Cynthia Craft since you live in Detroit, look for areas you know you can afford, have potential, and can attract solid tenants.

Best option is a HELOC.You may want to look elsewhere to invest. 300K homes will not have positive cash flow and remote properties attract very low quality tenants.

I don't know your area *super* well but my impression is that there aren't major tourist destinations that will attract a huge stream of visitors.

However I do want to make the units attractive so I can get quality tenants.  

In sum, our neighborhood K-8 schools are attracting families and catalyzing new development, but the selective enrollment system is pushing these same families out to the suburbs.

It takes work to develop land, just as it would to develop storage units.The upside is that having a larger MHP makes it more attractive to investors and will result in a better resale value.  

Make sure it is an attractive property. 

So  Lady Vehrs.Don't be so eager to "learn from you all" there!

@Tony Castronovo, I think the option of using the lady who is already managing a property nearby could be good.

Although I did have a lady recently who swore up and down that she was a great tenant and everything would be fine only to have an eviction and two judgements come up.