Can I Buy a Manufactured Home in a Mobile Home Park in Avondale, AZ?

Last updated: November 5, 2026

Short answer: Yes. You can buy a manufactured home in a mobile home park in Avondale, AZ, but you buy the home, not the land. You sign a written rental agreement for the space, so read it closely. The home usually has its own title as personal property and is usually financed with a personal property loan, not a mortgage.

Want to talk it through? Book a time to chat with me (30 minutes, 9 AM–7 PM Arizona time).

¡Qué tal! I'm Rosie Armenta. A manufactured home in a park can be a way to own your own home in the West Valley. But it works differently from buying a house with land, and the park's lease matters as much as the home itself. Here's what to look at before you make an offer.

What am I buying when I buy a home in a mobile home park?

You're buying the home. The park owns the land, and you rent the space under a written rental agreement. The CFPB explains that whether the owner also owns the land plays a key role in whether a manufactured home is titled as personal property (sometimes called chattel) or real property, and that affects how it's financed.

	Home in a park (rented space)	Manufactured home with its own land
What you own	The home only	The home and the land
Regular costs besides any loan	Space rent to the park, taxes on the home, insurance	Property taxes, insurance, any HOA
Usual title	Personal property title through ADOT MVD	Real property, after an affidavit of affixture is recorded
Usual financing	Personal property (chattel) loan	Often a mortgage, if the home meets lender rules
Rules that govern it	The park's rental agreement and Arizona's mobile home parks act	Deed, zoning and any HOA

Maricopa County's Assessor explains that an affidavit of affixture is the document that changes a manufactured home from personal property to real property, which usually requires owning the land.

What should I read in the park's rental agreement?

Arizona's Mobile Home Parks Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. 33-1401 and following) sets rules for parks and residents. Before you buy, ask the park for the rental agreement, the rules and the required disclosures. Under the act:

• A signed, written rental agreement is required at the start, for a specific period. It must include the rent and any security deposit (A.R.S. 33-1413).
• If you and the park can't agree on the term, the law makes it 12 months. You can also ask in writing for a four-year long-term agreement that lists all the rent and fees for that term.
• Before you sign, the park must give you a written statement of rent increases for the three full calendar years before your agreement, plus the names and addresses of the owner and manager (A.R.S. 33-1432).
• The park must give you a summary of the act approved by the Arizona Department of Housing, at no cost.
• The rental agreement can require you to make improvements to the home as a condition of renting the space, even if you're buying a home that's already in the park, within the park's rules.

Many parks have their own application for new residents, so ask about it early.

How do rent increases work in a mobile home park?

Under A.R.S. 33-1413 and 33-1432, a rent increase takes effect when the rental agreement expires or renews, and the park must give you written notice at least 90 days before the increase. Here's a made-up example of how that notice timing reads.

Example only: made-up round numbers, not real Avondale prices.

Example only	Amount or date
Current space rent	$1,000 a month
Space rent after a made-up increase	$1,100 a month
Rental agreement renews	July 1
Written notice must arrive by about	April 1 (at least 90 days before)

Arizona also has a mobile home relocation fund. Under A.R.S. 33-1476.04, if a rent increase in a 12-month period is more than 10% plus a federal price index measure, a resident who owns their home may qualify for help moving it, with limits. It doesn't apply to increases already written into the rental agreement. Ask the Arizona Department of Housing how it works before you count on it.

What happens if the park closes or changes use?

Under A.R.S. 33-1476.01, a park owner must give residents and the state at least 180 days' notice before a change in use, such as closing the park. After that notice, the park and the residents must tell any prospective buyer that a closure is pending. Ask the park and the seller directly whether any notice has gone out.

How does the title and tax side work?

A manufactured home in a park usually has a title through ADOT's Motor Vehicle Division, like a vehicle. The Maricopa County Assessor says that when taxes on a manufactured home become delinquent, they're posted to the MVD record, and the title can't be transferred until the taxes are paid. Moving a home also needs a county 504 tax clearance permit, which can't be issued if taxes are owed.

Before closing, ask the seller for the title and proof the taxes are current, and check for liens on the title.

How do people finance a home in a park?

Because the home is usually personal property, many buyers use a personal property loan (a chattel loan), not a regular mortgage. The CFPB's 2021 report on manufactured housing found that chattel borrowers faced higher denial rates and paid higher interest rates than buyers with manufactured home mortgages. Shop around and compare loan offers. Your lender sets its own rules for these homes, so ask early.

Can a real estate agent help me buy a home in a park?

Yes. Under A.R.S. 41-4028, a licensed real estate agent can help a private seller or buyer with a used manufactured or mobile home in a mobile home park. I can help you look at the home, read the park's paperwork with you and negotiate the offer.

How do I buy a manufactured home in a park, step by step?

1. Ask for the park paperwork first. The rental agreement, rules, rent history and the act's summary.
2. Apply with the park. Ask what it takes to be approved as a resident.
3. Check the home's title and taxes. Get the title details and proof that taxes are current.
4. Get a home inspection. Look at the roof, plumbing, electrical and any additions.
5. Compare loan offers. Ask lenders about personal property (chattel) loans and their terms.
6. Close and transfer the title. Make sure the title is transferred through MVD and the park signs your rental agreement.

My post on whether it's cheaper to rent or buy in Avondale can help you compare your options.

Send this to someone who's been looking at homes in a park.

Related questions I get a lot: how much homeowners insurance costs in Avondale and the hidden costs of buying a home in Avondale.

Thinking about a home in a mobile home park? Book a time to chat with me (30 minutes, 9 AM–7 PM Arizona time), or call or text me at 623-295-5770.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I own the land if I buy a home in a mobile home park?

Usually not. In a park, you own the home and rent the space from the park under a written rental agreement.

Can I get a regular mortgage for a home in a mobile home park?

Usually not. A home on rented space is usually personal property, so many buyers use a personal property (chattel) loan. Ask lenders what they offer.

How much notice does a park have to give before raising the rent in Arizona?

At least 90 days, in writing. The increase takes effect when the rental agreement expires or renews.

Can I see a park's past rent increases before I buy?

Yes. Before you sign an initial rental agreement, the park must give you a written statement of rent increases for the three full calendar years before it.

What happens if the mobile home park closes?

Arizona law requires at least 180 days' notice before a change in use. Some residents may qualify for relocation help from the state fund, with limits.

Can unpaid taxes stop the sale of a manufactured home?

Yes. The Maricopa County Assessor says delinquent taxes are posted to the MVD record, and the title can't be transferred until they're paid.

Does the park have to approve me?

Many parks have their own application, and you'll sign a rental agreement with the park. Ask about its approval steps before you make an offer.

Can a real estate agent sell a mobile home in a park in Arizona?

Yes, for a used home sold by a private party. A.R.S. 41-4028 allows licensed real estate agents to handle those sales.

I'm a real estate agent, not a lender or an attorney. I can't tell you whether a park's rental agreement is fair or how a specific loan will work. Please talk with a licensed Arizona attorney about the rental agreement and with lenders about financing.

This article is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Please talk with a licensed attorney, CPA, or lender about your situation.

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Rosie Armenta | West USA Realty | Equal Housing Opportunity

Information was checked on November 5, 2026, from Arizona's Mobile Home Parks Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (A.R.S. 33-1413, 33-1432, 33-1476.01 and 33-1476.04), A.R.S. 41-4028, the Maricopa County Assessor's mobile home general information page and the CFPB report "Manufactured Housing Finance: New Insights from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act" (2021). Laws and park rules can change, so please confirm the details with the park, the Arizona Department of Housing and a licensed attorney.