When a mobile home park sits lower than the city’s main sewer line, the only way to get the property’s sewage pushed upstream is with a “lift station”. Yet many mobile home park buyers don’t know what these are, how they work, and what the dangers are. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on this unique feature of many communities to understand the fine points to buying and operating a “lift station”.
Jan 16, 2023•11 min•Ep. 279
Webster’s defines “fair” as “impartial and just, without favoritism or discrimination”. And obviously, based on this definition, life in 2023 will not be “fair”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the unfair opportunities that are out there, how to take advantage of them, and why there’s nothing morally wrong in doing so.
Jan 03, 2023•11 min•Ep. 278
We all know the government enacted the HUD SEAL program back around 1976. But are you aware there's some other requirements that HUD placed on mobile homes that are important that you be aware of? This is Frank Rolfe with the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast. We're going to talk about snow loads, wind loads, and thermal zones.
Dec 29, 2022•11 min•Ep. 277
It’s pretty clear that we’re heading for a U.S. recession in 2023. So what will that do to the mobile home park industry, and what are the statistics from the 2000 and 2007 recessions to support these observations? That’s the goal of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast: to dissect what the 2023 recession may look like and what the impact might be.
Dec 19, 2022•11 min•Ep. 276
When you have two mobile home parks in the same basic market, you always wonder if you would be better off hiring one manager to supervise both or having two separate managers to do the job. The concept of “sharing” management is not restricted to just mobile home parks, as many other industries have tested and employed it. However, mobile home park manager “sharing” has its own unique issues to consider. That’s the topic of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.
Dec 12, 2022•14 min•Ep. 275
Mobile home park managers have an extremely difficult role. They are supposed to wear two hats: 1) the nice person and 2) the tough person. This is extremely confusing to residents and often fails to accomplish what you desire as the owner. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore why this is not a healthy situation for your property and offer tips on giving the manager a more clear role in the community.
Dec 05, 2022•12 min•Ep. 274
America is at a breaking point on crime. It’s rampant, the system is overwhelmed, and in many states the judicial system itself has become dysfunctional. In times like these it’s up to the community owner to help to make their property the safest it can be. Not through adding expensive security personnel, but instead by enacting common sense strategies and enhancements to the mobile home park that help to deter and report crime when it occurs. That’s the focus of this Mobile Home Park Mastery po...
Nov 28, 2022•13 min•Ep. 273
Interest rates have skyrocketed around 4 points in 2022 – the largest jump in 40 years. While interest rates typically run in cycles, what if they never return to earlier levels and these new rates are not a fad but the new norm? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going o discuss the ramifications of these higher rates and project the impact if they never go down again.
Nov 21, 2022•12 min•Ep. 272
Mortgage rates are now at 7.25% which is about double from where things stood in January. What impact does this shocking news story have on the mobile home park industry? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast we’re going to discuss the many byproducts of higher home mortgage rates – most of which are positive by nature and reflective of U.S. megatrends.
Nov 14, 2022•12 min•Ep. 271
For over a decade–from the moment that financial institutions popped up to finance new and usedmobile homes–older park-owned units were often relegated to the scrap heap. But the soaring price ofnew and slightly used homes has rekindled the notion ofbringing many of these formerly doomedhomes back to life. In this episode we’re going to discuss the building blocks to determining if an oldhome could or should be salvaged and tricks we’ve learned about doing it the correct way.
Nov 07, 2022•11 min•Ep. 270
A new study shows that mobile home values are up 34.6% since 2016 – nearly matching the 35.4% increase of single-family homes. You would think that would be good news for the 8% of Americans that live in mobile homes. But NPR is determined to show that even when park residents are big winners it’s all part of an evil plot by corporate owners. So we’re going to dissect their latest ridiculous article.
Oct 31, 2022•10 min•Ep. 269
Stress can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. Some of it is the normal condition that comes with taking risk and achieving success, but a huge portion is simply created by your own actions when better options are available. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to focus on what causes stress in the mobile home park business, how to manage it, and how to reduce it.
Oct 24, 2022•14 min•Ep. 268
Jerome Powell at the Fed has ushered in an era of interest rate instability that has not been experienced in over 40 years. This has created an environment in which traditional banking is not always the attractive solution to getting deals done. But what are the alternatives to sidestep traditional lending? That’s the focus of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.
Oct 18, 2022•12 min•Ep. 267
Being a successful park buyer requires discipline. You can’t let your desire to make a deal get in the way of the underlying premise of making money. So how can you guard against acquisitions that are the opposite of portfolio-builders? That’s the topic of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.
Oct 10, 2022•12 min•Ep. 266
In the search for income, many investors overlook the simple fact that there is no income until your capital is safely returned. When you seek the measure of an investment’s performance the only one that matters is the total return at the end, not simply a couple good years along the way. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review why mobile home parks are superior in their return levels because they virtually always start off with your capital back through superior investmen...
Oct 03, 2022•11 min•Ep. 265
While most mobile home park owners take comfort in letting someone else do the honors, there’s nothing wrong with being the market leader in lot rents. However, there is a process to taking that role and it comes with responsibilities and strategic thought. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the role of being market leader and how to do a good job of it.
Sep 26, 2022•11 min•Ep. 264
With apartments having reached a cyclical high and mobile home parks still running with plenty of value-building opportunity, many apartment owners are looking at buying mobile home parks. If you fit that profile, then the key initial question is “what are the big differences between the two?” In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the differences between these two housing investment options.
Sep 19, 2022•11 min•Ep. 263
Stanley Marcus – the founder of Neiman Marcus – once said “take your markdowns on people and merchandise as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, many mobile home park owners refuse to follow this advice and end up holding on to unsuccessful managers for months or years longer than they should. So why do they do this and how do you correct this behavior? That’s the focus of this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.
Sep 13, 2022•12 min•Ep. 262
The U.S. demand for affordable housing is huge, but you can’t rent or sell a mobile home unless it’s been renovated. Home readiness is, in fact, the number one problem for most park owners that have vacant units. But it’s perpetually harder to find those who will work on mobile homes as they seek better paying alternatives. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some fresh ideas that we’re implementing to find home renovation workers in a tough U.S. workplace.
Sep 07, 2022•11 min•Ep. 261
One of the best ways for any mobile home park owner to create a nicer community is the addition of amenities. These come in all price ranges, but there’s a surprisingly large number that are very inexpensive yet have huge bang for the buck. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore what these amenities are, what they cost, and why they are so effective.
Aug 29, 2022•15 min•Ep. 260
A ‘lie detector” is a device that gives you insight into whether a statement is true or false. So in this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to analyze some of the most common things we get told by sellers and brokers to see if they are telling the truth or simply trying to spin fiction into their own selfish motives.
Aug 22, 2022•12 min•Ep. 259
Creativity is defined as “the use of imagination or original ideas” – and that’s a great tool in forging some mobile home park deals. But there are limits on what you can do with creativity. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review what you can and cannot fix with your inner Picasso, and some tips on staying out of trouble with your custom creation.
Aug 15, 2022•13 min•Ep. 258
Life is all about making decisions. And if you can’t make good decisions quickly you’re going to miss out on a sea of opportunities as well as make those around you frustrated and lose confidence in your abilities. So how do you make fast and effective decisions? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some methodologies to help you make good choices in a reasonable time frame.
Aug 08, 2022•12 min•Ep. 257
Housing is getting more expensive. The old saying “you’re either growing and changing or your dead” is true for places we live, as well. And that’s OK. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss how housing is changing, how it displaces customers, how mobile home parks are not immune to this metamorphosis, and why that’s just a natural part of life.
Aug 01, 2022•10 min•Ep. 256
While most mobile home parks are purchased from long-standing mom and pop owners, sometimes parks come on the market that have only been owned by the sellers for a matter of months or a few years. And this can cause a level of concern with the buyer – and rightfully so. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to examine why the length of time the seller has owned the property can be a concern and how to mitigate those reservations.
Jul 25, 2022•10 min•Ep. 255
Mobile homes may all look similar to the average American, but to the successful park owner, there is a considerable difference between them – and it almost all revolves around age. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to examine what you can tell about a mobile home simply from its age and what the key attributes are to focus on when buying and renovating used mobile homes to fill lots or simply pass judgment on park-owned homes you already possess.
Jul 18, 2022•12 min•Ep. 254
In a society that has completely lost the concept of accountability, mobile home parks stand out as a perpetual experiment into the necessity of structure. Mobile home park owners have been using a “tough love” stance to keep their properties in good running order and to foster an environment in which the average resident stays in their home for around 15 years. But how do they accomplish this? That’s the focus of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, and it could not be more timely in an Ameri...
Jul 11, 2022•11 min•Ep. 253
One of the best methods to approach maximizing the performance of a mobile home park investment is to refinance it and do a “cash-out”, which means a return of some or all of your initial capital. But many people fail to grasp the science behind this alternative, and the thresholds required to make it a reality. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to facts from the myths regarding this financing trick.
Jun 27, 2022•11 min•Ep. 252
America is entering a terrible recession. But there is no benefit to giving in to the negative atmosphere. Instead, you should view every economic decline as an important opportunity and harness your positive energy to take advantage of the situation. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to look at case studies of how others have profited from recessions and why a positive attitude is one of your best tools to succeed.
Jun 21, 2022•11 min•Ep. 251
Mobile home park owners and residents need each other. There are strong bonds when a community owner does the right things, but the resident has to do their part, too. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to examine the relationship between park owners and customers and how to make it even better – even how to bring back from the brink the errant resident.
Jun 13, 2022•12 min•Ep. 250
