Keith M
Cle Elum
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Joined: 07/28/2002
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I raise this question because of the steady rise in daily, weekly and monthly rents that I have seen at some parks. As an example I stayed in one park in Arizona in 2001 for $475 per month including electricity. For the coming season in peak months they are asking $800 per month not including electricity. Thats more than a 70% increase with the electricity. There are some ways around this high rent by staying 6 months but still its high.
I know gas prices are higher but the real estate prices around this park have collapsed to 2001 levels. My income has not increased 65% since 2001 only +25% which I feel fortunate for. The stock market and overall wealth puts most people back to where they were 7-8 years ago. Are parks insulated from the overall economy? Like a lot of people if things get too high there are obviously a lot of choices for someone who is comfortable with boondocking in the desert.
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Firstep1
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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Joined: 08/15/2004
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HI Keith M, Funny thing I was just talking to a friend that we see when we travel south for the winter about the same thing. He prefers to stay in parks with all the bells & whistles where I prefer to stay on the desert. It sounds like he is now willing to at least "try" some time without hookups as he says that he just can't afford the alternatives for six months at a time.
As far as the prices at parks going up every year, to me that means there are still a lot of folks out there that still aren't hurting ie: a lot of baby boomers, and as long as that is the situation the parks will keep raising the rates.
I also have noticed that a lot of the parks down south have been taken over by large corporations.
As for me I will still keep going to the desert and what we usually do is stay in one area for about two weeks and then go to a different spot and explore that area. It works for me. Fred
Lethbridge, Alberta
God made a few good heads, the rest he put hair on.
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MoRambler
Springfield, Missouri
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Joined: 07/16/2002
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Keith M wrote:There are some ways around this high rent by staying 6 months but still its high.
Another way is buying your lot. Then YOU control the expenses for the most part. At our park in the RGV, we can select the electric company we want to do business with, according to the best rates. There are about 10 to choose from.
Our maintenance fees we can't control, but they've only gone up $2 in about 20 years, from $54 to $56 per month last year.
There are advantages both ways, owning vs renting. Owning was just better for us. We don't like to pay rent for anything.
Larry & Ann w/Lucy the cocker
'00 Mountain Aire 350 Cummins/Spartan
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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With so many retirement systems in trouble and assets being wiped out I would think it would be the opposite. they may be in more trouble than tourist destinations or at least as much. I know where we stay in the RGV business has been down for the last couple of years.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
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US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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Joined: 04/19/2005
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No they are not immune, but availability and demand will dictate price in any one geographical region.
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Rick & Cheryl
Texas
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It's almost a situation where older retirees are getting squeezed by inflation and rising costs of operating a park,,while at the same time, the park is experiencing increased demand that from newly retired baby boomers. These baby boomers are recently retired, or still perhaps working part-time, and their real income has yet been affected by inflation,,however, over time it happens to all retirees to a certain extent.
This fundamental issue is why we also bought a lot, as a hedge against future inflation.
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WTTCS
freedom , U.S.A.
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The No 1 reason parks can charge what they want to is .......................
People paying it.
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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Joined: 07/10/2002
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One of our favorite parks in Florida has instituted a three month rule that if you want to stay there after New Years you have to sign up for three months? What recession?
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
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liveneasy
U.S./Mexico
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Joined: 02/06/2005
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Don't be afraid to Haggle. Find a park you like, check out the occupancy stats by talking to locals or other park residents and make em an offer. RV parks like any other business look to their bottom line, so an occupied site, even at a lower rate is better then an empty one.
I learned this lesson many years ago when I was a frequent traveler staying in motels. Both the Mom and Pop and large Franchise motels and hotels give their Front desk people the ability to discount rooms when they don't expect to fill. And it works for RV parks too. Not all of them, but it doesn't hurt to try. I usually start out by asking for all the standard discounts then inquire about the not so standard ones.... and savvy business/front desk people will usually offer something. As always YMMV.
Greg
'96 Holiday Rambler Endeavor DP/'03 4wd tracker
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Fishinghat
Western Washington, USA
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Joined: 10/03/2002
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We stayed in a RV park in Yuma for four seasons, with the rent going up each year. Three years ago moved out onto a private lot, but the rent went up there as well last year. But, overall it hasn't gone up anywhere near as much as the park's rent. Other parks have also raised their rents each year.
It's the law of supply and demand. If you don't like the rent, move.
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