Industry Voices - Latest Comments

Re: Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing

Ken — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:36:50 -0000

Regarding Dodd-Frank, and certainly the administrators of it, the CFPB, I believe it is more "class ignorance" than a deliberate attempt to single out manufactured housing. Frankly, the Washington bureaucracy has trouble understanding that there are housing choices that cost less than $150,000. They live in $500,000 to $1,000,000 homes and know they are on the "low end of the scale" of "people that count". They are in disbelief when told that people are buying homes with 20% down payments that need to finance the balance of $50,000 and stunned when informed that many people are buying homes with a financeable balance of $10,000. It is just outside their experience and their "reality". I have repeatedly been asked, " Do these places have indoor plumbing?"

Re: Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing

Blaine — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:26:53 -0000

I believe that this is indicative of a prejudice on behalf of the federal government against manufactured housing. Apparently it is the belief of the government that anyone living in manufactured housing is there not by choice and given a choice people would chose and expensive site built over an economical manufactured home any day of the week. The belief that only site built are good enough and everyone should have one is the type of thinking that caused Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to lend to people that obviously could not afford the notes that they were given, leading to the economic collapse of the real estate market we are just not starting to recover from. Because of the points Doug Gorman of HomeMart, Tulsa, OK touched on in his comment, how else can you explain that an industry the government should be praising and modeling, it vilifies and hampers every chance it gets. (Yes we have all heard the jokes about trailer parks and tornadoes) After all if site built was the best way to do it wouldn’t General Motors make an appointment with you to come to your house to build your new car and would contractors use rafters that were manufactured in a plant somewhere else? But Instead of letting economic forces do their work it is inevitably when the government tries their hand at social engineering is when we find ourselves in trouble. Congress wonders why they have such a low approval rating could it be because they think they know what’s best for people and don’t mind putting it into law.
Blaine Gilless
Lane Thomas Housing
Hammond, La. 70403

Re: Re-assessing the Stabenow Amendment to Extend Energy Star Tax Credits

Blainegilless — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:40:34 -0000

Hi Ronnie I couldn't agree with you more. The government approach is like trying to push a rope. It seems the federal government has never understood the proper way to motivate people. Instead of giving people incentives to buy homes they give builders incentives to build them and then when they don't sell the factories wont want to build anymore and contractors will get the business and then they are surprised when they get more of a behavior they promote. Just another short sighted solution to an extensive problem.

Re: Re-assessing the Stabenow Amendment to Extend Energy Star Tax Credits

Ronnie — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:14:48 -0000

I agree with your comments. I would much rather see the benefit go to the homebuyer rather than a tax credit to the manufacturer. New Mexico has a great program. "The tax credit can be used by the buyer of the Energy Star Home against their state income tax; they can sell the tax credit to a third-party broker so to be able to get an immediate reduction on the cost of the home at closing, or; they can transfer the tax credit back to the manufacturer. The tax credit is $3 per square foot with the maximum credit being $6,000." It had a significant impact on our sales of Oak Creek Energy Star HUD Code homes in NM.

Re: Congressional Hearing on Federal Role in Housing Finance – Report And Analysis

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Re: Some Say the Future for Manufactured Homes Is Downtown

workforce housing — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:14:36 -0000

Nice post. The home can be a single unit or a large multi-section units. You must choose from a variety of home style options. Manufacture of more than hundred and fifty families and more than factories located throughout the United States manufacturing company.

Re: Post 2012 Tunica Show Industry Perspective

Boe — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:02:44 -0000

the Presidents Family Lineage? That would be what? It is a lie to think that a President can control gas prices (Bush couldn't and said so). We shot ourselves in the foot in terms of lending. No one made us.

I can't tell you how fed up I am about how the govt did this to us or did that to us.

Re: Post 2012 Tunica Show Industry Perspective

Gspanos — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:02:10 -0000

Mr Moore: Some people seem to have short memories. It was the big guys that primarily got us into this miss. Think abuse, Greentree, Conseco, et al, in the MH arena. Think abuse, Wamu, Country Wide, et al, in the stick built industry [no docs, little docs, no down payment, walk out with a check, etc]. Think the banks [abuse home equity, credit cards, etc.] Obama = more buiness regulation. Romey = more abuse by big business. How do you propse we reach a middle ground?

Re: Community Owner to Community Owners and others in Manufactured Housing Business

Jack Bachmann — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 07:11:38 -0000

Good article. Also, who do you like for dealer and park insurance in Illinois? Jack Bachmann, www.stoneybrook-home.com

Re: Indiana Manufactured Housing Association meets the SAFE Act

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Re: Indiana Manufactured Housing Association meets the SAFE Act

structured settlements — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:29:21 -0000

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Re: This makes my blood boil…

easteddie — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:41:32 -0000

Lets also start a campaign to inform TV newscasters reporting on impending high wind events that dangers of remaining in a "mobile or manufacruted home" without seeking adequate shelter depends on when the home was built and the standards to which it was installed. To my knowledge, there has never been an independent reliable study which shows that a HUD Code Home built in the past 10 years, properly setup on a foundtion or tied down to strict state standards is any more likely to fail to protect it's residents any more than a site built home. And, please stop flying the camers over communities after a storm showing all the skirting, sheds, and awnings which have been blown off the homes, making it look like the homes have also destructed. Site built home neighborhoods without these inexpensive manufactured home installed accessories don't show as dramitically bad, since as more expensive housing, they don't tend to use these low cost accessory structures. But, all the ground flotsam, isn't any more an indication of the safety of the residence, than the dramatically spoken ill advised comments by the commentators are an indication of their intelligence.

Re: Into the Great Green North

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Re: Congressman Joe Donnelly Statement for the Record Field Hearing: “The State of Manufactured Housing”

Rio apartments — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:22:53 -0000

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Re: Congressman Joe Donnelly Statement for the Record Field Hearing: “The State of Manufactured Housing”

Real estate orange county — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:35:17 -0000

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Re: Dick Moore’s Industry and Finance Perspective

Dick Moore — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:02:06 -0000

Tony,The recourse arrangement was basically like non-recourse, except that the retailer guaranteed the paper and was paid a portion of the interest rate spread for the endorsement. It was a very profitable arrangement.The bank originated the paper via the retailer. If a loan went past the negotiated past-due days, the retailer was expected to then repurchase the contract and do what he wanted with the collateral. Under the proper business model, the retailer would proceed to repossess it, recondition the unit and re-sell it. The % of interest (endorsement fee) was placed in a reserve account for losses and was paid out to you on a negotiated basis. "In park" sales would not be nearly as difficult as a street dealer selling all over the place with any repo problems associated with recovering the collateral You have better control "in-park."That was in the day prior to the NMLS and the new regulatory rules of Dodd-Frank. Many lenders have simply stopped originating MH paper due to the level of complexity of the rules (and associated fines/penalties for any errors). IF a retailer has a bank still amenable to originating MH paper under a recourse agreement, the retailer would have to be licensed as a NMLO for each state in which loans would be originated to receive rate compensation in today¹s world. (Any retailer/park owner originating paper now has to get licensed through that system - to do it legally, that is.)There is another method of handling this type of paper: use it as collateral and borrow against it.I went out to Texas and consulted with Gary Adamek a few years ago. It took 2 or 3 days of consulting work with Gary to turn him around. He is doing great. You can ask Bill Carr about that. I'm very proud of that event.If you have a good relationship with a local bank, I could structure a deal your bank possibly would finance that would make you money.I charge $1,500 per day plus expenses to come to your place, examine the current system, examine the paper you currently have, look at your financials, and tell you what the bank will expect. After we have discussed all this and I know your expectations, I can design a plan tailored to the specific needs. Call me if you want to discuss this further. My cell # is 901-490-2075. Dick

Re: Dick Moore’s Industry and Finance Perspective

Shawnsisco — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:38:09 -0000

Mr. Moore as I came into the business 20 years ago, I have not dealt with recourse lending programs. Nowadays, my focus is on my MHP operation in which I "carry the paper" to provide customers purchase money.

I would imagine many other readers of this site are in the same boat as I am.

I would greatly appreciate an outline of a recourse lending plan that has a high probability of success.

Re: Warren Buffett proposes a Fix for the Economy and Washington Gridlock

Doylemhi — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:10:00 -0000

This should be done...NOW!!

Re: MH homeowner and MBA’s perspective on MH Industry Turn-Around

Tony — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:06:18 -0000

Paul,
I agree that Lisa Tyler's observations are important ones. Your point about would the owner of an MHC property find their own value proposition compelling is also telling.

That said, I think that the point Lisa makes is that this reality won't change without a planned effort. The plan must do more than just image, and marketing instructor Ms. Tyler sees that and the value of the MH Alliance method for accomplishing needed changes. Involving home owners is as important as involving business owners and managers along with existing state associations to make for a three strand cord that is not easily broken.

Tony

Re: MH homeowner and MBA’s perspective on MH Industry Turn-Around

Paul Bradley — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:41:40 -0000

Bravo Lisa Tyler!

You have touched on the heart of the matter! If water cooler comments continually undermine homeowners' ideas and ambitions about their homes and communities, there's little chance of MH becoming more than a troubled affordable housing niche.

I see and experience that prejudice in the MHC sector so much so that it is internalized by homeowners themselves, just as you described. My question has long been, "what's behind that?"

I have come to believe that the MHC segment has a basic value proposition problem that is fodor for "you're not going to buy in there, are you?" attitude.

Here's my question for MHC owners: "Would you buy a home in your community under the basic value proposition that you offer customers?"

Some upstanding community owners will say, "yes" and I'll agree with them. But, for that guy from Texas - and those like him - who joyfully explained to me once that "the profits from closing and changing use of the parks in 3 to 4 years were too good to pass up," is the answer still "yes"? Well, not to the homeowners who are there today remodeling kitchens, adding a room, paying down their 12% loan, or buying a home in the community. They will soon be the water cooler advisors for the next generation of would-be buyers. And, who can blame them if their advice is, "don't do it!"

To my mind, it's the dirty little secrets of the business and lack of quality control that make the idea of an image campaign hard to imagine. Ultimately customer experience and what customers say and believe matters the most. Only they can push back the wave of negative perception that faces this housing stock, and MHCs generally.

I look forward to frequent updates on your research, Lisa. I consider our work with homeowners is all about changing the value proposition in a very deep and dramatic way, and I see it working. However, it's against some big forces so I'd love to find ways for value-players to join together to push and pull for better customer experience.

Paul Bradley, President, ROC USA, LLC

Re: Warren Buffett proposes a Fix for the Economy and Washington Gridlock

Guest — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:46:49 -0000

http://www.factcheck.org/2011/...

Re: MH homeowner and MBA’s perspective on MH Industry Turn-Around

Tony — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:14:31 -0000

Dale
I appreciate your concern for keeping MHCs in the mix. They are a critical part of the industry. As you will learn when you sit in on an upcoming GoToMeeting, MHCs are very much a part of the mix for the MH Alliance/Phoenix Project.

Those MHC owners who have seen the plan already generally tend to favor it. We are waiting for comments that some owners have promised.

This guest article, like yours posted earlier today, looks at a specific topic. Just because Ms. Tyler has not explicitly mentioned MHCs, doesn't mean she was ignoring it. She plans a follow up article, and we will see what she has to say about MHCs in that column.

Speaking for myself, a considerable amount of my work in the past 7+ years has been directly related to MHCs and occupancy turn-arounds. It was the focus of my presentation at the recent IMHA meeting, held for MHC owners. So like you, I believe that MHCs are critical to the Industry survival.

Bottom line, don't jump to conclusions. We at MHProNews.com believe in the value and importance of saving MHCs, while not ignoring the needs of lenders, retailers, suppliers and others who are all part of the big MH family.

Tony

Re: MH homeowner and MBA’s perspective on MH Industry Turn-Around

Guest — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 14:51:36 -0000

It seems that mobile home community owners has been left out again. They put a lot of time and money into turning around communities that have been run into the ground by mismanagement companies, but their voices are not being considered. What a shame!

Re: What is the the future of independent Manufactured Home Communities?

Tony — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:03:43 -0000

I'd like to thank Dale for this column. I have had a number of community owners express similar concerns. While I've invited some to share their thoughts, so far, Dale is the first to say 'yes' to writing an article like this to his fellow community owners.

That said, I happen to believe in a solution orientation. Dale is among those who plans to learn more about the item linked below.

http://www.mhmarketingsalesman...

The concerns among MHC Owners are real. Let's work together to find the answers, to preserve the American Dream of affordable housing.

Tony Kovach

Re: Retailer plans meetings to effect positive Dodd-Frank change

Rick Rand — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:28:25 -0000

Doug,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with your Congressman and discuss the issues our industry is faced with because of the Dodd-Frank legislation. This is exactly the kind of communication that each of us should strive to have with our Senators and Members of the House of Representatives. Greater personal contact by each us can truly make a difference for the future of our industry. There is no better time than now to reach out to each of them and ask them for their support in correcting the unintended effects this legislation is having on the manufactured home industry.

Thank you again for your continued efforts.

Rick Rand