If you are considering purchasing a mobile home in a 55+ community, there are many things to consider. First of all, do you like a lot of activities? bingo anyone? How about joining a card game? Bring your favorite dish to a potluck, maybe? Join other residents in the pool room for a round of pool?
Do you like to stay healthy? How about joining other residents for a morning walk and, if you have a dog, take it with you? As for pets, there are size limits, always check with the park manager about weight, height and quantity. Some parks weigh 20 pounds. and only one, others may allow two.
Most activities take place at Greenbrier Estates. There’s Greenbrier Estates East (GBE) and Greenbrier Estates West (GBW). GBE has the parks office and clubhouse and can be used by all GBE and GBW residents. The clubhouse is large with a full kitchen and stage. Various dinners are held throughout the year and on certain holidays.
The clubhouse also has a coffee room with free coffee and there are several tables there for any activity. There is also a library and yes you can donate your unwanted books to them. There are also his and hers bathrooms. Behind the clubhouse is a good sized swimming pool and also a Jacuzzi.
GBW has its own pool and a beautiful greenbelt in the back with paths for a relaxing stroll. There is also a tennis court on the green belt. Both mobile home parks (managed by the same company and located almost next to each other) have great spaces and everything is very well maintained. There are no single width mobile homes, they are mostly double width mobile homes and there are also some triple width and even quad width.
Used mobile homes sell for between $65,000 and $140,000. Prefer a new manufactured home? Yes, the community is regularly updated with new prefabs with all the bells and whistles. They sell for between $175,000 and $250,000. All solid wood kitchen cabinets with plaster walls, updated carpet, corian counter tops, tile trim, updated faucets and light fixtures and more. Most have two bedrooms and a living room and also feature a wood-burning fireplace.
The rent for the space to the new owner at Greenbrier Estates is currently $734 and is rent controlled. It is linked to the City of Santa Clarita Consumer Price Index and the rent for the space goes up on January 1st of each year. The latest increase was 2.9%. For more details, contact the park office.
Both GBE and GBW have a gate that closes at 8:00 pm Centrally located with shops across the street. There is Sam’s Club and a Super Walmart as well as several restaurants and other stores. Even in the 24-hour Fitness Club. Metrolink is a couple of blocks away and so is the famous Santa Clarita Swapmeet that takes place every Sunday and Tuesday. On Tuesdays they don’t have a ticket and they also sell fruit and vegetables at very cheap prices, yes, not organic.
What other 55+ communities are there?
Canyon Palms. Both single width mobile homes and double width mobile homes. A total of 45 seats. Very clean but some spaces are small and there is a clubhouse with a full kitchen for birthday parties etc. There is also a smaller pool. There are no activities unless you create them yourself. There is a public laundry available.
Centrally located with shops, restaurants, post office and fire station all within a block or two. There is a bus stop right outside the park entrance. Rent for the space is only $500 for the new owner and is rent controlled.
Sierra Park. A total of 76 spaces, mostly single width mobile homes, some double width mobile homes. There are also some newer prefabs and some model parks. A park model is not considered a manufactured home. They are only eleven feet wide by thirty-two feet long and you cannot get financing for them. They are a “cross breed” between a manufactured home and an RV. Sierra Park also has several RVs.
Quiet and well maintained community. There is a clubhouse with books and plenty of videotapes to borrow for free. Sometimes there are dinners hosted by the manager and the clubhouse is of course free to use for any activity such as birthdays, potluck or a card game. There is also a pool table.
Pets are allowed and check with the manager about size, weight and quantity. Sierra Park is almost across the street from Canyon Palms, so shopping, restaurants, etc. are readily available. Rent for the space to the new owner is $475 and is rent controlled. There are currently about six houses for sale there, ranging from $38,777 to $47,500. They are one bedroom or two.