Starlite Mobile Village

Starlite Mobile Village, situated in the thriving community of Salem, Oregon, provides a specialized housing option for residents aged 55 and older. This manufactured home community is specifically designed to offer an affordable, low-maintenance pathway to homeownership, appealing to retirees and active seniors looking to enjoy life in the Willamette Valley. As a 55+ community, Starlite Mobile Village is positioned to foster a shared environment among peers, offering a sense of community that can be highly valued in later life.

In the context of Oregon’s rising housing costs, Starlite Mobile Village presents a viable alternative where residents own their home structure while renting the land (the lot or space) it occupies. This structure can significantly lower the barrier to homeownership compared to purchasing a traditional site-built home in Marion County. However, prospective buyers should recognize the duality of this arrangement. While the initial home purchase can be affordable, the mandatory lot rent is an ongoing, annual financial consideration that can increase over time. Public reviews indicate that tenants have experienced regular rent increases—reportedly "every other year" or "every year as much as possible"—without corresponding improvements in common area maintenance or amenity upkeep.

Recent listings suggest that Starlite Mobile Village is focused on supporting its community and providing a central hub for social interaction. Despite management and maintenance complaints detailed in public feedback, the underlying concept of a 55+ community—which aims for quiet hours, shared amenities, and a simplified lifestyle—remains the core offering of Starlite Mobile Village in the Salem region.

Location and Accessibility

Starlite Mobile Village boasts a convenient location at 4882 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, OR 97305, USA. Situated in Northeast Salem, the community benefits from being close to major commercial corridors and essential services, making daily living simpler for its residents.

• Immediate Proximity: The park is located near the intersection of Lancaster Drive and Silverton Road, an area known for a broad range of diverse markets, restaurants, and shopping centers. Residents have quick access to grocery stores, retail shops, and dining options.
• Transportation Hub: The location provides easy access to public transportation options, a significant benefit for residents who prefer not to drive. It is also well-positioned for road travel, being near Highway access for connections to Central Salem (approximately five miles away) and other parts of the Willamette Valley.
• Higher Education Access: The community is within a reasonable distance of Chemeketa Community College, as well as Willamette University, offering opportunities for lifelong learning and cultural engagement.
• Accessibility Features: In line with serving the senior demographic, the village offers essential physical accommodations, including a Wheelchair accessible entrance and Wheelchair accessible parking lot, helping to ensure that the common areas are easily navigable for residents with mobility issues.

Services Offered

The community structure of Starlite Mobile Village, managed by Commonwealth Real Estate Services, is intended to simplify life for its 55+ residents by offering certain services and shared facilities.

• Professional Management and Communication: The community is professionally managed. However, tenants have reported a perceived lack of consistent on-site management and a failure to enforce community rules, necessitating occasional police involvement for neighbor disputes, which represents a significant concern regarding the quality of life and safety in the community.
• Utility Inclusion: Lot rent for individual spaces often includes key utilities. Based on recent home listings, Water and Sewer are typically included in the space rent, though tenants are usually responsible for their own garbage service.
• Community Amenities: The village offers designated spaces for resident use, including a Club House, a Community Library, and Green Space with Picnic Tables, intended to serve as social hubs.
• Community Laundry: Some external listings indicate the availability of a community event room and a Laundry facility, providing residents with on-site resources.
• Maintenance of Shared Space: Management is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of common areas. However, resident feedback strongly suggests that the actual maintenance efforts have been deficient, with reports of "unfixed cats," properties looking "rundown," and rotting sheds that are past due for repair.

Features / Highlights

The key features of Starlite Mobile Village revolve around its classification as a dedicated senior community in a prime Salem location, offering an affordable homeownership option.

• Age-Restricted Community (55+): The primary feature is its senior-focused designation, which typically translates to a quieter, more peaceful atmosphere than all-ages parks, although public reviews indicate significant issues with noise violations and unaddressed nuisance complaints from barking dogs.
• Lower Cost of Homeownership: Manufactured homes represent a substantially lower cost entry point to owning a residence compared to Salem’s median home prices, offering important financial savings and potential equity building.
• Central Location in NE Salem: The convenient positioning near major roads (Lancaster Drive) and commercial centers simplifies daily living, shopping, and access to necessary services.
• Shared Community Facilities: The community is equipped with a clubhouse and green spaces intended for social gatherings and activities, which, when fully functional and managed well, can greatly enhance resident quality of life.
• Essential Accessibility: Provision of wheelchair-accessible features in the common areas is a proactive step toward accommodating the physical needs of its senior residents.
• Newer Home Availability: The presence of newer manufactured homes (some built in 2015 and later) in the park offers the benefit of energy efficiency, modern floor plans, and features like carports and storage sheds for those looking to purchase.

What is Worth Choosing

Starlite Mobile Village is an option for Oregonians aged 55 and over who are seeking a truly affordable homeownership opportunity in Salem, particularly those drawn to the cost savings of a manufactured home. The convenience of the location, with its proximity to shopping, dining, and main travel routes, is a strong practical advantage. Furthermore, the inclusion of water and sewer in the lot rent offers a simplified monthly budget.

However, potential residents must give significant weight to the severe and consistent complaints detailed in public feedback, as these issues directly relate to the long-term quality of life and financial stability within the community. The negative accounts describe a critical breakdown in management's responsibility:

• Maintenance and Amenities: The reported closure and abandonment of the community pool, combined with accusations of dilapidated structures (rotting sheds) and a general lack of maintenance, directly contradict the value proposition of paying lot rent for amenities and upkeep.
• Rule Enforcement and Safety: The alleged failure to enforce fundamental community rules—such as quiet hours, RV restrictions, and mandatory pet leashing, resulting in issues like aggressive dogs, excessive barking, and disturbances from non-compliant neighbors—suggests a significant compromise to the peace, safety, and security expected in an age-restricted environment. Reports of police involvement and unaddressed substance use issues are particularly concerning.
• Financial Concerns: The pattern of regular rent increases without reinvestment into the community is a major financial and ethical red flag that future residents should verify before committing to the lot lease.

Contact Information

For inquiries regarding home availability, lot rent, and community guidelines, please use the following contact details:

Address: 4882 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, OR 97305, USA
Phone: (503) 393-7227 or +1 503-393-7227

Starlite Mobile Village

4882 Lancaster Dr NE, Salem, OR 97305, USA