Not so that I can mark up the costs and pad the job, but so that I have control over making sure that the materials are to specs.

I would have to put so much padding into the rent that nobody would rent it.

If you need to infill 30 pads, it will take you 3-5 years and will take $6ook+ in capital for the homes along, never mind the working capital needed to run the park, and the cash needed for CapEx.

Account ClosedMost lenders are not going to use revenues from owned homes... they are looking at cash flow from the pads. 

Just have some padding and take risks!

If you want to hold you should just buy from a turnkey and pay the little extra padding to get the full service as though you think you will save money, in the long run you will not. 

Take the Pad Split idea for easy reference.

Broken down mobiles have a hidden value because to put in water, electric, a concrete pad and a septic tank will easily run you $30,000.

"On grade" is the typical construction methodology that you are all used to where forms are built for the slab and poured onto the graded dirt pad, this is in contrast to "podium" where the cars park underneath in a concrete garage, and another type is high rise construction.

Tim,We started with stuff off Craigslist and then have replaced most things with new for our Lake vacation rental on Homeaway.comYou might not need as high end of stuff if you are doing the Bed and Breakfast route.You can do Shabby Sheik for either by refinishing furniture off Craigslist.I would buy nice new mattresses and put mattress pads on them to protect them.