Dillon Estates

Quorum Article - February 2005

Dillon Estates is a 150-lot senior manufactured home park. It is a gated community and occupies approximately thirty seven acres in an unincorporated area of Riverside County between Sky Valley and Desert Hot Springs. Developer Pack laid the park out in 1992. The land is owned by the members association and each member leases his land on a 99-year renewable lease. 

Most lots measures 55 x 80 feet and will accommodate a double wide mobile home. While single wides are not allowed, there are more than several triple wides placed on two lots. Lots are now selling for $40,000 plus. This is up from $9,000 per lot only three or four years ago. The project is almost sold out with full time residents outnumbering part timers by a ratio of about 60/40.

Homeowners enjoy a clubhouse of approximately 3,500 sq. ft. and a swimming pool and covered spa served by two of the natural hot springs that have made this area famous. The springs come from the community’s own hot mineral water well. A holding pond stores water for common area irrigation.

Local shopping is in Desert Hot Springs. However, while enjoying the light traffic that goes with being relatively remote, homeowners are within easy reach of Cathedral City, Palm Springs, and Palm Desert by way of Palm Drive and the I-10 freeway.

Dillon Estates homeowners really appreciate the low HOA dues. They are currently only $70.00 per month, including cable and the mineral spring hot water spa. However, increases are expected soon as the park fills up and more maintenance and possible professional management is required.

A 5-member Board of Directors is responsible for operating the HOA, which is self-managed but employs a full time maintenance man. Committee activity is currently light but the Board plans for greater committee involvement.

Says Bob Barrett, Past Board President, “This is a park that is in transition. Most of us are new to manufactured homes and common areas and HOAs. And getting used to rules and regulations, CC&Rs and the Davis-Sterling act can sometimes be a challenge. If it was not for CAI we would not have been able to keep up with all the new regulations and ramifications of a HOA.”

These and the other challenges that face all homeowner associations are causing the Board to consider the employment of a professional management company. Professionals currently assisting the Board are the law firm of Guralnick & Gilliland and Bruce Wilcocks CPA.