In the ever-changing world of real estate investing, asset classes rise and fall with shifting markets. Yet, according to real estate veteran Kevin Bupp, one asset continuously proves its value, resilience, and scalability: mobile home parks. On a recent episode of the Raising Private Money podcast with Jay Conner, The Private Money Authority, Kevin Bupp shared his extensive experience, including raising over $250 million in private capital, and revealed what makes mobile home parks a standout investment opportunity.
The Unexpected Journey to Mobile Home Parks
Kevin Bupp’s real estate journey began at age 19. Like many, he poured his energy into single-family rentals, building an impressive portfolio of 22 properties by his mid-20s. He tasted success but also felt the sting of the 2008 market crash, when he lost nearly everything.
Reflecting on that pivotal period, Kevin noted how inefficiencies in managing scattered single-family rentals, compounded by the inefficiency of technology at the time, exposed his business to excessive risk. The crash forced him to reevaluate, rebuild smarter, and ultimately, seek out asset classes offering not just cash flow and efficiency, but also resilience. This search led Kevin to mobile home parks.
Why Mobile Home Parks Offer Superior Investment Benefits
- Recession Resistance
One of the central appeals of mobile home parks is their stability during economic downturns. Historically, demand for affordable housing rises when the economy struggles. Mobile home parks cater directly to this need, providing low-cost living options that are in constant demand, regardless of market cycles.
As Kevin explained, even during periods when single-family home rents fell, mobile home parks remained relatively stable. Residents of these communities rarely leave; replacing or moving a mobile home is expensive, creating natural “stickiness” and consistent occupancy for park owners.
- Operational Efficiency & Scalability
Unlike single-family rentals spread across a wide geographic area, each with its operational quirks, a well-managed mobile home park can comprise dozens or even hundreds of income-producing units on one property. Kevin cited his company’s experience, scaling from a 34-lot park to properties holding over 700 sites, allowing rapid expansion without proportional increases in overhead.
Operationally, many residents in mobile home parks own their homes and simply rent the lots, reducing maintenance costs and management headaches for the investor. This model allows investors to focus on the land and common infrastructure, not individual unit repairs.
- Barriers to Entry and Limited Competition
Municipalities often resist the development of new mobile home parks due to lingering social stigma and zoning challenges. This makes existing parks more valuable over time, insulating owners from the risk of market oversupply. As Kevin put it, many parks were built decades ago and are still held by the original owners. Buying these properties often means acquiring from “mom and pop” operators, frequently below market value.
- Attractive Financing and Creative Purchasing Options
Kevin detailed how long-term relationships with owners and a reputation for fair, reliable purchases lead to creative financing opportunities, including owner financing with favorable terms, further improving margins and investor returns.
The Role of Private Money and Building Investor Relationships
A core theme of Kevin’s discussion was raising and leveraging private capital to fuel growth. He emphasized the importance of sharing real results transparently, whether in networking groups, social media, or his podcast, as a magnet for investor interest. Kevin’s approach is simple: prove success, speak openly about your business, and organically attract interest from those seeking passive real estate returns.
Events such as investor appreciation gatherings, frequent direct communication, and sharing live case studies ensure investors feel like true partners, not just silent financiers. As a result, referrals from satisfied investors have become his company’s most consistent source of new capital.
Conclusion
Mobile home parks may not be the flashiest asset in real estate, but as Kevin Bupp demonstrated, their blend of recession resistance, management efficiency, high demand, and funding opportunities makes them a top choice for building long-term wealth. Whether you’re an active investor or seeking passive income, this “underdog” class holds powerful potential, especially when guided by experienced operators and a proven, people-first approach to private money.
10 Discussion Questions from this Episode:
- Kevin Bupp discusses the transition from single-family rentals to mobile home parks. What do you think are the main advantages and challenges he faced in making this shift?
- How does Kevin’s experience with the 2008 financial crisis shape his current investment strategies in real estate?
- Kevin mentions the importance of transparency and communication in raising private money. How can this approach be applied to other areas of business?
- In the podcast, Kevin talks about using social media and other platforms for sharing his journey. How can real estate investors leverage digital platforms effectively in today’s market?
- Discuss the role of diversification in Sunrise Capital Investors’ fund strategy. How does it benefit or present challenges to investors?
- Kevin explores the concept of “going deeper” with existing investors. What are some techniques businesses can use to strengthen relationships with their current investor base?
- How does Kevin’s idea of hosting investor appreciation events help in building trust and potentially increasing investments?
- Kevin Bupp shared his journey of financial loss and recovery. What lessons can new investors learn from his experience of rebuilding his real estate empire?
- How does Kevin Bupp’s approach to private money, by proving concepts before seeking external investments, affect investor confidence?
- Reflect on the types of educational resources (like Kevin’s book or webinars) that real estate investors should seek to improve their knowledge and skills in the industry.
Fun facts that were revealed in the episode:
- From Rock Bottom to Raising Millions: Kevin Bupp openly shared that after the 2008 market crash, he lost virtually everything he had built in his real estate career and had to restart from scratch, with just $75,000 and bad credit. Despite the setback, he rebuilt his business and has since raised over $250 million in private money for real estate deals!
- Scaling Up, Literally: The very first mobile home park Kevin purchased after the crash had just 34 spaces. Today, the largest park he’s acquired boasts a jaw-dropping 738 spaces, showing just how scalable and expansive this asset class can be when you stick to your niche.
- Pitching Investors at Happy Hour (and It Works!): One of Kevin’s most effective fundraising strategies is simply talking about his deals and successes at networking events, on social media, and even at in-person appreciation events—cocktails included. He’s found that being open, genuine, and sharing real stories about his parks is the key to attracting private investors—no hard pitching necessary!
Timestamps:
00:01 Top Real Estate Investments
03:54 Real Estate Journey and Resilience
08:58 Multifamily Real Estate Transition
13:02 Podcast Insights on Real Estate Journey
13:44 “Effective Real Estate Networking Methods”
19:30 Investor Engagement: Building Relationships
22:27 Diversified Real Estate Investment Fund
23:19 Long-Term Real Estate Success
22:00 Connect with Kevin Bupp
https://www.InvestWithSunrise.com
27:30 Kevin Bupp’s Book: “The Cashflow Investor”
https://www.KevinBupp.com/FreeBook
28:40 Effective Networking Strategies
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