Local manufactured home market continues to soar

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers.com

There isn’t much stopping the market for manufactured homes these days. Homes continue to come off the market as fast as they come on, and prices continue to skyrocket as buyers compete for the few homes available.

And according to those in the know, the end of the market boom, while inevitable, is still nowhere in sight.

Manufactured homes, usually found in the 55+ retirement communities across Southwest Florida, are coming off the sales websites within hours, if they even get there at all.

Denise Riley, sales specialist at Bayshore Village, said the market is doing extremely well, with homes selling at prices not seen in years.

“Homes are going for more than the three years I’ve been here. We have two homes in the $70s and one home in the $90s and that one is going under contract after listing it last Wednesday,” Riley said. “We have homes that don’t even go online. I don’t get a chance to advertise them.”

Out of the 264 homes, only two homes at Bayshore Village are currently for sale, with just two empty lots. Riley said there is a waiting list for people wanting to buy homes.

Riley said if she has something available and thinks a family would be best for it, she will contact them.

Mike Smith, at Old Bridge Village, said it’s certainly a seller’s market. Many homes have been getting sold through word of mouth.

Of the 725 homes at Old Bridge, none are on the market. And those that are on the market don’t stay for long.

“Anything that goes on the market doesn’t stay for more than a day. We’re one of the few places that has buildable

CHRIS STRINE Pine Lakes in North Fort Myers is another community where sales have been brisk in recent months.

See MARKET, page 8

Market From page 6 lots remaining,” Smith said. “We have some homes going for around $240,000 and older homes on the water under agreement for around $500,000.”

As for those who construct manufactured homes, the demand has been nothing short of ridiculous. Prestige Home Centers, based out of Ocala, with an office in Punta Gorda, said on its home webpage, “Across the country, the construction industry and particularly the home building industry is experiencing unprecedented supply and demand issues. Labor and materials are in short supply and being priced higher and higher. This is causing reduced production, unanticipated delays, and unpredictable pricing of materials and homes.”

The company notice also noted that the price of homes is likely to increase between now and the time the home is completed. “I have two brand new houses coming in and I have people now who don’t want to pay full price. It’s good for us, but the problem is we can’t get new homes fast enough,” Smith said. “It takes a house up to a year to show up here because the factories are so backed up.” Riley said she doesn’t expect the market to retreat any time soon, since people are still looking despite the soaring prices and the fact she has a waiting list.

Smith said it could depend on the economy and how the state can continue to grow at the rate it is, but that more people are wanting to live in the warmer climate and get away from the more expensive northern states.

“I don’t see how it could sustain the growth it has had and the demand. But during the pandemic people were leaving the restrictive, high-tax states up north and coming to Florida,” Smith said.

CHRIS STRINE The clubhouse at the Lake Fairways manufactured home community in North Fort Myers.

Lee County’s annual ‘Donated not Wasted’ campaign to begin

Collection centers for canned foods and dry goods located throughout the county

Lee County Solid Waste’s annual “Donated not Wasted” Lee County Food Rescue campaign encourages seasonal residents and visitors to donate unopened pantry items before returning north.

People can drop off unopened canned or dry goods from Monday, March 22, until Monday, April 5, at local a number of local libraries or Lee County Parks & Recreation Centers.

Recreation Centers

● Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero, FL 33928 ● North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers, FL 33903

● Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 ● Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908

Library Locations

● Bonita Springs Public Library, 10560 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs, FL 34135 ● Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33914

● Captiva Memorial Library, 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva, FL 33924 ● Dunbar Jupiter Hammon Public Library, 3095 Blount St., Fort Myers, FL 33916 ● East County Regional Library, 881 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971 ● Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., Fort Myers, FL 33901 ● Fort Myers Beach Public Library, 2755 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 ● Johann Fust Community Library, 1040 W. 10th St., Boca Grande, FL 33921 ● Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers, FL 33919

See ‘DONATED NOT

WASTED’, page 14

Tips to help reduce your energy costs while your home is vacant

(The following “Energy Saving Tip” came from the Lee County Electric Cooperative.)

Many homeowners in Southwest Florida reside elsewhere during the summer. Even if they are not operating appliances and consuming power, the house itself has ongoing energy needs.

Circumstances may require extra humidity control, with a dehumidifier or a moistureabsorbing product such as Damp Rid. When using any of these measures, be sure to provide for drainage by setting them in a bathtub, basin or sink.

Appliances

Some appliances, such as ovens and clothes dryers, are selective-use devices, consuming no power unless used for a specific task. Other appliances, such as refrigerators and pool pumps, are automatic and will continue to use power as long as they are plugged in.

A refrigerator uses far more electricity than most appliances. In fact, the high heat levels in an empty home will usually cause refrigerators to use more energy than they would in an active household.

Significant savings can be generated by unplugging refrigerators in vacant homes; however, older units can sometimes fail in storage. If the unit is on, the freezer should be filled with ice containers and the thermostats set to their warmest possible settings (without compromising the food-storage integrity). This provides for the lowest possible cost, while at the same time safeguarding the continued operation of the refrigerator.

Air Conditioning

Many unoccupied homes need a small amount of air conditioning every day throughout the summer for humidity control. Without daily air conditioning, high summer humidity can accumulate indoors and give rise to mold or mildew. Mold and mildew can grow nearly anywhere if the relative humidity is consistently 70 percent or higher. Most homeowners use one of the following techniques to guard against mildew problems.

Install a timer on the A/C system, and set it to cycle the A/C for two hours every day. This provides the highest level of security against mildew growth.

Install a humidistat on the A/C, and set it to cycle the A/C whenever indoor humidity exceeds 65 percent. This technique uses the least power. Please note that on new highefficiency systems, a humidistat may be incorporated with the thermostat control system.

See ENERGY COSTS, page 14

From page 10 ● North Fort Myers Public Library, 2001 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33903 ● Northwest Regional Library, 519 Chiquita Blvd., North, Cape Coral, FL 33993 ● Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia, FL 33922 ● Riverdale Branch Library, 2421 Buckingham Road, Fort Myers, FL 33905 ● Sanibel Public Library, 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, FL 33957 ● South County Regional Library, 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero, FL 33928

Additional Sites

● Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33966 ● Topaz Court Solid Waste Annex, 6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers, FL 33966

For additional information, please visit www.leegov. com/solidwaste/donated-notwasted

Reduced costs From page 12

Set your regular thermostat to 83 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the least efficient method and is recommended only for short or infrequent summer trips.

Humidistats

Humidistats, also known as dehumidistats, can be wired either parallel to or in series with the thermostat. These different wiring configurations call for slightly different humidistat set-up instructions. To determine your humidistat wiring configuration, take the following steps:

Set humidistat to off.

Set thermostat mode switch to cool and set fan switch to auto.

Lower thermostat setting at least 10 degrees below room temperature. If your A/C cycles on, the humidistat is

Part-time residents should turn off power, and gas, to stoves when the house is vacant. FILE PHOTO wired parallel to the thermostat. If the A/C does not cycle, your humidistat is wired in series to the thermostat. (For more tips, please visit the LCEC website at www.lcec.net.)

Separating A/C myths from facts

By MAURIZIO ESPOSITO

Special to The Breeze

Homeownership is a good investment that offers independence and a sense of pride.

However, it comes at a price, and that total is far beyond the dollar amount listed on a mortgage statement. Upkeep and maintenance can quickly put a strain on any family budget.

One of the largest out-ofpocket expenses that homeowners face in Southwest Florida is an air conditioning system replacement. Few people budget for it, and the cost often is the equivalent of a year’s worth of car payments, or more.

That’s why it is so important to distinguish between A/C myths and A/C facts. Misconceptions or lack of understanding about how A/C systems function can translate into thousands of dollars spent repairing or replacing air conditioning systems that failed to reach their projected lifespan.

Below are the four most common A/C myths and an explanation of the facts:

SEER Ratings

Myth: SEER ratings are just a way to get customers to buy a more expensive product.

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) measures air conditioning and heat pump cooling efficiency. It’s calculated by the cooling output for a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy input during the same period.

To become a governmentcertified ENERGY STAR product, an A/C system needs a SEER rating of 14.5 or better.

However, even the most efficient systems on the market can be inefficient if improperly installed. A certified, experienced technician can make sure an A/C system is hooked up based on manufacturer specifications.

Top systems also must be properly maintained to ensure their performance meets industry standards.

Fact: SEER ratings allow consumers to know if they have an energy-efficient A/C system. Maurizio Esposito

Unit Size

Myth: A bigger A/C unit ensures your house or business will stay cool during the summer.

An A/C system’s size is expressed as tonnage. The Florida Building Code requires the size of air conditioners match the size and conditions of a home. A 2-ton unit, for example, would be ideal for a 1,200-square-foot single-family home. Meanwhile, a 4-ton unit is well-suited for a 2,400square-foot property.

Tonnage has no effect on an A/C system’s efficiency. In fact, a unit that is too large for a home may perform worse. That’s because it would start and stop more often, and those quick cycles burn energy.

Fact: Certified installers will calculate the size of an A/C unit that is appropriate for each residence.

See MYTHS FROM FACTS, page 18

Maintenance

Myth: Preventative maintenance isn’t really necessary; A/C companies make more money by scheduling service calls.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That saying has been around for years. However, it’s counterproductive for mechanical equipment.

When it comes to air conditioning systems, there is a different saying: If it ain’t wellmaintained, it will break.

Preventative maintenance is a necessity for A/C systems. In fact, the lack of regular maintenance might invalidate a manufacturer’s warranty. A semi-annual maintenance program is the best way to keep systems working efficiently, which saves on monthly energy costs.

Experienced technicians will calibrate systems, clean coils and fans, check temperature readings and complete other tune-ups.

Regular maintenance also extends the life of an A/C system. Well-maintained systems can last 15 to 20 years. Poorly maintained systems might last eight to 10 years. That could mean spending twice as much money on A/C system replacements.

F a c t : Preventative maintenance is a cost-efficient way to keep A/C systems running smoothly for many years.

A/C Myth: Money

Myth: It’s a waste of money to replace an A/C system that is still working.

A new A/C system for a single-family home can easily cost $5,000 or more to replace. Naturally, many people put off that expense. So long as the A/C is still blowing cool air, they are satisfied. Unfortu-nately, A/C systems on their last leg are not operating near maximum efficiency. They can struggle to keep rooms cool, adding $30 or more to monthly energy bills. Over one year, that’s at least $360 wasted.

Tell-tale signs that it might be time to replace your A/C unit include:

Skyrocketing energy bills

Visible corrosion

Frequent leaks

Odd sounds or loud noises

Drastic increase in dust

Inability to achieve a comfortable, consistent temperature

A good rule of thumb is the 50% rule. If repairs cost more than 50% of the replacement cost, then it’s best to purchase a new system. Florida summers are unbearable without air conditioning. It’s best to replace an A/C system before you’re stuck for days – or longer – without cool air.

Fact: Purchasing a new A/C system can save money on future energy bills.

Maurizio Esposito is an HVAC technician at Pro-Tec Plumbing & Air, which serves residential and commercial customers in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. Esposito has over 20 years of experience diagnosing, repairing and maintaining commercial and residential HVAC systems. For more information, please visit PTPflorida.com.