Mobile home park residents near Seattle struggle to win bidding wars against investors

Demand for mobile homes has surged in recent years as people struggle to find affordable housing. That’s also made mobile home parks attractive to investors, who are snapping them up and raising rents.

In Washington state, some mobile home residents are fighting back, offering to buy the land themselves.

But experts say few resident communities will win the bidding war without more help from the state.

Carnation Mobile Haven is a trailer park for seniors about 40 minutes east of Seattle. Linda Brown, 82, lives in one of the small homes there with her dachshund, Chavi.

“He sits here and gives me something to love and pet,” she says. “We love each other. That's what we do.”

Brown is concerned because the owner of this mobile home park, who she says has generously kept rents low here for many years, is selling to an investor for just over $1 million.

Financial experts say that investors will probably need to raise rents significantly to cover the purchase price. If that happens, Brown, who lives on a small social security check, will have to leave. It's called an "economic eviction."

“You know what I wish more than anything?” Brown says. “That I was 20 years younger and I could still work. Because when I could work, I had power — I had my own income. Yes, Chavi, I did. And I could take care of myself. My biggest fear is, I don't want my children to have to look after me. That's my biggest fear.”

As she answers questions, Chavi growls quietly.

"It's very hard for me,” Brown continues. “I get very anxious. I'm like the dog — anxious. "