Housing is a mess right now. If you've spent any time looking for a place to live in Asheville, North Carolina, you know that the prices are basically a joke. People are getting squeezed out of every corner of the city. Because of that, folks are looking at alternative options they might not have considered five years ago. This brings us to Kensington Place. Located right on the edge of Asheville in the Enka-Candler area, Kensington Place isn't just a "trailer park." It’s a manufactured home community that has become a vital landing spot for people who want to stay in Western North Carolina without spending 70% of their paycheck on a cramped studio apartment downtown.
It's located off Sand Hill Road. Most people drive right past it without a second thought. But for those living there, it represents a specific kind of suburban stability that is becoming increasingly rare in Buncombe County.
The Reality of Living at Kensington Place
Let's be honest. There is a stigma attached to mobile home parks. It’s silly, but it’s there. However, if you actually drive through Kensington Place, you’ll notice it feels a lot more like a standard subdivision than a scene from a movie. The streets are paved. There are speed bumps because, yeah, people actually care about kids playing outside. You see a lot of double-wide units that, from the street, look exactly like a ranch-style stick-built home.
The community is managed by RHP Properties. They are one of the largest owners of manufactured home communities in the United States. This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it means the management is professional. You aren't dealing with a "mom and pop" landlord who might forget to fix a water main for three weeks. On the other hand, corporate management means things are strictly by the book. There are rules about what you can keep on your porch and how long your grass can get. Some people hate the "HOA-lite" feel, while others appreciate that their neighbor can't leave three rusted-out Chevys on the front lawn.
Kensington Place is big. It’s one of the larger footprints in the Candler area. Because of its size, you get a real mix of people. You have retirees who have lived there since the 90s. They know every car that comes in and out. Then you have young families. These are people who work in Asheville—maybe at Mission Hospital or one of the breweries—but realize they can get three bedrooms and two bathrooms in Kensington for the price of a one-bedroom rental in West Asheville.
Why the Location Actually Works
Location is everything. If you live in Kensington Place, you are roughly 15 to 20 minutes from the heart of Asheville. You're close to the Enka Village area, which has seen a ton of development lately. There’s the A-B Tech Enka campus right down the road. You’ve got easy access to I-40 and I-26.
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But it’s the proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway that really matters to the people living here. You can be on the Parkway in ten minutes. For a lot of residents, that’s the trade-off. You live in a manufactured home community, sure, but your "backyard" is some of the best hiking and views in the entire country.
The schools are a major draw too. Kensington Place sits in the Enka school district. Enka High and Enka Middle have deep roots in the community. It’s a "Friday Night Lights" kind of area. If you have kids, being in a stable school district while paying a lower "mortgage" or lot rent is a massive win. It’s about the long game.
Understanding the Cost Structure
You have to understand how the money works here. It's different from buying a traditional house. In most cases at Kensington Place, you own the home, but you lease the land. This is the "lot rent."
Lot rent covers things like:
- Trash removal.
- Maintenance of common areas and roads.
- Use of community amenities (like the playground).
- Professional on-site management.
This structure is what trips people up. You might find a used double-wide for a great price, but you have to factor in that monthly lot fee. In the Asheville market, even with lot rent, the total monthly carry is often hundreds of dollars cheaper than a traditional mortgage on a $450,000 "starter" home. That’s the math that keeps Kensington Place full.
The Challenges of Manufactured Housing in Buncombe County
It isn't all sunshine and mountain views. Living in a park like Kensington Place comes with specific challenges that residents of traditional neighborhoods don't face. Financing is the big one. Most banks won't give you a standard 30-year fixed mortgage for a manufactured home unless it’s on land you also own. At Kensington, since the land is leased, you’re often looking at "chattel loans."
These loans usually have higher interest rates. It’s a quirk of the American financial system that penalizes lower-cost housing. It feels backward, right? Also, homes in these communities don't always appreciate at the same meteoric rate as a bungalow in Kenilworth. You’re buying a place to live, not necessarily a speculative investment.
Then there’s the infrastructure. When you have a massive community like this, things like water pressure or internet speeds can be hit or miss depending on which "phase" of the park you live in. RHP Properties has done upgrades, but you're still dealing with a high-density environment.
What to Check Before You Move In
If you are looking at a listing in Kensington Place, don't just look at the interior photos of the kitchen. You need to do some actual boots-on-the-ground research.
First, check the age of the unit. Homes built after 1976 have to meet HUD codes, which is the bare minimum. But homes built in the last 10-15 years are vastly superior in terms of insulation and energy efficiency. Asheville winters aren't brutal, but they aren't tropical either. A poorly insulated mobile home will eat you alive in heating costs during January.
Second, talk to the neighbors. Seriously. Walk the dog. If people seem grumpy or the yards are trashed, that’s your answer. In Kensington, you’ll find that most sections are actually very quiet. Most people are just trying to get to work, raise their kids, and enjoy the mountains.
Third, read the lease agreement for the lot. You need to know exactly how much they can raise the rent each year. Corporate owners are known for steady increases. You don't want to be surprised three years down the road when your "affordable" housing starts creeping up toward market-rate apartment prices.
The Future of Communities Like This
As Asheville continues to grow, places like Kensington Place become more valuable, not less. Developers are constantly looking for land to build luxury condos. So far, Kensington has remained a stable fixture of the Enka-Candler landscape. It provides a necessary tier of housing that the city is desperately lacking.
There’s a sense of "old Candler" here. It’s a bit more rugged, a bit more practical. People aren't moving here to be "seen" at the latest organic juice bar. They are moving here because it’s a smart financial move that keeps them close to the mountains they love.
Actionable Steps for Prospective Residents
If you’re seriously considering a move into Kensington Place, start with these specific actions to ensure you aren't walking into a headache:
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- Verify the HUD Plate: Ensure any home you buy has the red HUD certification label. Without it, financing and insurance are nearly impossible.
- Inspect the Skirting and Tie-downs: In Western North Carolina, moisture is the enemy. Make sure the skirting is intact to keep critters out and that the home is properly anchored for wind safety.
- Contact the Management Office Directly: Before buying a home from a private seller, go to the office. Make sure you can actually pass the background check and be approved for the lot lease. Nothing is worse than buying a home and then finding out you aren't allowed to live on the land it sits on.
- Check Utility History: Ask the seller for the last six months of Duke Energy bills. Manufactured homes can vary wildly in efficiency; you want to know if you're looking at a $100 bill or a $300 bill in the winter.
- Evaluate the Resale Potential: Look at what similar units in the park have sold for over the last 24 months. Use sites like Zillow or local real estate data to ensure you aren't overpaying during a market peak.
Living in Kensington Place is about finding a balance. It’s about choosing a lifestyle that prioritizes financial breathing room and proximity to nature over the prestige of a traditional zip code. For hundreds of Asheville residents, it’s not just a stopgap—it’s home.