I am not a private investor in a manufactured housing community in New Hampshire. I am a widowed, very retired senior on a fixed income living in a manufactured housing community in New Hampshire.
I am not disputing the market value of my home. Our homes were re-assessed right along side the other homes in our town. The value increase was previous to the investor’s purchase.
We attempted to become a resident owned community (ROC) but our matching offer was rejected.
I was our board president and our members were all in on the “estimated” monthly fee in our Park of $1,000, understanding that WE would have control of the future of where we are living. In an attempt to narrow, what I agree is a nuanced issue, I would like to focus on the primary issue affecting where I live.
Our parks, The Meadows of Hopkinton, and our sister park, Deer Meadow, were purchased by an out-of-state private investor. Our new leases were delivered in December of 2025 and took effect on April 1.
Our lot rent was immediately raised and a monthly trash fee was added. Many people panicked and, as was expected, put their homes up for sale. Selling is the problem.
The new investment owner has implemented a future rent for new buyers as $1,285 per month. That does not cover mortgage, taxes, insurance, monthly ground upkeep, plowing and utilities.
Value does not equal affordability. Our homes, should we chose to sell, are now unaffordable to an average family because of lot rent. Those of us who have spent years on improvements will not see the rewards of those investments or the increased market value, because of lot rent. We are in the situation of having to list our homes below value to make them affordable, because of lot rent.
Again, value does not equal affordability.
In The Meadows, 11 homes have sold in 2026. All were forced to lower asking price because of lot rent. The average loss per home even with lowered asking was $45,000.
In Deer Meadow, four homes have sold. All were forced to lower asking, because of lot rent. The average loss even with lowered asking was $25,000.
In Mountain View in Northwood, two homes are for sale. None have sold even with lower prices, because of lot rent. Theirs is $1,385 with a trash fee of $37.
We have documented realtor statements saying they had many interested in buying but had few showings and even fewer sales because of lot rent.
So while Mark Tay may say he has “devoted his career to buying and operating properties to improve them and offer residents a great place to live,” that would be painting all private equity investors with the same brush. All investors and their intentions are not created equal.
For all park residents, there are no laws and no protections, and if there were, no one to enforce them.
At one point in time, Manufactured housing filled a gap. It was an opportunity, a way new families, retirees, those with disabilities or veterans could build a future and enjoy the benefits of community at an affordable level.
That opportunity, like so many others, has been bought. Bought by some whose only goal is to accrue wealth at the expense of others.
Joan Mirantz has lived in the Meadows of Hopkinton for 16 years.