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Small Parks (and Why I Love Them)  Economies of scale dominate real estate investment logic: Larger properties enable concentrated capital deployment and streamlined management. But this is common knowledge, making competition for big properties fierce. Meanwhile, smaller properties—often overlooked—offer unique advantages. Large institutional lenders may set minimum loan amounts...

I suppose if you do anything long enough you start to feel this way. In more than a decade as a mobile home park developer, investor, and manager, I have feelings about these properties that land on opposite ends of the love/hate spectrum. I’m grateful for these properties—they’ve allowed me to build and operate a successful business at Bridgeview Asset Management and enjoy a l...

The mobile home industry may not be known for tremendous innovation, but there exists a number of interesting housing and development options that were created, sometime unintentionally, by the mobile home and related industries.  One such innovation is the park model home; like anything, park models can be (and often are) misused, but they offer promising solutions for affordable housing, in...

A winning personality, prestigious education, big LinkedIn network and slick marketing all seem to be the driving factors when selecting an operator to back for a real estate investment. The truth, however, is that none of these things matter in the slightest. In fact, most quality operators who have a demonstrated success in the long term all share some other similar characteristics, and none of ...

Since mobile home park investing school isn’t a thing, the majority of us investors end up learning as we go and relying on the knowledge of established, experienced investors willing to share and educate the incoming generation. This group is typically older, has accumulated significant assets, and likes to adhere to a series of “rules” guiding their investment philosophies. T...

I know there's enormous appeal to collecting a distribution each month from an income property, so I understand if the title of this article seems counterintuitive, counterproductive, and maybe even like bad advice. But hear me out. Without a doubt, there is something satisfying about “mailbox money.” It’s a true passive income. However, when you really look at the underlying...

  The most “low-hanging fruit” of any potential real estate acquisition is the hope of increased revenue, and the easiest means to that end is simple: raise the rent. The mobile home park industry has appeal in this regard, especially since many novice operators and investors think that since tenants (usually) own their homes , they’ll be less likely to leave because o...

For-Profit Investing with Philanthropic goals   I have personally struggled with running a successful real estate company that specializes in affordable housing and manufactured housing parks. I can’t help but feel like I’m profiting off the backs of the most vulnerable tenants in America. I explored the nonprofit housing space in earnest at first, meeting with both public...

Lenders are an essential business partner in any real estate venture. They take many forms, such as banks, credit unions, or private entities, but it is important to understand that the lender's relationship with you, your business, and the property in question, is unique and must be managed carefully.  Have you heard this before?  “Lenders have to listen to every answer, but t...

The 7 Biggest Manufactured Home Park Investing Mistakes Investing in manufactured home parks can be a lucrative venture, offering steady cash flow and long-term returns. However, like any investment, it comes with its unique challenges and pitfalls. Whether you're a seasoned investor looking to diversify your portfolio or a newcomer exploring this asset class, understanding the common mistakes ma...