Reinventing the Mobile Home in a Changing Market

"The hardest thing is going to be changing that negative feeling you get when you say you live in a mobile home park," said Carol Konkel, property manager for Leesburg Mobile Park. "But I think the time has come."

Another challenge, many in the industry say, is convincing perspective buyers that the property won't be sold out from under them.

Indeed, developers over the years have expressed interest in buying the Leesburg park, which sits in a desirable community within walking distance from shops and restaurants. Although no plan to redevelop the land exists now, town leaders as part of their long-range planning have envisioned single family homes and townhouses where the park sits.

"As a community, we want to identify what the best uses are of a property," said Leesburg Town Council member Kevin Wright. "A mobile home park is not a long-term answer there."

But changing the use of the land will be up to the owner, he said. And for now, the owner has signaled that he has no intention of closing. In fact, he is seeking to improve the property by bringing in nearly a dozen new-style, energy-efficient homes, all of them outfitted with front porches to give the community a close-knit feel.

The houses are neither luxurious nor hip, but they are a promising alternative for the Grazianos, who live in a tiny apartment with Jim's teenage son and cannot afford a traditional house in costly Loudoun. Including mortgage payments and the monthly $600 lot rent, they estimate the tan house would cost far less than the $1,270 a month they are paying for their apartment.

"We like to joke that it's not the size of the home but the love you fill it with," Vanessa Graziano said. "But at some point, it starts to feel like everything is just coming in on you."

Staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.