The executive director of Yampa Valley Housing Authority believes the residents of Milner Mobile Home Park are “well-situated to achieve their goal of community ownership.”

The 40 homeowners in the park are working toward making a purchase offer for the park to become a resident-owned community. Texas-based investor-owner MHS Parks announced July 24 its plan to put the community on the market for $8 million — more than double what the 10-acre park last sold for in 2021.

“YVHA continues to provide support on the financial side with analysis of their options and connecting them with lending resources,” said YVHA Executive Director Jason Peasley, although the Milner park is outside the housing authority’s boundaries. “We will be right by their side helping make that a reality.”

The Milner homeowners met again Thursday evening for a community barbecue and to continue to discuss how to purchase the park themselves to help control lot rental costs. The homeowners are working to create a Milner Park Community Co-op with voting homeowner members, five co-op board members and bylaws, according to Misty Carter, one of the residents who’s helping to organize efforts. The group is hoping to secure a pro bono lawyer with real estate experience.

Carter said the residents decided not to pursue working with Boulder-based Thistle Community Housing, which had been a contender to help the park.

“They were an all-or-nothing deal, which would have made the loan unaffordable for our community,” Carter noted. “We are a community with a very wide range of experience, and together we can accomplish a lot of what Thistle was going to charge us for.”

The housing authority has connected the homeowners with a philanthropic loan opportunity that could offer a zero interest rate, Carter said.

On Sept. 15, the homeowners organized a community support fundraiser called SOS, or Saving Our Steamboat One Neighborhood at a Time, with music and some 100 donated silent auction items. The fundraising is intended to support any legal costs and a down payment fund. Carter said the fundraiser was well supported by community donations and raised more than $11,000.

“The fundraiser went fantastic,” Carter said. “It helped lift the spirits of Milner. It was so nice to see how many people are supporting us and cheering us on. We had so many donations from local businesses. It was truly amazing how many people donated to our fundraiser. We are so thankful to have such wonderful people support us.”

Bart Kounovsky with the Commercial Property Group in Steamboat has some 20 years of real estate experience in the Yampa Valley and has completed six closings for mobile homes this year.

“Mobile home parks all over the country are being bought by large investors,” Kounovsky noted. “They turn around and raise the rent. They feel it’s a good investment.”

According to state regulations through Colorado’s Mobile Home Park Oversight Program, the park owner must consider in good faith an offer from the homeowners to purchase the park if submitted within 120 days.

“He does express an interest in wanting to sell to us instead of somebody else,” Carter said of the owner representative, who has not returned messages from the Steamboat Pilot & Today. “Our hopes are high in Milner.”

Carter said the 40 homeowners include retirees, construction workers, home cleaners, bookkeepers, a nurse, beekeeper and beverage truck driver, as well as school district employees, yoga instructors and ski resort employees.

The Milner homeowners are hoping to offer a lower price than $8 million to the investor before the Nov. 21 deadline. Individuals who may want to support the efforts can reach out to organizers via MilnerParkCommunity@gmail.com.