All of the RV parks in the small Rio Grande Valley at the southern tip of Texas are like the ones all over the world, with one exception. These parks patronize the 150,000 so-called migrating winter inhabitants from the northern states and Canada during the wintertime months.
Thus, their basic operations are aimed How to measure a mobile home toward these three-to-eight-month winter stays along with the typical overnight or weekend ones. These parks have five kinds of local stationary units to rent or buy for temporary winter lodging. They are named and described below.
1. Stationary travel trailer (TT). Numerous older-model 25-to-40-feet-long one-bedroom one-bath travel trailers have been block-mounted and strapped down permanently onto their concrete pads where they may be skirted for appearance sake. To create them roomier, they usually have had permanent hand-made pop-out extensions or a Texas Room added for them plus a patio awning. The Texas Room is a fully enclosed width extension to 1 side of the trailer. It may range from a specific porch to a fully furnished room addition.
These units are highly livable for just two small-to-medium-sized tenants. They rent from $400 to 1500/month during the wintertime season depending on their condition and location. Additionally they sell useful for around $8 to 50K depending on their age, size, condition, and location. When expanded and remodeled, they are similar in size to the park-model mobile home below, and sometimes are called such.
2. Park model, small (PM). This model is smaller than the usual regular full-sized mobile home. The older ones measure about 12x33-feet with one bedroom, your bathroom, tight but full-sized kitchen, and a tiny living area. The newer ones are newer than these and the stationary trailers above. The current PM has a pitched roof, design windows and skirting, high ceiling, fairly large bathroom, modern kitchen and living area, combined air and heat source, ceiling fan, and an additional room (storage, den, half-bath, office, or bedroom). Viewed from above, it could have an "L" shape plus a covered deck, patio, porch, shed, or parking spot.
For insurance and taxing reasons, this model has a non-taxable living area of about 400 square feet or slightly above. Thus, it often sits on a tiny concrete trailer pad with little or no yard to take care of, aside from a periodic tree, shrub, or potted plant. These rent for about $900-1500/month. To possess, they cost about $50 to 80K or more new with transport and setup costs included. Larger park models also exist. But they generally take a seat on the much larger lots reserved for mobile homes.
3. Mobile home, large (MH). This fairly long and narrow home can resemble the people seen in the MH parks and countryside everywhere. The newer models are wider (16 to 20-feet) compared to older ones (10 to 14-feet), making them spacious. Generally they have two-to-three bedrooms with two large bathrooms. But varying configurations and sizes are available, including stylish ones. The MH can also provide a covered concrete patio and/or parking area plus a Texas Room of some kind. Depending on the exact size of its lot, the MH could have extra additions of some type on both of its sides. Also, a one-bedroom one-bath MH having rooms larger compared to PM exist. These generally are for tenents not having overnight guests.
Though it can still be moved again, this parked and skirted home sits on a fairly large lot, that'll have adequate space for an outside shed, garden, trees, and a yard to take care of by the master or by hired help. Because of its large size, it's insured and taxed accordingly.
These rent for $900-2500/month depending the same conditions above. To possess, they cost from $25 to 200K, used or new, with transport and setup costs included as needed. If their add-on Texas Rooms are raised to the same floor levels while the MH's, they become like the double-wides below.
4. Double wide. The double wide is similar to those seen everywhere, often stylish. Unlike the so-called stationary trailers and mobile homes above, these become totally permanent homes, and probably will not be moved again once installed. They are very spacious. Additionally they take a seat on large lots, and are treated like regular real estate, usually occupied by long-term owners.
5. Efficiency apartment. Certain large parks have several efficiency apartments for the guests and inquiring visitors to remain in. These apartments can range in size from motel-like rooms to suites to furnished small apartments. In the wintertime season, these rentals cost about the same as trailer rentals above, about $600 to 1500/month.
As well as the above housing, limited seasonal motel rooms, suites, and time-shares may also be available for new visitors to this valley. Yet, because potential winter inhabitants might enjoy the many activities in the RV parks there, they might choose to rent one of the above units before deciding to possess one. The parks have maintenance personnel who watch these properties year-round. To learn more on such living units, see these sites.