Should You Buy an RV Park or Build One in 2027?
A park for sale comes with guests, reviews, and a few surprises in the septic system. Raw land comes with zoning hearings, utility bills, and no guests at all.
Both paths can work. This page shows a would-be RV park owner how to compare them using the numbers buyers and lenders actually use.
Dr. Paul Borosky, Business Consultant, has helped 1,000+ small business owners, including buyers checking whether a deal makes sense.
Talk to Dr. PaulCall or text (321) 948-9588.
Last Updated: November 2026
Real World Help From Dr. Paul
How This Guide Works
Short version: Doctor Owl’s answer and the 3 steps below. Long version: in Dr. Paul’s Fabled Forest Business School Series, Commander Colt has a chance to buy the old campground across the creek, or build new ones on his own meadow. The math follows his story.
- Get the last three years of real income and expenses, not the seller’s projection.
- Work out net operating income: revenue minus operating costs, before loan payments.
- Price the same number of sites as new construction, including utilities and permits.
Should Colt Buy the Old Campground or Build?
The old campground across the creek went up for sale. Commander Colt could buy it, or build new sites on his own meadow. Both sounded good over breakfast.
Doctor Owl asked, “Fire or foundation?” Nothing was on fire. This was a once-in-a-decade foundation choice. They took it step by step with Dr. Paul’s Organize-Plan-Grow™ Strategy.
- Organize. Greta gathered the old campground’s real books. Income was steady, but the water lines were 30 years old.
- Plan. Colt priced two versions: buy and replace the water lines, or build the same number of new sites on the meadow.
- Grow. Buying won on time and guests, even with the repairs. Colt made an offer that included the water line cost.
The seller took it. Colt had guests on day one.
How Are RV Parks Being Priced in 2026?
Newmark’s 2026 valuation survey, reported by BVWire in March 2026, found Class A and B RV parks trading at going-in cap rates around 8.0%, and Class C parks closer to 9.0%. A lower cap rate means buyers pay more for each dollar of income.
Demand for parks rests on campers, not just RV sales. The RV Industry Association’s fall 2026 forecast expects wholesale RV shipments to finish 2026 around 290,000 units after a challenging year, then hold roughly flat in 2027.
Lower cap rate = higher price per dollar of income. Source: Newmark survey, via BVWire (March 2026).
What Does That Mean for a Buyer or Builder?
If you buy, you’re paying for income that already exists. Check that income is real, and budget for the repairs the seller didn’t mention.
If you build, you’re betting on income that doesn’t exist yet. That takes more cash, more time, and a plan a lender will believe.
How Do You Compare Buying and Building?
- Get real books. Three years of actual income and expenses.
- Calculate NOI yourself. Don’t trust the listing’s number.
- Inspect the hidden parts. Water, sewer, electric, and roads cost the most to fix.
- Price new construction honestly. Utilities, permits, and the months before guests arrive.
- Run both in one model. Same sites, same rates, side by side.
What Does a Cap Rate Do to the Price?
Illustration only. Round numbers, not a real company.
Say a park earns $200,000 a year in net operating income. At an 8% cap rate, it’s priced around $2.5 million. At a 9% cap rate, about $2.2 million. One point on the cap rate moves the price by roughly $280,000.
Illustration only: NOI divided by cap rate.
Run buy and build side by side in the RV park business plan template. Your site mix changes the income buyers see.
Weighing a Park Purchase or a Build?
Bring the listing or your land numbers to a free 15-minute call with Dr. Paul. You’ll leave with the questions to answer before you sign.
Or call or text (321) 948-9588.
What Do Buyers Ask About RV Parks?
What’s a good cap rate for an RV park?
It depends on the park’s quality and location. Newmark’s survey put better parks near 8% and older parks near 9% in 2026.
Is building cheaper than buying?
Sometimes per site, but building takes longer to earn anything. Count the months with no income.
Will a lender finance an RV park?
Many do, with a solid plan and real numbers. A lender-ready business plan helps.
Where Should You Go Next?
About the Author
Dr. Paul Borosky, DBA, MBA, helps buyers and builders check the numbers before they commit.
Sources
- Newmark Valuation and Advisory survey, as reported by BVWire (March 11, 2026).
- RV PRO, RVIA: RV Shipments Expected to Stabilize in 2027 (Fall 2026 RV RoadSigns).