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InvestingPublished August 28, 2025
Your Guide to Mobile Home Investing in Greenville, SC and the Upstate
Your Guide to Mobile Home Investing in Greenville, SC and the Upstate
Are you looking to expand your real estate portfolio in the thriving Upstate of South Carolina? Mobile home investing in Greenville, SC, and the surrounding region can be a lucrative strategy for savvy investors. This guide, inspired by my recent presentation. As an investment advisor and realtor with Adam Taylor & Team, I delve into the essentials of the mobile home market and how you can add value in the Greenville area. And if your looking to get started or have any more questions, connect with me!
Mobile Homes vs. Manufactured Homes vs. Modular Homes
First, let's clarify the key terms in the Upstate SC housing market.
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Mobile homes were built before 1976, before the HUD Code was established.
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Manufactured homes are post-1976 homes that adhere to the HUD Code. Built on a steel chassis, they are designed to be movable.
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Modular homes follow state and local building codes, are built in sections, and are placed on a permanent foundation, just like a traditional stick-built home in Greenville or the Upstate.
Titled vs. De-Titled Mobile Homes
Understanding the legal status of a mobile home is crucial for any real estate investor in South Carolina.
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Titled mobile homes are considered personal property, transferred with a vehicle title.
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De-titled mobile homes are legally joined with the land and are considered real estate. They must be on a permanent foundation, and are transferred with the property's deed, making them more attractive for traditional real estate financing.
Rented Land: A Key Investment Factor in Greenville
Many mobile homes in the Upstate are on rented land. As an investor, it's vital to know the responsibilities of both parties.
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The Mobile Home Owner is responsible for the home itself, including the structure, roof, and internal systems. They need mobile home insurance, not homeowner's insurance.
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The Landlord or Park Owner is responsible for the land and park infrastructure, such as utilities up to the home's connection point, and common areas.
Adding Value and Finding Opportunities in the Greenville Mobile Home Market
For mobile home park owners in Greenville and across the Upstate, a vacant lot represents lost income. As an investor, you can create significant value and cash flow by providing solutions.
Here are three ways you can succeed in the Upstate SC real estate market by focusing on mobile homes:
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Fill a vacant pad. Buy or move a used mobile home onto an empty lot in an Upstate mobile home park and sell it on a payment plan. This instantly creates lot rent for the park owner.
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Acquire a distressed home. Find and rehab a mobile home in poor condition and then sell or rent it out. This converts a "zero" into a cash-flowing asset, a great strategy for real estate investors in Greenville seeking high ROI.
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Partner with the park owner. Explore lot-fill programs where you place homes in their park. This could lead to a reduced lot rent for you until your investment is paid back.
By focusing on these value-add strategies, you can capitalize on the growing demand for affordable housing and the robust real estate market in Greenville and the Upstate of South Carolina.
