RV Parks & Campgrounds

John Payne buys RV parks & campgrounds.

Former loan officer, operator, and lifelong RV-park guy. I buy with cash or flexible terms — which means I can close on parks when a bank won't touch them. If you're a broker or a seller vetting me before we talk numbers, you're in the right place.

Get in touch For brokers
John Payne, RV park buyer

Let's talk.

Broker with a deal, or an owner thinking about selling — tell me a bit about it below. It comes straight to me and I get back to you.

Who I am.

I grew up around RV parks — my dad was an RV traveler and took me to parks my whole childhood, so this asset class is home ground for me. Professionally I've worn the hats that matter here: I was a loan officer, I built and ran an SEO company, and I now run my own AI firm. That mix means I understand financing from the inside, I know how to drive demand to a property, and I build the systems that keep a park running clean — reservations, customer service, and positioning for where the industry is heading.

My aim is simple: buy good parks, operate them well, and be a real value-add to the people I work with.

John Payne working a deal

My buyer box.

If your deal fits this, I want to hear about it. If it's close, reach out anyway — I'd rather look than miss it.

Primary focus
RV parks & campgrounds
Sweet spot
~$2.3M–$2.9M — and bigger when the terms are right
Regions
CA, AZ, TX & the Southeast (GA, NC, SC) — open to the right deal anywhere
Deal types
Cash, seller financing, and flexible terms — structure that works for you

My sweet spot is the $2.3M–$2.9M range — usually 60–120 sites with real upside — but I'll go bigger when the cash flow is real and the structure makes sense. What I care about is the cash flow and the terms more than the price tag. And parks aren't a hard fence: if you've got a cash-flowing commercial deal that's close, bring it — I'd rather look than miss it.

What I bring to the table.

Here's the substance my partners and I bring to every deal we look at:

I actually close

Former loan officer, and I keep a working list of the lenders who actually fund parks and campgrounds — a niche most banks won't touch. I already know who finances these deals, so we get to the closing table instead of stalling out in escrow.

An RV-park data engine

I built and operate a database of tens of thousands of active RV parks and campgrounds — the same infrastructure I run daily to source and evaluate deals.

Repeatable process

Every deal runs the same disciplined underwriting and due-diligence checklist — I rebuild the numbers, I don't take a straight-lined P&L at face value. Brokers get a reliable, consistent counterparty.

A vetted team

My partners and I work with a trusted transaction coordinator, lender, and attorney — the bench that closes deals cleanly and protects everyone at the table.

Your note stays safe

If you carry financing, your payments depend on the park performing. I ran an SEO company and now an AI firm — I bring the demand generation, reservations, and back-office systems that keep sites full and the place running, so your note gets paid and your property stays in good hands.

Operator's mindset

This is personal ground for me. I buy parks to hold and run them, and to make them better — which is exactly why I'm a straight, reliable counterparty at the table.

My process after you share a deal.

You should know exactly what you're walking into before you hand over anything. Here's how I work:

You reach out

Send me the basics — location, asking price, and whatever high-level numbers you have. A quick email or call is enough to start.

NDA if you need one

If you or your seller want a signed NDA before financials change hands, say the word — I sign one same-day, no friction. Your seller's information stays protected.

I review fast

Give me a real packet — T12 P&L, current rent roll, and recent occupancy at minimum — and I'll come back to you quickly with honest feedback and a direction. Full request list is in the brokers section below.

Clear answer, either way

If it's a fit, I'll tell you how I'd structure an offer — cash or flexible terms. If it's not, I'll tell you why, fast. I won't waste your time or your seller's.

Attention brokers & agents: bring me deals.

If you're deciding whether to introduce me to your seller, here's what makes me a clean buyer to work with:

  • I move fast and I give a straight answer — no ghosting.
  • I sign NDAs same-day when your seller wants protection.
  • Seller financing and flexible terms let me close deals a bank-only buyer can't.
  • Your commission is your commission — I protect your fee.

A broker-grade packet

Send what you have — but here's the full picture that lets me move fastest:

  • T12 P&L plus a trailing 3-month break-out (to see seasonality)
  • Current rent roll with site count by type (RV transient, monthly, park models, MH, storage)
  • Historical occupancy by month, ideally 24 months
  • Utilities: water source & responsibility, sewer type, electric metering, recent bills
  • Payroll detail, management structure, and any in-place contracts
  • CapEx history (last 3 years) and known deferred items
  • Taxes & insurance detail, plus any claims history
  • Maps / site plan, pad sizes, amenity list
  • Asking price and any guidance on terms preference
  • Permits, environmental, or survey on file