In recent years regulatory impact has forced our industry into pretzel-like contortions. Consider the challenges faced by manufactured home communities. When options – such as "buy-here, pay-here" "captive finance" are tried, the ever growing cost of regulatory compliance threatens those methods. While a number of states have de minimus exemptions, not so with the Feds. …
It seems that some are insistent on focusing on division vs. unity at a time when unity is so valuable. Part of this is due to 'divide and conquer' style strategies. The question for this column is simple. What is the biggest fish that we need to fry? What are our top priorities as an …
Zillow reports on a listing by Sotheby's International Realty on a home that reminds us of the 4th of July, because its first owner was a signer of the Declaration of Independence! The photos that follow will all be of that home. Here are snipets from the Zillow report: TUSCULUM –An allee of Zelkova trees …
Historic Home and Manufactured Housing’s 4th of July Read More »
Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate are breaking their necks to pass a so-called comprehensive immigration reform bill. The perceived political prize is the future votes of an estimated 11 million Hispanics currently living in the U.S. without proper documents. Without delving into the details or policy, let's ask this question of keen interest …
We will save the international segment of this message for later, but don't think that means it's a footnote. The international factory builders and investors have their eyes on us and the North American housing market. That is important to know. So too is the association piece, so let's start with that before we weave …
MHARR Message, Associations, China, Japan, Russia and You Read More »
A dear, wise soul told me years ago that 'news is gossip for intellectuals.' It was meant to be witty as well as often being a truism. Some 'news' – entertainment news comes to mind – is indeed gossipy. But other news and commentary are more serious, notably when it impacts people's lives, including our own. …
I'm not aware of any manufactured home communities in Africa, much less on the islands off the African coast. So you can image my surprise when a client called me last week during the MHI/NCC annual Congress and Expo with a question about something he read; and the call came from off the coast of …
Richard A. "Dick" Jennison is having his first anniversary as MHI's (Manufactured Housing Institute) President and CEO (Chief Executive Officer). It was just before the 2012 Legislative session that Dick Jennison came on board and was introduced to members at that session. The year has gone by quickly! Happy anniversary, Dick. Glad our industry hasn't …
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to sell and or manage the sales of manufactured homes from a variety of factory builders. Included among those HUD Code Manufactured Home builders was Liberty Homes. I found Liberty to be a fine representation of what quality manufactured home producers can accomplish. So it is with a …
The words 'mobile home' roll off the tongue with greater ease that the words 'manufactured housing.' Technically, all HUD Code factory-built homes today are manufactured housing. We have had no mobile homes built since before June 15, 1976. Yet 'mobile home' is the far more commonly used term used to describe our homes today. …
