Resident-owned community formation
How residents form a resident-owned community (ROC) to buy their mobile home park — the cooperative model, the steps involved, and where to get help.
Published June 4, 2026
A quick reference to forming a resident-owned community (ROC) — residents buying and running their mobile home park as a cooperative. This is general information, not legal or financial advice, and the authors are not lawyers — consider a licensed attorney and a resident-ownership nonprofit such as ROC USA.
At a glance
| Step | What it generally involves |
|---|---|
| Organize residents | Build interest and a core group; communicate with neighbors. |
| Form an entity | Create a cooperative (or similar) to hold the land. |
| Get help | Nonprofits like ROC USA provide technical and financing support. |
| Vote | Members vote to pursue the purchase and adopt bylaws. |
| Line up financing | Arrange a blended loan/financing package for the purchase. |
| Make an offer | Often tied to the owner's sale or a state opportunity-to-purchase right. |
| Govern the community | Members set the budget, the site fee, and the rules. |
How to use this
This sheet describes the model and common steps; it does not provide a legal or financial plan. Forming a ROC is a significant undertaking — start early, use a resident-ownership nonprofit, and get legal and financial advice for your community.
Where to read more
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Frequently asked questions
- What is a resident-owned community (ROC)?
- A resident-owned community is a mobile home park that the residents buy and run together, usually as a cooperative that owns the land while members continue to own their homes and pay a monthly site fee. The model can give residents control over lot rent and rules. This is general, educational information, not legal or financial advice.
- How do residents form a ROC to buy their mobile home park?
- Typically residents organize, form a cooperative or similar entity, vote to proceed, line up financing (often with a nonprofit such as ROC USA), and make an offer — frequently when the owner is selling. The steps and any purchase rights depend on state law. This is general information, not legal advice — involve an attorney and a resident-ownership nonprofit.