The main reason for living in mobile home community is for the lower cost compared to other housing, but not at Rochester Estates. The cost of living here has more than doubled in 7 years? While the paychecks go down and jobs disappear in the Metro Detroit area, the rent and fees go up. So many families in this community have moved out of what they thought would be a good home; often giving their homes to the park just to be able rent a house or apartment for LESS. That's not what mobile communities were built for. They are to help lower income people live the dream of home ownership at a lower cost...not a higher cost. The emotional cost of the dealing with the image for making the choice to be a mobile home owner is difficult enough, don't make it financial difficult as well.

http://www.mhvillage.com/SearchStateCounty.php?State=MI

390 homes for sale in Oakland County compared that to Livingston with only 68 homes for sale where the average price is more in line with the market value.

Rochester Estates has the largest number of homes for sale in Oakland County!

Rochester Estates - $489 plus, water, sewer, trash, admin fees and tax = $580 ++

Area Lot rents – 1. Auburn Hill $348 move in special the long term tenants are paying $453 – includes water, sewer, trash, and taxes 2. Auburn Hills $490 – includes water, sewer, taxes and trash

In 2007 my average water bill was between $13 - $18. In January 2012 it was $78.65 for two people. The only thing that has changed is the greed of the landlord. The city can't explain these charges, because the charges are left up to Rochester Estates, MHC.

The average cost of a mortgage and the combined bills in the lot rent (water, sewer, trash, admin fee, pet fee, taxes) is around $1000 per resident. Rochester Estates is higher than the area mobile home communities - only a mile or two away. The average cost of moving a larger manufactured home is over $10,000.  Larger and newer homes are impossible to sell in this community because the sales office at Rochester Estates sells the park owned homes under value and also gives new tenants a one or two year lease for $99 a month. Lower income, disabled people or single parents like me end up paying more money by staying and keeping our homes longer. I would also like to see some stability in this community again, keeping it a nicer place to have a manufactured home for families, not transients.

An older lady two doors down, which had a home just like mine, retired and could not afford to pay the mortgage and the lot rent so she put home up for sale. For several years she tried, the sales office gave her very little support because of the price she was asking. (What she still owed and the blue book value). After years of trying, she wanted out so badly that she was willing to pay $20,000 out of her retirement money to save her credit and take a short sale of $25,000. She ended up walking away from her home. I could tell a number of these stories. Rochester Estates keep raising the rent, water bill, trash, and sewer but cuts back on the services/amenities.

I am formally asking your help – Rochester Estates needs to lower the lot rent by at least $100 to be comparable to the area rents or include the water/sewer and trash fees. Move out the old and run down homes, sell homes at market value, and stop the transients from moving in by closing the gap between new and long term residents rent. We also need more background searches for possible tentants - No more sexual offenders in a family community please.

Your signature can make difference. Please help make living affordable for the residents of Rochester Estates.