Attracting Tenants: Is High-Speed Internet the New Pool?

Twenty years ago, property owners competed by adding swimming pools, upgraded playgrounds, and clubhouses. Today’s tenants in manufactured housing communities prioritize amenities differently. High-speed internet consistently ranks above traditional recreational features when people choose where to live or stay.

Properties marketing gigabit fiber connectivity see higher booking and occupancy rates compared to similar properties offering only basic internet. Meanwhile, that expensive pool you maintain generates operational costs without driving the tenant acquisition it once did.

How Tenant Priorities Have Changed in Mobile Home Communities

The average household now runs 10-25 connected devices simultaneously. Remote work, streaming entertainment, online education, and smart home devices create connectivity demands that didn’t exist when pools were the ultimate amenity differentiator.

Tenants research internet quality before touring properties. They eliminate properties with inadequate connectivity regardless of other features. Poor internet disqualifies your property faster than lacking a pool.

What “High-Speed Internet” Actually Means to Modern MHC Tenants

Tenants define high-speed internet as 50+ Mbps per device with consistent performance during evening peak hours. Marketing “Wi-Fi included” means nothing if the system collapses between 6-10 PM.

Fiber-optic connectivity represents the gold standard. Tenants specifically search for “fiber internet” when comparing properties. Fiber-to-the-home infrastructure signals genuine high-speed connectivity, not outdated cable or DSL.

Comparing the ROI: Pool vs. High-Speed Internet for Manufactured Housing Communities

Swimming pools represent substantial ongoing costs. Installation runs tens of thousands of dollars depending on size. Annual maintenance, chemicals, insurance, and utilities add significant recurring expenses. Pools generate minimal direct revenue.

High-speed fiber internet infrastructure involves upfront investment with zero capital cost through managed service models. Bulk internet models capture meaningful per-unit monthly net operating income while providing an amenity that drives higher occupancy rates.

The revenue difference is substantial. Pools cost thousands annually to maintain with zero revenue generation. Fiber internet generates consistent monthly NOI while delivering the amenity modern tenants actually prioritize.

How High-Speed Internet Shows Up in Tenant Reviews and Marketing

Online reviews reveal tenant priorities clearly. Properties with poor internet receive lower overall ratings regardless of other amenities.

Properties marketing guaranteed 50+ Mbps per device differentiate immediately from competitors emphasizing pools and clubhouses. Specific performance claims like “gigabit fiber to every unit” communicate actual capability. Properties implementing managed Wi-Fi systems can prove performance through real-time speed verification during tours.

The Competitive Reality: Internet vs. Traditional Amenities in MHCs

Pools haven’t become obsolete, but they’re no longer the primary amenity driving tenant decisions in most markets. Mobile home communities without pools compete successfully when offering superior internet. Properties with pools but inadequate connectivity struggle to fill units.

The investment priority has reversed. Twenty years ago, properties added pools to stay competitive. Today, properties investing in fiber infrastructure gain competitive advantage while pools become maintenance liabilities rather than differentiators.

For manufactured housing communities considering major amenity investments, fiber internet delivers better ROI through higher occupancy rates, additional NOI, and increased property valuations.

Ready to Make Internet Your Property’s Competitive Advantage?

If your property currently competes using traditional amenities while offering inadequate internet, you’re investing in features that matter less to modern tenants than the connectivity infrastructure you’re neglecting.

AccessParks specializes in fiber-backed managed Wi-Fi for residential properties that need to compete in modern rental markets. We design networks delivering guaranteed 50+ Mbps per device to every unit with 99.9% uptime. Our bulk service models generate $30+ per unit monthly in NOI while eliminating the operational burden traditional amenities create.

Let’s connect to discuss how fiber infrastructure can become your property’s primary competitive advantage and marketing differentiator.