Mobile Home Park Mastery

Why Invest In Mobile Home Parks.

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 22:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Frank Rolfe discusses the reasons why people invest in mobile home parks.

The History Of Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 22:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Frank Rolfe discusses the surprising history of the mobile home park, and its impact on current investments.

The Mathematics Of Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 22:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Frank Rolfe discusses the critical numbers you need to hit when investing in mobile home parks in order to get maximum return on your investment.

Consolidation

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 22:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Frank Rolfe discusses why consolidation of mobile home parks is a good thing for the industry and the consumer.

The Future Of Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 22:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Frank Rolfe discusses the future of mobile home design and how it could impact the demographics and reputation of mobile home parks.

The Government's Role in the Future of Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 22:00:00 -0600

One of the big news stories in the mobile home park business today is the renewed interest and support from the U.S. Government. After nearly a half-century of absence, American elected officials are putting pressure on Federal agencies to help with the affordable home crisis in general, and the mobile home park industry in particularly. With proactive products such as new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan programs for parks, a new Section 8 voucher program, and even tax incentives for those who do not re-develop their mobile home park into a different use, Uncle Sam is becoming a fast friend of the industry. And there’s more to come under the new Federal directive called “Duty to Serve”.

The Current State of the Product.

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 22:00:00 -0600

We’ve talked about the past and the future – so let’s focus on where things stand today. On this podcast, we’re going to go over the stats on where the industry sits at this very moment. And we’re doing this in a three part series reviewing the product, the economics, and the investment environment we are currently in. While history is important – and the future is exciting – it’s the here and now that determines our current returns as mobile home park investors.

Where The Investment Types Stand Today

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 01 Oct 2017 22:00:00 -0600

In the second of our three part series, we’re going to discuss the current state of mobile home park economics – including cap rates, cash-on-cash returns, the importance of spread and other topics. Think mobile home parks offer higher yields that other real estate sectors? How high? We’ll examine that and other important issues on this podcast.

The Current Investment Climate

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 22:00:00 -0600

We’ve gone over the state of the mobile home park product, as well as what to expect mobile home park investing to look like on paper. In this final issue of our three-part series, we’re going to discuss the mobile home park investment climate today – from the views of city and federal government, to those of lenders, Wall Street and the media. It’s an important glimpse into who the friends of the industry are – and who are not.

Three Action Points On Finding A Mobile Home Park To Buy

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 22:00:00 -0600

Finding the correct mobile home park to acquire … it’s one of the most important steps in mobile home park investing. In this week’s Mobile Home Mastery series, we’re going to review the top three action steps in finding a park that meets your investment criteria. You’ll hear what these three steps are, and stories of how they became a part of our personal action plan that has amassed over 300 properties. This is the first in a five-part series on the three action points to finding, negotiating, performing due diligence on, turning-around and operating mobile home parks. These are very specific concepts derived from over twenty years of labor in building the 5th largest portfolio of mobile home parks in the U.S. If you want to hear the facts – and not the fiction – about mobile home park investing, then Mobile Home Mastery is your one-stop source.

Three Action Steps To Better Negotiating Skills

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:00:00 -0600

Getting the right price on a mobile home park normally includes some degree of proficiency in the skill called “negotiating”. Webster’s defines “negotiating” as “to obtain or bring about by discussion”. So how do you conduct this “discussion” properly and work with the seller to strike the price that is fair and within your boundaries of making a successful investment? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to examine three important action steps to negotiating like a pro.

Why Ben Franklin Was Right -- Three Action Steps To Better Due Diligence

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 29 Oct 2017 22:00:00 -0600

Benjamin Franklin is well known for his wisdom. And he nailed the importance of due diligence on mobile home parks when he said “diligence is the mother of good luck”. Indeed, due diligence is the key step to ensuring that the mobile home park you are buying will perform as anticipated, and be devoid of terrible physical and operational problems. We’re going to examine three important action steps to performing great due diligence on a property on this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast. If you like to only invest in successful properties, then this podcast is for you.

Three Action Steps To A Successful Park Turn-Around

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 22:00:00 -0700

Having turned around over 300 mobile home parks over the past two decades, Frank Rolfe has distilled the plan down to simple action items. Hear three of these important action steps in this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series. Find out how you can get the park off on the right foot, and break the old owner’s cycle of poor management, quickly and easily. There’s really no reason you can’t fix even the most screwed up mobile home park in a relatively short period of time if you the right things – and in the right sequence. And that’s what we’re going to discuss on this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.

Three Action Steps To Correctly Operate Your Mobile Home Park

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 22:00:00 -0700

Most people think that operating mobile home parks must be difficult and complicated. What they don’t know is that successful mobile home park operations are built around simple management systems. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to discuss three of these systems and review the impact these action steps would have on your mobile home park. If you can drive a car – and watch and react to the what the gauges tell you – then you can operate a mobile home park like a pro.

Three Action Steps In Selling A Mobile Home Park

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 22:00:00 -0700

With the Christmas season around the corner (which accounts for 30% of annual retail sales), we thought we would devote this edition of our Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series to fine-tuning sales – the sales of mobile home parks. We’re going to go over three action steps to maximizing the value and speed in which you can find a buyer, as well as the importance of timing in each step. You can’t buy a mobile home park without wondering how to sell it down the road, and that’s what this podcast is all about.

Good Deals

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 22:00:00 -0700

The goal of every mobile home park investor is to buy good deals that offer low risk and high rates of return. But how do you do that? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to discuss the basic drivers to profitability in mobile home park purchases, along with an example of each one that illustrates the point. You’ll find that success is extremely predictable, and you can tell what will work (and what won’t work) during your due diligence period, based on normal industry metrics. This is the first of a three-part series called “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly mobile home park deals”.

Bad Deals

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 03 Dec 2017 22:00:00 -0700

As the second in a three-part series on “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, in this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcase series, were going to discuss bad deals – where they come from and how you can mitigate the issues that jeopardize your investment dollars. We’re going to review three deals that we have done that didn’t work out well, and review what went wrong and what we should have done differently. But these are still not the worst deals. That’s reserved for next week’s podcast on “ugly’ deals.

Ugly Deals

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 22:00:00 -0700

We’re not talking your average run-of-the-mill ugly deals here, but more like “what the heck were you even thinking” ugly deals. Fortunately, these are not deals that we did, but deals we know of first-hand that make you wonder exactly what the buyer was thinking – or if they were at all. If you think that a bad deal would be one that you took a loss on, try these deals out, where the owner lost everything and then some (including their self-respect). You’ll quickly see the moral to the story. This completes our three-part series on the Good the Bad and the Ugly mobile home park deals.

Understanding the History of Mobile Homes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 22:00:00 -0700

Flat, round and pitched. Mobile homes have evolved over the decades, with each variation having its own benefits and disadvantages. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to explore what the history of mobile homes really means regarding what type of used homes you should buy for your community. You will learn 20+ years of experience on this subject in about 15 minutes. This is the first part of a 5-part series on mobile homes and their use in mobile home parks.

Buying Used Mobile Homes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 22:00:00 -0700

In this second part of a five-part series, we’re going to review the insider secrets to properly buying a used mobile home for your mobile home park. With so many homes to choose from, it’s vital that you don’t make any rookie errors – and there are some that you would never guess. Frank’s bought literally thousands of mobile homes over the past two decades – both new and used – and he wanted to highlight some important points to save you thousands of dollars.

Renovating Mobile Homes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 22:00:00 -0700

If you like watching those HGTV shows like Flip or Flop, then you may think you have a rough idea of how hoe remodeling works. But that’s not in any way representative of mobile home renovations. In this third part of a five-part series, Frank is going to discuss some insider secrets in mobile home renovations, that can save you significant money and keep you on the cutting edge of clever ideas that park owners have learned from trial and error. This is the third in our five-part series on mobile homes, and you’ll find each one of great benefit.

Selling or Renting Mobile Homes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 22:00:00 -0700

It’s one thing to buy and renovate a mobile home, but that’s of no value if you can’t properly rent or sell it. As the 5th largest owner of mobile home parks in the U.S., Frank is going to discuss his lessons learned from the sale or rental of thousands of homes across 30 states. You’ll learn what the 9/3/1 template is, and other valuable insider secrets that can help you to get your homes out the door and help solve the affordable housing crisis one home at a time. This is the fourth in our five-part series on mobile homes.

The Ultimate Program For Financing Mobile Homes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 22:00:00 -0700

As the final installment in our series on insider secrets in mobile homes, we’re going to interview Ryan Howerton of 21st Mortgage regarding the CASH program – the only way to fill vacant lots in your mobile home park with zero dollars out of pocket. It’s also a way to finance used homes in your park. Since you can create $20,000 to $60,000 in value by filling just one vacant lot in your community, the CASH program can be a huge engine to create profits. Learn about this exciting program for increasing occupancy and maximizing net income in this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery’s podcast.

Mom & Pop Houses Inside Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Sometimes mobile home parks come with more than just land or mobile homes. So how do you value and work around these additional assets? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re starting a five-part series on the insider secrets to all those assets that mom & pop often convey with the park purchase, including homes, apartments, self-storage, commercial buildings and raw land. If you ever wondered what to do with the miscellaneous items that come with a mobile home park sometimes, this podcast series is for you.

Apartments Inside Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 22:00:00 -0700

While mobile home parks frequently compete with apartments for customers, what do you do when your arch-enemy is located inside a mobile home park? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to talk about the insider secrets of operating mom & pop’s old apartment complex inside your mobile home park boundary. Back in the day, early mobile home park pioneers would often build an apartment building at the front for either their family’s use or as an extra income source. Today, the challenges – and opportunities – are different. Enjoy this second installment in a five-part series.

Operating Self-Storage And Commercial Buildings In Your Park

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 22:00:00 -0700

The self-storage industry has been a part of mainstream real estate for about three decades, but it takes on a completely different dimension (and playbook) when it’s located inside a mobile home park. And commercial buildings are a lot harder to make money with when they have a “trailer park” address. In this third part of a five-part series on additional assets that often come with mobile home park purchases, we’re going to talk about how to correctly operate storage units and commercial structures inside mobile home parks.

Secrets On Economic Opportunity With Clubhouses And Laundry Buildings

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Back in the 1950s to 1970s, moms & pops often built clubhouses and laundry buildings as needed service facilities for residents who lived in 8’ to 12’ wide trailers with little room on the inside and no washer and dryer connections. However, more modern homes don’t require these amenities, and today these buildings often sit vacant or under-utilized. In this fourth installment of a five-part series, we’re going to discuss the insider secrets on how to make the best of these structures.

Dealing With Raw Land That Often Comes With A Park Acquisition

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Mark Twain once said “buy land, they’re not making it anymore”. But land is not always what it’s rumored to be, as far as an investment – particularly when it’s attached to a mobile home park. In our final installment of our five-part series, we’re going to talk about the insider secrets to the options with raw land that sometimes comes with a mobile home park acquisition.

Lessons Learned From Our Residents: Why They Live In Mobile Homes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 25 Feb 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Why do people live in mobile homes parks? In this first part of our 5-part series on Lessons Learned from our Residents, we’re going to discuss the reasons that 8% of Americans choose to live in mobile homes, and what the key drivers are for them in making that selection. We have roughly 90,000 residents living in our properties -- and we’ve been renting lots and selling homes for over two decades – so this is a topic that we are intensely interested in. Hear what we’ve learned about why customers choose mobile home parks to live in, based on our past experiences

How Residents Choose Which Park To Live In

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 22:00:00 -0700

What makes one mobile home park more occupied than another? What qualities do you need to instill in your own park to make it more desirable? In this episode of our five-part series titled “Lessons Learned from our Residents” we’re going to examine exactly what the hot-buttons are for the consumer in selecting the right mobile home park to live in. Even though the level of competition in mobile home parks is relatively low, it’s essential that you make any property as desirable as possible, and stay away from those that lack the basic raw material to be “in demand”

Residents’ Mobile Home Selection Criteria

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 22:00:00 -0600

The conduit to lot rent is an occupied home. So what makes the consumer choose one mobile home over another? What can you do to make your mobile homes more desirable? In this episode of our five-part series titled “Lessons Learned From Our Customers”, we’re going to examine what the key components are in the buying and renting decision of mobile home consumers. We’ll discuss not only what these hot-buttons are, but even the ranking of priority. If you have vacant homes – or will have in the future – this should give you some great ideas on what’s essential and what’s not.

Hopes And Dreams Of Our Residents

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 22:00:00 -0600

How well do you really know your customers? In this episode of our five-part series on “Lessons Learned From Our Residents”, we’re going to explore the deepest thoughts and goals of our resident base, and discuss how to provide the basic quality of life options that make residents stay for a life time. You will find that the desire for a nice place to live is universal, and the most important thing that any park owner can do is to create a wonderful community that has high levels of customer retention.

Regional Differences In Our Resident Base

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 22:00:00 -0600

If you want the smallest rate of delinquency, which states would you buy in? What about what areas have the most litigious residents? In this final installment of our five-part series on “Lessons Learned From Our Residents”, we’re going to review the unique attributes of our customers on a macro scale, both regionally and by state. It’s an interesting narrative on how large and diverse America is, and how mobile home parks throughout the U.S. have different challenges and opportunities based on where they are located.

The Legal Side To Mobile Home Park Ownership

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 22:00:00 -0600

You’ve heard of the popular 1960’s television legal drama “Ironsides”? Well, in this case it’s “Ironsides” meets “metal sides” – the legal side to mobile home park ownership. It’s the first of a five-part series in which we discuss what every park owner needs to know about the law. We’re not lawyers, and we’re not dispensing legal advice. We’re just reviewing the things we’ve learned from 20+ years of park ownership and how that relates to issues that pop up from time to time. If you worry about staying out of harm’s way (and who doesn’t) then you’ll appreciate this discussion.

Did the Safe Act Make Mobile Home Park Residents Safer – Or Just Remove Their Options?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 22:00:00 -0600

In this second of a five-part series on the legal side of park ownership, we’re going to discuss the SAFE Act and Dodd-Frank, two pieces of legislation that single-handedly deprived thousands of people the America Dream of homeownership. Learn the history of these laws, how they have altered the manner in which park owners can provide housing to customers, their potential repeal, and why it’s probably too late to really make much of an impact without a significant governmental push. If you own a mobile home park, it’s mandatory that you understand these regulations and learn how to navigate them.

All About Evictions

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 15 Apr 2018 22:00:00 -0600

In this third installment of our five-part series on the “Legal Side of Park Ownership”, we’re going to examine the entire evictions process – from A to Z. And we’ll include some insider secrets we’ve learned along the way to save you money and make the process go smoother. We’re also going to give you our ideas on the moral aspects of evicting and why you should not be judgmental but simply accept the fact that sometimes bad things happen to good people and the act of evicting a resident is a lose/lose. With over 70% of U.S. households lacking even $1,000 in savings, this is a big issue even beyond the affordable housing sphere.

Some Tips On Writing Contracts

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 22 Apr 2018 22:00:00 -0600

The starting point for buying a mobile home park is the contract. But what are some of the essential items in this all-important document? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast, we’re going to discuss some of the key components to writing a successful contract, and some strategic suggestions to make the contract more effective. Since the contract is your primary tool in acquiring mobile home parks, it’s worth your time to fully understand the techniques to give yourself an edge.

Tips On Creating Seller Notes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 22:00:00 -0600

In this final segment of our five-part series on the Legal Side of Park Ownership, we’re going to discuss some important tips on creating seller financed notes. Since one of the most attractive components to buying mobile home parks is the frequent availability of owner financing, this is a very important topic that we receive frequent questions on. Seller financing is what got us in the business to begin with, and it’s still a very important tool. But to do it successfully, there are some basic insider secrets that you need to know. We’re going to review these items and wrap up our five-part series with a discussion of what you need to know about seller notes and how to construct them

Tough Turnarounds

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 06 May 2018 22:00:00 -0600

One of the most lucrative ways to get into the mobile home park industry is to buy a property that is “broken” and “fix” it. This concept has long been called a “turnaround” because what you’re effectively doing is taking something that is not performing properly and bringing it back to life. So how does that concept work in real life? In this first part of a five-part series on “Tough Turnarounds” we’re going to take give different parks we’ve bought and fixed over the years, and lay out the game plan from start to finish and what happened along the way. If you’ve ever driven by a rundown trailer park and thought “I bet I could fix that place” then this podcase series is right up your alley.

A Tough Turnaround In Oklahoma City

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 13 May 2018 22:00:00 -0600

People living in school busses is charming on the Partridge Family, but not so much in real life, In this second in our five-part series on Tough Turnarounds, we’re going to review a park that had a half-century of decline and the battle to bring it back to life. You’ll learn what makes a mobile home park worthy of such an effort, and the exact steps that were taken to make this park a nice place to live again.

A Tough Turnaround With A Chase Scene

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 20 May 2018 22:00:00 -0600

In this third installment in our five-part series on “Tough Turnarounds”, we’re going to discuss Hidden Hollow – a mobile home park that didn’t even have a rent roll or a financial statement. This turnaround came with the added twist of Frank being chased down the street by a 300 pound man in a diaper. Learn the techniques that can allow you to take a piece of land with some old, rusted flat-roof trailers and no law and order (or dress code apparently) and make it into a tame, income-producing asset.

“This Must Be A Hollywood Set”

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 27 May 2018 22:00:00 -0600

In this fourth installment of our five-part series on Tough Turnarounds, we’re going to examine a property in Illinois that looked like Berlin after the war – just a giant pile of rubble with a mobile home park underneath. But beneath that rough Hollywood set of destruction was a fairly nice asset that had, at one time, been a luxury community. Learn how we bought this mobile home park back to life despite drug dealers, trash, dead trees, burned homes, and a general lack of pride that was determined to drag it down.

The Toughest Turnaround Of All

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 22:00:00 -0600

In this final installment of our series on Tough Turnarounds we’re going to examine the story of a mobile home park that required not only a complete renovation of all common areas, but also the renovation and sale of over 200 park-owned homes. It’s tough enough bringing a mobile home park back to life, let alone all of the homes inside of it. But we learned some important lessons from this unusually difficult project and successfully finished within 36 months. Hear how we did it in this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast.

Easy Turnarounds

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 22:00:00 -0600

We’ve talked about tough turn-arounds, so now it’s time to turn our attention to a different type of mobile home park experience: the simple ones. Just as there are factors that make a mobile home park tough to convert into an economic engine that produces predictable, sustainable cash flows, there are basically five different turn-around methods that require minimum effort to create significant profit. In this first of a five-part series, we’re going to discuss a simple method to enhance the cash-flow and value of a mobile home park. Why it works and how to do it effectively. With just this one podcast, you’ll see why we got hooked on mobile home park investing, and it will forever change your thoughts on “trailer parks” as an economic engine.

More Easy Turnarounds

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 17 Jun 2018 22:00:00 -0600

Firing people is never fun – but it can certainly be profitable! In this second of a five-“part series on Easy Mobile Home Park Turnarounds”, we’re going to examine the role of cost-cutting in turning around mobile home parks, with a specific focus on personnel and utility issues. You’re also going to hear the story of a park we own in Illinois that went from losing around $40,000 per year to a positive $270,000 in one year, mostly as a result of cost cutting. Benjamin Franklin once said “a penny saved is a penny earned” and must have been talking about trailer parks.

Taking Control Of Water & Sewer Expense

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 22:00:00 -0600

Water is a precious commodity in America today – it’s literally liquid gold. And water and sewer expense is the #1 largest line item in most mobile home park profit & loss statements. The great part is that it’s a turn-around plan that is 100% within your control and has no reliance on residents or market forces. But how do you do it? In this installment of our five-part series on “Easy Turn-Arounds” we’re going to analyze the methodology from A to Z on saving huge amounts on water & sewer costs and fostering conservation along the way.

Easy Turnarounds That Are Just Improperly Priced

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 22:00:00 -0600

Can you buy a dollar for 50 cents? In some mobile home parks the answer is “yes”. Poor pricing practices by mom & pop owners are legendary. In this fourth episode in our five-part series on Easy Turn-Arounds, we’re going to give real-life examples of parks that were priced way too low, as well as how to find them and negotiate them. We’re also going to review another component to these deals, and that’s often insanely great seller financing terms. So if you want to hear how to avoid heavy lifting altogether, then tune into this week’s installment.

The Easiest Turnaround Model Of All

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 08 Jul 2018 22:00:00 -0600

What’s the easiest mobile home park turn-around strategy? Not turning one around at all. In this final installment in our five-part series on “Easy Turn-Arounds” we’re going to examine we’re going to talk about the simple model of “flipping” mobile home parks – essentially buying them at a low price and re-selling them immediately thereafter or tying them up under contract and selling an assignment of the contract. Learn the theory and reality of profiting from mobile home parks without even picking up a piece of litter.

The Top Five Tools of Mobile Home Park Owners

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 15 Jul 2018 22:00:00 -0600

You can’t really get the tough jobs done without the right tools. In this first part of a five-part series, we’re going to investigate what the top five tools of mobile home park owners are. What they do and where they get them. And we’re starting out the series with the GQ edition – all about what you wear, what you drive, your company name and website. In a nutshell, your image. We all form that important first impression everywhere we go, and smart park owners know exactly how they want to appear to the outside world; from park residents to bankers.

Surveillance Tools

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 22:00:00 -0600

How do you make sure that your manager is doing a good job when you’re not around? With today’s high-tech world, there are some great options. In this second part of our five-part series on the “Top Five Tools of Mobile Home Park Owners”, we’re going to discuss the key tools to keeping your park and manager under constant surveillance to make sure that the business is running properly in the field. You’ll be amazed at how well you can stay on top of a property from hundreds and thousands of miles away – and at very low cost.

Virtual Assistants Can Yield A Real Benefit To Park Owners

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 22:00:00 -0600

The book “4-Hour Work Week” introduced America to the concept of “virtual assistants” – people who will do tasks for you from afar using the internet and at a cost far lower than full-time employees. In this third installment of our five-part series on “The Top Five Tools of Mobile Home Park Owners” we’re going to discuss the websites and resources that allow you to take full advantage of farming out many of your tasks for extremely low prices, and with protection from the complicated and litigious labor laws that plague employers today.

Using Software To Better Manage Your Property

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 22:00:00 -0600

Which software should you use to manage your mobile home park. Or do you need software at all? We’re going to discuss this topic in the fourth installment of our five-part series on “The Top Five Tools of Mobile Home Park Owners”. We’ll identify the different software options and review their costs, benefits and weaknesses. It’s probably time to trade in your abacus for the new power of good software.

The Power Of The Brain

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 22:00:00 -0600

We’ve saved the most important for the last. In our final episode of our five-part series on “The Top Five Tools of Mobile Home Park Owners” we’re going to discuss the power of the human mind to make you a successful investor and operator in this asset class. If you think that Sudoku is the only way to keep your brain active and sharp, then try mobile home parks – it can be much more challenging and a whole lot more rewarding.

Resident Tough Love

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 19 Aug 2018 22:00:00 -0600

Sometimes residents don’t appreciate what the landlord is doing for them. There’s a thing called “tough love” and it happens in mobile home parks every day. In this first part of a three-part series on Mobile Home Park Morality, we’re going to discuss the many things that park owners do that benefit the resident – and that nobody appreciates. Park owners are constantly helping their customers to live successful lives, yet those initiatives are frequently misunderstood.

Putting An End To Waste

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 22:00:00 -0600

There’s a huge amount of waste that goes on in some mobile home parks. The moral thing for park owners to do is to end this destruction of precious resources. In this second of our three-part series titled “Mobile Home Park Morality” we’re going to review the various types of waste that go on in many mobile home parks and what the moral owner can do to end these practices. Remember that waste can be both in the physical form – such as water – as well as in missed opportunities. We’re going to cover them all.

Mobile Home Park Noblesse Oblige

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 02 Sep 2018 22:00:00 -0600

Noblesse oblige is a French term that translates to “those who have substantial resources have a responsibility to help those that have less”. So how can mobile home park owners put this very moral theory into practice? In this third and final installment in our three-part series titled “Mobile Home Park Morality” we’re going to discuss taking the right path to helping to protect and support residents. The mobile home park industry is a win/win business, in which it is truly possible for everyone to succeed.

Jekyll & Hyde – The Impact Of Slight Changes In Deal Variables

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 22:00:00 -0600

We all know the story of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, where a drug could cause a gentleman to morph into a monster and back again. Mobile home park variables can cause a similar effect. In this first of a three-part series on the Impact of Slight Changes in Deal Variables, we’re going to discuss the impact of park-owned homes on mobile home park desirability, and identify which attributes make a deal attractive instead of a disaster. You’ll be amazed at how just the slightest tweak can turn a deal from attractive to devastating and back again.

The Jekyll & Hyde Personality of Utilities

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 16 Sep 2018 22:00:00 -0600

Every mobile home park must have water, sewer, electricity – and sometimes – gas. But the way these utilities are provided can have a huge impact on whether you would want to buy that deal or not. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast we’re going to examine the ability of utilities to give any deal a Jekyll & Hyde demeanor, with the ability to turn that attractive investment possibility into a potential nightmare. If you want to know what some of the key deal killers are for mobile home parks, then this podcast will clearly identify them.

The Jekyll & Hyde Nature Of Economics In Deal Evaluation

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 22:00:00 -0600

Nothing can make a mobile home park deal look more or less attractive than the numbers. Indeed, the economics have a Jekyll & Hyde ability to make any mobile home park investment change from a winner to a loser and back again at a lightning speed. In the third of a three-part series, we’re going to discuss how the slightest alteration of number assumptions can have a huge impact on a deal’s attractiveness. See how you have to be extremely focused on the numbers to know when a deal has passed from good to bad, or vice versa. These are economic patterns that need to be learned by any good park buyer.

Dirty Jobs Episode One: Collections

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 22:00:00 -0600

In most mobile home parks, collecting money is the number one priority. But some people consider that unpleasant – even though it really isn’t. In this episode of Mobile Home Park Mastery, we’re going to start a six-part series called “Dirty Jobs” in which we examine in detail the things that owners do that scare most people. If you want to know the insider secrets of how collections work in a mobile home park, this podcast is for you.

Dirty Jobs Episode Two: Rules Violations

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 22:00:00 -0600

How do you make mobile home park residents follow the rules? In this second of our six-part series on “Dirty Jobs” we’re going to discuss in detail how owners are able to maintain order in mobile home parks and provide a good quality of life for the residents. If you thought that mobile home parks are bastions of impossible behavior, you’ve watched too much television. Learn the facts in this podcast.

The Dirty Job Of Park-Owned Homes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 22:00:00 -0600

“Metal Shoeboxes” is how some people describe mobile homes. And renovating and selling them is one of the “dirtiest jobs” that most mobile home park owners dread. But it’s really not that bad – if you know what to do. In this third segment in our six-part series on Dirty Jobs we’re going to examine the steps to successfully tackling this undesirable task. If you can handle the shoeboxes in your closet, you can handle this larger variety, as well.

The Dirty Job Of Managing Water And Sewer

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 22:00:00 -0600

Nothing sounds messier than dealing with water and sewer in a “trailer park”. However, the reality is that it’s something that all park owners can easily deal with if they know what they’re doing. In this episode of our six-part series on “Dirty Jobs” we’re going to review the modern strategies on addressing water and sewer systems and repairs in mobile home parks. Although nothing sounds more unpleasant than digging up a pipe in a muddy field, the truth is that it’s not a frequent occurrence if you obey the strategies that other owners have figured out from experience over the past half-century.

Getting Dirty With City Government

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 22:00:00 -0600

How far are you willing to be pushed around? That’s a question many mobile home park buyers and owners have to ask themselves sometimes. In this fifth segment of our six-part series on “Dirty Jobs” we’re going to address the A to Z of dealing with governmental agencies that refuse to play by the rules. Learn the insider secrets that $500 per hour attorneys have taught us regarding fighting for our rights and doing so in an efficient and 100% legal manner.

The Dirty Job Of Cleaning Up After Disasters

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Fires. Mobile home parks are not immune to natural disasters. So how do you deal with them? In this final segment of our six-part series on “Dirty Jobs” we’re going to discuss the different types of disasters that can happen in a mobile home park and how to clean up the mess and restore order to your mobile home park investment. In a world in which things can go bad quickly and without warning, it’s important to know how to deal with worst-case scenarios.

Lessons Learned From Failed Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Webster’s Dictionary defines “failure” as the “lack of success”. So it’s the exact opposite of winning. But many mobile home parks fail for that very reason: the owner’s do the exact opposite of what common industry doctrine would suggest. In this five-part series on parks that have failed, we are going to dissect what went wrong and look for commonalities in poor park selection, management and financing stewardship. And in this first segment, we’re going to review how choosing the wrong type of park can consistently lead to doom – and there’s no reason to put yourself in that position if you just use some common sense and good due diligence efforts.

Occupancy Fails

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 18 Nov 2018 22:00:00 -0700

When you’re unable to attain the necessary occupancy to succeed, the result is failure. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast Series we’re on the second part of our five-part series on Lessons Learned from Failed Parks, and we’re focusing on occupancy disasters and what can be garnered from these setbacks. As any business is contingent upon hitting revenue targets, mobile home parks are no different, but there are also complications, such as lender requirements, that can turn even small occupancy fails into bigger problems. As history offers a glimpse into the future, it’s important to understand the risk of occupancy fails to stay clear of them going forward.

Big Management Fails

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Even the best mobile home park will not succeed with bad management in place. In our third of a five-part series on “Lessons Learned from Failed Parks” we’re going to be discussing how a bad manager can destroy your business and give some real-life examples to hammer home the points. We’re also going to review some ways to prevent these catastrophes. If you want to make money with a mobile home park, then choosing or retaining the wrong manager virtually assures you of failure.

Financing Failures

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Real estate leverage is an essential part of mobile home park investing. Without it you cannot hit the typical 20% cash-on-cash yield. However, what happens when the buyer uses the leverage improperly? In this fourth of our five-part series on “Lessons Learned from Failed Parks” we’re going to examine how some mobile home park buyers set themselves up for failure by agreeing to lending terms that are impossible to conquer. If you want to keep your credit and your investment dollars, you’ll want to learn what these failures are and guard against them.

Market Fails

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Real estate is all about “location, location, location”. So a bad mobile home park location is a disaster for any buyer. In this fifth and final episode in our series on “Lessons Learned from Failed Parks” we’re going to discuss the worst markets for mobile home park success and how to identify and avoid them. We have many stories of bad markets – both observations on others as well as our own – and we think that any buyer who avoids the “location” issue is just asking for trouble.

Breaking Through The Stereotypes About Our Customers

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Are our customers really “trailer trash” or is that just an unfair stereotype? In this first of a four-part series on “Breaking the Barriers”, we’re going to analyze the stigma against mobile home park residents and try to separate the real from the false and uncover what created these stigmas in the first place. Since the mobile home park industry is predicated on our customers, it’s important to break through these myths to understand more fully the customers we serve.

Breaking Through The Stigmas About Our Business Model

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Are mobile home parks just about “ripping off the poor”, or is there more to the story than that? In this second of a four-part series on “Breaking the Barriers” we’re going to take an honest look at the mobile home park business model and examine what the real impact is to the resident and community. It may just be that there’s more to the mobile home park industry than most people think.

Breaking Through Mental Barriers To Buying Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 22:00:00 -0700

Some people think that finding a mobile home park to buy is nearly impossible. But is it really? In this third of our four-part series on “Breaking the Barrier’s we’re going to examine the exact steps to finding a mobile home park to buy and determine just how difficult they are. With over 44,000 mobile home parks in the U.S., this is a big issue.

Breaking The Mental Barriers About Managing Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 22:00:00 -0700

Some people think that managing a mobile home park is harder than herding cats. Is it really like trying to nail jello to a wall, or is there a scientific method that always yields the desired results? In this fourth and final episode of our series on “Breaking the Barriers” we’re going to examine what really goes into mobile home park management and the action steps necessary to make a success of it.

Dealing With Animals

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 22:00:00 -0700

The methods for managing residents are well established, but how do you deal with the four-legged variety that are also living on your property? The good news is that there’s a methodology for that, as well. Whether it’s dogs, cats or even livestock, the mobile home park industry has a virtual user’s manual for dealing with animals based on law, past experience, and customer needs.

Perfect Collections

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 22:00:00 -0700

In this first of a nine-part series on “Mobile Home Park Perfectionism” we’re going to review how collections would work in a perfect world. We’re going to discuss the theories and policies that provide perfect receipt of all rent by the due date – or at least before you have to file eviction. Since we all strive to be the best at what we do, “perfectionism” is not a bad goal, and thanks to past experience and experimentation, it’s also not impossible to attain.

Perfect Occupancy

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 22:00:00 -0700

In the midst of the biggest affordable housing crisis in American History, there’s no reason to have a single vacant home or lot in your mobile home park. In this second installment of a nine-part series on “Mobile Home Park Perfectionism” we’re going to discuss how to achieve perfect occupancy. Since each occupied lot in a mobile home park is worth anywhere from around $20,000 to $100,000+, there’s a huge incentive to focus on this topic.

Perfect Home Renovations

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 22:00:00 -0700

You can’t own a mobile home park without having to deal, at some point, with remodeling a mobile home. In this third installment of our nine-part series on “Mobile Home Park Perfectionism” we’re going to review the top techniques and strategies to attain the highest level of success in mobile home park renovations. You can’t successfully own a mobile home park without a full knowledge of how to do perfect home renovations.

Perfect Property Condition

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 22:00:00 -0700

There’s no greater source of resident attraction and retention than a great looking property. But how do you achieve property condition perfection? In this fourth installment of our nine-part series on “Mobile Home Park Perfectionism” we’re going to discuss the eleven steps to perfect property condition, as well as the techniques used to guarantee those results.

Perfect Adherence To Budget

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 22:00:00 -0700

A budget is a road map that takes you to your financial target. In this fifth installment of our nine-part series on “Mobile Home Park Perfectionism” we’re going to review the techniques and concepts required to be a master of your budget and, as a result, the master of your financial destiny.

Perfect Protection From Liability Risks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 22:00:00 -0700

It’s a scary world out there. There’s liability in almost everything you do. In this sixth installment of our nine-part series on “Mobile Home Park Perfectionism” we’re going to discuss how to best insulate your mobile home park from risk. We’re going to show you techniques to be proactively remove potential liability on a continual basis. If you are a “worrier” then you’ll definitely get value from this episode (and if you don’t worry about anything, you need to start).

Perfect Employee Productivity

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 22:00:00 -0700

You can’t run a mobile home park without a manager – and sometimes you can’t run it with one. So how can you make a manager perform on all 8-cylinders? In this seventh installment of our nine-part series on “Mobile Home Park Perfectionism” we’re going to review the best techniques and concepts to get your employees to give their job 100% effort.

Perfect Customer Retention

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 22:00:00 -0600

There’s no point to filling lots and homes if the customers move right back out. In this eighth installment of our nine-part series on “Mobile Home Park Perfectionism” we’re going to review the latest concepts in keeping your customers happy and wanting to stay in your property. With lot rents rising in mobile home parks from coast-to-coast it’s important to understand how to keep your customers appreciative the value of what your property has to offer.

Perfect Peace Of Mind

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 22:00:00 -0600

We’ve reviewed all the operational aspects of mobile home park operations – but what about the spiritual? How can mobile home park owners sleep soundly with the knowledge that they have done right by their customers and the community at large? In this final installment of our nine-part series on “Mobile Home Park Perfectionism” we’re going to review the key truths that all mobile home park owners must believe in order to be happy with what they do.

Interesting Industry Trivia From The 1920’s To 1940’s

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 22:00:00 -0600

The mobile home park industry is actually quite a fascinating story that is immersed in American culture. Starting in the “Roaring 20s”, proliferating in World War II, and being an active participant in the growth of the American Dream, there are few products that are more colorful – or more misunderstood – than the mobile home. In this first of a three-part series, we’re going to dive into some really fascinating trivia about the industry from the 1920s to 1940s to get a better understanding of its early origins.

Industry Trivia From The 1950s To 1960s

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 22:00:00 -0600

Elvis lived in a mobile home both in Hollywood and in Tennessee. The 1950s and 1960s were the “Golden Era” of the mobile home industry, yet too few people understand this fact. In this second of a three-part series on mobile home trivia, we’re going to delve into some little-known facts about the mobile home industry from this important period in its history. Hard to believe that even Elvis had his blue suede shoes in mobile homes during this period.

Industry Trivia From The 1970s To The Modern Era

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 22:00:00 -0600

The 1970s brought us Van Halen and Smokey and the Bandit. But it also ushered in a new era in the mobile home industry. In this final segment of a three-part series on mobile home trivia, we’re going to look at how the industry changed dramatically in the 1970s and changed it’s focus to affordable housing and lower-priced production via HUD’s new involvement in the industry – all through some little-known trivia. This episode ties the two earlier ones together and brings you up to date on the history of the industry through some fun facts and figures.

Mobile Home Lessons Learned From Great Business Books

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 22:00:00 -0600

Books have been the foremost way of transmitting knowledge since the beginning of time. In this first installment in a four part series on “Literary Lessons Learned” we’re going to review some profound thoughts from great business books and how they relate to the purchase and management of mobile home parks. This podcast condenses down thousands of pages of books into some important points on success.

Mobile Home Lessons Learned From Great Military Books

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 22:00:00 -0600

Patton, Montgomery, Eisenhower – some of the greatest strategists in world history have been military leaders. In this second installment of our four-part series on “Literary Lessons Learned” we’re going to discuss some of the great military theories and how they relate to mobile home park acquisitions and management. You’ll see that there is a huge overlap between armed conflict and business, and the theories that advance troops on the ground can also propel your mobile home park investments farther.

Mobile Home Lessons Learned From Great Biographical Books

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 13:00:00 -0600

There’s no better strategy than to follow in the path forged by someone else who was successful. Biographies are books that are “an account of someone’s life” and a fascinating glimpse into the key drivers to how they accomplished what they did. In this third installment of our four-part series on “Literary Lessons Learned” we’re going to focus on learning concepts for success from the life story of several top American business people.

Mobile Home Lessons Learned From Great History Books

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 05 May 2019 22:00:00 -0600

History is the “study of past events”. And when you connect the dots to the past you can see trends that influence the future. In this final installment in our four-part series titled “Literary Lessons Learned” we’re going to review some interesting parallels between the current economy in the U.S. and the past, and see what future trends can be predicted from past events. You’ve heard the old adage “history repeats itself” and that’s definitely true – the key is understanding what those cycles are and how to profit from them.

Trailer Park Archaeology

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 12 May 2019 22:00:00 -0600

The bulk of the 44,000 mobile home parks in the U.S. were built between the 1940s and 1970s. So how can you tell which decade your park is from? Why is that important? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to discuss the key features that separate parks from these eras and the impact on your investment, as well as what the clues are that allow you to make this determination.

Trailer Park Chic – The Latest Trends

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 19 May 2019 22:00:00 -0600

The mobile home park industry is constantly evolving and today’s park owner is more focused than ever before on building a sense of community and maximum resident satisfaction. So how do you do that? In this episode of Mobile Home Park Mastery we’re going to discuss the latest trends in mobile home parks and how they create the desired results in building superior resident happiness and value.

All About Determining Park Horsepower

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 26 May 2019 22:00:00 -0600

The average car in the U.S. has an engine with 120 horsepower. Yet there are engines out there with ten times that much power. Mobile home parks are no different, as they often have ten times more cash-flow ability than more conventional forms of real estate. How much horsepower does a mobile home park have and how can you gauge it? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast, we’re going to review where the horsepower in a mobile home park comes from, and how to calculate its maximum output using some key metrics.

Residents Gaming The System And How To Protect Yourself

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 22:00:00 -0600

By far the majority of mobile home park residents are wonderful people. But there are a few residents out there that have learned how to take advantage of the system and good-natured park owners. The good news is that there are ways to defend against those who attempt to push false narratives and unfairly manipulate the general community.

The Real Political Paths To Improving Affordable Housing In Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 22:00:00 -0600

If the desired effect is to keep mobile home park lot rents low and parks not re-developed into new uses, how can this be accomplished politically? By mandating rent control? By adding more bureaucratic hurdles? Or is there a new approach that might actually work? In this edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast series, we’re going to review what some political paths to progress might look like, and review those that have no positive impact whatsoever. If you are tired of hearing the “fake news” regarding affordable housing assistance by the government, then this will give you some fresh perspectives on what can and can’t be done to stem the national shortage of affordable housing as far as mobile home parks are concerned.

The Wide Range Of Customers In Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 16 Jun 2019 22:00:00 -0600

Do billionaires live in mobile home parks? Yes. And so do many other notable folks in the U.S. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to review the many different types of customers that are served by this unique housing option. Are some of them household names? You better believe it. It turns out that “trailer parks” are not only about affordable housing – there are many different facets to this industry.

What Would Joanna Gaines Say?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 22:00:00 -0600

We’ve all seen the show Fixer Upper. Chip and Joanna Gaines take old worn-out houses and bring them back to life – often using the same repetitive design elements. How would they approach an old mobile home park’s renovations? In this episode of Mobile Home Park Master, we’re going to discuss the new and best approaches to bringing old mobile home parks back to life – inexpensive ways to freshen up 50 year-old properties and make them seem new again. Maybe one day HGTV will have a show on mobile home parks but – until then – this segment will provide some design insights.

Making Sense Of Interest Rates On Mobile Homes And Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 19:00:00 -0600

Webster’s Dictionary has two meanings for the word “interest” 1) the quality of exciting curiosity and 2) money paid regularly at a particular rate. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to combine the two together and discuss the curious puzzle of making sense of interest rates. You’ll see that there is a methodology based on risk and reward, and that today’s interest rates regarding mobile home parks and homes are really fair in all regards. Do we have your “interest”?

Our 100th Anniversary Special

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 22:00:00 -0600

A 100thAnniversary is called a “centennial” – and that’s exactly what this episode represents. Starting on August 7th, 2017, the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series has delivered 100 straight weeks of everything you need to know about mobile home park investing. We’ve covered every topic from the history of the sector to predictions of the future – and everything in between. No topic has been taboo and we’ve continually offered straight facts with no sugar coating. Our mission is to erase the untruths and stereotypes about an industry that provides the only non-subsidized form of affordable housing in the U.S., while providing practical tips and explanations on how to correctly invest in this unique asset class. Thanks for listening in for the past 100 weeks and we look forward to talking with you further in the future.

There’s Nothing “Greener” Than Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 22:00:00 -0600

While the nation debates the “Green New Deal” one housing option is already far ahead of the others when it comes to sustainability and low carbon footprint: the mobile home park. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast episode, we’re going to discuss the many ways that mobile home parks may just represent the best thing going in the U.S. on this front. Who would have thought that “trailer parks” would be on the cutting edge of modern political debate?

Gearing Up For The Political Season

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 22:00:00 -0600

Democratic debates and candidate grandstanding. A torrent of headlines on the 2020 election and primary predictions. It’s the advent of the political season in the U.S. – and that’s a big deal to any business as nobody wants to be on the wrong side of the political process. So where do mobile home parks fit into the national election and what is the impact of the proposed platforms? We’re starting off a four-part series titled “Politically Correct Parks” with an introduction as to where the mobile home park industry stands on a variety of political topics.

Why Mobile Home Park Owners Are Better At Governing Than The Government Itself

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 22:00:00 -0600

Perhaps our elected bureaucrats could learn a thing or two from mobile home park owners. We’ve been delivering on many promises on a consistent basis, while the government struggles to tread water. In this second of our four-part series titled “Politically Correct Parks” we’re going to discuss the many important programs that park owners initiate and maintain that provide important benefits to our residents.

Green New Deal? Mobile Home Parks Have Been Green For Decades

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 22:00:00 -0600

There’s been tremendous discussion in the media of the “Green New Deal” – but is nobody aware that mobile home parks owners already perfected that model years ago? In this third installment of our four-part series titled “Politically Correct Parks”, we’re going to examine how mobile home parks fit into this entire “green” narrative. There is certainly no business model in America that is more successfully “green” and that offers a sustainable housing solution with a minimum usage of natural resources and a smaller carbon footprint.

Giving Park Residents A Political Voice

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 11 Aug 2019 22:00:00 -0600

Who listens to mobile home park residents? How can they have a political voice? In this final episode of our four-part series titled “Politically Correct Parks” we’re going to review how those 8% of Americans that live in mobile homes can have a political presence and what topics are important to them. You will find out how mobile home park owners share the serious responsibility of watching over our residents’ interests while few in government share that commitment.

Why Banks Behave Like They Do

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 22:00:00 -0600

In this first of a four-part series on “Park Psychology” we’re going to discuss the reasons behind bank behaviors and how to get banks to do what you want. You’ll see that banks follow a very predictable pattern in approving loans and that you cannot fight these motives but need to embrace them to obtain the desired results.

Why City Governments Behave Like They Do

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 22:00:00 -0600

It is not uncommon for mobile home park owners to have to deal with harassment from city hall. But why does this happen and how can this behavior be corrected? In this second of a four-part series on “Park Psychology” we’re going to review the very predictable behavior patterns of city officials, the cause of this behavior, and how to get city hall to back off and be a partner and not an adversary.

Why Residents Behave Like They Do

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 22:00:00 -0600

Mobile home park residents are great people, but they often have trouble adjusting to living within rules and regulations after often decades of loose management. In this third of our four-part series on “Park Psychology” we’re going to discuss the causes of some negative resident behaviors and how to correct these so that everyone in the community can live happily side-by-side and enjoy a high quality of life.

Why Mom And Pop Owners Behave Like They Do

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 22:00:00 -0600

Mom and pop owners share a set of behaviors that must be understood if you are going to successfully strike a deal with them. In this final segment in our four-part series on “Park Psychology” we’re going to look into what motivates mom and pop owners and how to appeal to their basic instinct to help both the new owner and residents alike and to proudly be the “Greatest Generation”.

Five Great States To Buy A Mobile Home Park In And Why

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 22:00:00 -0600

There are 50 states in the U.S. One has no mobile home parks (Hawaii) and the other 49 all have different traits – both positive and negative – regarding historic mobile home park performance and opportunity. In this edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast Series, we’re going to explore five of the top markets and what makes them stand out above the pack. Just as no two parks are the same, no two states are the same regarding making money with mobile home parks. Find out why.

Interesting Characters

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 22:00:00 -0600

8% of Americans live in mobile homes. That means there are about 24 million unique stories to hear. We only have a few minutes of time, so I’m going to tell you about a handful of the extremely interesting people I’ve met in mobile home parks we own. You’re about to see that there’s a whole lot more going on out there than the media wants you to believe concerning who really lives in “trailer parks”.

Interesting Properties

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 22:00:00 -0600

There are around 45,000 mobile home parks in the U.S. Each and every one is different. Some are truly unique. In this edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast series, we’re going to discuss some of the most unforgettable parks we’ve seen or purchased – unusual pieces of American history that virtually nobody knows about. If you think a “trailer park” is just a shotgun road with homes on either side, then you will soon learn the error of your ways.

The Associated Press Is Waking Up To Reality

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 06 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0600

A couple weeks ago, a huge number of articles about mobile home parks were published by the Associated Press focusing on communities in Colorado. They fixated on several facts 1) mobile homes are difficult to move 2) all other forms of housing cost double 3) corporate owners are buying out the moms and pops 4) failure to pay rent or follow rules leads to ultimatums. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast we’re going to review these concepts and try to figure out how anyone would not know these basic tenets of life and compare these to how the Associated Press itself operates.

The Associated Press Just Can’t Figure This Point Out

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 13:00:00 -0600

Home appreciation. It sounds good, right? It’s a given, correct? Well, not so fast. The Associated Press tried to claim that mobile homes are a bad investment because they do not appreciate. Is that a fair assertion? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast we’re going to discuss this single point that the Associated Press simply can’t come to grips with despite the fact that it’s economic nonsense.

The Quarter-Billion Dollar Park Era Is Here

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 27 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0600

There is not a single $250 million dollar self-storage facility in the U.S. There’s also not a $250 million house or parking lot or many other real estate sectors. So what does it mean that the Plaza Del Ray in Sunnyvale, California has sold for $237 million? Quite a lot, actually. That’s the topic of the discussion on this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast. Hear how a sale like that will have a huge impact on the credibility of the “trailer park” going forward.

Analyzing the Range of Reactions I Get When I Say I Own Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 22:00:00 -0700

There is probably no greater way to destroy a conversation than to say “I own a mobile home park”. It typically triggers a negative response that is typically reserved for violent criminals or wearing a Green Bay Packers shirt to a Cowboys game. But why is that? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast series, we’re going to review the types of reaction you get by admitting you own a park, as well as the root cause of these responses. As you’ll see, there’s a whole host of reasons that most Americans have a very poor opinion of the mobile home park industry – and all completely unjustified.

Creative Deal Making With Debt Construction

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 10 Nov 2019 22:00:00 -0700

So you’re looking at buying a mobile home park but the numbers and price just don’t equate. Some deals – as a last resort – can be solved with creative debt construction. But how does that work? In this week’s edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series we’re going to focus on making deals happen with debt as the tool to tie the numbers together. You’ll see that there’s still hope for some deals if you can piece together an attractive debt structure.

Throwing Down the Gauntlet on Affordable Housing

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 22:00:00 -0700

The U.S. is in an epic affordable housing shortage. Some people cannot afford even to live in a mobile home park, despite its low cost. So where can they go? Politicians say that building truly affordable housing is an impossible task. That’s nonsense. In this edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to explore the exact ways that insanely affordable housing could be created in the U.S. for those who cannot fit into traditional housing metrics. Sure, it would take some outside-the-box thinking and some variances from building codes, but there’s no way that a country that put a man on the moon cannot provide housing for all Americans regardless of income.

What the Industry Has to be Thankful For

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 22:00:00 -0700

What does the mobile home park industry have to be thankful for in 2019? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series we’re going to explore what the positive factors for the industry are in 2019.

Is The Glass Half Full or Half Empty with 50% Occupancy?

Frank Rolfe — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 07:00:00 -0700

Due to mismanagement and lack of vision, many American mobile home parks suffer from extreme vacancy. But is there opportunity with 50% occupied parks? In this edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to explore the issue of parks with huge vacancy challenges and decide whether the glass is half empty or half full – or both.

Old Homes Never Die – Or Should They?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 20:00:00 -0700

Some people equate mobile homes with automobiles, with an attitude that you just trade them in for a newer model periodically. But does that make any financial sense? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to explore the truth about old homes, their life expectancy, how to prolong it, and when to decide if an old home should be scrapped. As you’ll see, there’s much more to consider than you might expect.

America Is Getting a Reality Check on Bringing Old Cities Back To Life

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0700

We have long said that today’s mobile home park owner is often in the business of “bringing old properties back to life”. We frequently take huge risks, inject capital to repair or replace infrastructure, and raise rents to make economic sense of it all. And mobile home park owners are often highly criticized by the media and even city hall regarding these rent increases without any acceptance of the fact that it’s 100% justified. So it seems almost comical that nobody has bothered to spotlight the fact that the nation has a $2 trillion infrastructure repair and replacement problem and that it will forever change tax rates, water and sewer rates, and every other monthly cost for all Americans. In this edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to discuss what appears to be another

Striking a Healthy Balance Between Resident and Owner Interests

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0700

Mobile home park owners are in a tough position, as we have to wear two hats: both that of an investor as well as a mayor of a town in which the quality of life for the residents is paramount. So how do you strike a healthy balance between these two interests? In this edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series we’re going to review strategies to navigate these conflicting interests and forge a healthy balance between making money and making customers happy.

New Year’s Predictions

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0700

The New Year is upon us. In only a few days we will cast aside 2019 and embrace 2020. This year will feature a presidential election, the roller coaster ride of the stock market, natural disasters, and all of the typical features of modern life. But what will the mobile home park industry be doing in 2020? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series we’re going to predict the key issues of affordable housing in this very important year. We hope you enjoy this episode and would like to take this opportunity to you a Happy New Year!

A Trailer Park Spin On Old Sitcoms

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0700

Television is not what it used to be. And in this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to revisit the favorite sitcoms of old and give them a trailer park twist. We’re going to review how they could be re-made in a mobile home park dimension and what the morals would be of the show. As you’ll see, there’s much to be learned in these new series.

Beware The Silver Tsunami In Housing

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0700

Between now and 2037 roughly a third of all single-family homes in the U.S. will come on the market – over 20 million dwellings. This is twice the amount of supply during normal years, and will result in huge changes in population centers, home prices and financial markets. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore what the Silver Tsunami is exactly, as well as the impact on markets and mobile home parks going forward. As you’ll see, a megatrend of this size will have certain casualties and you want to make sure that you are on the right side of this potential calamity.

Mobile Home Park Owners Vs. Rodney Dangerfield

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0700

Rodney Dangerfield got no respect – and that’s a common problem with mobile home park owners. In this edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to review strategies for owners to gain respect among sellers, bankers, brokers, residents and their peers. With respect an important part of self-worth, it’s important to discuss this topic and concrete steps to improve your standing.

Ford Vs. Ferrari Vs. Trailer Park

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0700

The movie Ford vs. Ferrari focuses on driver Ken Miles, who was always in pursuit of the “perfect lap”. But what does the “perfect park” look like for the mobile home community buyer? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to discuss what the “perfect park” would look like structurally, geographically and financially. You don’t need a GT40 to find this podcast interesting.

Kung Fu Lessons For Mobile Home Park Owners

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 22:00:00 -0700

Sometimes the best course of action is to go with the force instead of against it. In this edition of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to review effective strategies for park owners to harness negative energy and use it to create powerful solutions. As you’ll see, these are some classic moves that work every time if you just know how to complete them.

The Benefits Of Solitude

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 22:00:00 -0700

Film star Greta Garbo used to exclaim “I want to be alone” when approached by fans and even other actors. And this sentiment can also have beneficial aspects in certain functions of the mobile home park buyer and operator. As you’ll see, there is power in solitude: the power of making better decisions. While many decisions a park owner makes work best with a spirit of inclusion of all parties involved, there are certain moments when being an independent thinker pays big dividends.

Letters From Our Residents And What They Mean

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 22:00:00 -0700

We get love letters from residents all the time – not only on Valentine’s Day. Why do people love their mobile home parks so much? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to read some of these letters and analyze the key drivers to customer satisfaction that we clearly deliver on every day. We’re also going to discuss other factors that make us the best housing option in America.

Myth Buster’s Trailer Park Edition

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 22:00:00 -0700

There’s a board game called “Trailer Park Wars” that is based on every American stereotype of mobile home parks and their residents. But are these assumptions true? In this episode of Mobile Home Park Mastery we’re going to review in-depth the typical U.S. beliefs around “trailer parks” and come to conclusions as to their accuracy, as well as the origins of some of these myths.

1955 Time Warp

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 22:00:00 -0700

In 1955 a business school professor named L.E. Michelon published the first text book on mobile home parks titled “How to Build and Operate a Mobile Home Park”. Sadly, this book could not be further from the truth in how the industry operates today. In this episode of Mobile Home Park Mastery we’re going to discuss what the main differences are between 1955 concepts of construction and management vs. the modern equivalent. Come see how times have changed (and for the better).

The Park Owner’s Pledge (And What It Doesn’t Include)

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 08 Mar 2020 22:00:00 -0600

All good mobile home park owners have the same core of beliefs on what their role and duties are. But there’s a whole additional list that is not what they’re all about. In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to review the division between the sacred pledge of the smart park owner vs. items that should never be assumed to be in that list of duties.

Opportunity Zone Trailer Park Concepts

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 22:00:00 -0600

Opportunity Zones are hot right now. But the way to make money with them may be a little different than what most Americans think. In this episode of Mobile Home Park Mastery we’re going to discuss the action steps to harnessing the power of the Opportunity Zone tax program based on the bigger picture than delaying or avoiding the tax man.

Why Our Residents Are Always Free To Leave (Even If The Media Can’t Stand It)

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 22:00:00 -0600

Are mobile home park residents really like “Waffle House customers chained to their booths” or is there much more freedom than this quote (that was taken out of context) would imply? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery we’re reviewing just exactly what the real options all mobile home park residents have, and why the media – and certain politicians – refuse to accept this reality.

The 1 – 2 Punch of Park Performance

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 22:00:00 -0600

There’s an old saying that “good ranchers live poor and die rich”. But mobile home park owners get to live rich and die rich. Why the difference. In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to discuss that second profit center of mobile home parks that few people talk about. As you’ll see, there’s actually two compelling reasons to get into mobile home parks, not just one.

Trailer Vs. Tech For Highest Yield

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 22:00:00 -0600

The Wall Street Journal recently declared that the 4,100% rise of one Mobile Home Park REIT stock (and 2,000%+ of another) was a better return than virtually every other sector in the market. They compare the rise of trailer parks to that of high-tech. But is that a fair assessment? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss why mobile home parks are doing so well, and why it has nothing to do with stock market speculation.

Nimby Vs. Yimby = Gumby

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 22:00:00 -0600

“NIMBY” stands for “Not In My Back Yard” and is the attitude that has stopped new mobile home parks from being built in the U.S. for the past half century. Now the federal government is discussing the concept of promoting “YIMBY” which stands for “Yes In My Back Yard” – trying to coerce city government to allow mobile homes to be placed on lots restricted to stick-built single-family homes only. In this edition of Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss the cage fight of these two acronyms and why the victor is probably “GUMBY” which stands for “Give Up on My Back Yard”.

Where Have All The Mobile Home Dealers Gone?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 22:00:00 -0600

Back in 1999 there were 400,000+ mobile homes sold in the U.S. with dealers making fortunes. Today, there are less than 100,000 being sold (it’s been that way since around 2000) and most of those same dealers have disappeared. In fact, you never even hear about mobile home dealers these days. Why is that and where did they go? In this episode of Mobile Home Park Mastery we’re going to discuss the rise and fall of mobile home dealers and what the future might hold for them.

The A To Z Of Mobile Home Park Investing Terms

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 22:00:00 -0600

Like any other science, there are a host of terms that are of relevance to mobile home park investing. In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to literally review these from A to Z – from “Affordable Housing” to “Sam Zell”. If you want to get a good grasp on the components of brief strategies that successful mobile home park buyer and operates utilize, then this topic should be of great interest.

Critical And Trivial Dates In Mobile Home Park History

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 03 May 2020 22:00:00 -0600

We all know that Columbus discovered America in 1492, and that America declared independence in 1776. But do any of us know the interesting dates in mobile home park history? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast series, we’re going to review these important dates and their relevance to this unique affordable housing product. While it’s unlikely that any high school will ever require knowledge of these moments in order to graduate, that doesn’t mean that smart mobile home park buyers and owners should not be fully fluid in these historic moments.

Highlights From The New York Times Backstory

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 10 May 2020 22:00:00 -0600

In 2014 the New York Times brought out a huge story about Frank & Dave and their success in building one of the largest mobile home park portfolios in the U.S. They even declared that Frank & Dave are the “best thing going in affordable housing when the nation’s need for low-cost places to live has never been greater”. But what else did the writer, Gary Rivlin, find in his research about the industry. In this episode we’re going to review the discussion we had with Gary after the article came out, and share some quotes of his opinions on what we do and how we do it. Since the New York Times is known to not typically be pro-business, there are certain strengths to the mobile home park industry that converted even a self-professed antagonist to be a big fan of “trailer parks”.

Important Quotes, Sayings, Stories And Jokes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 17 May 2020 22:00:00 -0600

The mobile home park industry is filled with a number of time-proven mantras. It has benefitted from various high-profile players that are often quoted in the media, as well as affiliated stories from other sectors of real estate that have remarkable overlap. The sum of this body of work is the collective wisdom of many who have gone before, as well as those who are still an active part of the industry. In this episode of Mobile Home Park Mastery, we’re going to review many of these items and what they mean to all park owners and operators.

The Top 7 Deal Killing Hurdles - Part I

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 24 May 2020 22:00:00 -0600

Webster’s Dictionary defines a “hurdle” as “an obstacle or difficulty”. We’ve all seen runners in races going over hurdles of various heights – some successfully and others not. So what are the “Top 7 Deal Killing Hurdles” that mobile home park buyers have to navigate to successfully invest in affordable housing? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast we’re beginning a two-part series to review each hurdle, why it is so significant, and some ideas to get over it as a buyer and operator. Since the Summer Olympics was cancelled, this may be as close as you’ll get to a show about hurdles this summer!

The Top 7 Deal Killing Hurdles - Part 2

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 31 May 2020 22:00:00 -0600

What’s the highest hurdle you can jump over? Can you clear 4’ or more? In this second part of our Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast two-part series on the “Top 7 Deal Killing Hurdles” we’re going to review the three highest hurdles that any park buyer must face and why they are so difficult. We’re also going to discuss the limited options to scale them and the enormity of the risks involved. If you want to clear these last three you better get out to the track and start working out, as they have destroyed many a park buyers who didn’t know what they were or how to address them.

Lessons Learned From North Lamar

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 22:00:00 -0600

No mobile home park in history has generated as much undeserved negative publicity as North Lamar in Austin, Texas. Nothing we did was good enough for the Austin media. We saved the park from the wrecking ball. We brought the park back to life with new streets, entrance and lot-by-lot TLC. We made its ongoing operation possible by raising rents and fixing resident abuse of water and sewer. Finally, we allowed the residents to buy the park from us and gave them a huge amount of time to put the deal together with the non-profit group ROC. But even after selling it we are still hounded by the Austin media who can’t get over the fact that a capitalist approach succeeded where the city failed and that our business model was so well structured that they could not mess it up despite their endless efforts.

Back To The Future

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 22:00:00 -0600

What were the hot topics a decade ago? Has anything changed over the past ten years? We’re going to review the headlines and articles of mobile home park industry magazines from 2010 to see if there have been any substantial changes to the “trailer park” business model, and use this analysis to make projections for the decade ahead. They say that history repeats itself, but in the case of mobile home parks, is it more like Bill Murray’s “Groundhog Day? That’s the focus of this discussion.

Who Was Swimming Naked And Why?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 22:00:00 -0600

There’s an old saying that “when the tide goes out you see who was swimming naked”. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to analyze what real estate sectors were swimming naked in light of the Covid-19 pandemic – and future such events – and which sectors had their swimsuits safely on the whole time. The world may never be the same after the national quarantine and it’s important to evaluate real estate investing going forward based on the new reality.

Thoughts About Buying Small Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 22:00:00 -0600

Both Dave and I got into the mobile home park business with smaller properties, and many of our early purchases were tiny communities. Even in recent times we have no issue with buying a great deal with a smaller lot count. However, there are many things about small parks that we have learned over the decades and wanted to share those with you to help you craft the right buying decision. As you’ll see, there are some important tips for buying smaller parks that will make your plan more successful and your experience in ownership more enjoyable.

The Truth About Trailers And Trouble

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 22:00:00 -0600

The television show COPS would suggest that all mobile home parks are community crime centers. The movie 8-Mile, starring Eminem, makes it look like trailer parks are the “go-to” spot for drugs, violence and petty crime of all varieties. But is that stereotype true? The U.S. government answered that question in 2010 with the release of “Trailers and Trouble? An Examination of Crime in Mobile Home Communities” written by Professor William P. McCarty of the University of Illinois, which was part of HUD’s formal “Cityscape: a Journal of Policy Development and Research”. So what did HUD’s research show? Let’s just say that the trailer park crime narrative was more than just a little off-base.

Are Mobile Home Parks Really A “Predatory” Business Model?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 12 Jul 2020 22:00:00 -0600

Despite providing a terrific housing product to thousands of Americans, we continue to hear from the media that mobile home parks are a “predatory” business model. But is this true? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to try to put this issue to bed once and for all, breaking down what “predatory” means and then applying those definitions to the actual methodology of mobile home park ownership and management. Here’s a spoiler: the media is horrendously off-base, based on sheer ignorance, and nobody ever calls them out on it. In this podcast we will.

Gambling With Big Chips

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:00:00 -0600

Risk vs. Reward is a huge topic with successful mobile home park owners. In this episode we are going to review what the concept of Risk vs. Reward is, and then go over in granular detail many of the top risks to be concerned about, and what your percent of success or failure might be with that trait. While Vegas offers you riches, it rarely delivers, and mobile home parks are more of a game of skill that always rewards those that used good planning and diligence and have done their best to mitigate chance.

Speaking Softly But Carrying A Big Stick

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 22:00:00 -0600

President Teddy Roosevelt was a supporter of “Big Stick” diplomacy, which he defined as having five traits. In this week’s episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review Roosevelt’s premise and apply its wisdom to your mobile home park. Although Roosevelt died in 1919 –a decade before the first “trailer” rolled off the manufacturing line – his thoughts are as true today as they were in the early 20th century.

The Harsh Realities Of Supply And Demand

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 22:00:00 -0600

Back when I was an economics student at Stanford in the 1980s, the most important theory that would help on any essay was the law of supply and demand. It’s a simple concept: if you have greater supply than demand then prices go down, and greater demand than supply makes prices go up. Never in American history has this economic treatise had more meaning or more unhappy endings. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss how supply and demand are shaping all sectors of U.S. real estate and mobile home parks in particular.

Old-Timer Wisdom

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 08 Aug 2020 22:00:00 -0600

We all associate age with wisdom, and rightfully so. Nobody knows more about any subject than those that have experienced it – particularly through many cycles. And I am forever indebted to those older mobile home park community owners who gave me words of wisdom in my early career, and still do so for new investors on a regular basis. So what is some of this old-timer wisdom? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some of the best thoughts of experienced owners and how they relate to today’s mobile home park industry.

Before And After Closing

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 22:00:00 -0600

When buying a mobile home park, the most important moment is the transition of the property from the old owner to you, which typically happens at the title company upon signing of a pile of documents. So what can you do to make this transition more smooth and successful. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the key items to do before and after closing to make for a happier and less stressful community ownership change.

All Mobile Homes Come With A Hitch

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 22:00:00 -0600

To get a mobile home from Point A to Point B you have to haul it – and you need a hitch to make that possible. But what about after it arrives? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery pocast, we’re going to dig deep into the facts about these “hitches” and the best policies regarding them going forward. Until mobile homes come with engines and drivetrain, then hitches will be a fact of life for all mobile home park owners, so it’s time to discuss the topic.

The Right And Wrong Way To Keep In Touch With Your Residents

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 29 Aug 2020 22:00:00 -0600

You may call your mother weekly, but that’s not the appropriate way to check in with the residents of your mobile home park. Instead, there are systems that have been developed to keep in touch but in a structured way that it best for the owner and residents alike. So what are the correct and incorrect way to stay in touch? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how smart owners stay on top of resident contact.

Understanding The Game Plan For Cash-Out Refinancing

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 05 Sep 2020 22:00:00 -0600

“Cash out” refinancing is extremely attractive to all investors, as it allows you to “recycle” your capital over and over to build a portfolio of properties. Or it also allows you to remove all risk from any certain deal and gives you cash to build a financial safety net. Whatever the goals may be, obtaining “cash out” is somewhat of an art form, and there are certain strategies required to achieve it. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss this game plan regarding “cash out” and what the deals look like that carry that potential.

“Skin In The Game”

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 22:00:00 -0600

The slang term “skin in the game” is defined by Wikipedia as “one having an incurred risk (monetary or otherwise) by being involved in achieving a goal”. It was made popular by Warren Buffett, who prefers that high level officers in a company have direct money in the venture to ensure their alignment of priorities with investors. So who really has “skin in the game” regarding mobile home park investing, and who is lacking that alignment of interests with you when you write that earnest money check? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore this topic in detail, and define who is really on your team vs. those who could care less after the closing has occurred.

The “Detached Apartment” Model

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 22:00:00 -0600

There are around 44,000 mobile home parks in the U.S., and not all of them are following the same business model. While the vast majority of park buyers and lenders are focused on the “renting land” model, there are some who engage in the “detached apartment” concept. But does that concept work? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to examine this business model and give its strengths and weaknesses, as well as moments in which it might work and settings in which it would fail. Warning: this knowledge may change your perception.

Megatrends Revisited

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 26 Sep 2020 22:00:00 -0600

In the 1982 John Naisbitt coined the term “Megatrends” to describe the major upheavals in American society that would influence the future for decades. But that was nearly 40 years ago. Since that time, many have already come and gone. So I’m going to make a new list of the megatrends that are ramping up in America and how they may impact the mobile home park as an investment vehicle. Grab your model of the Starship Enterprise because we’re going to look way into the future for direction on what

Park Layouts And What They Mean

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 03 Oct 2020 22:00:00 -0600

We all know the trends in fashion, from the 1920’s spats to the 1960’s Nehru jacket to the 1970’s bell-bottoms. But do you know the trends in mobile home park design and what they can mean as an owner? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss some of the most basic mobile home park design trends and what their strengths and weaknesses are. As you’ll see, mobile home park builders changed the product up considerably over the decades – and not always to the good.

Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 22:00:00 -0600

When a mobile home park has bad financial records or poor occupancy, it’s a pretty good guess that there are other problems lurking. In this week’s Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to examine some of the typical “skeletons in the closet” regarding poorly managed properties – including items above ground, underground, and regarding the residents. As you’ll see, there is often a chain reaction of problems in a mobile home park when bad management is evident. And you need to budget and plan for these probabilities so you don’t get taken advantage of.

Geography Revisited

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 23:00:00 -0600

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed many things about the U.S. – but does that include the best places to buy mobile home parks? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to examine how changes to America post-virus are impacting different parts of the nation in relation to affordable housing and other challenges. The U.S. is in a state of turmoil on many fronts, but is mobile home park geography one of them?

Unlocking Your Performance Potential

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Wikipedia defines “excellence” as “the quality of being outstanding or extremely good”. All park owners aspire to excellence, but how do you really achieve it? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to explore how you can trade-in average performance for something much more profitable. You may be setting your own limitations, and if you put more thought and effort in you can possibly hit stats that you never dreamed possible.

Agency Debt

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 01 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0600

Mobile home parks are one of the big beneficiaries of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac lending. Coming out of nowhere not too long ago, “agency” debt now represents more than 50% of all new mobile home park loans in terms of total dollars. How will this lending powerhouse help reshape the industry in the years ahead, and how can you take advantage of this opportunity?

Direct Mail

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 08 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0700

There’s nothing quite like direct mail. A successful direct mail piece has a 99% failure rate – and that’s considered a success. Do you know any other thing in life that counts 1% as a win? In this week’s Mobile Home Park Master podcast we’re going to discuss one of the greatest ways to find parks to buy: the good old-fashioned direct mail. And we’re going to review what makes them more and less effective in getting the mom and pop park owners to give you a call. If you are not using direct mail to find a park to buy, then you may be missing on a great opportunity – if you do it correctly.

Revisiting The Name Game

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0700

I unearthed a copy of the 2015 Journal of Manufactured Housing recently and found the lead article was a debate over what the correct name is for our industry. Yes, that’s how little was going on in mobile home parks back then. In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to revisit the issue of what the correct name for the industry is, with some shocking conclusions. They say that “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” but is that true for a trailer? Or is it manufactured home?

Financial Options To Buy Homes To Fill Vacant Lots

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0700

One of the key ways to increase the value of any mobile home park is to maximize its occupancy. Filling a vacant lot propels you from zero value to $30,000 to $100,000 of equity based on lot rent. And the only way to fill a vacant lot for most properties is for the park owner to buy the home – new or used – and bring it in themselves to then sell or rent. Because homes are capital intensive, the key driver to this activity is selecting the correct financial options to pay for these homes. In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to review the financial options for paying for homes to fill vacant lots. As you’ll see, there are a litany of possibilities in today’s markets.

Old Homes

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0700

Douglas MacArthur once said “old soldiers never die, they just fade away”. But what about old mobile homes? In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to look into the definition of “old homes”, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and how to determine their future. We’re also going to review some budgeting tips when buying parks with old homes, and why some old homes should just be scrapped. MacArthur was a great General – can you be as good at honestly assessing your old home housing stock?

What's Really Happening to Our Costumers?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 06 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0700

Economic upheaval. Shuttered businesses. Broken dreams. What’s the impact of what’s happening in America right now on mobile home park residents? In this episode of the Mobile home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to look into the typical mobile home park residents and how they’re faring in one of America’s most difficult times. As you’ll see, mobile home park residents may just be the best positioned economic group in the U.S. today.

The Five Historical Eras Of Mobile Home Park Construction

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0700

Cars have gone from steam to gas to electric. Planes have gone from propeller, to turboprop to jet. And mobile home parks have also evolved over time. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the basic evolution of the mobile home park and how it impacts investing in this sector. Beyond just history, there are significant areas of interest with the era of park construction and how your property will potentially perform as a result.

The Potential Impact Of What The Economists Are Saying

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0700

Economists are paid to make predictions – and they make a lot of them. Most of them are fairly off base, but when you aggregate them and take the average you start to get a better picture. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to take recent economist surveys regarding the U.S. economy and overlay those on the potential impact to mobile home park investing. Just as it’s “hard to row against the current” it’s important to try and align your mobile home park with the megatrends.

The Simple Science Of Making Money

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0700

Science involves distilling events down to a formula – so what is the simple formula for making money with a mobile home park? In this Mobile Home Park Master podcast we’re going to examine what the key profit drivers are and unveil some simple formulas to help you understand the potential that many properties have to deliver significant gains. Unlike calculus, this is math that you get paid for.

Why Parks May Be The Most Valuable Land In Any City

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0700

Mobile home parks may just sit on the most valuable piece of land in any city they serve. A bold statement? Not when you understand the rarely-discussed value of holding the key to infinite zoning. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the amazing land value and potential that virtually all mobile home parks possess and give real-life case studies to support this argument. Like a 3-D puzzle, you may be shocked to learn the reality behind this claim and the implications going forward.

What If Johnny Appleseed Owned A Trailer Park?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0700

What are big and green and equally loved and hated by mobile home park owners? The answer, of course, are trees. On the one hand they have beneficial effects both aesthetically and scientifically, and on the other they cause clutter, danger and utility line issues. In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to analyze the good and the bad and make some hard decisions about those big, green objects.

Stanford University’s Megatrend List and the Impact on Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0700

Megatrends are seismic shifts in society that fuel strong business gains if properly anticipated and harvested. Stanford University’s bulletin has recently released a list of their projected megatrends and it creates some interesting observations on how mobile home parks are aligned with these powerful forces. Swimming against the current is never a productive concept and it’s always smart to align your business model with megatrends for maximum stability and profitability.

It's All In The Jobs

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0700

America is changing but virtually nobody is following the big news story. The winners and losers in this transition are readily apparent, but only if you cut through the fake news and wrong conclusions that protect those that the media want to coddle. We simply have become a nation devoted to creating lower-paying jobs. And this groundswell in employment change is fueling one of the biggest booms in affordable housing history.

Celebrating The Builders

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 -0700

Dale is an 87-year old contractor that made affordable housing possible for nearly 70 families for the past half-century. An innovator. A visionary. A pioneer. And a hero. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to celebrate the Greatest Generation figures like Dale that built our industry from scratch and created the only form of detached, non-subsidized housing in America.

Why The "Salescope" Report Is A Powerful Tool

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0700

Our sales were up 50% this year, and a big part of that is a strict adherence to the “Salescope” report. In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to review what this report is, why it helps get homes occupied, and how it can spotlight management flaws in your operating system. If you want to break records in occupancy, you need this report in your toolbox.

Observations On The Top And Bottom Ten States For Park Supply

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0700

There are around 44,000 mobile home parks in the U.S., but their placement is not uniform. Instead of a standard 880 parks in each of 50 states, the actual range varies from 5,176 in Texas to -0- in Hawaii. But what is there to be learned from this disbursement? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the lessons learned from studying the top and bottom ten states for park supply.

Top Tips On Filling Lots

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 21 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0700

We’ve been filling lots with good paying customers for over two decades, and there are some tricks of the trade we’ve learned along the way. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to review some of the top tips we’ve found that make gaining occupancy possible at levels you may have not yet experienced. If you want to increase your park’s revenue, then this podcast may give you some new ideas.

Why Hot Mobile Home Park Markets May Appear Cold To Outsiders

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 00:00:00 -0700

We all know the media’s idea of what the “hot” markets are in America – but what about for mobile home park owners? Our list is very different and for good reasons. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to discuss the very real issue of what makes a market “hot” for mobile home parks as opposed to everything from travel to business start-ups. Maybe the problem is that only 44,000 of the 300 million+ people in the U.S. care what “hot” mobile home park market construction truly looks like.

Why Solving Affordable Housing Is A Political Problem, Not A Structural One

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0700

America is in the grips of an affordable housing shortage so large it seems impossible. But the solution is not a structural one – that’s easy – but a political one that is insurmountable. In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to talk about why the government is unwilling to make the tough political choices that could solve affordable housing once and for all.

The “Moat” Keeps Getting Wider And Deeper

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 23:00:00 -0700

Warren Buffett has long championed the concept that all great business models share one big attribute: a “moat”. This “moat” protects that business from competition and from other damaging risks to profitability. Mobile home parks have long held the position of having one of the largest “moats” in the United States, and it just keeps getting wider and deeper, to the chagrin of many who find it “unfair”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to analyze why the “moat” keeps growing and why it’s the result of megatrends that nobody has the power to divert.

Mobile Home Manufacturing Has Nothing To Do With Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0600

January single-wide sales of new mobile homes are down 7.5% from last year – and park owners could care less. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review why there is no correlation between mobile home manufacturing and mobile home park performance. While many Americans believe that mobile home retail is where the money is, that couldn’t be farther from the truth and the future of both segments could not be more divergent.

The Best Parts About The Mobile Home Park Owning Lifestyle

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0600

If you talk to mobile home park owners about the best parts of property ownership, most will tell you that it gives them a very high-quality lifestyle. But what does that mean? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the top benefits of owning mobile home parks from a quality of life perspective. You’ll see that it’s not all about the money, but something much more that comes with the job.

Why Managers Fail And How Can You Minimize That

Frank Rolfe — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Every mobile home park must have a manager, and not all of those work out. So what are the key reasons why mobile home park managers fail and what can be done to mitigate these issues? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review our lessons learned from hundreds of managers and how to improve your odds of success. Since firing a manager is never fun and can be costly in time and money, it’s important to do your best in hiring and managing your “eyes and ears in the field”.

The Issues With Being One Platted Tract Of Land

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0600

The definition of a mobile home park is “two or more mobile homes on one platted piece of property”. Of course, with just two people on one tract, that would not be too complicated, but the reality is typically 50 to 100 households or more, and that can create issues. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review what the key problems can be and how to mitigate these issues. As you’ll see, there’s no shortage of needed discussions when you have many people happily co-existing in the absence of lot lines.

Before You Pull The Trigger On Closing

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0600

The slang term for signing the documents and closing on a mobile home park is often called “pulling the trigger”. It’s a major commitment and one that can create angst with many buyers who are concerned if they are making the right decision. So what are the key factors that must be aligned to feel good about making this big step? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the various factors that must be in thumbs up position before you should sign those closing documents. Having a system to the way you close on a property will give you a greater chance of success and reduce your stress level.

Speculation Vs. Income Investment: A Primer

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 02 May 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Mark Cuban recently said that “the intrinsic value of anything – Bitcoin, an ounce of gold, or a share of GameStop – is simply what people believe it is. Nothing else matters.” That has to be the worst investing theory of all time, and is the root of all speculative bubbles. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss the concept of actually “investing” as opposed to “speculating” and why mobile home parks are not rooted in the whim of the public but in cold, hard cash. Charlie Munger would like this discussion (Warren Buffett’s business partner) as he has long been a skeptic of the new concept of herd investing.

Mobile Homes On Residential Lots: The Myth Vs. The Reality

Frank Rolfe — Sat, 08 May 2021 20:00:00 -0600

Just as cicadas come out of the earth around every five years, so does the concept that there is a solution to affordable housing in placing mobile homes on vacant single-family residential lots. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to expose why this has always been a doomed idea and the reasons that it keeps coming up in conversations on a cyclical basis.

When Filling Lots Is Not An Option

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 16 May 2021 00:00:00 -0600

There’s a huge demand for affordable housing in the U.S. and one of the best ways to drive a mobile home park’s net income and value is through filling vacant lots. However, not all parks are created equal in this regard. In this episode we review the factors that can make a mobile home park incapable of filling lots in the correct manner, and this may well lead you to pass on that deal.

Turning Dealers Into Lot-Filling Machines

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 23 May 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Mobile home retail dealers are typically all about selling new homes – mostly to people putting them out on their farm or ranch. But there’s another side to the retail story. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss strategies to have dealers bring in and sell homes inside your mobile home park. It can be a win/win business model if handled properly. And with the average occupied lot being worth around $50,000 more than a vacant one, it’s a concept that is worthy of consideration.

The Limits of Creativity

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 31 May 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Painting and sculpting requires creative thinking. But it doesn’t make any money. Indeed, creative deal making has limitations. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review what you can and can’t accomplish with creative thinking when it comes to successful deals. While coming up with unique ideas can often salvage a property’s shortcomings, it’s not always the solution.

What To Do With Last Minute Problems

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Nobody likes last-minute changes: particularly not mobile home park buyers. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to discuss how to work around sudden changes in deal terms that can happen during diligence, financing – or even closing. You have to be flexible in forging some deals, and this topic should be of interest to anyone who has faced making a sudden decision on a property.

In Volume We Trust

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Joe Girard was the highest-selling car salesman in U.S. history, personally selling over 1,400 cars in 1973 alone. He had a simple rule to hit those kind of numbers: focus on volume of leads. And smart mobile home park buyers and owners share this same sentiment. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss how Girard developed this attitude, and how we should all adopt it immediately to hit superior performance on buying parks and filling vacant lots.

Our 200th Episode Celebration Special

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0600

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over four years since we started the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast. If you linked all those episodes end to end it would last almost 35 hours. So to celebrate our Bicentennial we’ve selected the five top most-viewed episodes and we’re going to discuss how those topics have changed over the course of these broadcasts. And we want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has enjoyed our thoughts and commentary on the mobile home park industry. We look forward to sharing the next 200 episodes with you!

Tough Love Revisited

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Webster’s defines “tough love” as an expression used when someone treats another person harshly or sternly with the intent to help them in the long run. Right now our nation has never been more off track and that’s filtering down to your residents. In this episode of the Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to talk about current trends in personal accountability, political missteps, and how to fight back against a rising tide of bad resident decisions on a number of fronts.

The Great Race

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -0600

I am often asked what the “future” of the mobile home park industry is. And I think it’s most appropriately called “the Great Race”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss what I mean by “the Great Race”, how to enter it, how it will end, and what you need to know about the contest. Since we all live under “time urgency” it’s only appropriate to have a talk about that ticking time clock in terms of the mobile home park sector.

Mobile Home Parks And Lay's Potato Chips

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Lay’s potato chips has long used the slogan “bet you can’t eat just one”. But is that also true for buying mobile home parks? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss what happens after you buy that first property and bring it back to life. Do you buy another? Do you buy a whole portfolio over time? Or do you hold steady with one proven success under your belt? There are a number of considerations and the correct answer is 100% based on your personal goals.

Speeding Up The Acquisition Process With A Bucket List

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Finding the right mobile home park requires sifting through a huge number of deals, and separating them into two buckets: 1) has the right raw material and 2) does not have the right raw material. But what does that raw material look like. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review what makes a deal possible apart from a deal impossible. Mastering this one skill will allow you to speed.

We’re Microsoft In 1996

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0600

Bill Gates founded Microsoft in 1975, and went public in 1986, at a stock price around $1. By 1996, the stock had risen to around $4 per share – a 400% increase in only ten years. Many investors jumped at the chance to sell, thinking that Microsoft had reached its maximum value. Today, Microsoft stock trades at around $250 per share. In many ways, current mobile home park values are like Microsoft stock in 1996; only beginning their ultimate rise. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to review the current pricing and give the reasons why this industry is only at the beginning stages of its ultimate value run.

Let Your Residents’ Voices Be Heard

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Mobile home park owners rely on happy residents to make their business work. However, sometimes the community manager can be a blockade to the owner’s knowledge of his customer’s satisfaction. Without providing a good value, no mobile home park can succeed, as it will be unable to obtain or retain residents. So how can you keep a constant tab on this feedback? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss the action steps to allow you to make sure that your residents’ voices can be heard.

Surfside And The End Of Investing In Structures

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 08 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0600

The Surfside condo tower collapse is more than just a tragic tale of the unthinkable occurring. It’s also a wake-up call that there is massive risk in owning large, aging man-made objects and now that this is on the radar, we will now begin a period of bureaucratic over-analysis, a fee-grab by opportunistic engineering and third-party report companies, a liability windfall for personal injury attorneys, the loss of insurance coverage, the collapse of mortgage availability, and the end of life for those sectors of real estate that didn’t see this coming. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review why renting land – and not structures – has once again proven to be the smartest real estate decision of all time.

The Perils – And Opportunities – Of Fixing Density

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Mobile home parks are known for high density compared to single-family subdivisions (their closest cousin). While this is not a problem most of the time, you can reach a density that causes potential issues with the fire marshal as well as simply moving homes in and out. So what do you do to fix density that is too high in a property? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review this issue and offer some real-life fixes.

Quick Charm

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0600

When you buy a mobile home park, you are in a race against time to improve it’s appearance for a number of reasons. Higher existing customer retention, higher new resident attraction, better city government relationship and stronger banker satisfaction are all made possible through simple aesthetic improvements. So what are these key improvements that can be made rapidly? That’s the focus of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.

Overcoming The Home Manufacturing Crisis

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 00:00:00 -0600

Not too long ago, mobile home park owners could order new homes to fill vacant lots. Now they find that delivery times are far into the future, prices are up $10,000, and some manufacturers even have caps on the number of homes you can order. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss the U.S. home manufacturing crisis and how to overcome this hurdle to fill your vacant lot.

Here’s How The War On Landlords Ends

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0600

America has a new position on the concept of landlords: take their property without compensation and, better yet, public shame them. That plan of attack is about to backfire in a big way. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how the “war on landlords” is really going to end and it’s the alternative ending that won’t please the masses.

America Will Soon Learn The Concept Of Fightco Score

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0600

FICO scores are great when you’re trying to analyze the credit potential of someone buying a yacht on monthly payments. But more millions of Americans the entire concept of “credit rating” is merely theoretical and has no basis on real life. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss what a “Fightco” score is and why that’s a far better measurement of performance.

Values And Gravity

Frank Rolfe — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0600

America is in a unique position on investment returns, suddenly favoring speculation over income investing. And why not? Whether it’s Bitcoin or Tesla, values are simply based on “what people think things are worth” according to Mark Cuban. Whatever happened to the old-fashioned tie-back to earnings? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss how America has entered the danger zone on valuations and how income-investing is the only way to avoid the inevitable collapse.

Correcting The Record

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 00:00:00 -0600

The mobile home park industry has an unusual public relations strategy. We seemingly let the media abuse us on a regular basis and never offer any pushback. So for all those fake articles that have hit the media of late, this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast provides the actual stats that give conclusive evidence that mobile home parks are the sole solution to the affordable housing crisis.

In Times Of Uncertainty Focus On What You Can Control

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 03 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0600

It seems that America has gone insane. Nothing is on a solid footing, whether it’s the stock market, the single-family home market, the economy, the approach to public health – it’s all on the verge of collapse. In fact, most of the world economists predict a global recession within the next 18 months. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how you can take proactive steps to garner control over your future.

Can Park Owners Live Off The Land?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0600

America is in real trouble and the odds are extremely high that it will enter a new recession cycle in the near future. When all around you is in shambles, the only way to have confidence is to have a fail-safe back-up plan that works without depending on anyone or anything else. “Living off the land” is the expression for having the ability to fend for yourself without the help of any other group. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to see just how self-reliant mobile home park owners truly are.

Kung Fu Negotiation Moves

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0600

The art of Kung Fu is in maneuvering your opponent’s momentum to achieve the desired result. And this holds true for smart mobile home park buyers, who have learned over the years some Kung Fu tactics of their own. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review these strategies. All of these are win/win – as that’s the best way to buy mobile home parks – but are ingenious and highly effective.

Tricks To Harness Time Transcript

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0600

It’s been said that time is our greatest asset as it’s finite and irreplaceable. However, most people do not use their time to its full capacity. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some practical methods to literally stretch your productive time which, in turn, gives you an important edge in building your mobile home park assets.

Why My Predictions Come True So Often

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0600

I am a total skeptic and pessimist. And that adherence to the law of fear has paid huge dividends, as I have developed the ability to see failure ahead of the pack. But it’s not really that hard to make accurate predictions. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss the clear signs of future success and failure and why it’s completely irrational to believe that you are smarter than the universe.

Guarding Against Paralysis By Analysis

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 01:00:00 -0600

It’s hard to make important life decisions. But it’s even worse to avoid them. In buying a mobile home park, at some point in the diligence cycle you will have to make the choice to go forward or not. Many buyers can’t get these steps completed because they won’t stop second-guessing their decisions or agreeing that they have even completed their calculations. This is called “paralysis by analysis” – basically avoiding making decisions using the excuse that you are still working on the answer until the opportunity passes. In this episode of Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on the sources of this indecision and putting together a framework to help bring it to an end.

Don’t Hide From Unhappy Customers

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 14 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0700

Bill Gates once said “unhappy customers are you’re greatest source of learning”. Not only can you improve your business with unhappy feedback but also forge stronger bonds with customers by solving their problems. It’s also important to remember that you can’t please all the people all the time and can’t let a few unhappy customers sway what’s best for your mobile home park both as a business and a community. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the world of unhappy customers: where they come from, how to deal with them, and how to harness their negative energy into a better business.

No Shots No Glory

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0700

Wayne Gretzky once said "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - and that's as true for mobile home parks as it is for ice hockey. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we're going to discuss why it's essential to make offers regardless of the odds of success, as well as some tips to make those offers better received. Since success in buying mobile home parks is all about volume, it's essential that you take those shots.

Hot Markets In The Hard Infrastructure Bill

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 00:00:00 -0700

The “hard infrastructure bill” has now been signed into law. This bill is very geographic-specific, and many people have not through who the winners and losers actually. Some may be surprised at the new hot markets created by this democratic initiative. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to take a look at who the big beneficiaries are of this bill and why this does a lot to bring new luster to the “rust belt” and “flyover” states.

The Park Owner’s Winter Survival Guide

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0700

Each season has its own challenges when you own a mobile home park, and winter is no different. With the arrival of the holiday season comes new responsibilities and strategies to make your community in good operational condition. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the items all park owners need to accomplish before the snow begins to fall.

Successfully Using RVs To Fill Vacant Mobile Home Lots

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 12 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0700

At the same time that mobile home prices from the manufacturers have risen to the highest levels in American history, RV ownership in the U.S. has also hit record levels and many of these owners are not using them for travel but for permanent residency. In this episode of Mobile Home Park Mastery, we’re going to discuss the potential to fill vacant mobile home park lots with RVs, and why that’s going to be one of the big factors in filling up the remaining vacant lots in communities from coast to coast.

The Stages on the Rocket of Park Turnarounds

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:00:00 -0700

The recent spaceflight of William Shatner – broadcast live – demonstrated how mobile home park turnarounds work. Just like a rocket it comes in a series of stages with tangible transitions. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast episode we’re going to discuss what these stages are, how they work, and what the positive gains are to residents from these boosts in their quality of life.

Are Residents Ruled By Love Or Fear?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0700

The media will tell you that mobile home park residents are “trapped” in their homes. The truth is the exact opposite. The bonds that produce an average tenancy of 14 years are forged by the love of the product, not boundaries. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the truth behind the myth that customers are “chained to the Waffle House booths”, and explore what makes them happy residents for decades.

Is There Room For DGX?

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0700

The mobile home park industry has adopted weak guidelines of ratings – none of which is embraced in a cohesive manner – and mobile home parks basically fall into two camps: 1) upscale retirement communities and 2) everything else. Long gone is the star system in any reasonable application. But is a two-party system enough? In this Mobile Home Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss the concept that maybe there should be a third standard category, similar to the rise of the Dollar General DGX model, and what the attributes might be to fall into this category.

What’s Propping Up The Window of Opportunity

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 16 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0700

There’s a time to sell and a time to buy. And that time to buy is called “the window of opportunity”. So what’s keeping that window open in the mobile home park business, when the apartment and single-family home niches are exhausted? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss the window of opportunity in buying mobile home parks at attractive prices, and what continues to prop it open.

Clarification Needed

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0700

USA Today released an article titled “Meet the New Mobile Home” which, although positive in nature, is certain to confuse most readers as to the true economics of the product. What’s missing from this article is the simple differentiation between mobile homes and land. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss why it’s really all about the land, and that’s what makes mobile home park owners and mobile home manufacturers so completely different in their goals, profits, and future outlook.

To Lead Or To Follow?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0700

Mobile home park lot rents are ridiculously low nationwide. At an average lot rent of around $300 per month, many mobile home park owners will surely re-develop into a better use of the land in the years ahead. For those who elect to remain as a mobile home community, it’s essential that rents be placed at sustainable levels in keeping with market forces. But what do you do when your market mobile home park lot rents are unsustainably low -- do you stay low or become the market leader? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss how to set rents, why healthy rents are essential, and when it’s important to be a market leader rather than a follower.

Dumb And Dumber

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 13:00:00 -0700

The Federal government does some things well – but one of the big exceptions is sponsoring initiatives to aid in the American need for affordable housing. Over and over they put up unnecessary hurdles to reduce the ability of the average consumer to buy a mobile home. But the latest push for energy efficiency in mobile homes may be the dumbest yet. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss this latest HUD initiative and why it will only serve to destroy the access to affordable housing for millions of Americans.

The Evolving Role of Community Managers

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 14:00:00 -0700

In the old days, the typical mobile home park manager was tasked with a wide range of roles – and with these came considerable risk to the property owner. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the ever-changing role of the community manager and how it’s a win/win/win for the residents, the employee and the owner.

Motivating Managers

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 00:00:00 -0700

The performance of your community manager will have a huge impact on your park’s profitability. So how can you maximize that performance? That’s the topic of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast in which we’ll look at the key building blocks to motivation and how to elevate those to the next level. Since much of these steps have little or no cost, there’s no reason why every mobile home park owner is not focused on this concept.

Lessons Learned From Covid

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0700

After nearly two years it would appear that the Covid crisis is officially over – at least in the minds of most people. Numbers are plummeting in both cases and political popularity. Businesses have abandoned mask mandates regardless of governmental directive and politicians are ending masking requirements before they have to go job hunting. It’s kind of like when the Berlin wall came down. But we are all scarred from the pandemic as we have seen first-hand what happens when the modern America totally falls apart from a business perspective. So what were the lessons learned for mobile home park owners? It’s time to reflect on these observations.

Ability, Liability And Reliability

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 13:00:00 -0700

Choosing contractors for any task in your mobile home park requires a thorough comparison of certain traits that can typically lead to success or failure. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to break down the algorhythm between selecting the cheap contractor vs. the more expensive options and how to make smart decisions using these criteria.

The Return of The Gypsy Traveler and Rent Guarantee Scams

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0600

After over a decade-long absence, I am starting to see two of the greatest park buyer scams return to the marketplace: the “gypsy traveler” and the “rent guarantee”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to expose how these two classic cons work and how you, as a buyers, can protect yourself from being taken advantage of.

Spring Clean-Up Events

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0600

The advent of Spring brings new challenges to park owners in the form of lawn maintenance, higher water bills, and annual pothole repair. But it also brings forth an opportunity to improve your sense of community, property appearance, and dedication to pride of ownership in the form one single event: the Spring Clean-Up. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review what these events are, why they work so well, and how it’s time to put one in your schedule.

Let's Go Woke For a Second

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0600

In our nation’s moment of pandering to the far left, perhaps it’s time to pay homage to the simple fact that mobile home parks can be just as woke as the next business – only it’s a fact and not just a PR posturing. As the only sustainable form of housing that’s green due to size and environmentally friendly since it creates no pollution, we could out-woke even the wokest business without breaking a sweat.

Pick Up The Phone

Frank Rolfe — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0600

If you own a mobile home park with even one vacant lot, you probably have a plan to fill that lot with a new or used home to obtain stable, monthly lot rent. And if you are going to sell or rent a home in a mobile home park, your success or failure begins with the simple action of picking up the phone. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore everything you need to know about getting that phone line answered and answered properly. With the “prime selling season” fully underway for mobile homes in your park, this is a timely issue that all park owners need to understand.

Things Haven’t Changed Much In 67 Years

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0600

One of the few books ever written about mobile home parks was the 1955 “How to Build and Operate a Mobile Home Park” by L.C. Michelon. What’s amazing about this book is how little has changed over the decades regarding what makes a mobile home park successful. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss all the similarities reflected in the book and why they continue to hold true.

Parks Are Overpriced, Right?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Many people look at a handful of listings on Mobilehomeparkstore and Loopnet and declare “mobile home parks are overpriced!” But is that really true? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to focus on this topic and examine it factually. Are all the good deals gone? We’re going to talk about that.

The Waffle House Vs. Mom’s Home Cooking

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 00:00:00 -0600

What really makes customers stay in mobile home parks for decades on end? Is it truly a barrier to removing their homes or is it something more? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to focus on what really makes residents stay in place, as well as what makes them leave, and what the options are when they want to go.

The Only World That Matters Is Your World

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 02 May 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Between the war in Ukraine and America plunging into the worst economy in 40 years, it’s easy to get depressed about the future. However, it’s always important to remember that not all futures are created equal. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to talk about navigating cycles, the contrarian nature of some assets, and the necessity of maintaining a calm head when all around you is in crisis.

Effective Security Measures

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 09 May 2022 15:00:00 -0600

Mobile home parks have no greater crime than surrounding subdivisions, but there’s no question that crime in America is way up and that holds true for all property types. So what can mobile home park owners do to reduce crime in their properties on a daily basis? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on concepts to proactive reduce crime and how to build a template to help eradicate it.

The Four C’s of PerformanceThe Four C’s of Performance

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 16 May 2022 00:00:00 -0600

There are four methods of measurement regarding mobile home park performance: 1) cap rate 2) coverage 3) cash-on-cash and 4) cash flow. But what is each one and how do you derive it? And what is acceptable? That’s the focus of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.

Why The Opportunity Is Much Larger Than Meets The Eye

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 23 May 2022 16:00:00 -0600

I frequently get calls from people who are looking at the concept of mobile home park investing and tell me “looks like all the good deals are taken and there’s not much left out there” – which they gather from a quick glance at on-line offerings. This thought is not supported by the simple fact that only around 4,000 of the 44,000 mobile home parks are institutionally owned. But if 90% of mobile home parks are still in the hands of moms and pops, why is this not readily apparent? That’s the topic of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast in which we examine why the opportunity is bigger than meets the eye and what you have to do to tap into it.

Winners And Losers In Biden’s Mobile Home Attack Plan

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 30 May 2022 00:00:00 -0600

The Biden administration is trying to push the narrative that the mobile home park industry might be the savior to the affordable housing crisis. Some of these initiatives have potential and others are just the same B.S. in new packaging. Who are the winners and losers in these proposed changes to everything from building codes to home financing? That’s the focus of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.

The Top Ten Ways To Gain Accountability From Your Manager

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 11:00:00 -0600

America has lost its focus on accountability and the results have been astoundingly awful. If you want your mobile home park to hit your budget and even exceed your expectations, it’s imperative that you hold your manager accountable. But how do you do that? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the top ten ways to gain accountability with your manager. Most of these methods rely on technology and not on heavy investments of time and money. That being said, at the end of the day, the person who is truly accountable for your mobile home park’s performance is the owner and the application of these management tools is a vital part of that success.

Retention And Redemption

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0600

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.

The Benefits of A Positive Attitude In A Depressing World

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 15:00:00 -0600

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.

Understanding the Science of Cash-Out Refinancing

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 16:00:00 -0600

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.

The Necessity Of Structure For Your Residents

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0600

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 America that is running amok.

The Impact of Home Age

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0600

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.

Short-Term Owners Create Long-Term Suspicions

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0600

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.

The Economic Evolution of Housing And Why It’s Ok

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0600

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.

The Dangers of Indecisiveness

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0600

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.

Don’t Get Too Creative

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0600

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.

The Seller And Broker Lie Detector Test

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 14:00:00 -0600

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.

Inexpensive Amenities That Residents Love

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 15:00:00 -0600

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.

New Ways To Find Mobile Home Rehabbers

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 19:00:00 -0600

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.

Listen To Stanley Marcus

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 19:00:00 -0600

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.

The Biggest Differences Between Apartments And Mobile Home Parks

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0600

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.

What’s Wrong With Being The Market Leader In Rents?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 00:00:00 -0600

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.

Before You Can Have Return On Capital You Must Have Return Of Capital

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0600

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 investment construction.

Sometimes The Best Deals Are The Ones You Don’t Do

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 00:00:00 -0600

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.

Options To Sidestep Conventional Banking

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 19:11:49 -0600

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.

How To Reduce Stress From Community Ownership

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 13:24:42 -0600

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.

Whining Even When You’re Winning

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 02:00:00 -0600

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.

New Life For Old Trailers

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 02:00:00 -0700

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.

The Impact of Higher 30-Year Single-Family Mortgage Rates

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 02:00:00 -0700

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.

What If Interest Rates Never Come Down?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 13:23:25 -0700

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.

Protecting Your Community in a Lawless America

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 11:28:38 -0700

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 podcast.

The Impossible Job of Being Both Good Guy and Bad

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 13:47:17 -0700

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.

Sharing Is Not Always Caring

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 02:00:00 -0700

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.

Addressing The Elephant In The Room

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 12:31:14 -0700

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.

Snow, Wind And Thermal Zones

Frank Rolfe — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 22:00:03 -0700

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.

Life Isn’t Fair

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 17:06:45 -0700

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.

There’s Nothing Uplifting About Lift Stations

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 02:00:00 -0700

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”.

Navigating Wrap Notes

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 02:00:00 -0700

With interest rates up significantly, some sellers may propose a construction called a “wrap” in which you leave the existing mortgage intact as part of the deal. But does that work? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the good and bad aspects of this deal construction and discuss methods to mitigate the risk.

The Many Similarities Between Mobile Home Parks And Dollar Stores

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 17:27:23 -0700

Mobile home parks have always been viewed as the lowest-cost form of housing while dollar stores serve that same niche in the retail sector. Yet there are many more similarities between “trailer parks” and “Dollar Tree” than meets the eye. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’ll review the similarities and why both businesses are underappreciated – a fact that’s about to change.

Building A Firewall

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 11:15:03 -0700

Owning a mobile home park is a noble calling, but you must protect yourself from the residents you are trying to help. While 99% of park customers are wonderful people, there is that 1% that want to take advantage of your role as the owner to try to borrow money, harass you, get out of rules violations, get your manager fired – basically try to drive you nuts. The solution is to build a firewall between your customers and you. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’ll go through the simple steps to do just that.

The Limits On Grandfathering Protection

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 21:45:54 -0700

Even though all cities hate mobile home parks, they tolerate them because of property laws governing legal non-conforming use – also known as “grandfathering”. But not all mobile home parks share that protection. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to review the attributes that make a mobile home park at risk and without “grandfathering” rights.

Why Credit Scores Don’t Mean Much In Affordable Housing

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 11:56:16 -0700

Mobile home lenders set very low expectations on customer credit scores yet enjoy very low default rates. This seems to be contrary to all the physics of extending credit but it’s supported by fact. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to dig deeper into the topic of why a low FICO works just fine when it comes to customers buying mobile homes.

Off-Site Vs. On-Site Managers

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 16:16:43 -0700

As the mobile home park industry evolves, owners are constantly pondering not only what the new role of community manager is becoming but also the necessity of them living on-site. Larger parks have allowed for on-site or off-site manager possibilities for years, but smaller parks have been relegated to strictly on-site options. However, those lines may be blurring. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we will examine the issue of off-site vs. on-site managers.

Unlocking The Roots of A Sense of Community

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 12:44:48 -0700

A few years ago Time magazine declared that “mobile home parks are the gated communities of the less affluent” and raved about their strong sense of community. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on the origins of that sense of community and what park owners can do to foster a stronger bond between residents.

The Playbook On Bank Failure

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 13:51:12 -0600

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank – the second largest in U.S. history – may be ushering in a new era of banking collapse. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to scientifically review the risk of mobile home park loans and explore some of the lessons I learned from the 1987 Texas Savings and Loan Crash.

The Science Behind Selling $70,000 Singlewides

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 02:00:00 -0600

Mobile home prices have nearly doubled since the advent of Covid, and that has put a stress test on selling “trailers”. However, many mobile home parks continue to sell new homes despite the higher prices. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to make some observations on what is needed to sell a $70,000 mobile home in today’s market.

Considerations When A Manager Wants A Raise

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 23:58:18 -0600

America is in a labor tsunami in which it’s harder to find and retain workers than ever before. In this environment, many mobile home park owners face the reality of managers asking for more money. But should you give in to their demands? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we will review how manager compensation works and share thoughts on navigating this new reality.

Similarities And Differences

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:33:13 -0600

There have been a number of recent articles predicting lending problems for “commercial real estate”. But there is no such thing as generic “commercial real estate”. There are simply several different niches that aggregate into that term. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we will explore the similarities and differences between mobile home parks and the other commercial real estate sectors and how the future banking challenges will probably unfold.

How To Hold An Open House

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 13:40:20 -0600

The demand for affordable housing is huge, but finding the applicant with the necessary down-payment, earnings level and credit score to actually buy your vacant mobile home is more difficult. One great way to spur traffic to any mobile home park is to hold an “Open House”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to focus on how to hold these events successfully and unlock the potential in your market to fill homes at a faster pace.

Following The Studebaker Motto

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 15:08:19 -0600

The Studebaker brothers built one of America’s largest and most successful carriage and automobile businesses using a simple motto: “always give more than you promise”. So how do we do that with mobile home parks? That’s the focus of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast in which we try to unlock how to utilize this simple formula to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction.

Good Fear Vs. Bad Fear

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 02 May 2023 14:50:54 -0600

Webster’s defines “fear” as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous and likely to cause pain, or a threat.” However, how you react to fear can be either hugely beneficial or a roadblock that can ruin your future. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how fear can be good or bad, and why its existence can be an important tool to being a successful mobile home park investor.

A Primer On Housing Laws

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 08 May 2023 02:00:00 -0600

The simple “trailer” becomes a ball of complexity when you examine the laws governing remodeling and selling these units. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the basic rules on getting new and used mobile homes refurbished and sold so you can stay on the right side of federal, state and local laws.

Amenity Nightmares

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 15 May 2023 21:42:19 -0600

Across America, mobile home park owners are in a race to provide more amenities for residents to increase the perception of “value” for their rent. But not all amenities are created equal. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some of the worst amenities you can build, as well as provide caution on the location of some of the good ones.

Understanding Zoning Compliance

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 22 May 2023 15:09:31 -0600

Since most cities hate mobile home parks, it’s imperative that you understand your rights under zoning. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the components of a certificate of zoning compliance as well as other issues that have an impact on your rights to operate.

The Pros And Cons of Heavy Lift Turn-Arounds

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 30 May 2023 17:01:38 -0600

One of the most profitable segments of the mobile home park business is the “heavy lift” turn-around. But it’s definitely not the right choice for every investor and comes with a slate of potential pitfalls. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on the good and bad aspects of bringing nearly dead parks back to life.

The Changing State of Employment

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 20:18:42 -0600

Between AI and an over-educated employment base, there is a significant shift in the future of careers that is definitely in favor of mobile home park owners. What are those trends and how will it impact our customers’ ability to pay ever-higher lot rents? That’s the focus of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.

The Great Subsidy Debate

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 22:17:04 -0600

The political issues that mobile home park owners face today boil down to a simple question: are mobile home park owners required to do the work of state and federal government? Apartment owners have received subsidies for residents who cannot afford to pay market rents for decades, yet mobile home parks receive no such assistance. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on this issue and explore the question of subsidies and who should pay them.

A Mantra To Keep You Out Of Trouble

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0600

There’s a recession coming to America soon – that’s the opinion of virtually every economist. So how can you prepare for the coming financial apocalypse? There’s a simple mantra that will keep you out of trouble in every recession/depression, and we’ll review that concept, why it’s perpetually true, and how to get your investments aligned with that quickly in this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.

Our 300th Anniversary Special

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0600

That’s right, we have released Mobile Home Park Mastery’s 300th episode. That’s over 50 hours of recorded information on all aspects of the mobile home park industry and available right here. But how have things changed in this sector over the past six years – as we’ve been doing this podcast since 2017? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast anniversary special we’re going to look back on the origins of the podcast and explore the top ten most significant changes to the industry since we first went on the air.

Fact Or Fiction?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0600

There are a huge number of myths about mobile home parks, as well as some items that appear fantasy but actually work in reality. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore some of these theories and determine which are fact-based and which are nonsense. Many of these items can be of great importance in buying and operating mobile home parks, so it’s important to know which ones you can trust.

The Growing Trend of Organic Home Moves

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0600

Contrary to what woke media outlets may claim, mobile homes are very much mobile, and they are changing locales at a much faster rate these days. When a mobile home moves from one park to another it’s called an “organic” move – and it’s a great thing when you are the property they are moving to. So why are the number of “organic” moves increasing and how can you do more to attract these customers?

The Forces And Impact Behind Accelerating Park Redevelopment

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0600

Mobile home parks are, at their most basic, parking lots. And a growing number of these parking lots are being torn down to make way for new development. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore what’s behind this growing trend and what the ramifications are for the mobile home parks left behind.

All About Home Age Restrictions

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0600

Some cities have started restricting the age of homes that you can bring in to fill vacant lots. But can they legally do that? And what do you do if they decide to give it a try? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how to correctly address this issue.

Paving The Way To Ruin

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0600

There are few vendors as tough to handle as paving contractors. They have some basic methods to take advantage of park owners that you won’t learn until after it’s too late. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we will explore the typical scams pavers have developed over the years and how to protect yourself from these unscrupulous methods.

Take The Cash

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 22:53:57 -0600

Mobile home parks are mostly a cashless business today, with virtually all residents paying by checks, money-orders or automated clearinghouse (ACH). However, before you put away your change drawer, there are still some instances in which accepting cash is vital. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss why having a firm policy of “no cash accepted” can cost you significant money without a more flexible framework.

The Mechanics Of A Successful Rent Raise

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0600

Raising lot rents to market levels is a continual challenge as most mobile home parks currently sit at a fraction of where rents should be. Park owners spend hours ruminating over the how much to raise rents, not because they are constrained by market forces, but simply wanting to make sure that they are fair in how to do their calculations. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review what the mechanics are of a successful rent increase.

Permission Vs. Forgiveness

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0600

When doing due diligence on a mobile home park there are some things that you can’t leave to chance and others that you can tactically let slide. So when do you need permission and when do you ask forgiveness? That’s the topic of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast. As you’ll find out, there’s a definite strategy to it all.

Why Park Owners Don’t Care About Home Manufacturing Data

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0600

Mobile home manufacturing has cycled between about 60,000 and 400,000 units a year and one group that could care less are mobile home park owners. Why is there such a disconnect between how many mobile homes are built each year in the nation’s factories and how much money mobile home park owners make? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore why manufacturing and park ownership have no meaningful relationship.

Buffett, Cigar Butts And Trailer Park Investing

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0600

Warren Buffett is America’s greatest stock investor, but his philosophy changed over time from “cigar butt” to value investing – and that transition is when his profits soared. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to overlay Buffett’s theories on trailer park investing and spot the similarities and differences.

The Critical Item That Freakonomics Left Out

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0600

I recently appeared on the Freakonomics podcast on the topic of mobile home parks. But there was one critical item that was edited out of that discussion when it finally hit the air. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the one topic they apparently found too taboo and why it’s so important to the narrative today on the relationship between park owners and residents.

Is Gold a Better Investment?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:36:31 -0600

You see endless commercials on cable promoting gold as the ultimate hedge to the looming recession. But is it? And how does it compare to mobile home parks? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to evaluate the factual data concerning gold and mobile home park performance in past recessions and learn why mobile home parks are far superior to gold in every category.

When Decks Become Rooms

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:40:15 -0600

Mobile homes begat decks and decks begat rooms. These frequent additions can create complications – but is there any issue for park owners? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the issue of those “bonus rooms” that often pop up in most mobile home parks.

When Did Parks Become More Valuable Than Office Towers And Regional Malls?

Frank Rolfe — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 00:28:30 -0600

Who would have ever believed that single mobile home parks would one day be worth more than giant office towers in downtown and massive regional malls? How did this ever happen? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we're going to drill down on the amazing change in the real estate power structure and how the lowly "trailer park" has surpassed the glossy and glamorous icons of commercial real estate.

The Top Five Ways To Boost Your Home Sales Right Now

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 21:23:01 -0600

One good thing about the mobile home park business is that there is always plenty of demand. But to complete home sales, you have to take control of that demand and convert it into deals done. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we will review the top five ways to boost your home sales – right now and at virtually no cost.

The Truth About Self-Managing Your Park

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0600

Particularly on smaller parks or parks near your home, it’s always tempting to “self-manage”. But is that a good idea? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to explore the truth about self-managing a mobile home park and identify the good and bad aspects – as well as the alternatives.

A Positive Approach To A Pending Recession

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:09:06 -0700

Since 1776, America has gone into an economic cycle of boom and bust, with recession a natural part of that process. And over the decades many smart investors have learned to actually embrace those economic disasters as a positive part of the process to creating wealth – and that includes mobile home parks. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the good attributes of the pending U.S. recession and see what we can learn from those who dealt with this cycle in the past.

The Lost Art Of Imputing Risk

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Sam Zell has only been gone for a short while yet it appears that many buyers and sellers have already lost track of the art of imputing risk – the necessary element of factoring risk into buying and selling decisions. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the Zell formula on approaching the subject of risk and what some of the issues are when you don’t adhere to those principals.

The Impact of The End Of The “Knowledge Worker” Era

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 02:00:00 -0700

There is a seismic shift in America right now that will have wide-ranging ramifications for all industries including the mobile home park sector, and that’s the elimination of the “knowledge worker”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on what “knowledge workers” are, why they are doomed, and how this change will have a megatrend impact on all industries and investments including mobile home parks.

Churning, Burning And Learning

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 19:17:08 -0700

The average tenancy of mobile home residents is around 14 years. But sometimes it’s only a few months. Some of this cannot be controlled but there are other factors that are within a park owner’s power to correct. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore what factors lead to short tenancy, its impact on your bottom line, and some practical tips to reduce this problem.

The Lessons Learned From Charlie Munger

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Warren Buffett’s long-time business partner in Berkshire Hathaway passed away recently at the age of 99. His contributions to America were more than just about making money. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to discuss the life of Charlie Munger and his significant impact on the mobile home park industry, as well as the lives of those who listened to his philosophies. He will be greatly missed.

Looking At Housing From A Different Perspective

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Mobile homes and stick-built homes differ in one key attribute: land ownership. But is that good or bad for the customer? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to drill down on the benefits and disadvantages for mobile home residents regarding renting the land instead of owning it.

The New Park Building Boom That Never Was

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 02:00:00 -0700

Just a few years ago the hot topic at mobile home park conventions was the coming boom in new park development. After all, the Biden administration was constantly blasting propaganda that they were going to be the saviors of affordable housing and mobile home manufacturers were more than willing to use that party line to boost their stocks. Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, the dream of new development vanished. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the science of why mobile home parks will never, ever, be built again.

The Impact Of The Pending Recession

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 02:00:00 -0700

The odds are that 2024 will be remembered as the first recession in seventeen years and the impact will be far-ranging for American households. But what will the impact be on the mobile home park sector? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to break down the granular impact of the pending recession and unlock the key reasons why mobile home park owners are actually rooting for the same event that most investors dread.

Harnessing The Sixth Sense

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0700

We all know that the five senses fo the human body are toucc, sight, hearing, taste and smell. But there is a sixth sense: sense of urgency. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how to harness this sixth sense to be better mobile home park buyers and operators.

Easy Money

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 22:01:26 -0700

What if I told you there was a simple way to save thousands of dollars in the New Year – and it’s 100% free and has no downside? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the lost art of negotiating and renegotiating vendors.

How Far Can You Automate?

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:50:58 -0700

AI has everyone thinking about a future in which payroll can be replaced with computers and robots. Certainly, technology has made some useful improvements in how mobile home parks are managed, but is the age of the manager-free property approaching? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review just how far you can automate a “trailer park”.

Can Old And New Homes Happily Coexist?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0700

In most mobile home parks you can find homes from nearly every decade from the 1970s to current. But can old and new homes happily coexist side-by-side? It’s a fair question – particularly when you’re bringing in newer homes to fill vacant lots in a predominantly older park. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast we’re going to focus on this issue and what we’ve learned over the past 30 years.

The $100 Trillion Deficit Disorder

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0700

If you think the current $35 trillion U.S. deficit is a problem, just wait until 2050 when it hits $100 trillion. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we discuss past, present and future of the deficit and exactly what the ramifications might be for mobile home parks when the government finally ceases to make payments on its crushing debt load.

The Bi-polar Nature Of Vacancy

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 19:26:17 -0700

Mobile home park vacancy can either be an asset or a liability – and this bi-polar nature is typically separated by a very fine line. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to examine how something that could equate to greater net income in the future may also be viewed as a terrible liability in the near-term.

Embezzlement Scams And How To Avoid Them

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 02:00:00 -0700

For the park manager that wants to cheat you, stealing cash is old school. There are a number of bigger scams that involve an enhanced level of sophistication in today’s world. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the latest embezzlement strategies that some managers deploy as well as how best to avoid them.

Strategies To Approach High Risk/High Reward Deals

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 19:16:50 -0700

Sam Zell always used the axiom that you should always buy deals with low risk/high reward, never buy deals with high risk/low reward and the ones that require thinking are those with high risk/high reward. So how do you approach those type of deals? That’s the focus of this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast.

Where Science Meets Superstition

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Some of the theories behind the correct way to buy and operate mobile home parks comes from careful testing and study. But still others are passed down from earlier generations of park owners who simply believe them to be so, even in the absence of any scientific reasoning or data. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore some of these superstitions that often prove to be accurate despite their lack of statistical reinforcement.

Should You Bill Back Trash?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 13:21:49 -0700

When park owners talk about billing back utilities to residents it’s mostly about water and sewer. But rarely do most operators consider billing back trash. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the pros and cons of billing back the trash service and how to better make a decision on that option.

The Rites of Spring

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0600

Spring is an important season for mobile home park owners for many reasons. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how smart park owners position themselves to harness the warming temperatures and more hours of daylight to create a better resident living environment as well as to improve your park’s net income.

The First Steps After Closing

Frank Rolfe — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 22:23:40 -0600

When you’re buying a mobile home park it’s essential to start off on the right foot. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the vital first step strategies and explore what makes them so important. Since you never get second chance to make a first impression it’s important that you understand what you need to do when buying the property.

Using The Power Of Charts And Graphs

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0600

Numbers are words are great, but there’s something about charts and graphs that takes your management to the next level. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the many ways that you can use visual elements in buying and operating mobile home parks for maximum productivity.

Broker Commissions And The Law of Unintended Consequences

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0600

The National Association of Realtors settled a class action lawsuit recently (following a $1.8 billion jury award in Missouri) and now the real estate commission of 6% that is baked into a standard single-family home transaction is changing to where the buyer no longer has to pay a commission. Good news for the consumer, right? Wrong. This perversion of justice is about to have massive consequences for all the celebrating folks that think this will lower the cost of home ownership. And it will also have extremely positive results for mobile home parks.

Strategies To Get Contracts Signed

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0600

You cannot have a deal until both parties of signed. So how can you push the seller to sign on the dotted line after spending so much time on discussion? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the different way to motivate sellers to execute the sales contract.

The Problem With Over-Qualified Managers

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:56:48 -0600

Very few Harvard MBAs apply for jobs as mobile home park managers – and that’s probably a good thing. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the problems with over-qualified managers and why they rarely work out despite having glamorous resumes.

After-Sale Repairs

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0600

Even if you sell a mobile home in “as is” condition and make no warranties, there is always the risk that the phone will ring with the homebuyer asking for a needed repair. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the obligations of the park owner from both a theoretical and practical perspective.

Fighting Back Against A “Rigged” System

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 13 May 2024 16:05:40 -0600

It comes as no surprise that America has become enormously corrupt in so many ways. Simply watching the news gives you a full knowledge of how “rigged” our systems have become. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore what the corrupt systems are that mobile home park owners have to contend with and how to properly fight back or work around them.

Do You Need An Appraisal On A Seller-financed Deal?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 20 May 2024 13:14:25 -0600

When the seller carries the financing they typically don’t require a formal appraisal. Despite the absence of a formal loan committee there’s still the need for a Phase I Environmental Report and a survey. But do you need to have an appraisal done? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the uses of an appraisal, the cost vs. benefit, and some alternatives to help you gain confidence in the price you are paying.

Analyzing Shipment Data

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 27 May 2024 19:39:40 -0600

Many people track how many mobile homes are sold in the U.S. and are only focused on the total number that are shipped each month. But the more important information for park owners is found in where those homes go. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to derive some meaningful conclusions from the 2023 manufacturing data.

Where Did That Come From?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 11:30:53 -0600

We’ve been trying to unlock the science of mobile home park ownership for three decades, but there are some unwritten rules that are not supported by math and nobody even knows where these supposed “truths” came from. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the odd certainties that are used by bankers and bureaucrats yet have no basis in actual fact.

Don’t Abandon “Cash For Keys”

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 22:50:47 -0600

There are some skills learned during Covid that we don’t need to throw away, and one of them is the concept of “cash for keys”. Born of desperation from the national evictions moratorium, this playbook of paying tenants to leave who can’t come up with their rent is still a win/win solution in many cases. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore why this works, how to implement it, and discuss its inherent win/win outcome.

Really Understanding Recourse

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0600

All borrowers prefer “non-recourse” lending, but is “recourse” really a deal killer? It’s all a matter of perspective. In this Mobile Home Park Mastey podcast we’re going to explore the issue of recourse and analyze the real risk and how to mitigate it.

The Perils Of Hiring The Manager From The Park Down The Street

Frank Rolfe — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:34:02 -0600

Eventually the manager at the mobile home park down the street will inquire about being in charge of yours. Or one day you’ll get jealous that the community a few blocks over is nicer or fuller than yours and you’ll say “I wonder if I should approach that manager to work for me?”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on this concept and give you case studies of how that concept typically tuns out.

Understanding The Concept Of “Hot” Markets

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 13:45:14 -0600

Brokers frequently claim that a market is “hot” which they equate to being of superior quality and therefore worthy of potentially overpaying. But it this a good idea? Should you favor “hot” markets? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore this concept in depth and offer some constructive pointers regarding buying parks in these parts of the nation.

Handing Off The Lending Baton

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 21:58:09 -0600

Even though the amortization on a mobile home park mortgage is typically 25 to 30 years in length, the balloon comes due around year 5 to 10. Like a relay race, the successful mobile home park owner must make sure that the baton can be seamlessly passed to the next lender. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review proactive methods to make that transition reliably smooth.

Navigating Pre-hud Home Deals

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:57:40 -0600

Most mobile home parks have a mixture of old and new homes – but some have strictly pre-HUD vintage units. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the good and bad attributes to having nothing but old homes from an era long ago.

Making Exceptions Creates Exceptional Problems

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 15:51:10 -0600

Where Are The Distressed Deals?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 16:03:59 -0600

Interest rates have risen about five points since 2022 – the fastest and highest increases in over 40 years. That has led many buyers to grow impatient for the distressed deals that many predicted. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review where distressed deals come from, what the typical timetable is for their arrival, and when we think that period may begin.

Talk Is Cheap And City Official Talk Is Worthless

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 14:32:46 -0600

In an America that is lacking in accountability, the city official – whether zoning or inspections – is a master at that craft. Yet how you interpret what they say can make the difference between buying the deal or walking it. And often you have to bring in reinforcements to protect you interests. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the science behind interacting with city officials.

Everything You Need To Know About Road Widths

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0600

Roads are an essential responsibility of the park owner. Yet few people understand all the issues regarding what road widths are acceptable and what are not. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore and expose the key issues regarding proper road widths as well as some solutions to the most common problems.

Why There Is No Federal Government Solution To Affordable Housing

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:26:36 -0600

It’s election season, and there are wild claims hitting the media of how the Federal government can be used to create affordable housing. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to burst the bubble on these reckless claims and explore the two key solutions that nobody cares to talk about.

The Facts About Recessions And Home Repos

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0600

As long as mobile homes are sold to fill vacant lots, there will always be a percentage of customers who will not make it to the of their mortgages. And with a recession officially arriving soon, the issue of home repossessions needs to be watched closely and planned for. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on the real facts regarding home defaults and how to proactively minimizing them.

The Importance Of The Rent To Ownership Ratio

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:42:16 -0600

The United States has entered into uncharted territory regarding the premium it costs to own a home over rent one. From 1973 to 2022 the ratio of cost of ownership vs. renting averaged 1.03. It has now expanded to a mind-blowing 2.8 – nearly three times more. While the Biden administration has chosen to avoid this topic it needs to be addressed as it is going to impact rent levels nationwide and will bring about the largest increases in mobile home park lot rents in history in the years ahead.

The Science Behind Manager Commissions

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0600

Many park owners use commissions to promote achieving certain management targets. They are designed to be highly effective tools of motivation, but too many owners don’t apply them properly or in the correct amounts. In this Mobile Home Park Mastey podcast we’re going to review the strategy behind effecting commissions to hit your targets.

Why The “Free Rent” Movement Is Going Nowhere

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0600

There is a national push to attack landlords under what many call the “free rent movement”. This woke ideology is that landlords are inherently evil and that housing rent should be controlled by the government or – better yet – forced to be provided at no charge. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explain, in detail, why this movement is going nowhere, despite what some politicians may promise.

Lights, Camera, But Is There Action?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0600

In a world in which everyone has abandoned Nikon cameras for cell phones, taking good pictures has become a lost art. And the end result can be poor home sales as you try to fill your vacant lots. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how to take great photos and use them as an important tool to get your mobile homes sold.

The Importance Of Continuity Of Rent

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 15:15:44 -0600

It should be the goal of every mobile home park owner to make sure that no home ever goes vacant. Part of being the caretaker of the property is to also be the catalyst to a happy resolution to any risk of a resident leaving without warning or the ability to mitigate the damage. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we’re going to explore the reality of keeping a steady stream of rent from every lot in the park.

How To Enhance Shotgun Parks

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0600

The original layout for mobile home parks was a simple, straight street with homes placed on both sides of the lane. This is called a "shotgun" park and one of the greatest challenges to these early offerings is to make them attractive. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some of the best steps to increase the aesthetics of this style of property to both retain and attract residents.

Why You're Going To Be Fine Regardless Of Who Wins The Election

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 15:30:30 -0700

This year's Presidential election is probably the most stressful of all time as both parties could not be more diametrically opposite with platforms that share no commonality. However, regardless of who wins there is good news: not much is going to change. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we're going to review why you will be fine regardless of who win, so you can stop being upset about it.

The Ultimate “Stand Your Ground” Law

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0700

There is one rule that defends the rights of mobile home park owners more than any other: legal-nonconformance, also known as “grandfathering”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review why property rights are strong regardless of the state the park is located in, and why “grandfathering” is so hard for some city officials to comprehend and enforce fairly.

Understanding Resident Input

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 11:01:53 -0700

All businesses need to listen to their customers in order to better serve their needs–and mobile home parks are no different. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the intricacies of getting fair and balanced resident input to help better steer your mobile home community.

Quick Fixes That Really Work

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0700

Let’s assume you need to get your property looking good quickly. Maybe you have a bank inspection or a critical date for launching your marketing campaign to fill vacant homes. When you want to make major improvements in property appearance fast, here are some methods that cost very little but have a big impact and, in many cases, will last for a decent amount of time.

Are "Trailers" User Friendly For Aging?

Frank Rolfe — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:35:27 -0700

Baby Boomers are aging and they make up a large segment of mobile home park residents. Will mobile homes meet their needs in the years ahead? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review if mobile homes can fit the needs of seniors and offer a great living experience for them.

When Sharing Is Caring

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0700

While most mobile home parks have direct access to roads and utilities, others share one or more of these with a neighboring property. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the concept of shared services and how to navigate that issue correctly.

Who’s The Boss?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:58:06 -0700

Mobile home park owners have to deal with rules and regulations like any other business and making sure you are in full compliance is essential. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to focus on what the standard regulations are and which agency is responsible for them.

Fast Ways To Fill Lots Without Bringing In Homes

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0700

We all know that banks like mobile home parks at what they call “stabilized occupancy” – which is around 80% full – and have less affection for those properties that have not yet hit that status. When you are looking at buying a mobile home park with significant vacancy, one smart starting point is to make sure that your “vacant” lot count is reflective of what should be truly available.

Why 2025 Will Be A "Rebuilding" Year Beyond Expectations

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0700

Much of the uncertainty in America ended with the November 5th election, and we now know who will be running things starting in 2025. But many investors don't realize that our starting point as a nation may be much different than what the media has conveyed to date. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast, we're going to review where things may really stand and what we can expect in the New Year.

A New Lease On Life

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 13:00:00 -0700

Most community owners raise their rents annually, and typically in the Spring. As part of that process, they often have to get new leases and rules signed. Additionally, every time you buy a new mobile home park you are going to have to get new leases and rules executed. But how do you navigate that process? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the methodology to do this correctly.

The Importance of "Riding The Wave"

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:53:18 -0700

Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy's, was the first to explore the necessity of "riding the wave". And his lessons learned transfer well to mobile home park management. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we're going to review what he meant, how he came to form this opinion, and how all mobile home park owners and managers need to embrace this important tenet.

A New Development In Park Development

Frank Rolfe — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0700

We have been talking for years about the difficulty in building new mobile home parks. However, there has been a shift in the parable of how you can get a permit to build yet still be in a desirable area. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the new face of park development and why that’s a great thing for the industry.

Home Placement Solutions

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 13:49:43 -0700

A mobile home park is like a chess board with many options to place your pieces, not just the ones that come with the owner’s manual. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the reasons that you might want to change the positioning of your mobile homes, the typical rules regarding that customization, and where these slight park redesigns may be heading in the future.

Methods To Keep Homes From Moving Out

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Every time a mobile home pulls out of a lot in your community, you lose a ton of money. Park owners have been pondering for years the magic of how to keep homes from leaving. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the methods attempted over the years and explore the only real solutions to keeping occupied lots from becoming vacant.

Successfully Applying The Principles Of Doge To Parks

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:50:37 -0700

While the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency is trying to reduce cost on a national level, many of these same principles apply to mobile home parks. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the real-life methods to perform a DOGE study on your property and discuss many of the areas that virtually every mobile home park can do a better job in.

The New Direction Of HUD And How It Will Benefit The Industry

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Scott Turner is the new head of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. And he’s bringing a new vision and mission that will impact many aspects of the mobile home park industry going forward – in a very positive way. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore Turner’s new hot button topics.

The Fine Points Of Converting From Private To Municipal Utilities

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:31:13 -0700

While municipal utilities are universally preferred, many mobile home parks have private water, sewer or both. Yet, in some cases, there is access to lines available to potentially convert the park over to the “city” utility equivalent. But should you consider doing so? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the important considerations needed to make the right decision.

Should They Stay Or Should They Go?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0600

When you buy a mobile home park, one of the first decisions you have to make is whether to keep the existing manager or to replace them. Legacy managers often come with a book of knowledge but their potentially bad traits may make them toxic to your park’s performance. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the science behind making that choice correctly.

The New Megatrends

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:24:44 -0600

The late John Naisbitt coined the term “megatrend” to describe “long-term and transformative forces” that he saw in the U.S. economy. But all megatrends start small and grow over time, like the Mighty Oak. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the new “megatrends” that impact the mobile home park sector with predictions on their direction over time.

The Creative Dealmaker’s Playbook

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0600

In forging successful mobile home park deals, one of your most important tools is simply “thinking outside the box”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some of the most successful creative tactics to make deals work for both buyer and seller. As we’ll discuss, today’s winning buyer is a mixture of one part scientist and one part sculptor.

The Tiny Lot Playbook

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 07:50:02 -0600

It’s not uncommon to have lots of different sizes, but sometimes park owners have to make hard choices on how best to use their smallest parcels. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss the different options for small lots and come to some mathematical conclusions on their most profitable uses.

All About Rental Inspections

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0600

While most mobile home park owners prefer the “parking lot” model in which all of the homes are strictly owned by the residents, in some cases even well-managed properties may engage in rentals for various reasons. And if you’re going to rent mobile homes, it’s essential that you have a system of rental inspections. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the necessity of inspections and how to perform them properly.

Profiting From Interest Rate Distraction

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:27:53 -0600

Millions of investors are obsessed with the direction of interest rates. While that’s a noble pursuit, there’s a huge opportunity created by this distraction as far as mobile home parks are concerned. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to discuss why the late Sam Zell quote of “when everyone’s looking left, look right” applies to much of what’s going on right now.

The Power Of College Towns

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0600

When it comes to compelling locations to own a mobile home park in, college towns are at the top of the pack. But what makes college towns such successful settings for manufactured home communities? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore why having a college or university in a market gives it superior firepower when it comes to housing.

Why Tenant "First Options" Rarely Happen

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:26:19 -0600

Virtually every state has, at some point, debated, denied or passed legislation regarding giving the tenants the "first option" to buy the property. They do this using faulty assumptions and absolutely zero understanding of how the "tenant-owned" process works. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the truth behind this issue and reveal what the government is apparently fully unaware of.

Road Tricks

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 05 May 2025 08:00:00 -0600

It’s that time of year when mobile home park owner attention turns to property condition, which always includes thoughts on the roads. Paving companies are more than happy to suggest hugely expensive road upgrades. But how can you improve your roads with as little capital as possible? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore various options to get better roads at a low cost.

The Biggest Tool Is Often Just A Little Cash

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 12 May 2025 16:47:30 -0600

A “lever” is defined as “a rigid bar used to move a heavy load when pressure is applied to one end”. But in the mobile home park business, sometimes the strongest “lever” is made of paper and roughly 6” long. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the different ways in which a little cash can get the desired results if you know where to apply the “lever”.

Property Plastic Surgery

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 19 May 2025 08:00:00 -0600

We all know that celebrities use plastic surgery to augment or alter their appearance. But how can a mobile home park share in this ability to improve the looks of the property using man-made products? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some of the methods that allow you to increase your community’s beauty quickly and at a relatively low cost.

Creating "Social Amenities"

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 26 May 2025 13:40:02 -0600

Millennials have some fresh ideas about housing, and one of their desires is to have “social amenities”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the concept of “social amenities” and offer some recommendations on how to bring this concept to your community.

Stretching Exercises

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Any time that you pay more for a mobile home park than it is currently worth, based on existing net income, you are engaged in “stretching” to rationalize paying the higher amount. But the types of “stretching” required to bridge the gap typically vary from acceptable to too risky. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the fundamentals of “stretching” and determine their quotient of risk.

What I’d Do If I Had Five Vacant Lots

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:20:55 -0600

Some mobile home park deals are built around filling a huge number of vacant lots, while others are built on raising rents and cutting costs and increasing occupancy is a tiny part of the turn-around program. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the plan of attack if you have only a handful of vacancies to fill.

Where Have All The Lonnie’s Gone?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0600

“Lonnie Dealers” are investors who buy and sell or buy and rent mobile homes inside mobile home parks, labeled after an early advocate of this concept named Lonnie Scruggs. And although this investment program had a lot of interest in the 1990s, the number of individuals engaged in this sector has been continually dwindling. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the “Lonnie Deal”, its waning popularity, and the resulting impact on the mobile home park industry.

A Game Of Chess

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0600

How you fill your lots is somewhat like a game of chess, with certain pieces more important than others, and every move filled with the potential for benefit or damage. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the strategic considerations required to maximize your park’s value.

Avoiding Park Side-Hustles That Make No Money

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0600

The successful mobile home park business model has always been simply to rent land. But sometimes the simple path is not enough for some owners, who venture out with additional ideas to boost net income. Sadly, most of these ideas fail to be profitable. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the many different side-hustles that park owners have tried that have failed to actually make money.

The Power Of Weeknight And Weekend Office Hours

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:52:56 -0600

Most mobile home park office hours tend to be Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5 PM – which just happens to be about the worst schedule if you’re trying to sell homes. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how your office days and hours need to reflect the job at hand.

Our 400th Anniversary Special

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 11:43:47 -0600

This podcast marks the 400th installment of the #1 Mobile Home Park discussion in the U.S. With 399 episodes under our belt we’ve covered a wide range of topics over the years, but this week we’re going to revisit our fist ten titles and explore how they may have changed over the nearly eight years since they were first reviewed.

Private Property Considerations

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Most Americans are only familiar with owning property with a single-family home on it. But mobile home parks are much larger and complex. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the unique nature of mobile home parks to bend the rigid rules of traditional private property law.

A Primer On Buying Mobile Homes At Tax Sales

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0600

If you are looking to fill vacant lots in your mobile home park with used homes, one option that is rarely mentioned is “tax sales” stemming from unpaid property tax. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how this process works in the real world and things to watch out for.

Why You Should Be Cheering On The Fannie-Freddie IPO

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 11:45:02 -0600

The Trump administration is proposing to take Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac public, as well as to merge them into one entity in the process. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review why this would be a good thing for commercial real estate in general, and the mobile home park industry in particular.

The Dangers Of Favors For Managers

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0600

Most mobile home park owners are good-natured people who like to be helpful. But most park manager requests for “favors” need to be avoided at all costs. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the typical manager requests, why they rarely work out well, and how to fend them off.

Things To Double-Check Before Buying

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:49:00 -0600

If you’re buying a mobile home to fill a vacant lot – new or used – there are a few things you have to double-check because if you make the wrong decision the damage can be in the tens of thousands of dollars. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review those items and explore how to get them right.

The Science Behind Successfully Buying High-Vacancy Properties

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 08:00:00 -0600

There are many styles of turn-arounds, but one of the riskiest and most complex is buying a property that has extremely low occupancy. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the key elements to the successful purchase and turn-around of mobile home parks with high levels of vacancy.

The Role Of Luck

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 16:51:15 -0600

Do you have good luck or bad luck? Regardless of your answer, you’re probably wrong. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how buyers put way too much emphasis on “luck” without truly understanding its role in making money with mobile home parks.

Why Parks Fail

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0600

Mobile home parks have the lowest default rate of any real estate sector, but when they do fail it always seems to be due to the same factors. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the reasons why parks are sometimes unsuccessful and how to mitigate those risks.

How To Fix Common Survey Issues

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 12:37:06 -0600

With every mobile home park acquisition comes a survey. And with those surveys there are often issues to address. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the most common survey problems and what the typical methods are to fix them.

What's A "Stack" Deal?

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0600

There’s a new type of deal construction out there called the “stack”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore this type of structure and identify its strengths and weaknesses. With “creative dealmaking” the key to buying some communities, this might be an option for your next acquisition.

The $10 Billion Mobile Home Park Deal Explained

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0600

Discussions abound regarding the rumored $10 billion sale of YES communities to Brookfield, a Canadian REIT. While we don’t really know all the facts at this point, there are some certainties that this deal represents, and we’re going to explore what those items are in depth.

Helpful Information For Your Residents

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0600

Many park owners are also their resident’s news source – at least for a couple minutes a day. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how to provide timely tips and content to your community on a recurring basis.

Understanding Jeff Bezos' "Regret Minimization Model"

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:13:00 -0700

Besides founding the retail powerhouse Amazon, Jeff Bezos has recently been reflecting on some of his fundamental principles for success, of which the "Regret Minimization Model" is the most interesting. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review what this theory entails and apply that to the purchase of a mobile home park.

1999 Déjà Vu

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 07:30:00 -0700

There are some dangerous parallels between 1999 and current times. We all know that 1999 lead to the “Dot.Com Crash” but what may be developing currently could exceed that recession. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the similarities between 1999 and modern times, as well as predict what the impact on the mobile home park industry might be.

"80% Of Success Is Just Showing Up"

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:06:11 -0700

Woody Allen has never owned a mobile home park, but his quote is as true to the affordable housing industry as it is in Hollywood. Yet many mobile home parks suffer greatly by the actions of managers who fail to show up. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the failings of many managers along with strategies to correct these problems.

All About Back-up Contracts

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0700

Just because a mobile home park is under contract does not mean that you can’t still buy it – you just have to wait for the current buyer to drop the deal. And when that occurs you will have an advantage if you already have an active back-up contract. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review how back-up contracts work as well as some basic strategies to do them properly.

Using The Correct Terminology

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:27:39 -0700

The mobile home park industry is notorious for jargon that is either politically incorrect or meaningless. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore commonly used terms and what the correct versions of them should be.

Bad Manager Collateral Damage

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0700

A bad mobile home park manager is often like a cancer that can infect other organs, and you have to know where else to look when it turns out that your manager must be replaced. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review what needs to be investigated and fixed upon a manager change over, as well as how to proactively minimize the damage.

All About Market Gentrification

Frank Rolfe — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:05:21 -0700

In the cyclical nature of the American economy, even entire neighborhoods can recycle every so many years. And harnessing these shifts can be very profitable. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the conditions that create gentrification and how to monitor and spot them.

Bad Amenities

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:34:42 -0700

"Amenities" are defined as a "desirable or useful feature of a building or place". In the never ending desire of mobile home park owners to provide the highest quality of life for residents, new concepts are constantly being introduced – and many of them are terrible. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the world of bad amenities: features that do not provide a desirable impact on the community.

Finding Note Nirvana

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0700

Peace and tranquility is not often associated with lending, but the point is to always continue pressing forward towards that goal. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore methods to reduce stress and worry and mitigate the inherent risk of fickle lending markets.

Playing Chess With Your Vacant Lots

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:48:31 -0700

Imagine a mobile home park as a chess board and every vacant lot as an opportunity to make the right move towards your goal of maximizing park income, value, and ease of operations. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the time-proven methods to optimize your move on each and every vacant lot.

The Win/Win Of Connecting Residents To The Outside World

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:02:28 -0700

Mobile home parks are often like villages in which residents rarely tread beyond their familiar territory – yet there are huge benefits for park owners in helping to make their connection to the community at large. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how mobile home park owners can expand their residents’ support network.

What We Learned From The Great Chattel Collapse

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 07:30:00 -0700

Back in the late 1990s – a period in which few investors gave a second thought to mobile home parks – there occurred perhaps the industry’s greatest failure. Known as the “Great Chattel Collapse”, this horrific event resulted in a roughly 70% reduction in mobile home manufacturing and bankrupted many home lenders. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore what lead to this event and what the industry learned as a result.

How To Make Home Sales Easier

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:07:14 -0700

The demand for affordable housing is enormous, and most homes sell fast in today’s market. But if you’ve brought in a new or used home – and it’s not moving quickly enough – then there are some steps you can take to make it more desirable. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some of the lessons we’ve learned to help get homes out the door.

How To Beautify Even The Ugliest Properties

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:51:48 -0700

In bringing old mobile home parks back to life, a common challenge is how to use the existing pieces to create reasonable aesthetics. But some parks don’t even have any pieces to work with. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore available methods to make even the ugliest of properties attractive again.

Profiting From Two New Population Classifications

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:41:18 -0700

We used to have three different population classifications and now we have five. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how and why America added two new types of population classifications and how you can use that to your advantage in finding good mobile home parks to buy.

Using Your Frontage As A Marketing Tool

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0700

Most mobile home parks have a powerful marketing tool that is rarely used but highly effective – and nearly free of cost. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how to use your road frontage as a successful marketing opportunity on a number of fronts.

When – And When Not – To Splurge

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:37:05 -0700

Maybe you came into a windfall and want to invest a little more money than you budgeted. Or perhaps you want to test an extra enhancement to help your park break through to a new level. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review things you can do to get that extra edge – if you’re willing to pay for it – and some concepts that are always a waste of money.

Security Tips

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0600

Every park owner wants their residents to feel secure. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore options to enhance your park’s safety as well as concepts that have proven to be more of a disadvantage than a benefit.

Used Home Horror Stories And How To Avoid Them

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:39:52 -0600

Buying a used mobile home is supposed to be a positive step to fill a vacant lot. But sometimes it can rapidly spiral into a nightmare scenario. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review what can go wrong with a used home purchase as well as how to proactively guard against those issues.

Why Nobody Cares About Market Occupancy

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0600

In virtually every sector of real estate, a big focus of due diligence is market occupancy – except for mobile home parks. Why is that? In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the unique reasons that the occupancy of other parks is not always an accurate indication of demand and, for most buyers, is mostly ignored.

Why The Industry Is So Fragmented

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:11:50 -0600

There are around 44,000 mobile home parks in the U.S. yet only around 4,000 of these are owned by larger players – the most fragmented of any real estate sector. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the reasons why the “trailer park” industry has still not consolidated.

The Fake Occupancy Trap

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0600

The Fake Occupancy Trap Most investors think that there are only two classifications for any lot: vacant or occupied. But there’s also a third category that few talk about and we call “fake occupancy”. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the meaning behind this term and how you can prevent your mobile home park from falling into this trap.

The Utility Disruption Playbook

Frank Rolfe — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:04:11 -0600

Every property will, at some point, have a utility disruption. How you handle this eventuality is extremely important in mitigating the irritation of your residents. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some of the logical steps that can help you in better handling this inconvenience.

All About Loan Assumptions

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:13:39 -0600

Sometimes the best way to get a deal financed is simply to step into the shoes of the existing park owner. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the concept of “loan assumptions” and what you need to know about this often - overlooked option.

Forbidden Things

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:09:57 -0600

Buying and operating mobile home parks comes with many decisions that are made based on understanding the odds and risks. But there are some things that you must never do because the results can be so damaging that they might end your career. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review these forbidden things.

The Stages Of Turnaround Success

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 04 May 2026 06:00:00 -0600

Just like the recent Artemis launch, bringing an old mobile home park back to life involves successfully navigating a number of stages – each with a most basic purpose. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore these phases of a park turnaround and what you have to mainly focus on to be successful.

The Difference Between Suggestions, Requests And Demands

Frank Rolfe — Mon, 11 May 2026 06:00:00 -0600

A mobile home park is a bit of a political animal and you have to be able to interpret the degree of danger discussions with city hall bring to the table. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we're going to learn the differences between city hall suggestions, requests and demands.