Ownership

Buying a Motorcoach Resort Lot: What to Know

The Motorcoach Journal · 6 min read

Buying a lot at a motorcoach resort is real estate — with a few wrinkles that first-time buyers don't always see coming. Here's the plain-English version of what matters.

Deeded vs. Membership

Most premium resorts sell deeded lots: you hold title, you can finance it, sell it, will it to your kids. A smaller number sell memberships or long-term leases instead. A membership can be a fine value, but it is not the same asset — understand which one you're buying before you fall in love with the fire pit.

What the HOA Covers

Expect monthly dues at luxury resorts to run several hundred dollars. That usually covers gated security, grounds and common-area maintenance, the clubhouse and pools, and often water, sewer and trash at your site. Electricity is almost always metered separately. Ask for the current budget and the reserve study — a healthy reserve fund is the difference between a well-run resort and a special assessment waiting to happen.

Read the Rules Before You Buy

Every resort has coach standards — typically a minimum length (32 to 36 feet), Class A only or Class A preferred, and either an age limit or an approval-by-photo process. There are also site rules: what you can build (casitas, outdoor kitchens, pergolas), how long you can stay, whether pets and golf carts are welcome, and whether you can rent your lot out when you're away.

The rental policy is the sleeper issue. If you plan to offset your dues with rental income, confirm the resort allows it — and how bookings must run.

The Numbers Beyond the Price

Budget for property taxes (lots are taxed like any real property), dues, metered utilities, and insurance on any structures. If the lot includes a casita or coach house, have it inspected exactly as you would a home. On resale: well-located lots at established resorts have historically held value well, but this is a lifestyle purchase first and an investment second.

Do the Stay-Before-You-Buy

Almost every resort will rent you a site for a week. Do it in the season you plan to live there. Meet the neighbors, sit in on a happy hour, drive the coach in and out of the actual lot you're considering. No listing photo can tell you whether a community fits.