To ensure that prospective new Islander Residential Association (IRA) members understand who we are and what responsibilities come with IRA membership, it is important to become familiar with the following information.

The Islander Resident’s Association (IRA) is a resident-owned, cooperative corporation. 

Our corporation is a land cooperative, in which each member owns one-50th (1/50th) of the corporation, and has a lease associated with their membership (share). The lease gives each of the 50 shareholders the right to place or keep a manufactured or modular home on a specific lot in our mobile home park, which we call Islander Mobile Home Park. This park, almost 5 acres, is the major asset owned by our corporation.

We are an owner-occupied community, and new members are expected to make the Islander Mobile Home Park their primary residence.

IRA by-laws do not permit membership with the intention of using a park home as a rental.

The Islander Resident’s Association is managed by an elected board. Association members are expected to take an active participatory role in helping to make the community a success.

Participation can be in the form of service on committees, care for community gardens, or getting involved in other activities that help keep the park vibrant and a lovely place to live.

IRA members pay a monthly fee.

Currently, $700 a month, which covers the costs of our mortgage loan (HUD guaranteed, 3.05%, 35 year, $4.3 million total; our land was appraised at $5.6 million, as of June 2013), utilities (water, sewer, and garbage), property taxes on the land, insurance, accounting, and legal fees, administrative costs, and reserves. The monthly fee is set by the Board at the annual budget meeting and may change over time, depending on expenses.

Our resident manager takes care of many day-to-day tasks associated with the operations of our community. He is an excellent resource for questions about the park. He can be reached via email at IRAParkManager@gmail.com.

The Process of Joining our Community:

The process of becoming an IRA member includes identifying and negotiating to purchase an available membership (also called a share) and getting approval to become an IRA member. It is not possible to finalize the purchase of an IRA membership until the IRA membership approval process has been completed.

1. Review the Membership Transfer Policy.

This outlines the process and gives a timeline for each step. Other important documents, as well as copies of our community newsletters, are available there as well. Check with the park manager to make sure that you have all the necessary information and documents listed in the policy.

2. Negotiate to purchase a membership and sign a purchase and sale agreement. 

A Mobile Home Purchase and Sales Agreement is a contract between the park resident selling their membership and the buyer. The selling price includes both the membership and the home, if one exists on the lot, as well as a transfer fee, paid by the seller to IRA. IRA does not set prices for memberships or homes that are associated with lots. Each membership gives the right to lease a specific lot for the purpose of placing a manufactured home, which is to be used as a primary residence.

3. The seller must submit an intent-to-transfer form to the Park Manager.

If not already on file, documentation of all lot boundaries as agreed to by seller and all relevant neighbors, must be completed and submitted, as well. This means that, if it has not already been done and filed with the manager, the seller must secure signatures from each relevant neighbor stating that they agree to the location of stakes put in the ground marking each corner of the lot, with lines connecting each stake marking the sides of the lot, with pictures taken of these locations, which will form the basis of an internal survey when such a survey is commissioned.

4. Complete an IRA Membership application form and authorization form for a credit and background check.

Turn them in to the Park Manager via email at IRAParkManager@gmail.com.

5. Meet with a designated IRA representative(s). 

Familiarize yourself with IRA’s guidelines, policies, and rules in advance (available on the website), as this meeting is intended to answer remaining questions and to make sure you understand and intend to abide by, your responsibilities and obligations as an IRA member.

The sale of the membership may include an existing home. 

Transfer of the title to this home is a separate but simultaneous transaction and is done through the Dept of Licensing. You may retain this home or decide to demolish it (after obtaining a permit from the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) to do so) or remove it and bring in a different manufactured or modular home.

Any home brought into the park must be a manufactured or modular home according to HUD definitions, must be built off-site, and must bear a Washington State Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) sticker. If the lot is vacant, you must install a home, which must serve as your primary residence. Review L& I guidelines (see the link on our website) if you intend to remodel the existing home.

For Prospective Buyers

Islander Residence Association is a cooperative that owns the land. Each member owns one share of this co-op. There are a total of 50 shares.

Each member owns their own house which sits on a lot designated by IRA and is assigned with the membership. 

Prospective buyers will deal with the individual owners/agents to purchase the membership and home.

IRA requires a credit/criminal check for the buyer. And that buyer will be interviewed by representatives of the Board of Directors. The board must approve the prospective buyer before any purchase can be completed.

Buyers will sign an IRA membership and lease agreement which is recorded at the county.
The current monthly lease fee is $700. This fee includes water, garbage and high-speed internet connection. They will also receive a certificate of membership representing one share of our co-op. 

There are rules and regulations for our community. They are for general conduct as well as special requirements such as bringing in new homes, changing existing designs, number of pets allowed, etc. All are on our website. 

We do not allow any short-term rentals. Some long-term rentals are allowed and requirements for those rentals are specified in our rules. In all cases, Board approval must be obtained. 

We are a cooperative and as such we ask all our members to join in contributing to the well-being of our land ownership and the health of our community. Our Board is a volunteer board and our members volunteer their time and effort for various activities. This is the nature of our association.

In order to bring in a new manufactured or modular home, you will need to submit a site plan for approval by the Board. 

After confirming that the home has L&I approval and sticker. You also need to submit a site plan application to the City of Bainbridge Island (COBI).

You may also need to get building permits from COBI for certain structures like decks, porches, carports, and sheds.

Some of the shares in the park are owned by COBI. 

Prospective buyers will negotiate with COBI, as the seller, to purchase the available share (i.e., membership in IRA). However, the homes on the city shares are owned as personal property by the residents and must be purchased in a separate but simultaneous transaction by a transfer of title.

The price of the home must be negotiated with the resident. In this case only, the price of the membership is separate from the price of the home and may need to be negotiated separately.

If the COBI membership you wish to purchase is associated with a cleared lot with no home on it, you are purchasing only a share in IRA. 

See above for details on bringing in a new home.

As you can tell from walking through our Islander Mobile Home Park, this is a wonderful place to live — just steps away from stores, restaurants, theaters, and government organizations. We welcome you to apply to join IRA and our community and make our park your home.