Sunshine Village

For many Floridians, particularly those in the vibrant Central Florida region, mobile home parks offer an accessible pathway to homeownership or stable long-term residency. These communities present a unique housing model, where individuals typically own their manufactured home while leasing the land it sits on. This arrangement can often provide a more budget-friendly alternative to traditional stick-built homes, making a Florida lifestyle more attainable. Today, we're taking a closer look at Sunshine Village, a mobile home community located in Lakeland, Florida. This article is designed specifically for you, our local Florida users, to provide a clear, engaging, and factual overview of Sunshine Village, incorporating both its advertised features and the real-world experiences of its residents.

Mobile home parks, also known as manufactured home communities, aim to provide a sense of community and often come with shared amenities designed to enhance residents' quality of life. Sunshine Village is described as an all-age family community, meaning it welcomes residents of all ages, from young families to retirees. Such communities typically strive to create a harmonious environment where neighbors can connect and enjoy shared spaces. However, as with any large residential area, challenges can arise, and it's essential for prospective residents to be fully informed about all aspects of community living, including both the positives and areas that require attention.

The reviews from current residents of Sunshine Village offer a candid and important perspective, highlighting both the quiet family atmosphere and significant concerns regarding rising costs, community upkeep, and safety. Understanding these real experiences is crucial for anyone considering making Sunshine Village their home. This comprehensive overview will delve into the community's precise location and accessibility, the services and amenities it offers (or aims to offer), its features and highlights, and how you can get in touch. Our aim is to provide you with a balanced and factual account, empowering you to make an informed decision about whether Sunshine Village aligns with your expectations for a home in Lakeland, Florida.

Sunshine Village is conveniently located at 1234 Reynolds Rd, Lakeland, FL 33801, USA. This address places it within Lakeland, a prominent city in Polk County, situated in the heart of Central Florida. For Florida residents, particularly those looking for a home between the major metropolitan areas of Tampa and Orlando, this location offers a blend of accessibility and a slightly more relaxed pace of life compared to the larger cities.

Reynolds Road is a well-known thoroughfare in Lakeland, suggesting that Sunshine Village benefits from good connectivity to local infrastructure and essential services. Residents can expect straightforward access to a variety of amenities including grocery stores, diverse dining options, retail centers, pharmacies, and healthcare providers. The community's position in Lakeland means it is well-placed for commuting to various employment centers within the city and in the wider Polk County area. Lakeland itself is an Amazon hub, indicating strong logistical connections.

Lakeland is characterized by its numerous lakes, vibrant downtown area, and a growing arts and culture scene. From Sunshine Village, residents have access to local attractions such as Hollis Garden, Lake Mirror Park, and the city's many trails for walking, running, and biking. Furthermore, being located in Central Florida provides excellent access to major theme parks like LEGOLAND Florida, Walt Disney World, and Busch Gardens, all within a reasonable driving distance. The strategic location offers a balance, providing a community setting while keeping the best of Florida's attractions and conveniences within reach, making it an appealing spot for families.

Sunshine Village aims to provide a range of services and amenities typical of a family-oriented mobile home community. However, resident feedback indicates inconsistencies in the availability and maintenance of some of these services. While the community does offer various facilities, their accessibility and upkeep are areas of concern raised by current residents.

Services Offered (based on available data and common mobile home park provisions, with resident feedback):

• Manufactured Home Lot Leasing: The primary service, where residents lease a plot of land for their owned manufactured home. However, residents note that "Lot rent has increased drastically three times" and is now "astronomical," making it "very unaffordable" for some. Late fees are also steep at "$50 a week until you pay it."
• On-Site Management: While not directly commented on positively, the presence of management is implied, but residents note difficulty with the "property is always unkept" and amenities "always locked," suggesting issues with management responsiveness or resources.
• Property Maintenance: The park is described as "kind of dirty with animal doodoo" and "always unkept," indicating a need for improved general ground maintenance.
• Utility Connections: Standard hookups for essential utilities such as water, sewer, and trash removal are generally included in lot rent (as per external listings, though residents challenge overall affordability).
• Laundry Room Access: A laundry room is listed as an amenity, but a resident states it is "always locked."
• Clubhouse Access: A clubhouse is available, but residents report it "has never been available in the almost 4 years" they've lived there, despite potential for events like birthday parties.
• Swimming Pool Access: A community pool is an amenity, but residents state it is "never really open because some people can’t respect it!"

The disparity between advertised amenities and actual availability or condition is a significant concern for residents. While the park is described as "pet friendly" on some listings, the complaint about "animal doodoo" suggests challenges in pet waste management by residents or park staff.

Sunshine Village, despite the challenges highlighted by residents, does offer several features and amenities typical of a family mobile home community in Florida. These features aim to provide recreational and community-building opportunities, though their consistent availability is a point of contention among current residents.

Features / Highlights:

• All-Age Family Community: Sunshine Village caters to all ages, making it suitable for families with children, as well as individuals and seniors. Residents describe it as a "family community" where "everybody is pretty quiet."
• Basketball Court: A facility for residents to enjoy sports and recreation. However, a reviewer notes the "tennis area as well but it broke," suggesting issues with maintenance of sports facilities.
• Clubhouse: A common gathering space. However, residents report it is "never available" for use for events like birthday parties, despite its potential benefit.
• Swimming Pool: A listed amenity for relaxation and enjoyment. However, residents state it is "never really open" due to disrespect from some users.
• Lake Access for Fishing: Behind the pool, there is a lake where residents "can catch fish." (A humorous warning was given: "I wouldn’t eat it if I were you!!!")
• Laundry Center: An on-site facility for resident convenience, though reported as "always locked."
• Secure Mail Center: A facility for mail.
• Pet-Friendly Community: While some issues with waste are mentioned, it is generally considered pet-friendly according to external sources.
• RV and Boat Storage: Amenities provided for residents with recreational vehicles or boats.

Concerns raised by residents include significant increases in lot rent, making the community unaffordable; poor property upkeep ("always unkept," "dirty with animal doodoo"); and safety issues such as "kids here are really bad and will try to steal and hurt you," and "attempts to steal packages" with two instances of "kids Christmas presents" being stolen after misdelivery. These are crucial aspects for prospective residents to consider, especially given the "buyer beware" warning from a long-term resident.

For those considering Sunshine Village or needing to address concerns as a current resident, direct contact with the park's management is the official channel. Given the feedback about communication issues, it might be advisable to be persistent or prepare for in-person visits for more effective resolution. Here is the provided contact information:

Contact Information:

Address: 1234 Reynolds Rd, Lakeland, FL 33801, USA

Phone: (863) 665-3439

Mobile Phone: +1 863-665-3439

When you contact Sunshine Village, it is critically important to ask very specific questions regarding: the current lot rent and any projected increases, the policies and history of lot rent increases, details about late payment fees, the availability and operational status of all amenities (pool, clubhouse, laundry room, sports courts), the community's security measures and history of package theft or other incidents, and their approach to property maintenance and code enforcement (especially for homes purchased "as is"). Given the serious nature of the concerns raised by residents, a personal visit to the community is highly recommended to observe the current conditions of the grounds and amenities firsthand, and if possible, speak with other residents to gain a broader perspective before making any commitments. Documenting all communications and agreements is also a prudent step.

In conclusion, Sunshine Village in Lakeland, Florida, presents a complex picture for locals considering mobile home living. On the one hand, it is marketed as an all-ages, family community with a quiet atmosphere and generally good neighborly relations, offering common amenities like a basketball court, pool, clubhouse, and lake access for fishing. Its location on Reynolds Road in Lakeland also provides convenient access to local city amenities and the wider Central Florida attractions.

However, the significant concerns raised by multiple long-term residents are paramount and cannot be overlooked. These include "astronomical" and drastically increasing lot rent, punitive late fees, persistent issues with unkept grounds, and consistently locked or unavailable amenities like the pool and clubhouse. More seriously, residents report safety concerns, including "kids here are really bad and will try to steal and hurt you," and actual instances of package theft, which directly impacts the sense of security and well-being. The warning about buying property and a "buyer beware" message underscores the financial risks due to high lot rent and potential lack of support regarding property issues after purchase.

For Floridians seeking a mobile home in Lakeland, Sunshine Village might initially appear as an option due to its location and family-friendly designation. However, potential residents must proceed with extreme caution and conduct extensive due diligence. Verifying current lot rent figures, demanding clear explanations for fee structures, investigating security measures, and physically inspecting the operational status of all amenities are crucial steps. While the quiet nature of the residents is a positive, the collective issues surrounding affordability, maintenance, and safety indicate that Sunshine Village may present significant challenges for its inhabitants, and these factors should heavily influence any decision.

Sunshine Village

1234 Reynolds Rd, Lakeland, FL 33801, USA