Park model home FAQ: your questions, answered

A park model home is a small, factory-built home of up to 400 square feet, built to the ANSI A119.5 standard for park model RVs. It’s built on a steel chassis so it can be delivered on its own wheels, but it is designed to be set up and stay in one place. Inside, it feels like a real house, with full-size appliances, a real bathroom, vaulted ceilings and wood interiors. People use them as vacation homes, cabins, rental units, retirement homes and RV park or campground rentals. Phoenix Building Solutions builds over twenty park model floor plans in Greenville, Alabama.

A park model is built and certified to a national standard (ANSI A119.5); most tiny homes are not. That certification is why park models are accepted in RV parks, campgrounds and resorts, and why they are easier to finance, insure and resell. A “tiny home” can be anything from a custom build on a trailer to a backyard cottage, and it often follows no recognized code, which can make placement, loans and insurance harder. Many park models are, in practice, the best-built tiny homes on the market.

The building code and the size. Mobile (manufactured) homes are built to the federal HUD code, are usually larger than 400 square feet and are meant to be permanent primary residences. Park models are built to the ANSI A119.5 recreational standard, are limited to 400 square feet of living space and are classified as recreational vehicles. That difference affects where you can place the home, how it is financed and taxed, and what local zoning allows.

Legally, a park model is a recreational vehicle, specifically a “park model RV” or “recreational park trailer” under ANSI A119.5. It looks and lives like a small house, but it is titled and regulated more like an RV in most states. That classification is what lets it go into RV parks and campgrounds, and why it is usually financed with RV-style or personal-property loans instead of a traditional mortgage.

Up to 400 square feet of main-floor living space. That is the limit set by the ANSI A119.5 standard. Lofts and open porches are not counted toward the 400 square feet, which is why so many park models add a sleeping loft and a large covered porch. Phoenix homes also use vaulted ceilings and open layouts, so they feel much larger than the number suggests.

A well-built, well-maintained park model can last 30 to 50 years or more. Build quality, climate and maintenance matter most: keep the roof, seals, caulking and skirting in good shape and protect plumbing from freezing. Phoenix homes are built with real wood framing, tongue-and-groove wood interiors, metal roofs and solid surface countertops, materials chosen to last.

Park models generally hold their value much better than travel trailers or fifth wheels, because they are built more like houses and are not driven down the highway. Resale value depends mostly on build quality, condition, location (a desirable park or lot helps a lot) and how timeless the finishes are. No home is guaranteed to appreciate, but a certified, well-kept park model in a good location is far easier to sell.

Common places include RV parks and campgrounds, park model and tiny home communities, resorts, hunting and fishing land, lake or mountain lots, vacation rental properties, and private land where local zoning allows it. RV parks usually require ANSI A119.5 certification, which every Phoenix home has. Always confirm the rules with the park or your county before you buy.

Often, yes, but it depends on your county or city zoning. Rural and agricultural land is usually the easiest. Some areas treat a park model like an RV (which may limit how long you can stay), some allow it as a cabin, guest house or ADU, and some don’t allow it at all. Call your local planning or zoning office before you buy and ask specifically about “park model RVs” on your parcel. We’re happy to help you figure out what to ask.

In many places, yes, but it depends on local zoning and, in a park, on park rules. Because park models are classified as recreational vehicles, some areas limit them to seasonal or part-time use, while others allow full-time living, especially on private rural land or in communities built for park models. Phoenix homes are built for year-round comfort, with insulation upgrades, mini-split heating and cooling and full-size appliances, so the home itself is ready for full-time living.

Usually you need at least some permits, typically for the electrical hookup, septic or sewer connection, and sometimes for the placement itself. Requirements vary widely by county and state. Your local building or zoning department is the final word, and asking before you order saves time and money.

A park model needs a level, well-drained site that a delivery truck can reach. Most are set on a gravel or concrete pad with piers and tie-downs, then finished with skirting. You’ll also need to run power, water and sewer or septic to the spot where the home will sit. Phoenix can add skirting at setup, matched to your siding or roof color.

Electricity, water, and sewer or septic. Park models connect directly to sewer or septic; unlike travel trailers, they don’t rely on holding tanks. For power, Phoenix homes can connect with an RV-style cord or be hard-wired to a standard electrical panel (100, 150 or 200 amp). Propane is optional for a gas range or water heater.

Most new park models cost between about $50,000 and $150,000, depending on size, finishes and options. Phoenix homes start at $56,411 MSRP, with most of our popular plans in the $60,000 to $90,000 range before options and delivery. Every floor plan page shows the starting price and a delivered-price calculator for your ZIP code.

Plan for four pieces: the home with your chosen options; delivery (Phoenix charges by the mile from our Greenville, Alabama plant, with a $1,000 minimum, and our site shows your delivered price by ZIP); site prep (pad, piers, tie-downs and skirting); and utility connections (power, water, sewer or septic, plus any permits). If you’re placing it in an RV park, the park may handle the pad and hookups for you.

Typical ongoing costs are lot rent (if it’s in a park), insurance, utilities, any registration or property taxes in your state, and normal maintenance. On your own land, you avoid lot rent. Park models are small and well insulated, so utility bills are usually low compared to a traditional house.

With Phoenix, the price is the same whether you buy directly from us or through one of our authorized retail partners. We pay our dealers a commission instead of letting the price get marked up, so you can buy wherever you’re most comfortable. Here is how our price promise works.

Phoenix homes are typically built and ready for delivery about 5 to 6 weeks after your design is approved. Delivery timing then depends on distance and permits for the oversized load. We’ll give you a clear schedule when you order.

Yes. Phoenix Building Solutions builds in Greenville, Alabama and ships nationwide. We handle delivery and can set the home up for you, so you have one company responsible from the factory to your site.

Yes. You can choose your floor plan, cabinets, countertops, flooring, siding and roof colors, porch options, appliances, fireplaces, lofts and more. See every choice with real photos on our Options & Colors page, or design your home and see your price as you go in the Park Model Designer.

Yes. You’re welcome to see homes at our plant in Greenville, Alabama. Book an appointment online (weekdays at 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM) or call 334-371-6711, or contact us and we’ll also point you to a Phoenix retail partner or a finished home near you.

Yes. Park models are usually financed with loans made for RVs and manufactured or personal-property homes, through specialty lenders, banks and credit unions. Phoenix works with two national lending partners, Triad Financial Services and 21st Mortgage. Rates and terms are set by the lender based on your credit. See our financing page and payment calculator.

Usually not a traditional mortgage, because a park model is classified as a recreational vehicle rather than real estate. Instead, buyers use RV-style loans, personal-property (chattel) loans, personal loans or home equity, or financing through a specialty lender like our partners. Some lenders offer land-and-home packages when the home is placed on land you own.

In most states, a park model is titled and registered like an RV, and you pay sales tax when you buy it. If it’s placed on land long-term, some counties also assess property tax on it. The rules vary by state and county, so check with your state’s motor vehicle office and your county tax assessor.

Park models are usually insured with an RV or park model policy, or with a mobile home style policy if the home stays in one place. Many insurers offer specific park model coverage, and lenders will require it if you finance. If you plan to rent it out, ask about short-term rental coverage too. Get quotes from a couple of insurers, since policies vary.

ANSI A119.5 is the national standard for park model RVs. It covers construction, plumbing, electrical, heating and fire safety. A certified home carries a label showing an independent agency inspected it. That label is what RV parks, campgrounds, lenders and insurers look for.

Our plant and homes are independently inspected and certified by ICC NTA, part of the International Code Council and one of only five private agencies HUD approves for manufactured housing. Every Phoenix home is built to ANSI A119.5.

Ask for proof before you buy from anyone: Who is the third-party certification agency? Will the home carry a certification label? What materials are used for framing, insulation and plumbing? What warranty comes with it? A non-compliant or falsely certified unit can be turned away by RV parks and cause zoning, financing and resale problems. Every Phoenix home is third-party certified, and we’re happy to walk you through it.

Yes, when they’re built for it. Phoenix homes have insulated walls, floors and roofs, double-pane windows and mini-split heating and cooling. For colder areas, our Arctic Package upgrades to R-22 floors and R-15 walls, and electric fireplaces are available. Protect water lines from freezing with proper skirting and heat tape at setup.

Park models are not given wind-zone ratings the way HUD-code homes are, so proper anchoring and tie-downs at setup are what matter most. For coastal and high-wind areas, Phoenix offers a Hurricane Package with BP-10 tie-down brackets every 4 feet and OSB wrap under the siding. Follow your local tie-down requirements, and move to safety during severe storms.

Every Phoenix home includes vaulted ceilings with exposed beams, tongue-and-groove wood interiors, solid wood shaker cabinets, Bellavati solid surface or butcher block countertops, full-size appliances, an elongated porcelain toilet and mini-split heating and cooling. See the full list on our Options & Colors page.

Yes. Phoenix park models have full kitchens with full-size appliances, solid wood cabinetry and solid surface counters, and real bathrooms with walk-in showers or tub combos. Many plans add kitchen islands, farmhouse sinks, washer and dryer space and a second bathroom or a loft.

Yes. We back our craftsmanship with a manufacturer’s warranty covering structural integrity for 10 years, with appliances and materials covered by their manufacturers’ warranties. Ask about extended warranty options when you purchase.

They can be. Park models cost far less than a traditional cabin or vacation house, set up quickly and rent well in lake, mountain, beach and campground destinations. Before buying, check local short-term rental rules, insurance for rentals and what similar units rent for in your area. Phoenix homes’ wood interiors, porches and lofts are designed to photograph well and earn strong reviews.

Yes. We build for RV parks, campgrounds, resorts and communities, from a few rental units to full developments, plus custom bath houses. Learn more on our Developers & Parks page.

Yes. We’re growing a nationwide team of retail partners and treat our dealers as a team, not competition. See why dealers partner with Phoenix and apply online.

Yes. Park models are built on a steel chassis with wheels, so they can be moved, but they’re designed to be set up and stay put rather than towed often. Moving one usually takes a professional hauler and an oversize-load permit.

Browse our floor plans, design your home and see your price in the Park Model Designer, or call us at 334-371-6711. We’ll help with financing, confirm your delivered price and schedule delivery and setup at your location.