Lotly vs. Buildium for Mobile Home Parks
Buildium sits in the mid-market between simpler tools and AppFolio. For small apartment operators, it's a solid choice. For mobile home park operators, it has the same structural issue as the larger generalists — unit-centric data model, no lot/home rent split, no MHP-specific workflows.
| Feature | Lotly | Buildium |
|---|---|---|
| Lot-level occupancy tracking | Native | Unit-based; lots are awkward |
| Lot rent vs. home rent split | Native, separate billing | Single rent stream |
| Park-aware tenant screening | Built-in (TU + criminal + housing records) | Available via integrations |
| ACH-first rent collection | Default; sub-$1 per transaction | Available; not default |
| Built-in certified mail | Native one-click | Not native |
| Infill stage tracking | Native 6-stage pipeline | Not native |
| Owner statements | MHP-formatted, no QBO required | Apartment-formatted |
| Tenant portal mobile-first | Sub-90-second pay flow | Workable |
| Pricing model | Per-lot, vacant-free, month-to-month | Tiered per-unit |
| Built specifically for MHP | Yes — designed for parks from day one | Apartment-focused |
Where Buildium wins
Buildium is significantly cheaper than AppFolio for portfolios under 250 units, has a more accessible UI than RM, and includes solid accounting and tenant portal features. For small mixed portfolios, it works.
Where it doesn't fit MHP
Same structural issues as AppFolio: unit-only data, no rent split, no infill stage tracking, no native certified mail. For pure-MHP operators above 100 lots, the workarounds outweigh the savings.
Pricing comparison
Buildium has a tiered base fee plus per-unit costs. For a 100-lot park with module add-ons, monthly cost is in the $200-$400 range — comparable to Lotly's per-lot pricing on equivalent inventory, but without MHP-specific features.
When to switch
When the park-specific workflow gaps start producing manual work — usually around the second park or when investor reporting requires MHP-formatted owner statements.
Best for
Buildium: Small mixed portfolios (under 250 units) where AppFolio is overkill but apartment workflows still dominate.
Lotly: Mobile-home-park-first operators who want lot-level workflows, certified mail, infill stage tracking, and per-lot vacant-free pricing without the apartment-DNA workarounds.
Pricing
Buildium: Tiered per-unit ($55-$300+/month base + per-unit add-ons).
Lotly: Per-lot pricing with vacant lots free. Month-to-month contract — no annual lock-in. See pricing →