RV Park Investing Boom

RV park investing has become increasingly popular among real estate investors. RV parks offer an excellent opportunity to diversify your portfolio and maximize profits. 

Paul Moore, Founder and Managing Partner of Wellings Capital, presented during the Royal Investing Summit explaining RV Investing and the lucrative lessons we can learn from the investment strategies of Warren Buffet, Sam Zell, and Blackstone.   

In this article, we'll explore why investing in RV parks is profitable for real estate investors.

RVs and RV Park Trends

RV park investing may be a solid addition to your portfolio because of the rising popularity of RVs. For instance: 

• RV ownership has increased 62% since 2001
• 11.2 million households own an RV, and 9.6 million more plan to buy an RV by 2026
• Camping is becoming increasingly popular
• RV camping is cheaper than traditional vacations

RVs are becoming increasingly popular due to the freedom and flexibility they offer. With an RV, you can explore new places, enjoy the great outdoors, and have home comforts wherever you go.

According to the Go RVing RV Owner Demographic Profile, Millennials are particularly drawn to RVs as they provide an affordable way to travel while still having access to modern amenities such as Wi-Fi (suitable for remote working) and air conditioning. Additionally, with peer-to-peer rental services on the rise, more people are discovering how convenient it is to rent an RV for their next adventure.

Why Invest In RV Parks and Manufactured Housing Communities?

RV parks have distinct advantages for an investor, including the following: 

• Rapid demand that exceeds supply
• The pandemic accelerated the trend of using RVs
• Highly fragmented
• Performed well during the recession and COVID
• Provide safe and affordable vacations
• Long runway for growth
• Barriers to entry make it less competitive than other types of investments

Mobile home park investing is an attractive option for real estate investors because of the following reasons: 

• Recession resistant and steady in all cycles
• Shrinking supply and an increased demand year over year
• The affordable housing crisis makes them popular
• Low tenant turnover
• Fragmented ownership by mom-and-pop owners that have value
• Diversifies your portfolio
• Low maintenance and capital expenses
• Less competition because of the stigma
• Have favorable tax policies

Surprise Factors For RV Growth

One surprise factor for RV growth is remote work. Living in an RV and remote working is becoming increasingly popular as more people seek the freedom to travel and work simultaneously. With the right resources, finding remote and freelance work while living in an RV is possible. 

Another surprising factor for RV growth is the proliferation of AirBnB, Uber, and other types of sharing economies. Two new websites make RVs more accessible to people: 

• RVShare
• Outdoorsy

What Are The Types Of RV Parks For Investing?

There are four types of RV Parks: 

1. Overnight and campground parks
2. Extended stay
3. Workforce housing
4. Destination parks

Overnight And Campground RV Parks

This type of RV park is for travelers on the move: 

• Usually a single-night stay, maybe two
• Near major thoroughfares or highway
• Convenient, but light on amenities

Extended Stay RV Parks

An extended stay park is for semi-permanent placement of an RV: 

• Tenants stay for a season, year, or multiple years
• Snowbird properties in the Southern U.S.
• The affordable housing crisis has accelerated the number of tenants in extended-stay parks

Workforce Housing RV Parks

This type of RV park is a bit more obscure and less common: 

• Popular among seasonal workers
• Commonly house construction, oil field, travel nurses
• Programs exist to connect workers with RV parks

Destination RV Park

A destination RV park caters to the population that visits RV parks for vacation: 

• Close access to national parks, amusement parks, lakes, and other tourist attractions
• The RV park is the destination 
• Heavy on amenities like pools, water parks, dog parks, lakes, and trails

There are significant value adds and abilities to enhance revenue by using: 

• Site expansion 
• Resort fees
• Merchandise 
• Rentals
• Food service

Destination parks carry major capital expenses and need staff. Thus it has significant barriers to entry and some risks associated with it. 

Key Takeaways

The number of people looking for ways to explore the outdoors and enjoy nature while still having access to modern amenities drives RVs and RV park growth. The proliferation of remote work and the impact of the housing crisis contributes to the popularity of RVs as well.  

RV park investing can be a great way to capitalize on this trend, as it provides an opportunity to offer a unique experience that combines the best of both worlds. With more people wanting to escape their everyday lives and explore the great outdoors, RV parks are becoming increasingly popular and can be a profitable investment.

Are you looking to invest in RV parks or have other questions about real estate investing? Join Royal Investing group mentoring to receive expert advice and strategies to help you navigate your real estate investing journey.