Welcome back to the Mobile Home Park Lawyer Podcast! In this solo episode, Ferd Neman breaks down a due diligence blind spot that quietly wrecks otherwise “great” mobile home park deals: the dirt isn’t just the soil. It’s the title, easements, access, encroachments, and every recorded (and unrecorded) mistake tied to that land.

Ferd walks through real examples where buyers relied on “we’ve never had a problem” and didn’t realize that usually just means nobody looked. From landlocked access scenarios and life-safety setbacks that can block infill, to shared sewer obligations, drainage easements, and boundary issues that can kill licensing, Ferd explains why title commitments and exception documents are where the real risk lives.

He also gets practical about what serious operators should do: order the right survey, overlay it with the title commitment, and think 3–5 years ahead—because these issues don’t appear out of nowhere. They show up when you expand, refinance, sell, or when a neighbor decides to get hostile.

Tune in now to learn how smart buyers protect themselves before the deal turns into an expensive lesson.

Highlights of the episode:

00:32 – “Risk in dirt”

01:47 – Skipping surveys

03:15 – Title vs survey

04:11 – Missing access easement

05:11 – Life safety trumps

06:05 – Highway setback fight

07:00 – Easement types

08:07 – Drainage easement costs

09:16 – License blocked

11:10 – DOT easement story

13:47 – Bank lawyers read

14:01 – Portfolio deal delay

16:43 – Overlay and verify

17:36 – Problems show later

20:11 – Control the asset

20:51 – Due diligence insurance

22:52 – Verify, don’t trust

Connecting with MHP Law:

Website: https://themobilehomelawyer.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Mobile-Home-Park-Lawyer-103814958118069

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themhplawyer-ferdniemann6923147/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themhplawyer

#MobileHomePark #MHPInvesting #RealEstateDueDiligence #TitleReview #Easements #Survey #CommercialRealEstate #PropertyManagement #ParkAcquisitions #RiskManagement

Welcome back to the Mobile Home Park Lawyer Podcast! In this episode, Ferd Niemann sits down with Andy Conlin, Executive Director of the Iowa Manufactured Housing Association, to unpack the political and regulatory forces quietly reshaping manufactured housing across the U.S. Andy draws on more than two decades in government relations to explain why the biggest risks facing park owners aren’t coming from Washington, D.C., but from state capitols. The discussion covers rent control, right of first refusal laws, resident organizing, media narratives, and why manufactured housing has become a prime target in housing policy debates. Ferd and Andy break down what actually moves the needle for operators: working through state manufactured housing associations, educating citizen legislators, communicating transparently with residents, and avoiding rent strategies that unintentionally trigger political scrutiny. Real-world examples show how aggressive rent increases, poorly paced capital recovery, or even well-meaning park improvements can invite regulatory backlash.

Whether you own a single community or operate across multiple states, this episode gives you a practical framework for understanding how housing policy is formed—and how to protect your assets while still running profitable, well-managed parks. Tune in now to see how smart operators stay ahead of regulation instead of reacting to it.

Highlights of the episode: 00:36 – Introducing Andy Conlin 01:00 – Background in lobbying & manufactured housing 04:10 – Why manufactured housing is a political target 06:22 – Rent control & right of first refusal explained 07:54 – Why state capitols matter more than D.C. 09:42 – Citizen legislators & policy education 12:07 – Why rent control keeps resurfacing 13:27 – The role of state MH associations 15:00 – Evictions & quiet regulatory changes 17:13 – Positive momentum in manufactured housing 18:45 – Pushback in blue states 20:07 – Media narratives & resident organizing 23:21 – Permits, agencies & operational friction 24:32 – When changing the law is the answer 25:49 – Why owners must tell their story 28:31 – Resident communication & trust 29:38 – Annual rent increases vs. shock pricing 31:50 – Managing beyond the spreadsheet 33:27 – Market rent vs. political reality 36:54 – Rent control enforcement challenges 38:14 – Risk for newer, smaller operators 40:36 – Iowa’s approach to MH advocacy 41:32 – How to get involved & resources

Connecting with MHP Law: Website: https://themobilehomelawyer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Mobile-Home-Park-Lawyer-103814958118069 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themhplawyer-ferdniemann6923147/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themhplawyer

Connecting with Guest: Website: https://www.iamha.org/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewconlin/

#MobileHomePark #MHPInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #BankingInsights #CommercialLending #MobileHomeParkFinancing #PropertyManagement #Underwriting #LoanApproval #ParkAcquisitions

Welcome back to the Mobile Home Park Lawyer Podcast! In this episode, Ferd sits down with Austin Fee of Bank of Springfield, a Kansas City–based lender with deep experience in commercial and mobile home park financing. Austin shares how he evaluates deals, what banks look for in today’s lending environment, and how borrowers can position themselves for smoother approvals and better terms.

Ferd and Austin dive into the nuts and bolts of underwriting—including down payment expectations, amortization norms, rate structures, committee approvals, deposit requirements, guarantor strength, and seller financing. Austin explains how banks think about risk, when they stretch on pricing, how relationships influence renewals, why communication matters, and how borrowers can “sell the deal” to help lenders champion it internally. The conversation also covers market shifts in 2025, tightening credit, committee dynamics, and why small deals often open the door to long-term lending relationships.

Whether you’re approaching your first bank, planning a refinance, raising capital, or navigating infill and turnaround projects, this episode gives you clear, practical insight into how lenders think—and how to get more of your deals across the finish line. Tune in now to understand today’s lending landscape and build stronger banking relationships that support your long-term growth.

Highlights of the episode: 00:36 – Introducing Austin Fee 03:17 – Market differences 05:29 – Selling your deal 07:06 – How rates are priced 10:26 – Value-add flexibility 12:06 – Guarantee importance 17:17 – Seller financing blends 20:07 – Net worth ranges 23:12 – Bank-friendly documents 27:13 – Performance vs. projections 28:08 – Communication matters 35:33 – When deals get vetoed 37:23 – Relationship-driven lending 39:22 – Trust in banking 40:03 – Packaging your loan 42:35 – Document requirements 45:40 – Minimum deal size 46:58 – Credit tightening 48:47 – Customer scoring 49:45 – Relationship value 50:01 – Lending states & contact info

Connecting with MHP Law: Website: https://themobilehomelawyer.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Mobile-Home-Park-Lawyer-103814958118069 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themhplawyer-ferdniemann6923147/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themhplawyer

Connecting with Guest: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-fee-/

#MobileHomePark #MHPInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #BankingInsights #CommercialLending #MobileHomeParkFinancing #PropertyManagement #Underwriting #LoanApproval #ParkAcquisitions