Blog Posting # 684. Copyright @ 8 April 2022. EducateMHC
Perspective. ‘Land lease communities, previously manufactured home communities, and earlier, ‘mobile home parks’, comprise the real estate component of manufactured housing!’
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INTRODUCTION: Other than by direct email from me to you, Part I, here following is our industry’s and asset class’ sole access to ‘MHShipment Totals & Stock Market Report’. And if you don’t know MHAction is nipping at your heels, if a community owner/operators, read about it in Part II. Part III? Review of another exciting novel by Charles Irion, former community owner. Most important of all, plan to participate in the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation’s Hall of Fame at the annual induction banquet on 15 August 2020.
I.
MHShipment Total@ February & Stock Market Report @ 4 April
According to the Institute for building Technology & Safety (‘IBTS’), HUD’s ‘scorekeeper’ for HUD-Code manufactured housing production, 9,281 new homes were shipped during February 2022. This, the sole Official Total recorded and publicized by IBTS, HUD, MHARR & EducateMHC.
9,281 exceeds February 2021 total of 7,995 homes, and 9,110 homes reported last month, during January 2022. And 2022 YTD, we’re already 1,200 new homes ahead of 2021 YTD!
The production value of these 9,281 new homes, using Dr. Stephen C. Cooke’s $43,126/MH factor is estimated to be $400 million; and 2022 production value YTD is $793 million. As I’ve said before, it’s past time for an update of Dr. Cooke’s valuation factor. Anyone listening?
Stock price-wise; of ten publicly-traded manufactured housing and land lease community companies, during early April, five were UP and five were DOWN from previous month. The MH/LLCommunity Composite Stock Index (‘CSI’) for this period of time rose from $713 to $732. For a FREE stock market summary of these ten firms, request it via gfa7156@aol.com
II.
MHAction calls for Legislative Day of Action on 10 May 2022
This is a state (e.g. New York, et. al.) and national initiative aimed at ‘predatory investors’ acquiring and operating land lease communities. Specific provisions ban rent-gouging companies, provide better (property management) oversight (i.e. licensing), improve leases, and stop unfair seizure of homes. If you’re not following these developments you should be!
III.
MURDERED BY GODS – TIMBUKTU
Yet another murder mystery, high adventure tale, from former Arizona real estate broker and land lease community owner/operator Charles Irion. I’ve reviewed many of Chuck’s novels and non-fiction books (e.g. ‘Roadkill Cookbook for Campers’) over the years, and sincerely believe ‘Murdered by Gods – Timbuktu’ is one of his best as a wordsmith, to date. By way of review…
‘Murdered by Gods – Timbuktu is an eclectic mix of writing genres; from mystery to adventure to survival to sci-fi, even demon possession. Set in the Sahara Desert, Irion’s perennial hero Scott Devlon – mountaineer and director of Project: RESCUE, is on a mission of mercy, to rescue a group of kidnapped scholars who aim to restore the cultural heritage of Timbuktu.
The author’s writing style also varies, from being akin to late mystery writer Dick Francis’ penchant for details (i.e. which is to say, you’ll learn all about salt mining, intirion crystals and more), Karl Marlantes’ flare for penning graphic life and death scenarios (as in his ‘Matterhorn’ historical novel of U.S. Marines fighting in RVN), as well as describing exhausting personal endurance, as in Slavomir Rawicz’s The Long Walk’. Taken all together, this is one of those books that once-in-hand is darn difficult to put down!
Besides the education a reader receives, and gripping descriptions of hero Devlon’s high adventures in life and near death scenarios, there’s a continuing plot line from Irion’s previous novels that smacks of other-worldly presence, even demon possession. I’ve read all his books, but still get goose bumps when he first touches, then dives into a nether (or ‘higher’) world beyond that upon which most of us live and work. GFA
IV.
2022 = 50th ANNIVERSARY OF RV/MH HALL OF FAME!
Who knew? The repository and protector of our industry and realty asset class history will celebrate its’ 50th anniversary on 15 August 2022, at the RV/MH Heritage Foundation facility in Elkhart, IN.
To that end, watch for the July/August issue of MHInsider magazine. Therein, the Allen Legacy column will – for the first time in print – tell how the RV/MH Hall of Fame, museum and library was birthed, then describe some picturesque Hall of Fame members. Some examples: One sold a new ‘mobile home’ to Elvis Presley; another, an immigrant from Denmark who made his fortune in this business’; yet another was on the War Production Board during WWII; another, the mayor of a major Midwest City; and one revolutionized RV advertising!
For now, however, why not commit yourself to attend the RV/MH Hall of Fame induction banquet on 15 August 2022? I know I plan to be present among the expected 700 guests. For tickets, phone (574) 293-2344. Who’s being inducted, from the manufactured housing industry? Eugene (Gene) Landy, founder and chairman of the board of REIT, UMH Properties, Inc. Tim Williams, founder and CEO of 21st Mortgage. Raylen Gritton, an independent (street) MHRetailer with 13 locations in five states. David Carter, Sr., a supplier of lumber and OEM supplies to the manufactured housing industry. Harry Karsten, longtime HUD-Code manufacturer on the west coast, also son-in-law of an inductee in the inaugural 1972 class. In addition to these five honorees, there’ll be five inductees from the recreational vehicle industry.
New U.S. presidents have their fancy inaugural balls, Hollywood actors and actresses have their Oscars. Well, manufactured housing and land lease communities, along with their recreational vehicle brethren, have their annual Hall of Fame induction banquet! It is the most gala affair MH & RV folk enjoy almost every year (skipped 2020 due to the pandemic). Frankly, ‘anyone who’s anyone’ in both industries, will be present at this event. It’s the one occasion where everyone goes to ‘see and be seen’, especially those who aspire to be nominated and selected for induction into the RV/MH Heritage Foundation’s prestigious Hall of Fame. Will you be there in 2022?
And this footnote to the 15 August festivities. As in years past, I’ve already been asked to teach, over a two to three hour period of time, that day, ‘How to Pen One’s Memoirs & Wordsmith an Autobiography’. If this interests you, let me know via gfa7156@aol.com As in years past this seminar will likely be held in the RV/MH Hall of Fame library or another room at the facility.
George Allen, CPM, MHM
EducateMHC