The first lesson Leo learned: He found a beautiful double-wide with a wrap-around porch, but the "lot rent"—the fee for the patch of dirt underneath the house—was higher than his current apartment’s rent. "You’re buying the house, but you're renting the lifestyle," the agent told him with a practiced shrug.

His journey started on a Tuesday with a checklist and a very modest savings account. He spent weeks touring parks that ranged from "immaculate retirement oasis" to "abandoned film set."

Traditional mortgages were out; he needed a "chattel loan" because the home was considered personal property, not real estate.

Three months later, Leo sat on his new steps. The house wasn't made of stone, but as he turned the key, it felt just as solid. He grabbed a brush and a tin of "Deep Forest Green"—the color he’d been dreaming of for years—and started on the door.