Perspective. ‘Land lease communities, previously manufactured home communities, and earlier, ‘mobile home parks’, comprise the real estate component of manufactured housing.’
This blog posting is sole national advocate, official ombudsman, historian, research reporter, education resource & online communication media for North American land lease communities
To input this blog, &/or affiliate with EducateMHC, formerly Community Owners (7 Part) Business Alliance, or COBA7, use Official MHIndustry HOTLINE: (877)MFD-HSNG or 633-4764
Motto: ‘U Support US & WE Serve U!’ And, goal for online media? To inform, opine, and help transform and improve manufactured housing and land lease community performance!
INTRODUCTION: I am more than ‘cautiously optimistic’ about what year 2019 has in store for the manufactured housing industry and land lease community asset class. And the major cheerleader for continued rise in new HUD-Code housing shipment volume, is the rejuvenated trade press! Forget about the one naysayer, and concentrate on what you read in MHInsider, Manufactured Housing Review, the Allen Letter and the Allen CONFIDENTIAL! Let’s work together now, to read here this time next year: We did it! Shipped more than 100,000 new HUD-Code homes with a production value estimated to be more than $4.3 billion!
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Communicating Among Manufactured Housing & Land Lease Community Businesspeople!
2019 Begins a New Communication Era for Manufactured Housing & Land Lease Communities Nationwide. Are YOU aware & ready to read & learn?
Last month marked the first publication anniversary of MHInsider magazine, by MHVillage of Grand Rapids, MI. The anniversary issue was distributed, in great number, at the Louisville MHShow, and was chockfull of lively and timely articles describing various aspects of manufactured housing and land lease community investment and management. I felt especially honored, having my own column inside the back cover of the magazine. Labeled as the Allen Legacy, editors have given me free reign to write about upcoming trade shows, giving them an historical flavor. Given that thought, you’ll likely enjoy the Allen Legacy in the Tunica MHShow issue coming out next month. Hint? Be ready to be ‘Moore’ surprised! If not already receiving MHInsider, reach out to Darren@datacomp.com or Patrick@mhvillage.com. And to advertise, Mattm@datacompusa.com
For the better part of a year, we’ve enjoyed Kurt Kelley’s ezine, Manufactured Housing Review. Reading the online pub is almost like reading a hard copy print version. How so? Well, as a page is read, one ‘clicks’ on bottom right corner of the page shown, and it folds over to the left, just like it would if held in hand. The subject material? A mixed bag, given the variety of writers and their respective areas of expertise and opinions on various matters ‘manufactured housing’ & ‘land lease community’. Easy to find; just Google manufacturedhousingreview.com
Now, here’s the biggest trade press change during year 2019. The conversion, from print trade publications to online digital, of all materials distributed heretofore by COBA7, now via EducateMHC. And what is EducateMHC? It’s a new iteration of what you’ve long (i.e. 40 years!) received from GFA Management, Inc., dba PMN Publishing – and since 2014, COBA7. Said transition improves distribution efficiency of in-house trade pubs, scheduling Manufactured Housing Manager professional property management training and certification classes, as well as facilitating of the annual Networking Roundtable. And amidst all this, I get to continue writing to my favorite audience – you, while enduring less day to day stress. Here’re the pubs…
FREE weekly blog posting. Hard to believe I’ve been sending blogs your way for more than a decade! That’s why this blog is labeled as # 520. For many of you, I’m told, this weekly posting is the only trade press you rely on for timely information and informed opinion. Well, you should avail yourself of some or all trade pubs described in following paragraphs. But first; if not receiving this FREE weekly blog posting, but wish to, simply communicate your desire via: gfa7156@aol.com
Know what? There’s an ‘industry news distribution media’ you likely know little about, unless already on the receiving end. In-house, we refer to recipients as being the ‘Influencers & Deep Thinkers’ of manufactured housing & land lease communities! Recipients are subscribers to either or both the Allen Letter and the Allen CONFIDENTIAL! There’s no set distribution schedule for this special online ‘mailing’. Often it’s a spur of the moment declaration of ‘breaking news’ (e.g. 96,555 new HUD-Code homes ‘shipped’ during 2018, with production value estimated to be $4.2 billion) and or insights into important matters (e.g. 30th annual ALLEN REPORT spots new trend: ‘number of new homes used as rental units exceeds number sold on contract’). How to maybe receive? Subscribe to the Allen Letter and or the Allen CONFIDENTIAL! for awhile, then write to me, expressing your desire to be added to this inner circle Influencers & Deep Thinkers’!
Speaking of the Allen Letter. This year (2019) marks the 30th consecutive year this newsletter for land lease community owners/operators has been published and distributed throughout North America! Many, I’m told, believe a subscription to this newsletter is the basic ‘first step’ one takes when buying their first land lease community. And, proud to say, many of the portfolio ‘player’ folk have been loyal subscribers for decades. How ‘bout you? It’s still only $134.95/year. Simply go to www.educatemhc.com to learn more, and begin one’s subscription. It’s always full of interesting and helpful information. FYI. Just finished penning the March 2019 issue. One article describes at least eight major differences between property operations during the 1970s and today.
the Allen CONFIDENTIAL! Is probably the ‘most fun serious’ manuscript I author each month. How so? Unlike magazine articles and newsletter content, where we collect material ahead of time and outline same, in this case, I fly pretty much by the seat of my pants. That means I am always sensitive to what is happening to ‘thee & me’ around & about the MHIndustry & LLCommunity asset class. So, when I sit down to write, I do a ‘brain dump’ of oft sensitive material, letting you know ahead of just about everyone else, what’s happening – and better yet, what’s likely to occur during the days and weeks ahead! Over the years, regulators, housing manufacturers, and major portfolio owners/operators have let me know of plans ‘on the QT’, but expecting me to release said information at just the right time – to you. Guess that’s part of ‘why’ TAC! is so popular. Interested? Again, go to www.educatemhc.com
In closing, it really does seem the manufactured housing industry and land lease community asset class, where it’s print and online press is concerned, is enjoying a renascence of sorts in 2019. And the timing couldn’t be better! Yes, we narrowly missed shipping 100,000 new HUD-Code homes during 2018, but should be able to do so by year end 2019. And know what’ll help to that end? While we suffer an online interloper these days, let’s work together to ‘get the word out’ accurately, and in a positive and timely fashion! We don’t need naysayers spouting half-truths and information that hurts the progress we’re finally enjoying. So, support good trade journalism and honest, fair commentary, by subscribing to some or all the trade publications just described!
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George Allen, CPM, MHM
Box # 47024, Indianapolis, IN. 46247
(317) 346-7156