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Dream to Nightmare? Commentary by Gary Perry
Around the year 2000 and before, 55+ age group manufactured housing developments started booming. Senior citizens looking for an affordable and safe environment to live out their senior years were attracted to the idea. After all, you could purchase a manufactured home for less than most site-built homes, locate it in a gated community park, and enjoy a few other amenities. In most cases you paid a reasonable monthly lot rent for the use of the featured amenities, clubhouse, pool, and maintenance of the park.
Unfortunately, all of that has changed. Investor groups, private equity and others soon realized the "cash cow" potential of these parks and began buying them making local owners an "offer they couldn't refuse" moneywise. The website Mobile Home University was created to attract buyers touting the profitability and significant return on investment these parks offered. Why? There are several reasons including but not limited to:
1. The homes are not really mobile. Once set up is accomplished it is an expensive and potentially damaging event to move one.
2. Park owners can increase lot rents as much as they want to, and they do, knowing that moving the homes is virtually impossible. There is no limit on rent increase in New Mexico.
3. There is very little oversight of how the parks are operated by any state authority or protection from violations committed against residents.
Investor groups have taken full advantage of the situation buying parks in New Mexico, raising lot rents, eliminating services and failing to properly maintain parks all for the simple purpose of making huge profits without regard for the well-being of senior citizen park residents.
In the 2025 New Mexico legislative session three bills were introduced in an effort to curb these predatory business practices by investors buying New Mexico parks. One bill would provide residents the opportunity to purchase their park if the owner decided to sell.
One bill would authorize the New Mexico Attorney General's office to oversee and enforce the New Mexico Mobile Home Park Act
One bill would provide rent increase stabilization
At this time none of the bills have passed, and most likely will die in the political muddy waters as they have in the past.
Why?
Because politics are alive and well in New Mexico just as in other states. Investors and organizations opposed to any controls that hamper the way they operate parks, and their profits, pour money into the lobbyists to argue against controls as well as campaign contributions.
Otero Representative John Block who voted against one of the bills receives numerous campaign contributions of which one is an owner of a Alamogordo mobile home park.
What once appeared as a potential dream situation for living out their senior years has indeed become a nightmare. Ever increasing rents, elimination of services, and failing to maintain parks has driven many to sell their homes and relocate. Seniors living on fixed incomes cannot continue to afford the continuing "no limit" rent increases.
I am a resident of a 55+ age group park. Had I been more diligent in my research of what is happening in these parks, I would never have bought a home in the park. The frightening facts of no limit rent increases, no state authority controls or enforcement, decreasing maintenance, and the most frightening fact... the New Mexico legislature allowing this to happen, leads one to only one conclusion if you're considering moving into one of these parks.
"Don't do it!"
- Gary Perry
Note: Gary Perry is a local advocate for senior citizens rights and fair housing. His series of articles on Mobile Home Park rights can be found via the links below...
New Mexico Mobile Home Act Special Educational Series Introduction
New Mexico Mobile Home Act Special Educational Series: Tenancy Termination
New Mexico Mobile Home Act Special Educational Series: Part 3
Mobile Home Park Act Educational Series Part 4 by Gary Perry
New Mexico Mobile Home Park Act Summary and Needed Changes Part 5
