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Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 3, No. 4, 2012

Alphabetically by Category

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)


• Do You Hear What I Hear? Do you see what I see?

by Nadeen Green

nadeen-green-50

Aha! Now that Christmas carol is going to be an ear worm for those of you in manufactured home community management! Memory devices are great, and maybe this one will keep you and your land lease community staff out of trouble...

Read more...

A New Year's Possibilities

by Eddie Hicks

eddie-hicks-50

Starting the new year brings possibilities for land lease community (LLCommunity) refinance and development opportunities.

With all the site built home foreclosures, many families have turned to apartments, resulting in a relatively high occupancy rate in many markets, while at the same time, in those same areas, there may be many vacant LLCommunity homesites.

Read more...

Content Area of Guidelines for Living: Refuse Removal through Rights of Management

by Chrissy Jackson

chrissy-jackson-50

Happy New year! In December's article on the guidelines for living in manufactured home land lease communities, we covered the topics of Number of Residents to Recreational Vehicles, we covered Guidelines for Living topics,  Number of Residents to Recreational Vehicles. Let's get started with our new topics for January, 2012~

Read more...

What About Your Utility Systems?

by Kurt Kelly, JD

kurt kelly american insurance agency aia 50x50

When purchasing a manufactured home community, experienced investors focus considerable pre-purchase due diligence on the community’s utility systems. This infrastructure is a large part of the value of most properties.

Read more...

Rent Control Out at Surf and Sand

by Eric Miller

eric-miller-50

Rent control isn't such a hot topic in California anymore, except when it comes to 'mobile home' and manufactured housing communities. That's because most communities in the state don't have vacancy control. 

When an apartment turns over, rents revert to a market rate. Manufactured home communities are an exception.

Read more...

FINANCING

Financing more manufactured homes, getting inventory and community financing

by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach

tony-kovach-2-50

One of the challenges of doing a trade journal is putting an article in a category that makes sense. Some articles could well be in more than one category, but we don't want readers who skim to think we just mistakenly duplicated something! Then there are the resources for getting more of the various types of financing, and that is what this brief article is about!

Read more...

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS


MLS…Multiple Listing Service for Manufactured Housing

by Boe Davis

boe-davis-50

For almost 30 years we ran what may have been the only true Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for manufactured home sales in communities. Initially called the Mobile Home Board, then as an association it was called the California Mobile Home Guardians and in its last version it was called MHMLS.org.

Read more...

What I Learned From Santa

by Suzanne Felber

suzanne-felber-50

The holidays this year were very special - I was able to do an early Christmas with my amazing new grandson in Florida. My son and his family live in the West Palm Beach area, so we were able to enjoy some beautiful weather, but it was a given there would be no snow in sight.

Read more...

The Texas Playbook

by D. J. Pendleton, J.D.

DJ-Pendleton-50

I had met Tony several times previously at various national events. However, it wasn’t until Tony was kind enough to attend the Texas Manufactured Housing Association's (TMHA’s) recent annual convention in September when I got a chance to talk substantively with him.

Read more...

You Can't Fix It Till You Know It's Broken

by George Porter

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This month's topic can apply to a lot of things in the installation and repair of manufactured housing. The bottom line is you have to know what is correct before you can see that there is a need for change or repair.

Read more...

“It's Show Time” in Louisville!

by Ron Thomas, Sr.

ron thomas sr 50x53

It's show time in Louisville at the Kentucky Exhibition Center (KEC). The annual Louisville Manufactured Housing Show (Louisville MH Show) will run January 11-13th, and this year's line up is simple impressive.

Read more...

Model Homes or Not!

by Katy Weldon

katie-weldon-50

For the past several decades Model Homes have been an important part of the housing industry, including manufactured and modular homes. A model home complex was considered a necessity and major selling tools for most retailers.

Read more...

MANAGEMENT


Improving Corporate Communications

by Tim Connor, CSP

tim-connor-50

Every corporate client I have worked with for over 40 years has had communication problems or challenges throughout their organization to a lesser or greater degree. Some have been critical issues that had cost them dearly off the bottom line, while others were nothing more than annoying inconveniences that got in the way of employee or department effectiveness.

Read more...

MARKETING


QR Codes—What are they and how can your business use them?

by Beth Monicatti Blank

beth-monicatti-blank-50

You have probably seen Quick Response (QR) codes printed in an advertisement, on a product or even online. They are small black and white square boxes with smaller pixilated boxes inside. These QR codes are similar to the UPC barcodes used by retailers to track inventory and price products for scanning.

Read more...

Plan for Success in 2012

by Chris Nicely

chris character 50x50

The holidays always allow us time to reflect on what is important in our lives and can lead us to consider necessary changes. We consider those things that made us happy, satisfied and helped our business and those events that caused us to question. Each of us has a life centered around a business that is dependent upon a stagnant economy and possibly the worst housing market ever.

Read more...

Use Systems and Discipline for Successful Campaigns

by Jeff Templeton

jeff-templeton-50

I was speaking with a respected member of our industry the other day and he said something very obvious, but also very intuitive. What he said to me was, “It’s all about systems and discipline.” A system is a plan, formula or blue print for achieving results and discipline is needed to monitor, adjust and repeat the system to achieve the desired results again and again.

Read more...

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION


Get out of Auto-pilot

by Tim Connor, CSP

tim-connor-50

Are you going through your life in auto-pilot? Are you letting your responses and reactions to life’s circumstances and events be dictated by your previous values, attitudes and beliefs or are your responses a result of living in the present?

Read more...

Zig On The Next Hill to Climb

by Zig Ziglar

zig-ziglar-50

I recently received an interesting letter from one of our subscribers, quite complimentary. He pointed out that he particularly enjoyed anarticle having to do with success. Then he elaborated on the fact that he has achieved so many things--God has been really good to him--and his question was, "I guess it's like winning the World Series or the Super Bowl.

Read more...

SALES

What's Working in Manufactured Housing Retail

by Chad Carr

chad-carr-50

On November 13th – 15th, Rainmaker Consulting hosted what turned out to be one of the most exciting, positive and productive events of the year for the Manufactured Housing Industry – at least for those who were able to attend.

Read more...

Marketing & Sales – The Current State of Affairs and The Strategic Blending Process

by Tim Connor, CSP

tim-connor-50

If you are paying attention, the social media folks would have you believe that all you need to do to be successful in your business or career today is to be a social media guru with Facebook, LinkedIn etc.

I beg to differ.

Read more...

by Tim Connor, CSP

tim-connor-50

Every corporate client I have worked with for over 40 years has had communication problems or challenges throughout their organization to a lesser or greater degree. Some have been critical issues that had cost them dearly off the bottom line, while others were nothing more than annoying inconveniences that got in the way of employee or department effectiveness.

Read more...

by Eric Miller

eric-miller-50

Rent control isn't such a hot topic in California anymore, except when it comes to 'mobile home' and manufactured housing communities. That's because most communities in the state don't have vacancy control. When an apartment turns over, rents revert to a market rate. Manufactured home communities are an exception.

Read more...

by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach

tony-kovach-2-50

One of the challenges of doing a trade journal is putting an article in a category that makes sense. Some articles could well be in more than one category, but we don't want readers who skim to think we just mistakenly duplicated something! Then there are the resources for getting more of the various types of financing, and that is what this brief article is about!

Read more...

by Kurt Kelly, JD

kurt kelly american insurance agency aia 50x50

When purchasing a manufactured home community, experienced investors focus considerable pre-purchase due diligence on the community’s utility systems. This infrastructure is a large part of the value of most properties.

Read more...

Daily Business News Briefs

New Homes Sales Rose in April

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

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Housing Stocks Close Mixed, but Skyline Justifies its Name

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

Read more

Kit Homes Takes Up where Sears Stopped

Kit Homes Takes Up where Sears Stopped

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

Read more

UFPI Surprises Zacks

UFPI Surprises Zacks

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

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New MHC Proposed for Virginia

New MHC Proposed for Virginia

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

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Philadelphia Airport Building Modular Housing

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

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Sale of Previously Occupied Homes Rise

Sale of Previously Occupied Homes Rise

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

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Improved Housing Market Bolsters Many U.S. Stocks

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

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Home Sales Rise in the Heartland

Home Sales Rise in the Heartland

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

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New Modular Builder on the Block

New Modular Builder on the Block

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

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MOD to House Mental Health Patients

MOD to House Mental Health Patients

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

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

Prev Next Page:

Everything Old is New Again

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

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 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

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?”

“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

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

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…

While Waiting on The Supreme Court:  What is happening  to Health Care Costs and Insurance?

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

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

Frames

Frames

by George Porter A Manufactured Home is a more complicated piece of engineering than most other homes. Our building code makes us have a multi-purpose chassis. Strangely, we don’t move all... Read more

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

“Mobile Homes” and Tornadoes

“Mobile Homes” and Tornadoes

by Margaret Clark (Editor's Intro: The following is a letter written by manufactured home community owner Margaret Clark to KWWL-TV reporter, Kera Mashek. Ms. Clark was writing in response to a... Read more

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

The Industry's Need to Profitably Communicate

The Industry's Need to Profitably Communicate

by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach Trade media exists because there is a need to communicate facts and ideas relative to the industry being served. A robust online trade journal (e-zine) complements... Read more

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

Manufactured Housing Institute and National Communities Council 2012 Congr…

Manufactured Housing Institute and National Communities Council  2012 Congress and Expo Photo Report

by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach If a picture is worth a thousand words, then there are tens of thousands of words captured in the photos that follow. The Manufactured Housing Institute... Read more

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

National Industry Awards Presented at 2012 National Congress & Expo

National Industry Awards Presented at 2012 National Congress & Expo

Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas, NV - April 11, 2012. Members of the manufactured and modular housing industries gathered today at an awards luncheon to recognize individuals and companies for outstanding... Read more

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

Manufactured Home Shows - Touring a Model Home at Tunica 2012

Manufactured Home Shows - Touring a Model Home at Tunica 2012

by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach Manufactured home trade shows are a wonderful way to bring products and professionals together in one place. The home shown in this photo gallery carousel below... Read more

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

Do you know the single factor that determines; employee productivity, profi…

Do you know the single factor that determines; employee productivity, profits and sustained success?

by Tim Connor OK, have you figured it out or are you just waiting for my take on this topic? Come on – give it some thought – it might prove... Read more

MANAGEMENT

Is there Anything New under the Sun? Getting Bottom line Results for Manufa…

Is there Anything New under the Sun? Getting Bottom line Results for Manufactured Housing.

by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach If you are holding a smartphone, an iPad or are looking at a laptop, etc. you already know the answer to this article's headline's question. But... Read more

MANAGEMENT

Fear, worry, and stress – are you a victim?

Fear, worry, and stress – are you a victim?

by Tim Connor, CSP If you are not aware of the simple fact that fear is the major contributor to stress, illness, failure, worry and a whole host of other negative... Read more

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION

Zig On Doing Things Poorly

Zig On Doing Things Poorly

by Zig Ziglar Several years ago I was teaching a Sunday school class at First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas.Recalling G. K. Chesterton's paradoxical “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly,”... Read more

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION

Patience – The secret tool for sales success

Patience – The secret tool for sales success

by Tim Connor I just finished reading for the fourth time - one of my favorite books, The Power of Patience by M. J. Ryan. As I was reading, it struck... Read more

SALES

Sales Tips 101 – Objection Handling; Isolating the Objection

Sales Tips 101 – Objection Handling; Isolating the Objection

by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach Let's begin a periodic series of articles on some classic – but often unused or overlooked – sales tips and strategies. We will begin with the... Read more

SALES

US and Canadian Manufactured Homes Directory Locations

US and Canadian Manufactured Homes Directory