Episode #278: Investing in Campgrounds with Don Spafford

Passive Income Through Multifamily Real Estate

The market crash of 2008 had broad economic impacts that placed livelihoods under pressure. The plunging market caused people to reconsider their career paths and seek alternative sources of income. Today’s guest, Don Spafford, was originally in finance and focused on investment securities; however, the market crash forced him to contemplate his career trajectory. He ultimately found his way into real estate investing, starting with a humble portfolio that has grown exponentially over a short period of time. In this episode, we uncover Don’s secret to success and discuss his real estate investment career. We talk about the moment he realized that real estate investment was worth the risk, how he was able to purchase his first property with very little capital, and how real estate got him interested in commercial property. We learn about his approach to risk aversion, details of how Happy Campy Capital operates, the benefits of investing in a campground or RV park, and how he monetizes campgrounds. Hear insights into how to be successful in commercial property, how to grow your network, advice for investors who want to form a team or partnership, and much more. Tune in, and discover the opportunities of commercial property and how to leverage it with Don Spafford!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Background about Don and his real estate investment journey.
• What motivated Don to consider real estate investing as a career.
• A useful resource and community that helped him excel from the start.
• The factors he used to determine whether the investment was worth the risk.
• Learn about the Happy Camper Capital business model.
• Hear the reasons RV parks and campgrounds are worthy investments.
• An overview of the value-add amenities that attract people to Don’s campgrounds.
• He shares details about other income streams associated with campgrounds.
• Find out whether there are different levels or classes of RV parks.
• Don’s goal when acquiring a commercial property like a campground.
• The common attributes that Happy Camper Capital investors share.
• Don explains why people choose to invest with Happy Camper Capital.
• Discover the return that investors can expect from working with Don.
• The avenues available to begin investing in RV parks and campgrounds.
• Advice for investors who want to be a part of a team.
• The impact Don’s faith has had on his business career.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Don Spafford on LinkedIn

Don Spafford on Facebook

Happy Camper Capital

BiggerPockets

Adam Lendi on LinkedIn

Justin Hoggatt on LinkedIn

Vertical Street Ventures

VSV Academy

Passive Income Through Multifamily Real Estate Facebook Group

Peter Pomeroy on LinkedIn

Peter Pomeroy Email