HattiesburgAmerican reports that $5 million for Native American tribes who face unique housing and community development challenges has been set aside by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The award was part of a total of 46 for the $28 million Rural Innovation Fund, a new initiative by …
Opportunity Knocks via HUD’s Rural Innovation Fund Read More
Builderonline reports on the phenomenon of modular building being “a media darling.” Builder’s internal statistics are said to show that modular building articles are among their best read. Nevertheless, only 3.6% of new construction today is modular, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center. Stick framers …
Modulars media darlings? But panelizers have hotter stats Read More
MurerietaPatch reports the Murrieta City Council is set to vote Tuesday on amending its regulations for manufactured and pre-HUD Code mobile homes. “The City now desires to limit the age of a manufactured or mobile home…to promote and ensure the aesthetic quality of neighborhoods, to minimize the devaluation of communities …
Murrieta proposes new restrictions for Manufactured Homes Read More
ConcordMonitor reports that Epoch Homes, in collaboration with two Massachusetts colleges, will be part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2011 Solar Decatholon 4D Home. Built to “Passiv Haus” specifications, the home is designed for affordability, comfort and will create more energy than it uses. Epoch CEO John Ela …
Epoch’s MOD, the Solar Decathlon at the National Mall Read More
CNNMoney reports that black unemployment is at its highest level in 27 years, as ‘no’ jobs created in August and other negative economic/jobs news sent stocks reeling today. Gold rose to close at $1,880.40 +51.30 +2.80%, with some predicting September could see gold hit $2,000. The Yahoo! Financial Manufactured Housing …
Dow drops on lousy jobs reports, manufactured housing slips too Read More
BusinessWire reports that Equity Lifestyle Properties (ELS) has closed on 7 more manufactured home communities as of Sept 1, 2011. The 7 land lease communities were part of a package of 75 that were announced on May 31st, 2011 and one RV resort, 31,167 sites on approximately 6,500 acres located …
MPR reports that the Norbord plant west of Bemidji is the last of the four oriented strand board facilities operating in Northern Minnesota. Jack Wallingford, the plant’s general manager, said they are struggling to keep jobs for some 140 employees, loggers and haulers. “We’ve been successful in that regard,” Wallingford …
NYTimes reports that The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is ready to file suit against over a dozen major banks, alleging they misrepresented the quality of the mortgage securities. The FHFA legal actions will argue that banks failed to perform proper …
Reuters reports that while quarterly profits looked good, gloomier times are ahead for Canada’s resilient banks. Canada’s banks stayed strong through the financial crisis which largely beat analysts’ expectations with their third-quarter results. Analysts expect narrow lending margins and increased caution by already overstretched borrowers in the months ahead. “The …
Canada bank profits surprisingly strong in Q3, but are storm clouds ahead? Read More
InfoZine reports that Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Independence, MO. woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for her role in a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of a bi-racial person. Teresa Witthar was charged in a seven-count …
Indictment obtained in an MHC plot to violate bi-racial person’s civil rights Read More
CNNMoney reports that the Dow slipped back into negative territory today. The Dow closed at 11,493.57 -119.96 -1.03%, off -0.73% year to date. Headlines included Goldman Sach’s slap on robo-signing, the White House’s ‘slower jobs recovery’ statement and the IRS giving a break to those impacted by Hurricane Irene. Yahoo! …
Dow retreats along with most manufactured housing stocks Read More
SeattlePI reports green builder Sloan Ritchie of Cascade Built unveiled their latest single-family home project. It is the billed as one of Seattle’s first modern prefab modular LEED Platinum homes. In the the heart of Seattle’s Madison Valley neighborhood, and next door to the company’s acclaimed “Alley House” built in …
DailyTownsmen reports that Baker’s Garden officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 36 unit designed for seniors and the handicapped. Baker’s Garden is touted as the largest modular development to date in the British Columbia (B.C.) Senior Rental Housing Initiative. The project is the result of a partnership between …
ComplexCityGuide reports that New York City recently declared a mandatory evacuation for some 370,000 residents in advance of Hurricane Irene. Accommodations for less than 70,000 residents were available. Had a major disaster hit, where would people in the Big Apple go? Back in 2008 the city’s Office of Emergency Management …
FEMA units high rise plan for the Big Apple? Could be. Read More
RegisterHerald reports that students from Beckley, West Virgina Academy of Careers and Technology (ACT) put their training to work by building an actual modular home that will be auctioned through a sealed bid. Principal Charles Pack said “Not only do they learn about it, they are able to actually build …
WGMD reports that Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden announced recently that his office will conduct manufactured housing information workshops. Two are planned for September. The Workshops will feature speakers from the Department of Justice Consumer Protection Unit along with a variety of other state and local officials. “Delawareans who own …
AG Beau Biden announced September workshops on Manufactured Housing Read More
CNNMoney reports the Dow rose again, closing at 11,613.53 +53.58 +0.46% +0.31%Year-to-Date. Headlines included Justice’s suit to block AT&T and T-Mobile merger, how that DOJ suit boosted Sprint and the strength of the Swiss franc. The Yahoo Financial Manufactured Housing Composite Index value rose to 867.7 +1.21%. Affiliated Managers Group, …
SouthCoastToday reports their ‘home of the week’ pick as a multi-sectional manufactured home in a manufactured home land lease community. The home is located in West Wareham, MA, in Greentree Estates Manufactured Housing Community. The location is a 55+ community off Charlotte Furnace Road. June R. Johnson, of Johnson Bayside …
South Boston area ‘home of the week?’ Multi-sectional in a manufactured home community Read More
WSJ reports that employee fraud – from check-forgery, petty cash to billing larceny schemes – often rises in tough economic times. Employees feeling financial pressure often fuels the problem. Small companies are especially vulnerable because they often lack stringent internal controls to prevent fraud. Managers may attribute lost funds to …
Employee fraud plagues small businesses during downturns Read More
Forbes reports that recreational vehicle and manufactured home component maker Drew Industries announced late Monday the acquisition of Starquest Products, LLC for $22.6 million. Starquest and its affiliate Qualitec Manufacturing make windows primarily for truck caps, those fiberglass enclosures that fit of pickup truck beds. They also produce windows for …
