Lonnie in other people's MH park

Lonnie in other people's MH park

Lexington, KY · Member since 2010 · 315 posts · 133 votes

I had a thought about doing lonnie deals in mobile home parks that you don't own.

My idea is this: there are plenty of old mobile homes around for cheap and ones that can be fixed up and "flipped" for relatively small amounts, there is a strong market of people who want to live in parks and people who can't get financing but want to "own" their own home, and owning and operating a MH park has a variety of maintenance issues and costs. Top that off with the fact that returns on lonnie's can be high and require relatively low startup capital - and i'd say it always feels nice to get to sell one home multiple times (if you get a defaulter).

I was thinking that MH park owners usually have a good bit of empty pad's - already hooked up with services and ready to go. They likely will want to collect all of the pad rent they can. I would work a deal with them to move mobile homes to their park - generally fixed up and nice, and lonnie them (or basically owner finance them) to a buyer and let the buyer pay the pad rent. I was thinking you may even be able to work a deal with the park owner that you pay no rent or a very very small pad rent if the home is empty, but the eventual buyer will pay full rent to be worked out with the park owner. You can argue that you're paying to move the homes and that your interests are aligned with the owner in that you, of course, want the home to be occupied as well.

This strategy would keep you from really doing any maintenance or having any holding cost or utilities. The key to success would be in finding park owner's to deal with, and starting one home at a time and finding a cheap home or a flipper, pay a grand or so (I think this is a reasonable estimate for in-state mobile home movers) to get it moved to the park - and then lonnie it.

I'm looking for low maintenance or variable expenses with high returns

Thoughts? Anyone tried a similar strategy?

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Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
15y

Yep, just be prepared to pay the pad rent and utilities when your deals go south and your buyer leaves...financing mobile homes as an investor fall under the SAFE Act, so might check with your state and see how it might effect you and your business,

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  • Real Estate Broker · Orlando, FL · Member since 2008 · 181 posts · 66 votes
    15y

    I have heard of some parks offering to pay to get the MH moved into their park. They realize that it will probably not ever leave once its there.

    Most people do lonnie deals in parks that they don't own.....Thats the whole plan. Find a cheap one from a motivated seller that doesn't have to be moved, buy it cheap & sell it will owner financing...

  • Lexington, KY · Member since 2010 · 315 posts · 133 votes
    15y

    Johnny,

    Thanks for the response. Yes, that's the idea.
    I'm not experienced with MH investment; But, it makes since that doing lonnie deals in parks you don't own is the norm then. Thanks for confirming my thoughts.

  • Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    15y

    Yep, just be prepared to pay the pad rent and utilities when your deals go south and your buyer leaves...financing mobile homes as an investor fall under the SAFE Act, so might check with your state and see how it might effect you and your business,

  • San Antonio, TX · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    15y

    Yes, I agree with Bill. You have to figure in your holding costs (as well as the laws in your area) especially with the turn with the economy.

    I think you're on the right track. Though, I do caution - it's not always about buying cheap homes. There are so many other factors to consider. For me, the most important is the neighborhood and the type of clientele it attracts. As long as you feel comfortable with the neighborhood and the clientele.

    Hope that helps!

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