Courtesy of Susan Hindman

And now, for a totally different type of housing, for those less inclined to spend their reclining time in an apartment, condo, or home in the ‘burbs.

Snowbirds have long pulled their homes behind them in search of the next great temporary residence. But the effort and expense can start becoming an issue as we age. Enter the “park model” trailer. Park models are 400 square feet of movable home that get planted in an RV resort, campground, or on private property, and become a part-time home. They look more like resort cottages than trailers, with hardwood floors, bay windows, lofts, and real wood cabinetry. The price is typically just under $40,000, depending on the amenities.

Older adults purchased nearly 80,000 of these recreational park trailers from 1998 to 2008, William Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA), told Senior Journal last year. Many folks place them on leased sites at RV resorts and campgrounds and then live in them part-time. RPTIA reports that snowbirds usually place their models in luxurious resorts across the Sunbelt. “Some retirees have even been known to purchase two park models. They keep one up north for use in the summer and another in the Sunbelt and enjoy the best of both worlds.”

Resorts and campgrounds are also acquiring their own park models and renting them out for short-term or seasonal use. “Many of the nation’s 8,000 private campgrounds and RV resorts provide campsites for park models,” according to the RPTIA. 

Park models can also be put adjacent to an existing home (if zoning allows), to house aging parents or relatives.

For more information on park models, visit RPTIA’s site. The association is developing a database of campgrounds and RV resorts that offer park models for sale or rent. You can also watch a video (obviously for marketing purposes, but it lets you take a look inside) from J&M Homes: