TAMPA, Fla. – Park model RV builders and park operators at the Florida RV SuperShow say that the market for their more residential-style PMRV’s is normalizing following a surge when new units couldn’t be built fast enough and a softer year in 2024.
“I feel like we are back to a more steady pre-COVID sales climate,” says Heather Taylor, regional vice president for Sun Outdoors, a publicly held resort operator affiliated with more than 600 resorts. “I mean, we’re still growing. We still have wait lists for people who are waiting for them to come in, so the business is still quite booming.
“Our homes run anywhere between 399 square foot to up to 500 square foot,” Taylor added. “They have all the full-size amenities a normal home would have. A lot of people are looking for smaller economical homes, so this is exactly what they’re looking for.”
However, Michael Pozar, park manager and resort manager for Sun Outdoors Lakeland (Fla.), said he has seen a shift in demographics. “Where it used to be pretty much a 55-plus market, now it’s an all-age market,” he said. “I mean, we’re selling things to college kids. It’s a first home. It’s a starter home. It’s equity in something as a young adult or a small family getting ready to have their first kid. That demographic shift has helped us tremendously.”
Joe Gibbons, managing partner of relative newcomer Gulf Atlantic Cottages, a park model builder launched a year-and-a-half ago, explained his company was a custom home builder and saw a need for a higher-quality park model and is seeing strong demand.
“The response has been overwhelming,” he said. “Just last month we sold five, and the show has been fantastic. I mean, we can’t keep up with the folks coming in here. And I think now that we are through this election season, I see the real positive vibes coming around that. And not only that, here in Florida — we’re based right here in Tampa and build them here – we have a huge affordable housing crisis, and I think this is going to really help out with that.
“We’re getting a lot of people 55 plus, but we’re getting a lot of younger folks, too.”
Another factor that could drive demand for his units involves zoning issues.
“The state of Florida is really helping out with the different municipalities and trying to educate the municipalities on the fact that we build this just like a single-family home.” Gibbons said. “It just happens to be on a chassis that has axles that can be taken off. So, our company is working diligently with a few different municipalities on helping them get educated on the fact that this is a house – to be set up as a house.”
He added that Gulf Atlantic Cottages are green certified with spray-foam attics, level-four drywall finishes and residential quality builds. The units are RVIA-certified and come with a seven-year warranty. “That’s what we strived to do when we started this company, we wanted to build homes,” he said.
Skyline Homes and Champion Park Models also had units on display at the SuperShow.
The post Industry’s Park Model Sector Also Well Represented in Tampa first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.