Bulk Internet vs. Retail Cable: Boosting NOI for Your Community

Mobile home community owners face a critical decision that directly impacts property valuation and net operating income: should residents continue paying retail cable companies directly, or should your community implement bulk internet service as a utility?

Communities maintaining traditional retail cable arrangements leave $30-40 per home monthly on the table while residents pay $75-160 to cable companies. Properties implementing bulk fiber internet capture that revenue, increase NOI, and boost property valuations by thousands per lot.

How Retail Cable Models Work in Mobile Home Communities

Under traditional retail models, cable companies provide service directly to residents. Each resident contracts individually, paying $75+ monthly for internet or $160+ for bundled services.

The community receives minimal benefit. Cable companies might pay $5 per home monthly for access rights, generating almost no income for property owners. Residents bear the full cost while you absorb service complaints without capturing revenue.

How Bulk Internet Models Work for MHC Properties

Bulk internet operates like other utilities. The community contracts with a managed service provider to deliver fiber-to-the-home connectivity to 100% of homes. Internet becomes part of the resident’s utility package at lower cost than retail alternatives.

Residents pay the community $55 monthly for gigabit fiber service. The community retains $30 per home as NOI while paying $25 to the managed service provider for infrastructure, maintenance, and support.

A 100-home community captures $36,000 annually in NOI from bulk internet. A 200-home property generates $72,000 in additional annual income. Beyond monthly revenue, that $30 per home NOI increase translates to property valuation gains.

Comparing NOI Impact: Retail Cable vs. Bulk Fiber Internet

The NOI difference between models is dramatic. Under retail cable, a 100-home community receives approximately $500 monthly ($5 per home) from cable company access fees. Annual NOI from internet connectivity: $6,000.

The same community implementing bulk fiber internet generates $3,000 monthly ($30 per home) in NOI. Annual income: $36,000. The difference is $30,000 annually in additional net operating income from the same 100 homes.

For larger properties, the impact scales proportionally. A 200-home community increases annual NOI by $60,000. A 300-home property captures $90,000 in additional annual income through bulk internet implementation.

These aren’t theoretical projections — they’re actual results from manufactured housing communities implementing bulk internet models. The revenue flows consistently month after month, creating predictable income that contributes to property valuations.

How Bulk Internet Increases Property Valuation

Property valuations in manufactured housing correlate directly to NOI through capitalization rates. When you increase NOI by $36,000 annually through bulk internet, property value increases by $720,000 at a 5% cap rate.

Fiber-to-the-home increases per-lot valuations by $6,000-10,000 according to industry data. Buyers and lenders view fiber infrastructure similarly to water, sewer systems, and other essential utilities that support property function.

Resident Benefits That Support Higher Occupancy and Retention

Residents receive faster fiber connectivity (1,000+ Mbps) at $55 monthly compared to $75+ for slower cable service. The savings and performance improvement generate resident satisfaction.

Guaranteed service level agreements ensure minimum speeds and 99.9% reliability. Unlike “best effort” cable service, bulk fiber providers contractually commit to performance standards.

The improved connectivity supports modern resident needs including remote work and streaming, making your community more competitive with reliable gigabit fiber.

Implementation Considerations for Bulk Internet Transition

Transitioning from retail cable to bulk internet requires planning but generates returns that justify the effort. Professional managed service providers typically complete fiber-to-the-home deployment within 60-90 days.

Most implementations involve zero upfront cost to the community. Service providers invest in fiber infrastructure in exchange for bulk service agreements.

Clear resident communication about cost savings, performance improvements, and service guarantees addresses concerns about mandatory internet. Most residents recognize value when paying $55 for gigabit fiber versus $75+ for slower cable service.

Ready to Increase Your Community’s NOI Through Bulk Internet?

If your manufactured housing community currently operates under retail cable arrangements, you’re likely leaving substantial NOI on the table while residents pay premium prices for inferior service.

AccessParks specializes in bulk internet implementation for manufactured housing communities. We provide fiber-to-the-home infrastructure at zero upfront cost to property owners, delivering gigabit connectivity to every home while generating $30+ per home monthly in NOI. Our managed services include installation, maintenance, and 24/7 resident support, eliminating operational burden while maximizing revenue.

Let’s connect to discuss how bulk fiber internet can increase your property’s NOI and valuation while improving resident satisfaction with superior connectivity.