The May 2023 Commercial Real Estate Investing Newsletter

Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast: Episode 297 - The Pros And Cons of Heavy Lift Turn-Arounds

One of the most profitable segments of the mobile home park business is the “heavy lift” turn-around. But it’s definitely not the right choice for every investor and comes with a slate of potential pitfalls. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to drill down on the good and bad aspects of bringing nearly dead parks back to life.

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How Abraham Built a 43 Park Empire in Just 5 Years

We interviewed Abraham Anderson a while back when he had become the 100th largest Mobile Home Park Owner. Now he’s at 2,600 lots with 43 parks purchased!

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RV Park Mastery Podcast: Episode 79 - The Options When A Seller Wants Out Of Their Contract

When a seller signs a contract, the general expectation is that they will go through with it. But what do you do when the seller has second thoughts and later wants you to render the agreement null and void? That the focus of this RV Park Mastery podcast, in which we review the options when this circumstance may arise.

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Self Storage University Podcast: Episode 77 - The Difference Between An Amateur And A Professional

It’s one thing to think about self-storage investing and another to actually do it. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the methods the pros use to find deals, analyze them, get them financed and operate them. If you want to succeed at self-storage investing, this podcast reviews the systems that work.

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Billboard Mastery Podcast: Episode 73 - Fixed Vs. Percentage Ground Rent

How should you pay the property owner for allowing you to build and operate a billboard on their land? There’s two basic methods: 1) percentage of revenue or 2) flat amount. But how do you select the right option? In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore the variables to constructing a fair deal for all parties.

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Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast: Episode 296 - Understanding Zoning Compliance

Since most cities hate mobile home parks, it’s imperative that you understand your rights under zoning. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the components of a certificate of zoning compliance as well as other issues that have an impact on your rights to operate.

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A Tribute to Sam Zell: America’s #1 Mobile Home Park Owner

We have been huge fans of Sam Zell for decades – even before he entered the mobile home park business in the 1990s. We believe that Zell is the cause of many of the benefits that all mobile home park owners share today.

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Beware of “Ghost Town” Parks

One of the scariest type of parks are the “ghost towns” – a situation where you have a bunch of trailers that are completely abandoned. This is a video I shot of one of these mobile home parks recently.

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Selecting A Market To Buy In with Jeremiah Boucher

"Selecting A Market To Buy In" explores the critical factors behind successful self-storage facilities. Presented by Jeremiah Boucher, this video sheds light on the key considerations for investors and enthusiasts in the industry.

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Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast: Episode 295 - Amenity Nightmares

Across America, mobile home park owners are in a race to provide more amenities for residents to increase the perception of “value” for their rent. But not all amenities are created equal. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review some of the worst amenities you can build, as well as provide caution on the location of some of the good ones.

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How to Increase the Value of Your Self-Storage Facility

Owning a self-storage facility can be a lucrative investment, but to maximize its potential, it's crucial to find ways to increase its value. In this blog post, we will discuss various strategies to achieve this, including revenue management, improving the appearance of the asset, marketing, cost reduction, utilizing technology, and expanding the asset.

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Capitalizing on Current Opportunities in the Billboard Advertising Industry

As someone who has been in the billboard business for decades, I am often asked how I would approach entering the industry today, considering the rapid changes and developments. Here are some of the key focus areas and cautionary points for those looking to venture into the billboard advertising business in the present landscape

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Uncovering the Truth: Enhancing Your RV Park Oversight Through Regular Mystery Shopping

We have dedicated significant effort to refining our mystery shopping approach for evaluating our managers. By simulating a customer's experience, mystery shopping provides valuable insights into how your employees interact with prospective clients. We categorize our evaluations to cover the entire customer journey, enabling us to pinpoint any shortcomings that may be hindering your RV park's revenue potential.

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Can We Talk? Using Conversations to Avoid Buying and Environmental Problem

Over the decades we have found holding conversations to be one of the most effective investigative tools. So often with Phase I Environmental Assessments, the critical information is not documented anywhere; rather, it is held in the memories of those familiar with the property. No database search, review of documents or site inspection will grant you access to this information. You only gain access by talking to people.

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Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast: Episode 294 - A Primer On Housing Laws

The simple “trailer” becomes a ball of complexity when you examine the laws governing remodeling and selling these units. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the basic rules on getting new and used mobile homes refurbished and sold so you can stay on the right side of federal, state and local laws.

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0 to 80 in 4 Years: The Amazing Story of Keaton from Wisconsin

We had never had a guest that grew at such phenomenal speed as Keaton from Wisconsin. He started buying mobile home parks in 2019 and had already amassed nearly 80 properties!

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RV Park Mastery Podcast: Episode 78 - Property Tax Strategies

Every RV Park in America gets an annual tax bill – but how you approach it makes all the difference. In this RV Park Mastery podcast we’re going to review the normal strategies that are employed to try and address your property tax obligations.

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Self Storage University Podcast: Episode 76 - All About On-line Listings

One of the first places that buyers typically look for self-storage facilities are on-line listing services, such as Loopnet.com. But this is actually one of the least productive sources, coming in last against brokers, cold-calling and direct mail. Nevertheless, there are deals to be found using this high-tech option – if you know how the process works. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore on-line listings from a buyer’s perspective.

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Billboard Mastery Podcast: Episode 72 - Taking Action Responsibly

There’s an old adage “think like a person of action and act like a person of thought”. A key part of that theorem is the concept of taking action. But how do you do that responsibly and minimize risk and embarrassment? In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to review some strategies to this effectively.

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How To Do a Periodic Inspection of an RV Park

In this video, Frank Rolfe gives his tips on doing inspections of RV parks while driving out to do one himself. t’s more than just checking on your property!

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Driving Down The Road And Talking About Billboards

Frank Rolfe discusses how the billboard business works while driving past a wide assortment of outdoor advertising signs.

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Mobile Home Park Mastery Podcast: Episode 293 - Good Fear Vs. Bad Fear

Webster’s defines “fear” as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous and likely to cause pain, or a threat.” However, how you react to fear can be either hugely beneficial or a roadblock that can ruin your future. In this Mobile Home Park Mastery podcast we’re going to explore how fear can be good or bad, and why its existence can be an important tool to being a successful mobile home park investor.

Listen To Episode 293