Before purchasing a home in a ROC, you must be approved by the cooperative’s membership committee.

Like any landlord, the co-op must abide by the Fair Housing Act and not discriminate against any race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. However, a co-op can reject applicants with criminal backgrounds or whose credit or income is insufficient.

Once you have a purchase and sales agreement on a home, you should immediately apply for membership through the co-op office by filling out a short form and agreeing to both a credit and criminal background check. The co-op is required to approve or deny membership within 14 days of accepting your complete application. Prior to closing on the sale of your home, the board of co-op will execute a “Consent” that is attached to the deed, indicating your approval for membership.

Co-op members who are active and engaged members of their communities have the best results selling their homes. Attractive, well-organized and well-managed communities with happy members generally attract more enthusiastic buyers. So the best thing you can do to help to sell your home is ensure that your community is a great place to live. Buyers sense and appreciate the enthusiasm people have for their communities.

A reputable local Realtor can be a great resource when you are selling your home. Ask your neighbors for referrals and try to find one who is familiar with your ROC and who has experience selling manufactured homes. A Realtor can help you determine the value of your home, advise you on market conditions and make suggestions for what you should or should not do to your home prior to listing it for sale.

Before hiring a Realtor, be sure you understand their relationship with you, commission schedule and specific plans to expose your home to as many potential buyers as possible. Real estate commissions are always negotiable, so interviewing more than one Realtor may serve you well.

Also, be sure your Realtor understands all of the financing options for your home, has membership application materials for your ROC in her or his office, and understands your ROC’s membership process.

Remember, people buy a lifestyle as much as they buy a home, so making sure your community has a reputation for being a great place to live will pay off when you sell your house.