Woodall Mobile Home Park Star Ratings Guidelines

Many lenders and borrowers classify the quality of a mobile home park by referencing the star rating system. While dated, the star rating system still provides a helpful reference guide to determine park quality and if it may or may not be eligible for financing. For example, a general rule of thumb is parks with a three-star or better rating are eligible for financing under the Fannie Mae mobile home park loan program and conduit CMBS mobile home park loan program.

The most important consideration for a one-star park is overall appearance. If it is not a decent place to live, it will not be listed in Woodall's directory. The following are general requirements:

• Fair overall appearance.
• Patios on most lots. May be concrete, asphalt, wood, or some suitable material
• Grass, rocks, or shell to cover ground.
• Streets fair to good. May be dirt, asphalt, or gravel in reasonable condition.
• Restrooms clean, if any.
• Adequate laundry or Laundromat nearby.
• If fences allowed, must be neat.
• Mail service.
• Homes may be old models, but show evidence of some care.
• Manager available some hours of each day.

• Landscaping--some lawns and shrubs.
• Streets in good condition. Must be dust free of crushed rock, gravel, or shell minimum.
• Neat storage.
• Well equipped laundry or laundromat nearby.
• 220-volt electrical connections available.
• If children accepted, park should have play area.
• Park free of clutter, such as old cars and other abandoned equipment.
• Well-maintained and managed.

What a three-star park does, it does well, but not as uniformly as higher rated parks. Many three-star parks were once rated higher, but original construction does not allow for today's 10-foot, 12- foot, and double- wides, or the 55-foot and 60-foot lengths.

In addition to the requirements for one-star and two-star parks, a three-star park must have the following:

• Attractive entrance.
• All mobile homes must be in good condition.
• Awnings and cabana rooms on some homes in southern area. 3D. Some spaces for large mobile homes.
• Paved or hard surfaced streets.

In addition to the requirement for one-star, two-star, and three-star parks; a four-star park must have the following:

• Good landscaping.
• Most homes skirted with metal skirts, concrete block, ornamental wood, or stone.
• Paved streets, edged, or curbed.
• Uncrowded lots.
• Underground utilities if permitted by local conditions and authorities.
• Most tanks, if present, concealed.
• Any hedges or fences must be attractive and uniform.
• Awnings, cabanas, or porches on most homes in southern areas. (Except double-wide units.)
• Most lots to accommodate large homes.
• Where row parking of homes exists, all must be lined up uniformly.
• Community hall and/or swimming pool and/or recreation program. (If a park is four-star in all but this requirement, the fourth star will be printed as an open star, indicating a four-star park without recreation.)
• Excellent management.

Five-star parks are the finest. They should be nearly impossible to improve. In addition to the requirements for one-star, two-star, three-star and four-star parks, a five-star park must have the following:

• Well-planned and laid out. Spacious appearance.
• Good location in regard to accessibility and desirable neighborhood. In some locations park should be enclosed by high hedges or ornamental fence.
• Wide paved streets in perfect condition. Curbs or lawns edged to street, sidewalks, street lights, street signs.
• Homes set back from the street.
• Exceptionally attractive entrance and park sign.
• Patios at least 8 x 30 ft. (Except double-wide units.)
• Paved off-street parking such as carports or planned parking.
• All homes skirted.
• All hitches concealed. Any existing tanks concealed.
• Recreation, some or all of the following: swimming pool (except areas with long, cold winters), shuffleboards, horseshoe pitching, golf course, hobby shop, hobby classes, games, potlucks, dances, or natural recreation facilities.
• Beautifully equipped recreation hall with kitchen. Room for community gatherings. Tiled restrooms, etc.
• Uniform storage shed or central storage facilities.
• All late model homes in excellent condition.
• At least 60% occupancy in order to judge quality of residents which indicates park's ability to maintain a five-star rating between inspections.
• All empty lots grassed, graveled, or otherwise well maintained.
• If pets or children allowed, there must be a place for them to run and play without cluttering the streets and yards. Most five-star parks are for adults only.
• Superior management interested in comfort of residents and maintenance of park.