Mobile homes as AirBnb in Tampa?

[John Dersoe]

Feedback appreciated, because I must be waaay out of the loop. An investor/inspector that I used in Tampa took some time to speak to me regarding rental opportunities in Tampa/Clearwater/St. Pete etc. He claims he gets the best bang for his buck on bungalow type homes and mobile homes as short term "beach" tourist rentals, and they are easy to obtain, maintain and cheap. I heard him out, but still, at the end of the conversation I have doubts. I was under the impression that single family type, 2-3br, updated homes are my best bet.. like I have in NY. Now, I get it if it was a bungalow 1br.. but, mobile homes?! Who's buying and renting these things out? Is it even allowed? What do you guys think?

[Michael Haynes]

Hello John Dersoe, My friend started 30 years ago with me on one Flip house and now he has 90 Lots with Single and Doublewide Trailers, Manufactured Homes on single lots with their own well and septic and two small Trailer Parks. The problem with Mobile Homes is the high Lot rent. $600 a month and more, plus this and that to try to make a cheap rental pay off? That's why my friend looked for abandoned, foreclosed and in distress Mobile homes. He bought some that had trees growing up through the floor to fix up with my Handyman and rent. You used to be able to find them for $3000 and move them to single lots, install a well and septic and pay them off in a few years to turn them into a Cash Cow. Richard has Self Insured them forever, saving on the increasing Home Owners Insurance. His logic is that, "I own the land which has most of the Value." So, if the Big Bad Wolf blows my Mobile Home into the next County...find another and reinstall. He is also a hands on Landlord who collects all his own rents, all over Hillsborough County. He drives around with wads of Cash in his pocket and his reciept book. You start with single lots with Mobile or Manufactured Homes. Get a few and then you can go to the Bank and get Jumbo Loans to buy more lots to develop or maybe a Park. That's the progression of the business.