Private Equity Firms Buying Mobile Home Parks Drive Up Rents and Eviction Risks

Summary

The article examines how private equity firms are increasingly buying up mobile home parks (also called manufactured home parks or trailer parks), leading to significant rent increases and eviction risks for residents. Over the past decade, rents in these parks have risen 45% according to census data. Once a park is sold to private equity, the risk of eviction rises significantly in the following year. This trend is devastating for residents who often can't afford to move, as rising lot rents can mean losing everything. The article highlights how one of America's most affordable paths to homeownership is being eroded by investment firms seeking profits from vulnerable populations.