The Economics of Everyday Things 18. Mobile Home Parks
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Mar 2, 2026 
Paul Bradley, advocate for resident-owned communities and mobile home residents, and Frank Rolfe, investor and cofounder of Mobile Home University, discuss mobile home parks. They trace the history and scale of parks. They debate investor strategies, rising lot rents, infrastructure fixes, and resident land ownership. They cover resident cooperatives and market pressures reshaping parks.
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How Frank Rolfe Broke Into Mobile Home Parks
- Frank Rolfe bought his first mobile home park in Texas for $400,000 with a $10,000 down payment and built a large portfolio.
- He founded Mobile Home University and now owns over 250 parks across 25 states, teaching many of the top 100 owners.
Land Ownership Gives Park Owners Pricing Power
- Park owners buy land while residents typically own only the depreciating physical homes, creating a structural power imbalance.
- Most mobile homes are never moved (90%) because relocation is costly, so lot ownership grants owners pricing power to raise rents.
Lot Rents Have Spiked Since 2010
- Between 2010 and 2021 average lot rent rose from $382 to $593, a 55% increase, outpacing apartment rent growth.
- Some new owners doubled or tripled lot rents after buying parks because there are often no legal caps on increases.