payment is offset by the fact that shareholders pay much less in lot fees than renters. This savings is often enough to make up for the extra expense of the share cost. Most roc parks do not require every homeowner to purchase a share; those residents may rent lots like they would in any other park. Although they do not vote or participate in equity ownership, they often appreciate and prefer the benefits of living in a non-profit, resident-owned community. A roc may also be made up of site-built homes, condo/townhouse type buildings, RV resorts, campgrounds, marinas or other entity. To begin exploring, click the name of a state on the navigation bar, the name of a county, then select the url link of a listed park. Thank you for visiting today. I hope you find this site interesting and useful. Michael Freeman St Petersburg, Fl | |
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