Mobile Home Park Mastery
353 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 375 ratingsWelcome to the Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast where you will learn how to identify, evaluate, negotiate, perform due diligence on, finance, turn-around and operate mobile home parks! Your host is Frank Rolfe, the 5th largest mobile home park owner in the United State with his partner Dave Reynolds. Together, they also own and operate Mobile Home University, the leading educational website for both new and experienced mobile home park investors!
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Episodes
Why Mobile Home Park Owners Are Better At Governing Than The Government Itself
July 29, 2019 04:00 - 12 minutes - 17.3 MBPerhaps 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.
Gearing Up For The Political Season
July 22, 2019 04:00 - 13 minutes - 18.3 MBDemocratic 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 w...
There’s Nothing “Greener” Than Mobile Home Parks
July 15, 2019 04:00 - 9 minutes - 13.6 MBWhile 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?
Our 100th Anniversary Special
July 08, 2019 04:00 - 22 minutes - 31.3 MBA 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 i...
Making Sense Of Interest Rates On Mobile Homes And Mobile Home Parks
July 01, 2019 01:00 - 13 minutes - 18.1 MBWebster’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 hav...
What Would Joanna Gaines Say?
June 24, 2019 04:00 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MBWe’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 s...
The Wide Range Of Customers In Mobile Home Parks
June 17, 2019 04:00 - 11 minutes - 15.6 MBDo 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.
The Real Political Paths To Improving Affordable Housing In Mobile Home Parks
June 10, 2019 04:00 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBIf 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 hea...
Residents Gaming The System And How To Protect Yourself
June 03, 2019 04:00 - 16 minutes - 15.6 MBBy 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.
All About Determining Park Horsepower
May 27, 2019 04:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBThe 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 m...
Trailer Park Chic – The Latest Trends
May 20, 2019 04:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBThe 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.
Trailer Park Archaeology
May 13, 2019 04:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBThe 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.
Mobile Home Lessons Learned From Great History Books
May 06, 2019 04:00 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBHistory 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 ...
Mobile Home Lessons Learned From Great Biographical Books
April 29, 2019 19:00 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBThere’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 Military Books
April 22, 2019 04:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBPatton, 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 i...
Mobile Home Lessons Learned From Great Business Books
April 15, 2019 04:00 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBBooks 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.
Industry Trivia From The 1970s To The Modern Era
April 08, 2019 04:00 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBThe 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 d...
Industry Trivia From The 1950s To 1960s
April 01, 2019 04:00 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBElvis 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.
Interesting Industry Trivia From The 1920’s To 1940’s
March 25, 2019 04:00 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBThe 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 und...
Perfect Peace Of Mind
March 18, 2019 04:00 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBWe’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.
Perfect Customer Retention
March 11, 2019 04:00 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBThere’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 Employee Productivity
March 04, 2019 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBYou 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 Protection From Liability Risks
February 25, 2019 05:00 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBIt’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 Adherence To Budget
February 18, 2019 05:00 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBA 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 Property Condition
February 11, 2019 05:00 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBThere’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 Home Renovations
February 04, 2019 05:00 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBYou 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 Occupancy
January 28, 2019 05:00 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBIn 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 Collections
January 21, 2019 05:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBIn 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.
Dealing With Animals
January 14, 2019 05:00 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBThe 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.
Breaking The Mental Barriers About Managing Parks
January 07, 2019 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBSome 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.
Breaking Through Mental Barriers To Buying Parks
December 31, 2018 05:00 - 13 minutes - 11.9 MBSome 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 Through The Stigmas About Our Business Model
December 24, 2018 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBAre 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 The Stereotypes About Our Customers
December 17, 2018 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBAre 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.
Market Fails
December 10, 2018 05:00 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBReal 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. ...
Financing Failures
December 03, 2018 05:00 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBReal 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,...
Big Management Fails
November 26, 2018 05:00 - 14 minutes - 13.4 MBEven 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.
Occupancy Fails
November 19, 2018 05:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBWhen 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 t...
Lessons Learned From Failed Mobile Home Parks
November 12, 2018 05:00 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBWebster’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 ...
The Dirty Job Of Cleaning Up After Disasters
November 05, 2018 05:00 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBTornadoes. 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.
Getting Dirty With City Government
October 29, 2018 04:00 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBHow 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 Managing Water And Sewer
October 22, 2018 04:00 - 16 minutes - 15 MBNothing 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 ...
The Dirty Job Of Park-Owned Homes
October 15, 2018 04:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MB“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.
Dirty Jobs Episode Two: Rules Violations
October 08, 2018 04:00 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBHow 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.
Dirty Jobs Episode One: Collections
October 01, 2018 04:00 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBIn 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.
The Jekyll & Hyde Nature Of Economics In Deal Evaluation
September 24, 2018 04:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBNothing 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 h...
The Jekyll & Hyde Personality of Utilities
September 17, 2018 04:00 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBEvery 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 fo...
Jekyll & Hyde – The Impact Of Slight Changes In Deal Variables
September 10, 2018 04:00 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBWe 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 tur...
Mobile Home Park Noblesse Oblige
September 03, 2018 04:00 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBNoblesse 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...
Putting An End To Waste
August 27, 2018 04:00 - 15 minutes - 14 MBThere’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...
Resident Tough Love
August 20, 2018 04:00 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBSometimes 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.