Carefree Village

For many Floridians, especially those seeking affordable housing options in a dynamic city like Tampa, mobile home parks can represent a significant pathway to homeownership or stable, long-term residency. These communities often offer a unique blend of independent living within a structured neighborhood environment. Today, we're taking a detailed look at Carefree Village, a mobile home community situated in Tampa, Florida. This article is designed for you, our local Florida users, to provide a clear, engaging, and factual overview of Carefree Village, addressing both its appealing aspects and some of the recent challenges highlighted by residents.

Mobile home parks, or manufactured home communities, provide an alternative housing model where residents typically own their manufactured homes while leasing the land on which they are situated. This can offer a more budget-friendly approach to living in areas where traditional housing costs are high. Carefree Village is an all-ages community, meaning it caters to families with children as well as individuals and seniors. Such communities often strive to create a vibrant atmosphere with shared amenities and opportunities for social interaction. However, as with any large community, resident experiences can vary, and it's important to consider all perspectives when making a housing decision.

The feedback from residents of Carefree Village offers a nuanced picture, highlighting both strong positives like excellent neighbors and staff, and significant concerns regarding management communication, rising costs, and property regulations. Understanding these points is crucial for anyone considering making Carefree Village their home. This comprehensive overview will delve into its location and accessibility, the services it aims to offer, its reported features, and how to get in touch. Our goal is to equip you with the full scope of information needed to determine if Carefree Village aligns with your expectations for a home in Tampa, Florida.

Carefree Village is conveniently located at 8000 Sheldon Rd, Tampa, FL 33615, USA. This address places it within a well-established area of Tampa, a major city on Florida's Gulf Coast. For Florida residents, particularly those in the Hillsborough County area, this location offers a blend of suburban living with excellent access to urban amenities.

Sheldon Road is a significant artery in Tampa, ensuring that residents of Carefree Village have straightforward access to a wide array of essential services and recreational opportunities. Within a short drive, you'll find numerous grocery stores, diverse dining options, retail centers, medical facilities, and schools, making daily errands and necessities easily manageable. The community's position provides good connectivity to other major roadways in the Tampa Bay area, facilitating convenient commutes to various employment hubs, educational institutions, and popular destinations throughout Tampa and its surrounding cities, including Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

Tampa itself is a vibrant and growing city known for its diverse culture, beautiful waterfront, and abundant attractions. From Carefree Village, residents can easily access points of interest such as the Tampa International Airport, Raymond James Stadium, the Westchase area, and various parks and green spaces. The community's location offers the benefit of a residential setting while remaining close enough to enjoy all the excitement and opportunities that the greater Tampa Bay area has to offer, making it a practical choice for individuals and families alike.

Carefree Village aims to provide a range of services for its residents, typical of a larger mobile home community. However, resident reviews indicate some challenges in the delivery and accessibility of these services. While the staff are generally well-regarded for their efforts, issues related to management efficiency have been raised.

Services Offered (based on available data and common mobile home park provisions):

• Manufactured Home Lot Leasing: The primary service, where residents lease a plot of land for their owned manufactured home.
• On-Site Staff/Management: Residents note that the "staff is trying their best to accommodate your issue" and are "the best." However, there's a significant complaint that "the management office looks overloaded and short in staff," making it "very hard to get anyone to pickup the phone" or "return voice messages." This suggests a challenge in accessibility and responsiveness for residents needing assistance.
• Community Maintenance: Implied by the desire for a "kept nice" place, though specific details on routine maintenance beyond shared areas are not explicitly detailed in provided reviews. One review mentions issues with "code violations" on purchased homes.
• Utility Connections: Standard hookups for essential utilities like water, sewer, and electricity would be provided at each lot.
• Swimming Pool Access: A community swimming pool is an amenity; however, there are significant complaints about it "never open" or being "closed without any notice" due to residents making unauthorized parties.
• Towing Services: Unfortunately, a service mentioned in a negative light, where cars "get towed from your own driveway just because the tip of the tire was touching grass," incurring significant costs for residents. This points to strict enforcement of parking rules, which can be a service or a punitive measure depending on perspective.

These services highlight the community's offerings, but also point to areas where operational efficiency and communication with residents could be improved.

Carefree Village offers several features and highlights that are attractive to residents, contributing to its appeal despite the challenges mentioned in some reviews. The community's environment, location benefits, and inherent amenities are noteworthy.

Features / Highlights:

• Excellent Location: Situated on Sheldon Rd, providing easy access to Tampa amenities, including shops, restaurants, and various attractions. It's noted to be "14 miles from downtown Tampa, and only 7 miles from Ben T. Davis Beach."
• Friendly Neighbors: Consistently highlighted as "the best" by residents, indicating a positive and supportive community atmosphere among residents.
• Positive Staff Interactions (in person): While phone access is difficult, the staff are described as "trying their best" and are generally considered "the best," suggesting that in-person visits to the office might yield more positive results.
• Affordable Living (initially): The park is noted as an "affordable mobile home park," which is a key draw for many looking for cost-effective housing in Florida.
• All-Ages Community: Unlike 55+ communities, Carefree Village accommodates all ages, making it suitable for families with children.
• On-Site Library: An amenity providing resources for residents.
• Basketball Court: Offers recreational opportunities for residents.
• Playground: A dedicated area for children, making it family-friendly.
• Tennis Courts: Further recreational options for active residents.
• Pet-Friendly: The community welcomes pets, which is a significant factor for many potential residents.
• Spacious Manufactured Homes: The community offers "spacious manufactured homes."

It's important to acknowledge that some residents have faced significant issues, including unforeseen "CODE VIOLATIONs" on homes purchased "as is," leading to forced remodels and a perceived loss of home value. Concerns about "corporate" lack of consideration for resident input and "lot price" increases without explanation (from $680 to $900 in two years) are also prominent. These negative experiences highlight potential risks for new buyers and existing residents on fixed incomes.

For those interested in learning more about Carefree Village, inquiring about available homes, or discussing lot leases, direct contact with the park's management is the necessary step. Given the feedback about communication challenges, it's highly recommended to anticipate visiting the office in person for more effective resolution of inquiries. Here is the provided contact information:

Contact Information:

Address: 8000 Sheldon Rd, Tampa, FL 33615, USA

Phone: (888) 472-0824

Mobile Phone: +1 888-472-0824

When you contact Carefree Village, it is crucial to ask very specific questions regarding current lot rent rates, the exact process for addressing code violations on purchased homes (especially "as is" purchases), pool availability schedules, and towing policies. It would also be wise to inquire about the current staffing levels at the management office and their preferred method of communication for residents. Given the expressed concerns, a personal visit to the office is strongly advised to observe operations firsthand and ensure all your questions are answered clearly and thoroughly before making any commitments. Documenting all communications and agreements is also a prudent step.

In conclusion, Carefree Village offers a compelling mix of advantages and challenges for Floridians, particularly those in the Tampa area, seeking mobile home living. On one hand, it boasts an excellent location on Sheldon Road, providing convenient access to Tampa's amenities and attractions, including beaches and downtown. Residents consistently praise the friendly neighbors and the efforts of the on-site staff, creating a positive community atmosphere that is a significant draw. It's an all-ages park with various recreational amenities like a playground, basketball, and tennis courts, and is pet-friendly, catering to diverse needs.

However, prospective residents must be aware of the critical issues raised in recent reviews. These include difficulties in reaching management by phone due to apparent understaffing, inconsistent pool access, sudden and significant increases in lot rent (a concern for those on fixed incomes), and serious problems with unexpected code violations on previously purchased homes, leading to financial burdens and a feeling of being unheard by corporate management. The strict towing policy is another point of concern that impacts residents' peace of mind.

For locals considering Carefree Village, it is essential to conduct thorough due diligence. While the community offers an affordable entry into Tampa homeownership and a friendly neighborhood environment, understanding and verifying all current policies, particularly those related to lot rent increases, code compliance, and communication channels, is paramount. A direct, in-person visit to the management office and open communication about all potential concerns are highly recommended to ensure it aligns with your expectations for a truly carefree living experience in Florida.

Carefree Village

8000 Sheldon Rd, Tampa, FL 33615, USA