Lake Murray Mobile Home Park La Mesa: A Buyer Guide

Lake Murray Mobile Home Park sits on Oakland Road in La Mesa, right next to the Lake Murray reservoir and the trail system that surrounds it. It’s a 94-space, all-ages, land-lease community with an unusual backstory: the site started as a chicken ranch in the late 1800s, became a nursery in the 1920s, ran as a campground through the 1940s, and turned into an RV park in 1952 after the surrounding valley was dammed to create the lake.

What it’s like to live there

Lake Murray is quieter and more low-key than many of East County’s larger, amenity-heavy parks, with roughly 94 total sites and a handful of apartment units mixed in. Residents get off-street parking, but the bigger draw is location: the reservoir sits right next door, with miles of trails for running, hiking, and cycling. Limited light pollution around the lake also makes it a decent spot for stargazing or catching a meteor shower, and wildlife sightings, including owls, ospreys, coyotes, and the occasional raccoon or skunk, are a regular part of life here.

Because the park dates back to 1940, it’s one of the older manufactured housing communities in this guide, and that history shows in the property’s more relaxed, established character compared to newer corporate-run parks.

The monthly cost picture

Space rent here isn’t officially published, so the only reliable number is the one park management gives you for your specific space. Get it in writing before you make an offer. Confirm the current figure directly with the park office before making an offer, since rent in land-lease communities typically increases over time. That number covers your lot only, not the home, so budget separately for a loan payment, utilities, and insurance. For a broader look at how space rent works across San Diego County, see our guide to mobile home space rent.

Who it fits and the age rules

Lake Murray Mobile Home Park is an all-ages community, so it works for families and retirees alike. It fits buyers who value being next to a reservoir and its trail network over having a long amenity list inside the park itself, and who don’t mind paying a bit more in space rent for that location. If you’re comparing this against other communities in the area, our La Mesa manufactured home guide covers more options nearby.

What a lender will and won’t finance here

At Lake Murray Mobile Home Park, the land stays with the park. Buyers often look at home-only loans for that setup. HUD’s Title I program can also finance a manufactured home as personal property, including a home placed on a leased lot, when current HUD, lender, park-lease, and borrower conditions are met. A real-property mortgage, including FHA Title II, typically needs owned land and a recorded foundation conversion, which this park does not provide. Ask each lender, in writing, which programs they will consider for the exact home and this park’s lease. Land & Home SD refers buyers to independent professionals; we do not approve loans or quote terms.

See our manufactured home financing guide and how to finance a manufactured home in California.

FAQs

How much is space rent at Lake Murray Mobile Home Park?

It isn’t officially published. Confirm the current figure for your specific space directly with park management. Confirm the current rate directly with the park office before you shop for a home.

Is Lake Murray Mobile Home Park age restricted?

No. It’s an all-ages community, open to residents of any age.

What’s nearby the park?

The Lake Murray reservoir and its surrounding trail system sit right next to the community, offering running, hiking, and cycling access without a long drive.

Can I get a regular mortgage on a home here?

A conventional or FHA Title II real-property mortgage is usually unavailable at Lake Murray Mobile Home Park because you would not own the land. Home-only loans are common. Title I personal-property financing can apply on a leased lot if the lender, HUD rules, and the park’s lease allow it. Get those answers in writing before you offer.