Thanks for all who answered my earlier post--good info but not really what I was looking for.

-DJ yes I have read BOTH Lonnie's books DoW and Making Money w/MHs--about 10 YEARS ago! The problem is not KNOWING what to do, I GET IT.

The problem is there doesn't seem to BE ANY MHs on private land to buy in my area. I am only finding MHs in parks, or areas controlled by HOAs where the owner must obey all their rules and pay monthly fees (not lot rent) but still monthly fees. All you folks seem to be able to find/buy private land w/MHs on it. I thought maybe there was some secret I don't know.

I also thought if I could NOT buy the priv land WITH the MH on it, I might fall back to a secondary choice(?). I inquired about the cost of buying raw land and paying for the infrastructure but looks like that cost is closer to $12000 (not $5000) NOT including the cost of the land or the MH or the cost of transport and setup. (HUH?)

You may have to look in other areas to do this. Here in Methlandia trailers on lots are the norm. The days of getting one for $10-15,000 are gone, now more like $35 and up. But you don't want to deal with the tenant pool here. Even I don't.

In my younger days I had what I STILL think is a great plan. In Florida I was going to buy like 5 acres (all I could afford then). I was going to get it zoned and approved for high density trailers - "manufactured homes..." I was going to run a bulldozer in a big "U" down the middle and gravel a road in place. Then either put in a sewer plant or pipe to city lines. Add in electric conduit in the ground, some gravel pads, build a bunch of picnic tables, sheds and awnings. And "wallah" instant trailer park.

But, instead of trying to develop like 80 spaces at once I was going to start with like 5. Back then - mid 80's - there were free trailers all over the south. I was going to buy an old semi and hire a driver to haul the carcasses back to the park. There we'd recondition them on the lots and then SELL the trailers, but not the land.

I still think this can be done in the right area. Get free or very cheap trailers, rehab (about $5-8K) sell them on the lots for $20,000 - collect lot rent. When they default on the trailer or lot rent, repo the trailer, recondition and resell.

With my health no so good now I won't be doing that, but a younger person could make their fortune I think.

It's a case of NIMBY, Lynda. No one wants to live next door to a trailer so they are relegated to the outskirts of the worst parts of town, and also way out in the country.

Florida still boasts some nice trailer parks, but they are cash cows and probably $$$$$$$$$$$.

Yes, LTD, that's basically what I wanted to do. But you have to find them in order to buy them. I guess I'll have to look at the areas outside town--on the way to another towns--sometimes the in between areas have less oversight. But that shoots my rule of buying within 30 minutes of your home. OK, so I will now look farther field before I give upon this. Cross your fingers,everyone.