Rising mobile home rent is a major concern for many seniors
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Soaring Mobile Home Rent Alarms Many Seniors, Sparking Major Concerns

In Arizona, the cost of living in mobile home parks is on the rise, hitting seniors with fixed incomes the hardest. Sabrina Walters, who runs SLW Realty Group, highlights a significant issue. The lack of rent control for lots means prices can continuously increase.

Most people living in these communities own their homes but not the land beneath them. This land rent is climbing across the state. Debbie Suits shares her experience in Tempe, where the lot lease jumped from $700 to $1,000 in five years. With limited alternatives, she and her husband feel stuck.

Julie Baker faces a unique dilemma. The mobile home park she resides in is on tribal land, and her lease won’t be renewed beyond 2026. This means she must find a new place to live, a daunting task for someone who is also a licensed realtor.

Another resident from north Phoenix, preferring to stay anonymous, is moving back to Wisconsin. The steep increase in land rent has made staying untenable, despite significant investments in her home.

To address these challenges, Butler has initiated the Love From Above Charitable Trust. This nonprofit aims to secure affordable housing for vulnerable and low-income seniors. She is exploring areas south of Tucson for potential land purchases, despite zoning challenges. The ultimate goal is to provide a place where people can affordably place their mobile homes and live.