deserthomefront - Palm Springs View Estates

deserthomefront.com
at bobslagle.com

The $23,900,000 inverse condemnation damages ("takings") lawsuit filed by Richard Close and his associates at Gilchrist & Rutter on behalf of the Palm Springs View Estates mobile home park owners against the City of Palm Springs for denying a conversion to condominium ownership of the spaces in June of 2007 was settled out of court on March 27, 2112. They adjusted the damage amount to $11,000,000 and the City opted for a jury trial, which was scheduled to start April 2. After much legal posturing, the City presented a pre-trial offer of $400,000. It appears the City's attorneys developed a strong case and the $400,000 offer was accepted. It was less than 1/10th of the most recent amount requested. During the alleged 3-1/2 year delay, the park owner sued and won in superior court, the City appealed and lost in the appellate court. The City followed the court's mandate and approved the conversion on July 21, 2010 after it filed a hearing petition in the State Supreme Court that was rejected. Although the conversion (tentative subdivision map) has been approved at the local level for over a year and a half giving the park owners the ability to file an application with the state to proceed with the final subdivision and public report process, the project has continued to be placed on hold.

Market Data for Year 2011
MH Market Analysis in the Coachella Valley (Greater Palm Springs Area)
How is the overall mobilehome market in the greater Palm Springs area fairing in today’s economic climate? What is the outlook for the future?
The data show that the number of sales increased again after last year's turnaround, probably due to the continued decrease in prices. The average number of days it took to sell a mobilehome decreased significantly, indicating a positive market trend. Overall, it would seem the downward price adjustment will end in the near future, but, until the economy improves, prices and the number of sales will likely remain close to present levels. --see graphs & more--

The Multifaceted War Rages On
With all of the recent attacks on existing mobilehome park rent control provisions surfacing across the state, it is obvious the park owners have mobilized on still another front -- the strong-arming of local communities and their elected officials to roll back rent protection ordinances. A letter written by Jim Sullivan of Oceanside is a serious call to action on the part of mobilehome residents at all communities throughout the state. -letter-

Why Investors Like Warren Buffet Are Bullish on Mobile Home Parks
Warren Buffet comes up with some great investment advice for mobilehome park owners.

"Continuing to provide affordable housing should be the primary aim of mobile home park owners in order to avoid crossing into the danger zone of having to compete with more attractive housing stock." -article-

What is a mobilehome?
terminology confusion

The general public, government agencies, the courts and many others in the industry use the terms mobilehome and mobile home when they are actually referring to a manufactured home. Many incorrectly use the terms trailer, trailer park and, of course, trailer trash. Some confuse manufactured home with modular home and/or factory-built home. The terms mobile/manufactured home (abbreviated as MH), and mobilehome are used as convenient tradeoffs to describe a home built in a factory, transported on a flatbed truck(s) to a site in one, two or three sections, and installed on a temporary or permanent foundation where all utilities are permanently installed. The only time they are mobile is when they are transported from the factory to the site. Once installed, it would be extremely difficult to tear them apart for relocation to a comparable location, even if one were available. For a more detailed discussion, click here.