In the world of vacation homes, RVs, and Airbnb, there is a trend that has been steadily gaining traction:
What makes these homes such a great option is their flexibility, investment potential, and completely turnkey short-term housing solution.
In this blog, we will help you understand what they are, how they work, and what is needed to make sure you have a successful park model project.
What Is A Park Model Home?
A park model is a tiny home built on a chassis with wheels and manufactured to the ANSI A119.5 Park Model RV Regulations.
To qualify as a park model home, it must meet the following criteria:
- Have 399 or fewer square feet of living space (except in Florida, where it is 499 square feet)
- Be built to the ANSI A119.5 RV code, making it a recreational vehicle
- Have registration, tags, and insurance, like any other RV
It may be surprising to learn, but park model tiny homes are still classified as RVs. However, unlike destination trailers or travel trailers, these units are designed to be parked long-term, or even permanently, usually in an RV Park or Mobile Home Park.
Park Models need to be connected to the site’s electricity, water, and sewage, although most Park Models don’t have holding tanks because usage differs from that of travel trailers.
What Is The Difference Between A Modular Home And A Park Model?
A modular home is a prefabricated home built in a manufacturing facility that is then delivered to your site in sections or modules and put in place with a crane. A park model home, in contrast, is built on a trailer and, therefore, can be delivered and moved without the need for a crane. A modular home is simply the new name for the old mobile home.
Modular homes are also required to be built to the HUD construction code and can be used for a permanent dwelling, whereas park models are classified as recreational vehicles, require tags, registration, and insurance, and aren’t designed to be full-time residences.
What Is The Difference Between A Park Model And An Rv?
Park model homes and RVs are actually built to the same standards, called the ANSI A119.5 Code for recreational park trailers. Both RVs and Park Models are registered the same and require tags and insurance as per your state requirements.
The primary difference between a park model and an RV is the usage. RVs are designed to be mobile and moved on a regular basis, while park model homes are designed for longer-term situations, like a campground or other vacation location.
What Is The Average Size Of A Park Model?
The average park model is just under 400 square feet of enclosed living space under the ANSI A119.5 standard. At Zook Cabins, our A-Frame Studio is one of our widest park models, measuring 13.5 feet wide and up to 32 feet long.
That gives you a generous amount of interior living space while still fitting within park model requirements. And because the 400-square-foot limit does not include porch space, a covered porch, like those found on The Outpost, can give you even more room to spread out and enjoy your home.
Are Park Model Homes HUD Approved?
No. Park model homes are not HUD-approved or HUD-certified. HUD-code homes, such as Zook Cabins’ luxury mobile homes, including The Sonoma and The Willow, are built to standards overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Think of it this way: park models and HUD-code homes can be similar in size and offer many of the same features, but they fall under different building standards and regulatory systems. Those differences can affect how the home is classified, where it can be placed, how it can be used, and what financing options may be available.
Can Park Model Homes Be Moved?
Park model homes are built on a chassis with wheels, making them relatively easy to relocate. When it is time to move, remove the skirting, disconnect the utilities, and prepare the homes for transport.
However, that does not mean moving a park model is as simple as hitching it up and driving away. Because of their size, transporting a park model typically requires the proper permits and escort services. Once on your property, however, a skid steer, heavy-duty truck, or tractor may be used to reposition the home, depending on the site and the unit.
Can You Live Full-Time In A Park Model?
It depends on your state and local regulations.
Traditionally, park model tiny homes are designed for occasional living that can happen any time during the year. And while Zook Cabins park model tiny homes are built to high-quality standards, not all park models are created equal.
Learn what your state and county allow for tiny home living:
Park Model Home Preparation
One of the many benefits of investing in a park model home is how simple the setup process is. With only a simple gravel or concrete pad and access to the basic utilities, you have what you need to install a park model home.
All the utilities are simple RV hookups, including sewer, water, and electricity (100 amps of service). It is important, though, to contact your local zoning office to confirm that an RVIA Certified Park Model Home is approved for your location before purchasing a Park Model home.
You can also read through the process of “15 Steps To Setting Up Your Park Model Tiny Home“.
Site Preparation
Because park model homes are built on a trailer chassis with wheels, site preparation is relatively simple. In many cases, all you need is a level stone or concrete pad for the home to sit on.
Once your park model is delivered, it will need to be stabilized using concrete blocks, RV jacks, or other more permanent stabilization methods if you do not plan to move it in the near future. You will also need to secure the park model to the ground using hurricane ties or similar anchoring systems. The specific requirements can vary depending on your location and local regulations.
Utilities
Once you have chosen the location for your park model, you will need to install the infrastructure needed to support your new home. You will need a standard 100-amp electrical hookup, a garden hose connection for water, and a 3-inch sewer discharge pipe hookup. Getting your utilities installed and ready is the hard part. Once that is done, the fun can begin.
Once your park model is delivered, getting everything connected is as easy as 1-2-3, and you will be ready to enjoy your new home.
- Hook up your electricity.
- Hook up your water supply.
- Hook up your sewer connection.
Delivery
After you complete the rest of your site preparation, including all necessary utility work, it’s time to deliver your new park model. Unlike some companies, Zook Cabins includes the cost of delivery in your quoted price.
Park model homes are usually considered oversized loads and require highway permits, escorts, and other planning to get them to your property safely. We take care of these details for you, so you can rest assured that everything is in place for a smooth delivery day.
Final Setup And Making Your Park Model A Home
Once your park model is delivered and connected to all the necessary utilities, it’s time to turn your new park model into an inviting space. There are many ways to make this happen, most of which will depend on your personal preferences and long-term plans for your park model home.
Park Model Skirting
One of the most common ways to hide the bracing, tie-downs, wheels, and axles underneath your park model is with skirting. Park model skirting is a decorative covering that runs from the bottom of your home to the ground, giving the unit a more finished appearance while concealing the trailer components underneath.
If you are looking for ideas for your own park model, check out our blog, “7 Best Park Model Home Skirting Options.” We cover some of the best skirting options available, along with tips for choosing and installing them.
Add A Deck
Many park models already include a small deck, like our Denali, Yukon, and Aspen models. However, these are limited in size because transporting larger decks attached to your park model is complicated.
Adding a deck or large porch beside your park model is a great way to increase your living space, especially during the summer months or if you live in a warmer climate where outdoor living is more common and feasible. You can make your deck as large or small as you want, depending, of course, on where you have your park model located.
What Is It Like To Live In A Park Model?
At Zook Cabins, living in one of our park model tiny homes usually feels no different than living in a standard home. All of our park models include the amenities of a regular home, including a full kitchen and bathroom, living room, heating and cooling, and, in some cases, multiple bedrooms and a porch.
It’s hard to believe that all of these things can fit into a park model tiny home.
However, despite their compact size, Zook Cabins park model tiny homes are designed to optimize the available space and are really quite cozy and comfortably laid out, making the 400 square feet feel quite luxurious.
If you would like to experience life in a park model home, check out our rentals page and experience a Zook Cabins Park Model Tiny Home for yourself.
Popular Uses For Park Model Homes
Because park model homes are designated as recreational vehicles, it can be a little confusing to understand how they can be used compared to their modular and manufactured home counterparts.
Whether you’re buying a park model to place at a campground, using one as temporary housing while you build your dream home, or adding a park model tiny home to your property as an ADU aa(accessory dwelling unit), there are several ways to use a park model home.
Below is a list of some of the most common uses for park model tiny homes.
Campgrounds
These campgrounds and luxury resorts are offering one-of-a-kind stays that attract an entirely different demographic of guests.
One of the biggest benefits of offering park model tiny homes at your campground or resort is that you can scale at your own pace. There is no need to commit to 50 units right away. You can simply start with one or two, see how they work for you, and expand from there.
At Zook Cabins, we can also handle sizeable orders for larger park model communities when you are ready to grow.
Vacation Getaway Cabins
Do you have that perfect property up in the mountains or by the lake but don’t have the resources or “want-to” to build a home or cabin there? A park model home is a great alternative to consider. A park model only requires a simple level pad and utilities, and you’ve got yourself that dream vacation home you and your family deserve without spending your life savings.
If you want to stay in this park model, check it out here.
Airbnb
Investing in a park model home and using it as a vacation rental on platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo can generate rental income while giving you a unique short-term rental property. The flexibility of park model homes makes them an option worth considering for vacation rental investors.
Here are some examples of park model homes on AirBnB, on VRBO, and on Booking.com.
Accessory Dwelling Unit
Another ideal use for a park model home is as an ADU or accessory dwelling unit. An accessory dwelling unit is a secondary home or apartment that shares a lot with a larger, primary residence.
Park Model tiny homes provide extra living space for friends or family coming through the area without crowding your home. It also gives visitors a place to get away and have some privacy. Many homeowners also choose to rent out their ADU for short-term rentals as an extra source of income.
Check out our blog on the 7 Most ADU-friendly States to know if a park model tiny home can be a good ADU option for you and your needs.
How Do I Finance a Park Model Tiny Home?
A common question is, “Can you finance a park model home?”
The simple answer is “yes,” but with a caveat.
Park model homes are classified as recreational vehicles and, as such, do not qualify for typical home mortgage financing options.
However, at Zook Cabins, we have an in-house financing team that can help you find a financing option.
Are Park Model Homes A Good Investment?
Park Model Homes are a great short-term investment opportunity. With a low-cost initial investment and a high ROI potential, a park model home is a great way to round out your investment portfolio.
In short, if you purchase a park model home for $100,000, invest $35,000 and finance $65,000, even with only an 80% occupancy rate, this investment will pay itself off in approximately two and half years.
Now, you answer the question: Is that a good investment?
If you like to see the numbers yourself, we have a whole article dedicated to investing in Park Model homes here.
Check Out Our Short-Term Investment Calculator
Use our investment calculator to get a quick idea of what your gross income could be over 20 years. Enter your Purchase Price, Down Payment, Monthly Payment, Nightly Rental Cost, and Other Monthly Expenses to get a pdf with your estimated gross income. This gross income will be figured with 50%, 80%, and 100% occupancy.
"*" indicates required fields
Do Park Model Homes Hold Their Value?
With increased demand and the standards and quality of today’s park models, park model homes can hold their value incredibly well. As with any investment, knowing your product and understanding the value it offers can help you retain that value.
How Long Do Park Model Homes Last?
Park model homes are built to last 30-50 years with very little maintenance. Of course, the longevity of your park model will depend a lot on factors such as where your park model is parked, how often it’s been moved, and how well it’s been taken care of. But with a bit of regular care, your park model will last for years to come.
In Conclusion…
Do you still have questions about Park Model Homes, or are you ready to invest in one yourself? Whether you are looking for that simple hunting cabin, campground home, or luxury vacation tiny home, park models are a great place to start.
We’d love to hear from you and to answer any questions you may have. Contact us for more information, or get an instant price of a park model home delivered to your location. And let the joy of the great outdoors and life at a slower pace become more of a reality in your life.