A master metered electrical service will provide the lowest cost power from an electric utility. Master metered means the "park" (condo, association, etc) pays for power at the electric company transformer and sub-meters each lot. This arrangement avoids the high (and going higher) monthly charge for service billing from an electric utility company for each owner-meter. Savings of ten to thirty dollars a month is common and even more, when bills for zero electric use when you are not on your lot, that are all "service charges", are considered.

Internet access has become increasingly important. If no WIFI service is available, consider setting up your own DSL or Cable modem with a router "access point" and possibly share costs with your neighbor(s). If no DSL, Cable services or cell air card services are possible, satellite may be your only option.  I suggest a careful investigation of Internet availability, cost and connection quality. This could impact lot value or ability to sell looking to the future.


Around The Site
 Where do we park? This is not a foolish question! If your prospective site can park a Greyhound Bus with 30' slides fine, but most sites are rather small. Any site should be able to normally park two cars (small trucks) and your RV. It's easy to fall in love with the "big oak tree site" without actually measuring. Many parks require setbacks from property lines. You do know exactly where the property lines are, don't you? I strongly recommend a survey or a "pronouncement" from the board to confirm just where your lot lines are and the size of the lot. Once this is known, will your RV, slides and all, fit nicely clearing that tall power box or the 3' high water pipe? Are the utilities placed where you can connect within a reasonable distance? After you locate your RV, will you be left with a large enough parking area? Will the spot that you have selected for the shed (or gazebo, auxiliary building, deck, patio, etc...) meet board rules? Don't forget to look at drainage! Will this lot flood, or have standing water after a rain? Are there signs of flowing water or erosion? Ask around the park if in doubt. Even if it usually rains when most are gone, someone will know. Ask about soil conditions...

It is important with most RV lots to really study how you will place your RV, how you will back it in place and all else you plan. As time has passed, many RV parks have been very lax about improvements placed at the edge of the road making backing in or out very difficult. Look for drains, signs, landscape timbers, etc. I suggest a scale plan !! Many RV parks are (were) poorly surveyed, designed at a time of small RVs, or have operated from historical placement rather than legal boundaries. What you find on a plat may or may not be what is found on the ground, especially in older RV parks. Since we are discussing purchase, an error on the side of caution is in order. In addition, if you are getting title insurance, a survey will probably be required anyway. You may need elevation data too if you are considering a park model or any permanent structure on the property. That can be done as part of the survey, but you must ask for it.


Resale
Like any other real estate, select a property that stands out from others; offers something different. Price can be that difference, but other features are more important. They could be, that big oak, the view, the size, a lot abutting a beautiful common space, privacy, water front, pets allowed, hill side, or improvements next door. Analyze your selection. Should you spend a bit more, or less, to set your selection apart from others? When the time comes to sell, your choice may not yield a large price increase, but at least should get attention and a prompt sale when compared to others. If you find yourself considering the least expensive lot, that's been offered for awhile, make sure you really understand why your choice  was not sold long ago.

All things being equal, "pet lots" in pet restricted RV parks have increased in value and demand much more than others. Rigid boards unwilling to support rules changes, assure restricted supply in such parks. Pet lots have proven a good investment!   All things being equal always select the larger site. This is definitely an area where bigger is better. Many early deluxe parks offered "everything" but space! Don't be fooled by fancy landscaping. RVs are much bigger than when 70's and 80's parks were designed. In general, lot width is critical and determines the degree of privacy and use you can enjoy.


Over The Fence
If you are considering an outside perimeter lot, find out what is happening to the property that surrounds your chosen RV park. If the owner or sales folks don't help with this, visit the county or city zoning and planning departments. (These days this visit can usually be done online) Ask what is "in the works" for these properties and what current zoning permits. Common sense planning suggests that some obnoxious land use will not be permitted next door, but the RV park may be the new project in the area and an obnoxious use may have been zoned that way for 50 years.

Remember that RV parks are typically developed in outlying areas that can end up "in the way of progress". As such, natural surroundings may give way to tract homes or other intense land uses. This can have a major impact on your park and the value of your lot. Look over the fence. Evaluate carefully!


Phases
If you have decided on a new RV park, pick your lot well, as you might have an opportunity to profit right along side the developer. How? RV parks, like housing tracts, are divided into phases (sections) to give a manageable and affordable number of lots to finish and sell at one time. The size of a phase is typically tied to sales projections and lender requirements. When you review a new park look for dead end streets and other signs of more development to come. Ask about future phases. You may get little cooperation as sales folks are told to focus and sell ONLY what they have today. See if you can discover if current owners will receive an opportunity to purchase in future phases at significant discount. This is often done as existing owners are a good source for new sales. It can be a profit opportunity too, as prices, phase to phase, almost always increase as the park is established. Some locations have experienced 50% plus increases in value over a year or two. These increases can be realized not only from the sale of your original purchase,  but a discounted purchase in a later phase.

The text above dates from before 2007 at a time when our economy was chugging right along and virtually all real property was appreciating.. Not so today. CAUTION is your watchword in a new RV park. Be sure you understand the sales history, projections and financing picture.


Look To The Future
Like it or not, the number of park models in a park, if permitted, generally increases with time. If you see lots of park models, consider space for a park model. Think about your future buyer. Look around. If the typical park model is 40' long and 12' wide with another 12' room on the side you will need at least 24' x 40' and that does not count an air conditioner. It may be that when it is time for you to sell, that will be your (only) market. Is there room? Similarly, if your modest 25' travel trailer just fits the lot, you may be severely limiting who can buy your lot one day.


Nuisances
If your RV park is under the landing pattern of an airport, all sites are going to get noise. Fortunately, most noise sources are local. Many parks are on a main road. Traffic will be noticeable near the road. In the back of the park you will not hear traffic. Water system pumps, trash dumpsters, swimming pool, and sports fields can contribute to noise. Power meter installations, transformers, and power poles can be visually distracting and hurt resale. Look around carefully, and if you normally only visit on weekends, try to visit during the week. A look "over the fence" can be important here too. The place next door may come alive during the week. Does the trail to the forest run right next to your favorite lot? Are 6AM hikers going to bother you? Be aware. Have you overlooked something others might consider a nuisance?


Improvements
We visited improvements in and around the site but a last word of caution is warranted! When you pick your lot and plan your improvements you will usually have to satisfy two groups to get permission to proceed; the county or city and the board or the board's designee (architectural committee, etc). You can expect reasonable treatment from the county or city. Their regulations will be carefully spelled out and are probably a part of some national code that includes good health and safety standards. Condo (HOA, POA, etc) rules are a completely different matter and may well defy all reason and logic. They may also be unevenly applied. If you have any sense that your planned improvements may run afoul of your Board or some committee, consider making MAKE WRITTEN APPROVAL A CONDITION OF PURCHASE. Actions by these groups are notoriously slow, often capricious, and almost always unpredictable. Despite all the "glad handing" you may initially experience from these groups, you will likely discover something very different, when it is time to get a permit to build. 

Remember that the "development rules" were handed down from the developer, and they were his ideas from the time the project started. He may have had no experience with RVs ! His attorney might have drawn them up, lifting the content from who knows where? Often the park over time becomes quite different from what the developer started. What usually happens is that from Board to Board, incremental changes are made to "fix" problems as they arise. Slowly a "camel" is created. This explains quirky restrictions that have no basis in reason or need. This also explains support for such rules from "the old timers" who were made to follow them, and demand that, "..by golly", you should too! One can not be too careful in gauging what will actually be allowed  A look around together with a historical narrative, pointing out earlier and later improvements, can be very instructive!


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