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Thursday, 24 May 2012

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August 2010 - Vol. 1, No. 11

A Journey in Successful Marketing: Identifying and Correcting Ten MH Marketing Mistakes

by Joe Adams

Joe Adams photo

If you think the role of marketing is to make sales – wrong. Think again.

The role of marketing is not to make sales. The role of marketing is to create the right environment that causes customers to want to purchase.

New Manufactured Housing Book Reviews!

by George F. Allen

George Allen photo Are you the first or the last to know about these must-reads?

There have been four manufactured housing books published in the last four months! In this review, we will cover two of those four new releases for your information, insight and benefit.

The Four Pillars of Retailing : Pillar Four - Getting the Numbers Right

By Chad Carr

Chad Carr photo Do you know the ten steps you need to take to make sure you know exactly how much money you have and where it is to sustain profitable operations?

Common sales myths

by Tim Connor, CSP

Tim Connor photo Do you know the five "truths" that actually sabotage your MH sales success?

Over the years, a great number of sales trainers, as well as sales managers, have perpetuated a number of sales myths as if they were truths.

Empowering Employees

by Tim Connor

Tim Connor photo Will empowering employees improve performance and increase organizational effectiveness or create stress and havoc?

During my career, I have worked with a variety of organizations that display any number of management styles.

Fair Housing Is Not All Black & White

by Nadeen Green

Nadeen Green photo How can iguanas, "hellos" and food stamps put your MH community at risk?

You have likely been to fair housing programs or have read articles that dealt with the important topics of race, color, disability, children, national origin, sex, and religion.

When you think about it: A novel approach

by Mike Hourigan

Mike Hourigan photo Are you "flying the plane" of your MH business or crashing it?

I picked up one of those World War II thriller novels at the airport for a 5-hour flight last month. It was a quick read and I left it on the plane for the next traveler or bored flight attendant.

Why Settle? Exploring your MH community's service provider options

by Susan Knowles

Susan Knowles photo Feel like there is just something missing from your relationship with the cable company?

When you first got together, everyone told you it was the right thing for you to do. And at first, things were great. He seemed perfect for you, and you were happy to have him. Sure there were issues, but he always took care of them – albeit in his own precious time – and he always apologized after. But over time, things have just grown stale.

Builders of Mods and HUDs - Can They Get Along?

by L.A. 'Tony' Kovach

L.A. 'Tony' Kovach photo Yes or no? Build up the industry or tear it down. Choose your future.

This is a more important issue than is generally realized by members of the manufactured, modular and prefab housing industries. The short answer to the query is "Yes, they can get along… and should!"

Plunge into the "Green" Pool

by Steven Lefler

Steven Leffler photo How can the manufacturing and modular home building industry surpass the conventional home builders during this economic window of opportunity in house construction business?

Everything You Do Matters

by Greg McClanahan

Greg McClanahan How do butterflies affect the future of the Manufactured Housing Industry?

Everything you do matters.

Seriously! You must consider this fact as it pertains to every area of your life and profession.

If you are like me, I can look back at certain "defining moments" that changed the course of my life. Some of the big defining moments were my faith, convincing my amazing wife to marry me, and another significant decision was my career.

Fleetwood Enterprises Liquidates, Products Live On

By Eric Miller

Eric Miller photo Is the MH Industry giant totally gone?

Fleetwood is liquidating. That comes as sad news to many manufactured home owners and retailers. With a history extending back to 1950, Fleetwood Enterprises, manufacturer of manufactured homes, recreational vehicles and travel trailers, once employed thousands and seemed a permanent part on the American landscape.

Legacy Housing, LTD Aims at Quality, Affordable Homes Sold by Independent Retailers

by Eric Miller

Eric Miller photo "This will make you proud to be an American when you see how everything comes together."

For anyone who hasn't seen the production process for manufactured homes, a visit to a factory is an eye-opening experience. I joined partner Kenny Shipley and production manager Andy Nauert on a recent tour of Legacy Housing, LTD in Fort Worth, Texas.

Vanishing Americana

by George Porter

George Porter photo Are you aware of the colorful origins of the MH industry and the families that disappeared when the early homes did?

In 1870, a group of Methodist congregations decided to hold camp meetings on a deserted stretch of beach on the Delaware coast.

Credit Matrixes can be a Plan for Success or a Plan for Failure

by Ken Rishel

What kind of credit matrix can create sustainability?

There is, by most knowledgeable estimates, about 5.5 billion dollars worth of loan paper on manufactured homes generated by owner-assisted finance efforts in the U.S. today. Very little of that was created with the help of a formalized credit matrix, and as a result, much of it is of little value in the resale market.

California Anticipates More Banks to Provide Loans for Manufactured Homes in Communities

by Dave Shanklin

Dave Shanklin photo Is there evidence of new stability for the MH chattel finance industry?

After years of a roller-coaster ride of lending instability, the storm clouds seem to be parting for the MH chattel finance industry.

A major banking chain has been contacting dealers in CA, testing the waters about possibly re-entering the MH chattel finance industry.

Online Marketing 1-2-3, Part 2 - eMail Marketing

by Bob Stovall

Bob Stovall photo Knowing the "do's and don't's" of email marketing can make or break your business.

Last month, I presented the first part of the 1-2-3 series, Online Marketing 1-2-3, Part 1 - the Website. Remember this isn't an all-inclusive Online Marketing Tutorial, but a simplified three-step system to get you started or get you on the right track if you are using only one or two of modules at present.

Going Green?

by Don Westphal

Don Westphal photo Green is good – financially and ecologically!

This installment in our series will focus on the growing public awareness of the environment and its effects on our day-to-day lives. Leveraging this in many market areas is critical… In some markets, green communities have an advantage of perception.

Zig On... Problems vs. Opportunities

by Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar photo What can you learn from boxing-great Gene Tunney?

Be grateful for your problems. We all frequently deal with people who complain about the trials and tribulations of their daily lives.

Daily Business News Briefs

New Homes Sales Rose in April

OriginationNews says the Census Bureau reports new home sales rose 3.3 percent in April following a 7.3 percent drop in March. MHProNews.com has learned sales of new single-family homes rose to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 343,000 in April from a 332,000 mark in March, besting Wall Street analysts who had predicted 330,000 to [...]...

23 May 2012

Housing Stocks Close Mixed, but Skyline Justifies its Name

CNNMoney reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average, after brushing with 12,325.00 during the day, climbed back in the last half hour to close at 12,496.15, losing a mere 6.66 points, -0.05%. The weakness in tech stocks and fears of Greece leaving the Eurozone fueled investors’ fears. The Nasdaq gained +0.39 percent to 2,850.12, while the [...]...

23 May 2012

In 1970, 30 years after Sears ceased offering prefabricated housing, Shelter-Kit of Tilton, New Hampshire began offering small homes and cabins that could be assembled by aspiring homeowners with no construction experience. MarketWatch tells MHProNews.com customers can choose from a wide variety of options in designing their home, including...

23 May 2012

Forbes reports on the heels of Universal Forest Products, Inc. (UFPI) strong first quarter 2012 results, whereby Q1 2011 showed a loss of -0.19 per share to first quarter 2012 return of +0.21 per share, and the recent acquisition of MSR Forest Products LLC, Zacks issued a #1 Rank (Strong Buy) for the stock. Zacks [...]...

23 May 2012

BellehavenPatch tells MHProNews.com Fairfax County, Virginia is considering developing the North Hill site in Hybla Valley into an MHC for 67 homes and a greenspace. Meanwhile, AHP Virginia LLC has a counter proposal that would involve building apartments on the site, housing 204 families, nine percent of which would be targeted to low-income...

23 May 2012

Philadelphia Airport Building Modular Housing

DelcoNewsNetwork tells MHProNews.com Tinicum Township officials, as part of a $23 million efficiency upgrade at Philadelphia International Airport, approved a land waiver request to build a 791 square foot modular building near the UPS facility on Hog Island Road. The building would house UPS workers moving from a facility at Ridley Park. The...

23 May 2012

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) says reports from across the country show existing home sales edged up 3.4 percent April over March, 2012 for every region of the country. While the increase is a positive sign, the seasonally-adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 4.62 million home sales, just below January’s pace of 4.63 million, remains...

23 May 2012

Improved Housing Market Bolsters Many U.S. Stocks

CNNMoney reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit 12,575.00 during the day but settled down to 12,502.81, -0.01%, -1.67 points as the day’s trading ended. The rise of sales of existing homes boosted the market, but a downgrade of Japan and a weak global market tempered that news. The Nasdaq dropped -0.29 percent to 2,839.08, [...]...

22 May 2012

The 13 county Indianapolis metropolitan area marked an 18 percent rise in existing home sales in April from one year ago. As the IndyStar tells MHProNews.com, the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors (MIBOR) says 2,215 homes were sold in April, an increase over the 1,877 sold in April 2011. The median sales price rose to [...]...

22 May 2012

The Chronicle tells us another modular player has entered the housing game in the oil boom of North Dakota. Colorado-based Confluence has already set the first of ten units of apartments called Confluence at Harvest Hills, as the initial 12 modules were sited May 15. Occupancy of the first unit is set for Aug. 1, [...]...

22 May 2012

VTDigger says Tropical Storm Irene flooded portions of the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury, Vermont, and since then some of the patients are being held in state prisons. Now the state is looking into a modular high-security unit in Waterbury to house mental patients being held under court order. Noting that it’s more expensive to [...]...

22 May 2012

Featured Articles and Reports - May 2012 Vol. 3 No. 8

Prev Next Page:

Everything Old is New Again

by Katy Weldon Something amazing is happening to older mobile and manufactured homes in certain areas of California. They are in demand! Mobile and manufactured homes built in the 1970’s and 1980’s... Read more

MARKETING

Your Attention Please

by Jeff Templeton A recent study found that the average American sees approximately 1600 advertisements a day. In a single day! Those ads are seen online, in newspapers, magazines, billboards, TV,... Read more

MARKETING

Featured Articles May 2012

Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 3, No. 8, 2012 Alphabetically by Category COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL) • “What’s in a Name?” by Nadeen Green, JD The fact that you are reading MHProNews.com to... Read more

index

Creating a Budget

by Chrissy Jackson Simply put, a budget is a tool. When effectively used, this tool can enable you to have a manufactured home land lease community that is financially sound. A... Read more

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)

“What’s in a Name?”

by Nadeen Green, JD The fact that you are reading MHProNews.com to gain insight into the manufactured housing industry shows that you are engaged and embracing the world of online information... Read more

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)

Terms of Engagement

by Andrew Peters It’s easy for professionals in the housing industry to forget just how extensive the language of mortgage lending can be. We’re often quickly reminded, however, when we try... Read more

FINANCING

Promissory Notes How to take, buy or create a Note, then sell it for cash

by John Merchant, JD Many manufactured home communities and some MH retailers have – over the years – created their own notes. The following is an outline of the things and... Read more

FINANCING

While Waiting on The Supreme Court: What is happening to Health Care Cost…

by Kurt D. Kelley, J.D. For the last six months, I’ve served on The Woodlands, Texas Chamber of Commerce Health Care Program Committee. These efforts culminated on April 27th with a... Read more