George Allen / EducateMHC Blog Mobile Home & Land Lease Community Advocate & Expert

Blog Posting # 817; Copyright 1 November 2024. EducateMHC

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’), comprise the commercial real estate (‘CRS’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent, the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatmhc.com to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955. Also my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consulting, and authoring many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist and editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran, retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, author/editor of 30 books and chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer, and figures of speech.

BROKEN PIECES & LIVES RESTORED

Do you have a friend, relative, employee; maybe even yourself, caught up in one or another type addiction or affliction? Well, this week’s blog posting is taking a detour from our usual MH business foci to introduce you to a new book recently published by a veteran land lease community portfolio owner/operator, Katie Hauck. You’ll recognize Ken and Katie Hauck’s firm as Hauck Homes of IL & TN.

‘From These BROKEN PIECES’ is not your usual literary fare, as it’s neither a novel nor nonfiction ‘read’; but rather, a collection of nearly three dozen true personal stories of individual affliction and redemption.

So, if you have a family member, friend, or casual acquaintance who’s trapped in a lifestyle of crime, addiction, or is a victim of tragedy or eating disorder, you (they) need to read this book!

And herein, redemption describes actual experiences of individuals rescued from various forms of addiction, abuse, and other antisocial and unhealthy lifestyle and relationships.

The book begins with the author telling, in casual story-telling fashion, her own experience of early marriage, divorce, and raising two children alone. Then finding new life – and love, via Bible study, church, prayer, and ‘an amazing man who later became my husband.’ At that point she jumps right into sharing compelling short stories, some would say testimonies, of young men and women, some older, who find themselves trapped in self-destructive lifestyle – but wanting to break those cycles and find a way out. Here are the first paragraphs of a couple of these heartwarming tales.

THE WALK AWAY

            “Charlie tugged on her aunt’s sleeve until she leaned closer. Charlie whispered into her ear, ‘Please help me get my mother away from him. Get her out of the situation she’s in.’ Her words turned into a prayer, ‘Lord, please save my mom.’

            Her mom, Tara, had stayed away to hide the bruises on her face, trapped in the toxic relationship that put them there. Trapped from all the decisions in her past that had gotten her to this point. She’d grown up with a good family and a grandfather who always kept them in church, but she’d developed a lying problem. It only got worse in her teen years. She would be whoever and do whatever was necessary to fit in.” p.93

FREE FALLING

            “Terror filled Jayme as she stared down at the earth thousands of feet below. Underneath the bubbling fear was a boiling excitement, It was time to leave the plane, and something told her that she would love this.

            She took a deep breath and jumped, wind whipping at her face. Her arms were outstretched as the world zipped by. This is what freedom feels lie, she thought. This is what loving feels like.

            Free falling 15,000 feet from an airplane felt like going a month without binging and purging herself. Bulimia had ruled her life. Her childhood perfectionism grew into a check-the-box relationship with God, food-restricting diet, and over-exercising, it ate away at her. Her relationship with her husband broke down. Finally, she left him and fled to Florida.” P.73

And this isn’t all ‘From These BROKEN PIECES’ has to offer. Following each short story there’s a one page open-outline featuring questions for the reader (i.e. the afflicted, the victimized) to answer, along with gentle recommendations on how to break that troublesome cycle.

Yes, as compelling and engaging a read as this book is, its’ true value lies in describing the practical paths available today for individuals who, as was sated earlier, are afflicted or victimized, and in need of redemption and recovery. So, consider ordering a copy of the book for your edification; consider ordering copies for friends, family members, employees or acquaintances who will likely benefit from reading these true, life-changing stories.

The book is available on amazon.com. Just be sure to designate: From These Broken Pieces, Katie Hauck Ministries.

George Allen

Blot Posting # 816; Copyright 25 October 2024. EducateMHC

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks_, comprise the commercial real estate (‘CRS’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent, the recreational vehicle (“RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatemhc.com to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955. Also my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consulting, and authoring many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist and editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran, retired lieutenant Colonel of U.S. Marines, author/editor of 30 books and chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer, and figures of speech.

American Community Survey (‘ACS’) Data Stuns!

Census Bureau recently released new ACS data showing, in 2023, “…a record high 22.0 million renter households spent at least 30 percent of their income on housing.”

And “Rent increases outpaced renter income growth.” In 2023, median gross rent (including utilities) paid by renters was $1,406month – up 8 percent from previous year.

“Multiple factors raising costs of homeownership.” Median monthly cost for 51.6 million homeowners, with a mortgage, was $1,904. Why so high? Rising property taxes, insurance premiums, and other non-mortgage costs.

“Homeownership rates among households under age 35 decreased 0.5 percentage points to 2022-2023 to 36.1 percent.” This offset by higher rates among older households kept national homeownership rate at 65.2 percent in 2023.

“…the homeownership rate for black households remained 27.7 percentage points below the homeownership rate for white households (72.4 percent).” Homeownership rate among Hispanic households? (51.0 percent). Asian households @ 63.4 percent.

Household growth has been hot since the pandemic, but is now slowing. In 2010-2019, the US averaged 915,000 new households annually; then 2.33 in 2022; and, now 1.46 million in 2023.

“…the number of renter households living in single-family homes increased by 22,000 in 2023, the first growth in this rental housing stock since 2016. Total? 14.3 million Renter households lived in single-family homes last year.”

Have You Heard of the ‘1792 Exchange’?

It’s a 501©(3), educational, non-profit organization whose mission is to “preserve freedom by steering public companies back to neutral on ideological issues.” What’s that mean? Well, in a recent Press Release, the organization’s CEO urged “America’s top business leaders to take a stand against stakeholder capitalism and ditch divisive agendas.” that was first proposed at the 2019 Business Roundtable with 200 chief executives present.

1792 Exchange’s goal? Encourage business executives to reevaluate stakeholder-driven governance (as opposed to supporting shareholders & maximizing value), and get back to the business of doing business.

Recommend you research the ‘1792 Exchange’ online to learn more and form your own opinion of their actions and how their goal might relate to your corporate interests.

HUD Changes Monitoring Contractor

HUD’s Office of Manufactured Housing Programs (‘OMHP’) “has secured the services of a new monitoring contractor for the Federal Manufactured Housing Installation Program. The firm? Tribal One, replacing SEBA Professional Services.

Effective immediately all installer applications, HUD Forms 306, 307, 308, & 309 should go to Tribal One.

Contact information? Mailing address: 6161 S. Syracuse Way, Ste # 280, Greenwood Village, CO. 80111. Email: MHIPservices@tribal.one  And phone: (719) 675-6720. Points of contact: Peter Uson & Jeff Simpson.

Personally, I lost faith in HUD’s administration of the manufactured housing installation program when it decided, several years ago, to ignore the practicality and engineering integrity and efficacy of the Frost Free Foundation (‘FFF’) system originally proposed by industry consultant George Porter. In my opinion, if everyone (i.e. land lease community owners/operators) nationwide faithfully and rightfully used FFF to install and secure all HUD-Code manufactured homes, ‘everyone’ would be in compliance, not just the mishmash of compliant and noncompliant states we endure today.

Have You Signed Up to Attend MH2X Yet?

MH2X is SECO’s initiative to double 2025 production of manufactured homes, by encouraging community owners/operators to buy and sell new HUD-Code homes to fill vacant rental homesites and upgrade their properties.

Next MH2X Workshop will occur 20 & 21 November 2024, at the Country Inn &u Suites at 4500 Circle 75 Parkway, Atlanta, GA. 30339.

What’s involved? A dozen presenters, a community tour, templates, document and files, practical examples, and superb interpersonal and corporate networking. For more information and to register, visit contact@secoconference.com

Who will be present? In addition to owners/operators of land lease communities and property portfolios, there’ll be Business Development Executives present from all three Big-C HUD-Code housing manufacturers: CAVCO, Champion/Skyline, Clayton, and Live Oaks Homes.

What would it mean to ‘double 2025 production of manufactured homes’? Well, in 2022 our industry produced a century-to-date (‘CTD’) record high of 112,886 new MHs. The next year, in 2023, that total dropped to 89,169. And we can expect that decline to continue unless land lease community owners/operators (‘You!’) buy more new homes to place onto rental homesites within your properties. It’s entirely possible, with your efforts, to see year 2025 end with 170,000 new MHs produced (i.e. that’s roughly double the 89,169 produced back in 2023.

So, will we see you at this and future MH2X Workshops? Sure hope so! And if you can’t make it to this one, plan to be present at the Louisville MHShow, 15-17 January 2025, as that’s likely where the next MH2X Workshop will be held.

George Allen

Blog Posting # 815; Copyright 18 October 2024. EducateMHC

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (’MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable –attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’), comprise the commercial real estate (‘CRS’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource or both business models, and to a lesser extent, the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via 9317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatemhc.com to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955. Also my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consulting, and authoring many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist and editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran, retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, author/editor of 30 books and chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer, and figures of speech.

EXPECTED & UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

During the month of October we are 5/6ths of the way through the 2024 hurricane season in the Caribbean basin and Gulf of Mexico. And what a damaging hurricane season it’s been these past several weeks, with Hurricanes Helene and Milton ravaging much of southeast U.S.

Consequences of Category 4 Hurricane Helene? According to information supplied by Texas based manufactured housing industry consultant Kurt Kelley. Reach him via www.mobileagency.com & (800) 458-4320, ext. 117.

Flooding, this time around, caused five to six times more damage than wind alone.

Some of the worst damage occurred in western North Carolina (400 miles from the Gulf), where flooding was catastrophic.

Less than three percent of homeowners carry flood insurance nationally, though Florida has the highest rate of flood insured properties.

Total hurricane property losses are estimated to be $39 billion, and uninsured flood losses to be $28 billion

Bottom line? Vast majority of NFIP covered flood losses are expected to be in Florida and related to storm surge – where mortgaged homes have to have coverage. However, in North Carolina, flood damage prevailed but very few homeowners carried flood insurance.

Furthermore, due to amount and cost of storm damage, Florida homeowners routinely see insurance rates up and availability down. In the past, insurers expected homes to be badly damaged or totally destroyed every 100 years. Now that period has been reduced to every 20 years. And, insurance rates in southern Florida are oft 5 percent of the value of the house, meaning a home worth $1,000,000may have a monthly insurance premium of $4,200 with a deductible of $50,000 or more.

Anything positive come out of these recent hurricane experiences?  Well, improved building standards in coastal areas resulted in less wind damage than projected.

So, what’s been an unintended consequence of the recent hurricanes? More sales and placements of new HUD-Code manufactured homes in land lease communities throughout the southeast, but outside of Florida. Here’re some recent communiques from community owners/operators in that region:

“We are going absolutely bonkers with the expansion of our new (100 rental homesites) community, along with the sale of new MHs to fill said sites. As fast as we can get homes ready to sell we’re selling them. And it’s not unusual for us to sell before they’re even ready! Prospective homebuyers/site lessees are even purchasing new homes that won’t be delivered until the end of the year. People love the new MHs. They also love our new development – as everything looks so nice and inviting. Wish I had another project to move to once we fill this one.” (Lightly edited. GFA)

“We are experiencing the same thing in our Georgia properties, where we’re having homes reserved with hard deposits at the time we order the new (manufactured) home. Never seen anything like it in the last seven years. The one caveat is that we have to order the right homes. Single 16X76, 3BR, 2B units are our most popular model right now.”

ANOTHER SOURCE OF MH INDUSTRY STATISTICS

OK, I’ve been around manufactured housing for a while – like nearly 50 years, but this is the first I’ve heard of SkyView Advisors and their monthly national sales report on ‘Manufactured Housing’. Their report for August 2024 suggests 54 (presumably land lease communities, a.k.a. manufactured home communities) sold for $130,452,400, and at $88,685 average selling price per (again, presumably) rental homesite; and an average of 90 sites per property sold.

Now, here’s what isn’t clear to me. Is that data just for the month of August 2024 or is it a year to date total, i.e. 54 communities @ $130,452,400.? Furthermore, is this in transactions that regularly occur between and among property portfolio owners/operators? Just wondering….

For more information, get in touch with Jared Bosch or Don Vedeen via jbosch@skyviewadvisors.com & dvedeen@skyviewadvisors.com

SECO ANNOUNCES NEXT ‘MH2X’CLASS

SECO’s MH2X Community Infill & Upgrade Workshop will be held on 20 & 21 November 2024, at the Country Inn & Suites in Atlanta, GA. For more information and to register, visit contact@secoconference.com

You’ll recall that the mission of MH2C workshops is to encourage and facilitate the doubling of 2025 manufactured housing production, by encouraging land lease community owners to buy and sell new manufactured homes to fill vacant rental homesites and upgrade their properties.

What does this mean? Well year 2023 total production of new manufactured homes was at 89,169 units, ‘down’ from the 2022 total of 112,886 new MHs. So there’s a long way to go and no one else, other than SECO & the MH2X workshops are trying to get us back over the 100,000/year benchmark. Bottom line? To produce 175,000 new HUD-Code manufactured homes by year end 2025! So, help us get there by attending this next MH2X Workshop in Atlanta, GA!

George Allen

Blog Posting # 814; Copyright 11 October 2024. EducateMHC

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’), comprise the commercial real estate (‘CRS’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent, the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatemhc.com to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955. Also my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consultant and author of many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institutes (‘MHII’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, and MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist & editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran, retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, author/editor of 30 books and chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer, and figures of speech.

The ‘Whole U.S. Housing Story’ Explanation

What is the ‘Whole U.S. Housing Story’? What types of single-family residential housing are included in this new monthly comprehensive statistical survey? Well, here goes:

Offsite construction. This new housing category, a.k.a. factory-built housing, includes HUD-Code manufactured housing, modular & panelized (or ‘prefab’) housing, and Park Model recreational vehicles (‘RVs’).

(&) Single-family, site-built housing ‘starts’. This larger housing category has long been the all-inclusive measure of housing performance in the U.S., not including the offsite construction types just cited, except for HUD-Code manufactured housing sited on permanent foundations.

So, where does this housing data originate? The easiest to track is the number of single-family, site-built housing ‘starts’ researched and published monthly online by the U.S. Census Bureau. Visit: census.gov/construction/nrc/pdf/newresconst/pdf

But offsite construction involves two different sources and a calculation.

HUD-Code manufactured housing monthly production is tracked by the Institute for building Technology & Safety (‘IBTS’) and sold to subscribers. Annual production totals? In the book SWAN SONG, dating back to 1955. Visit www.educatemhc.com

Modular & panelized (‘prefab’) housing monthly production. Since these units are built to local building codes and no one tacks either category, some housing professionals suggest the following formula: 2% of annualized monthly housing starts per U.S. Census Bureau , reduced to a monthly total, e.g. 1,150,000 X .02, divided by 12 months = 2500 ‘mods’ & panelized units.

Park Model RV production is tracked monthly by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association and totals are published in RVIA’s online publication RVIA News. This category of offsite construction is included, as an increasing number of Park Model RVs are used as permanent housing, particularly in Sunbelt regions.

The Whole U.S. Housing Story for August 2024

Format for data that follows: First, the three categories of offsite construction, then a subtotal, followed by U.S. Census Bureau estimate of single-family site-built housing for August 2024. Finally, a grand total of all categories together, but with the number of modular & panelized units adjusted out, so as not to be counted twice.

1. HUD-Code manufactured housing units in August:   9,501
2. Modular & panelized (‘prefab’) units in August:       2,260
3. Park Model RVs in August                                             299
4. Offsite construction subtotal in August                     12,060

• Census Bureau # of housing starts in August      1,356,000
• (+) Offsite construction subtotal in August             +12,060
• Grand total of U.S. housing starts in August        1,368,060
• (-) 2,260 Modular & panelized (‘prefab’) units    1,365,800        

Bottom line ‘Whole U.S. Housing Story’ for August 2024? 1,365,800 new homes started! 

Mfd. Hsng. Shipment Volume @ August 2024

IBTS reports 9,501 HUD-Code homes produced during August 2024, up from 7,896 during the previous months, and up from 8,670 produced during August 2023. 14,968 floors produced.

Year to date (YTD) MH production thru August 2024 = 68,562; up from 58,692 during year 2023.

Production value? Based on decade+ old ‘per unit’ factor of $43,126; August 2024 production is valued at $409 million; and year to date national economic impact = $2.95 billion. This is a gross undervaluation of new HUD-Code manufactured housing production.  This ‘old factor’ needs to be reviewed, researched, and updated NOW! GFA

Stock Market Report on 4 October 2024

BRK-A              Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. (Clayton Homes)   $687

SKY.                 Skyline Champion Corporation                      $92.93

CVCO               Cavco Industries, Inc.                                     $422.50

LEGH               Legacy Housing Corporation                          $26.54

NOBH              Nobility Homes                                               $35.26

ELS                   Equity Lifestyle, Inc.                                        $68.28

SUI                   Sun Communities, Inc.                                   $129.87

UMH               UMH Properties, Inc.                                      $19.03

TSC                  Flagship Communities, Inc.                            $15.06

MHPC              Mfd. Hsng. Properties, Inc.                             $.62

Manufactured housing/land lease community Composite Stock Index (‘CSI’) on 4 October = $811; down from $901 in September, yet above the base of $790.07 set in January 2022.

CSI does not include BRK-A.

FHFA’s new Manufactured House Price Index

The Federal Housing Finance Agency, on 9 October 2024, released its new Manufactured Housing Price Index.

Simply put, ‘House price indexes for manufactured homes increased by 7.9 percent between second quarters of 2023 and 2024. They increased by 3.2 percent in the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter.” And “In the second quarter of 2024, the median price of manufactured homes for sale was $231,000. This represents an increase of $1,000 from the second quarter of 2023.”

Does this median price seem a bit high to you? That’s likely because “The price indexes and median prices for manufactured homes are both based on data from real-property conventional mortgages acquired by Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac.”

A Call for Comment & Recommendation…

So, what do you think of this new overview of all housing types produced and started in the U.S. during August 2024, along with a detailed summary of HUD-Code housing production and stock market prices for five public HUD-Code housing manufacturers and five land lease community property portfolio owners/operators? Plus information from a brand new FHFA manufactured house price index, released on 9 October 2024. Please let us know your thoughts and reactions via gfa7156@aol.com

George Allen

Blog Posting # 813; Copyright 4 October 2024. EducateMHC

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’), comprise the commercial real estate (‘CRS’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatemhc.com, to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH Productions totals since 1955. And my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consultant and author of many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI”s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, and MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist & editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran, retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, author/editor of 30 books and chapbooks on MH, communities, business management prayer & figures of speech.

‘Upside Down in a Mobile Home Park’

By

George Allen

The title ‘Upside Down…’ caught my eye as I browsed among art films in a local video store. Rented the film, took it home, and here’s what we viewed.

The movie’s setting is unclear. It could easily have been in New England, the Southeast, or the Pacific Northwest, though I’ve seen similar manufactured home communities in the rural Midwest. No question however, this was an upscale land lease community installing new multisection manufactured homes onsite at the turn of the century.

Central characters were a young couple, George & Carolyn, buying their first home. Both employed, no children or pets, and two older cars. And there was H. ‘Itch’ Balle, the retail sales center salesman/manager. Film begins with George reading a classified ad:

‘L(.)(.)K

New Homes for Sale in Sherwood Forest Estates’

What catches his eye, besides the nearby location, is the $4,000 move-in incentive offer! George phones; he and Carolyn visit; really like what they see, and buy! Their new home, already sited, but not yet landscaped, is an $80,000 multisection HUD-Code manufactured home. (Remember, this is back around year 2000).

Everything seemed to be going their way! Originally expecting to have to come up with $4,500.00 down payment, they only paid $500.00! How so? The $4,000.00 ‘move-in incentive’ was graciously applied ty the retailer/developer, to improve their homesite with shrubs, porch, and carport. Then that amount was added to the balance they’d be financing.

Even financing arrangements were a steal! Mr. Balle arranged for them to avoid paying ‘10% over 30 years’ term (That’d mean $733.13/month payments.*1), and got them a variable rate loan of only ‘9% over 30 years’ with maximum possible increase of 2% (or two points) after one year. Their first year rate was only $672.18/month*2 on their new home mortgage!

And the Good News did not stop there! At the point in the movie when George & Carolyn suggest they might ‘shop around’ before committing to buy at Sherwood Forest, ‘Itch’ announced the entire first year’s rent of $285/month would be waived if they signed the sales contract that very day!

Now, that was a ‘no brainer’ decision if ever there was one. They’d already saved $4,000.00 on the housing down payment (Somehow they thought they’d be paying off less than $83,500.00 though…); were saving $60.95/month on the loan payment or $731.40 per year; and now, a ‘signing bonus’ (Just like a pro athlete!), they were saving yet another $3,420.00 in rent during the first year of being a resident at Sherwood Forest Estates. This was all too good to be true! No question, they signed!

Then the movie fast-forwarded a year and a month into the future. The euphoric sales center scene of 13 months ago is now a distant bittersweet memory. During the past year, Carolyn had become pregnant and was no longer working. And with the extra money from the ‘house deal’ – more than $4,000.00 in down payment and mortgage savings, waived rent, and no security deposit (forgot to mention that little gem earlier), they’d bought an expensive new Ford SUB on payments.

It was bill-paying day and George & Carolyn were out of money. Their variable rate mortgage payment had just jumped from $672.18/month to almost $800.00/month*3 – not including property taxes and homeowner insurance commitments. And a previously unknown notice had just arrived, a monthly site rent bill of not $285.00/month, but $300.00/month, due to an annual rent increase. Where in the world were they going to come up with at least an extra $400.00/month, on just one salary, to pay rent, mortgage, payments on the new car, with a baby on the way?

As the movie ended, this couple was, in effect, completely upside down in their financial commitments and responsibilities – with no way out, but to walk away from their new dream home. The epilogue, through a voice-over by a moderator listed the winners and losers in this housing transaction mishap.

’Winners. Commissioned salespersons selling new homes. Lenders providing high interest chattel mortgages. Developers intent on filling new communities within a year, then flipping to the highest bidder. Homeowner/site lessee during the first year of residency.

Losers. The HUD-Code manufactured housing industry’s image and reputation! Lenders risking repossession and losing money, but able to resell and originate new loans. Salespersons setting homebuyers up for failure will likely suffer consequences somewhere, somehow, along the line. And developers earn a reputation for profiteering.

As I contemplated an appropriate moral, lesson learned, or summary, for ‘Upside Down in a Mobile Home Park’ several came to mind: a little Latin, a slang expression, a Biblical admonition, and a quote from the late Gub Mix’s popular column, ‘From My Soapbox’.

• Caveat emptor…”Let the buyer beware!”

• ‘A sucker is born every minute’

• The Golden Rule: ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ Matthew 7:12. Some would add this Gold Rule: “He who has the gold rules!”

• “…manufactured housing industry devotes an extraordinary amount of its’ resources to sell homes to people who really aren’t qualified home buyers. Why? Because they allow us to sell the ‘old mobile home way’…it’s easier than attempting to sell to qualified buyers who require a lot more effort. Manufactured housing may be the only industry in America that ignores the customer’s desires in their marketing practices. Unfortunately for us, potential buyers are much more savvy these days and appear to be abandoning us in droves.” June 2000

Hmm. Perhaps that’s why, 15 years after enduring our industry’s worst production year ever (i.e. 2009 = 48,789 new MHs), we continue to find it difficult to consistently reach and exceed the aforementioned industry standard of 100,000 new HUD-Code manufactured homes produced per year.

End Notes.

1. $80,000 (-) $500 DP + $4,000 add back = $83,500 (or 83.5) X 8.78 loan factor = $733.13/month

• $83,500 (or 83.5) X 8.05 loan factor = $672.18/month

• $83,500 (or 83.5) X 9.52 loan factor = $794.92/month

Know what? If, as an industry, we’re not careful to produce a quality home at an affordable-attainable price, ‘others out there’ might well drive our national market share lower. Here’re two examples:

Amazon.com now markets an entire line of attractive foldable homes on line, beginning at $19,000.00 apiece. Check it out.

And Volferda Capsule Houses are emerging in several markets. Not my desire or interest, but surely designs and features attractive to others, particularly young homebuyers.

If you’d like to share your thoughts on this panoply of housing matters, reach me via gfa7156@aol.com

George Allen

Blog Posting # 812; Copyright 27 September 2024. EducateMHC

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’), comprise the commercial real estate (CRS’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatemhc.com, to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955. And my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consultant and author of many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, and MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist and editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran and retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, and author/editor of 30 books & chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer & figures of speech.

No Formal Blog Posting This Week

Spencer Roane and I were in Elkhart, IN., most of this past week attending the annual RV industry Supplier’s Show at the RV/MH Hall of Fame. This was a first time experience for both of us, with me looking for ‘story ideas’ and Spencer, for tips and features to improve the recently concluded SECO Conference in Atlanta, GA. We found both.

But let me tell you, it was one Big Surprise as we turned off Indiana Route # 17 onto Executive Parkway. Across Route # 17 from the industrial park were several new RVs on display. As we drove the half mile long entrance drive to the RV/MH Hall of Fame, we saw dozens and dozens (hundreds?) of all types of recreational vehicles produced by a host of different manufacturers. And once on the RV/MH Hall of Fame campus – which displayed only homes from THOR Industries family of companies, ALL recreational vehicle types were present: travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, destination trailers, camping trailers, truck campers, park models, Class A, B & C motorhomes.

There were actually two shows going on at the same time. The Supplier Show already mentioned, and the Dealer Show for THOR Industries independent (street) RV retailers. Well, we registered and started walking and walking and walking. The Supplier Show was 100% indoors, filling both the huge brand new exposition center and half of Ingram Hall. The THOR Show was mostly outdoors, with the RV/MH Hall of Fame’s large outdoor covered pavilion serving as central meal area and protection from the intermittent rain showers.

On the drive back to Indianapolis we agreed the shows had been very worthwhile to visit. I have much to write about during the months ahead (e.g. Park Model RVs as affordable housing), and Spencer was excited about several ideas he’ll be transferring from this experience to the next SECO Conference during fall 2025.

So, what else is new? Not much worth mentioning here. Perhaps when I get through the accumulated mail and social media posts something else will surface.

George Allen

Blog Posting # 811; Copyright 20 September 2024. EducateMHC

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’) comprise the commercial real estate (‘CRS’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatemhc.com, to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production total since 1955. And my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consultant and author of many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, and MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist and editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran and retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, and author/editor of 30 books & chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer & figures of speech.

MH2X update, Better DEI, Project 2025, & RV book

MH2X. As I pen this week’s blog posting, the annual SECO Conference, in Atlanta, GA., is underway. I believe this is the 12^th year for this seminal national gathering of owners/operators of small to mid-sized land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’).

Not only is this year’s SECO Conference the most heavily attended to date, it is also the public platform where the MH2X initiative will gain major traction. As you likely know, the MH2X initiative encourages community owners/operator to buy many new HUD-Code manufactured homes for infill and upgrading of their properties – with the end goal being the doubling of MH production by year end 2025! During year 2023 the industry produced and shipped only 89,169 new HUD-Code homes. The 2025 goal? As just stated: 180,000 new HUD-Code manufactured homes!

How will this goal be accomplished? In addition to outright encouragement at the annual SECO Conferences, this year (2024) will see a new ShowSearch phone application introduced to the industry. Already, more than 150 manufactured housing plants across the U.S. have been entered into the ShowSearch database, and there’s room for more, via mountuswork@gmail.com How’s ShowSearch work? Community owners/operators interested in buying new manufactured homes for placement within their properties, and elsewhere, access the phone app to identify manufactured housing plants within 300 miles of their location. That way they likely have more choices from which to buy new HUD-Code homes!

A Better DEI. Some U.S, citizens, but not all, believe the quasi-political organizational framework known as DEI = Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, has gone too far in some arenas, e.g. higher education, various business models, and elsewhere. Well, a few pundits now suggest a new characterization of DEI, as being Discipline, Excellence, Intelligence! Robert Henry is the first public voice I heard voice this recommended change. How ‘bout you? A good idea or not?

As usual, I’d like to know your thought(s) on the matter. Gfa7156@aol.com

Project 2025. Yet another controversial topic. Project 2025 is a proposed ‘2025 Presidential Transition Project’ articulated by the conservative Heritage Foundation – but disavowed by presidential election candidate Donald Trump. In the most summary fashion it’s been described as a plan to cut federal spending and fire supposedly unfireable federal bureaucrats. In a more detailed fashion, some posit Project 2025 as a practical and timely means of 1) Securing our borders, 2) Dismantling the bloated administrative state, 3) Eliminating the Department of Education, & 4) Unleashing American energy. For more information, visit project2025.org 

Again, your thoughts on the matter? Gfa7156@aol.com

RV Book. ‘Visions in Leisure and Business’, an international journal of personal services, programming, and administration, researched and published in 2024 by the Journals at ScholarWorks@BGSU. The editor of this 200 pages work is David Groves (dgroves@bgsu.edu). In the front material he credits the RV/MH Hall of Fame, in Elkhart, IN., as a collaborator, with particular gratitude directed toward Mike Green and Kelsey McDaniel. Here’s a summary of the content of this scholarly work:

‘The Origins of the Vintage Trailer Movement, Vintage Camper Trailers’ by Dal Smilie

This work is dedicated to Al Hasselbeck, retired curator and historian at the RV/MH Hall of Fame for 20 years; his contribution here: ‘The Birth & Growth of RVing as a Lifestyle’

‘RVs as Affordable Housing’ by George Allen, RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrine & hostorian

‘Our RVing Experience, a Short History of RVing, and Its’ Future’, by Carol Colborn

‘Life Style: RV Consumer Issues’, by Mike Wendland

‘RVing: A Simpler Life Style’, by Daniel Maul

‘Developing an RV Destination for Tomorrow’s Guest’, by Ed O. Bridgman

‘How Growing-Up Camping Became a Family Business’, by Steve Ruth

‘Trailer Restoration’, by Tim Heintz

‘My Lifetime RV Adventure’, by Mark Nemeth

‘RVing Data: A Review’, by David L. Groves & Kathleen Munger

‘Annotations of RV Sources with Comments’ by Margaret Bobb

The 200 page book ends with information regarding subscription to Visions in Leisure and Business, via Bowling Green State University, 615 Pasteur Ave., Bowling Green, OH. 43402

I’ve placed a copy of this book in the George Allen Collection at the RV/MH Hall of Fame Library in Elkhart, IN.

George Allen

Blog Posting # 810; Copyright 13 September 2024. EducateMHC

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’) comprise the commercial real estate (‘CRS’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email gfa7156@aol.com and via www.educatemhc.com, to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955. And my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consultant & author of many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, and MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist and editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran and retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, and author/editor of 30 books & chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer & figures of speech.

The ‘Whole U.S. Housing Story: July 2024’

With each passing month I gain confidence I’m ‘onto something significant’ where U.S. housing starts statistical reporting is concerned. As most readers of this weekly blog know, I’ve been tracking monthly and annual HUD-Code manufactured housing production for many years.*1 And during the last decade or so, I’ve reported on Wall Street stock market performance of five HUD-Code manufacturers and five publicly-owned portfolio owners/operators of land lease communities.*2 Well, starting this year (2024) I broadened this statistical reporting horizon to research and collectively  report all forms of new single family residential housing starts nationwide. This has not been easy or without error. To the best of my knowledge this inclusive perspective has never before been explored. So, here’s where I am with the project to date.

First, what types of single family residential housing comprise the ‘Whole U.S. Housing Story’? Well, largest category is what the US Census Bureau refers to as privately-owned, single family site-built housing. Parenthetically, this includes HUD-Code manufactured homes sited on permanent foundations and owned fee simple. In July that housing start category total numbered 1,238,000 units (seasonally annualized), and when divided by 12 months = 103,166/month of July.*3 But that’s not all. There’s now what is known as offsite construction.

Offsite Construction, a fairly new inclusive housing trade term, is comprised of 1) modular & panelized (a.k.a. ‘prefab’) housing, 2) HUD-Code manufactured housing or MH, & 3) Park Model recreational vehicles (i.e. Today oft cited as housing, especially in Sunbelt regions of the U.S.).

In the first instance, as there are no formal data ‘trackers’, it is suggested one calculate 2% of the 1,238,000 for estimated annual volume of modular & panelized housing units or 24,760 units; then divide by 12 months to calculate 2,063+/- such units during July 2024.  

Institute for Building Technology & Safety (‘IBTS’) supplies HUD-Code manufactured housing totals, e.g. for July = 7,896 units, of singlesection and multisection configurations.

And, RVIA News announces Park Model production totals monthly, e.g. 337 for July 2024.  Now, those three totals together (10,296) comprise the estimated total volume of offsite construction; again, being modular & panelized; HUD-Code MH; and, Park Model RVs.

When the 10,296 units of offsite construction are added to the monthly residual of 1,238,000 housing starts (i.e. 1,238,000 divided by 12 months & minus 2,063 mods & panelized = 101,104 units); suggesting a grand total of 111,400 ‘whole U.S. housing starts’ during July 2024.

Bottom line? 111,400 ‘whole U.S. housing starts’ during July 2024, annualized (but not seasonally adjusted), suggests an total of 1,336,800 units by year end 2024; 97,800 more than the 1,238,000 seasonally-adjusted housing starts suggested by the U.S. Census bureau in July, but  664,200 units fewer than the estimated 2,000,000 housing starts needed annually to meet U.S. housing needs!

That is indeed the ‘bottom line’ reason for calculating monthly, then annual, ‘whole U.S. housing starts – to gauge how well – or poorly, the whole housing market is performing in behalf of the U.S. citizenry. Today it is not performing well at all! Why? It all has to do with housing finance; the availability and cost of traditional housing mortgages as well as chattel capital (a.k.a. personal property loans or ‘home only loans’) for MHs sited in land lease communities nationwide!

So, where do we go from here? Again, assuming I continue to research and publish this ‘Whole U.S. Housing Starts’ data each month, working out kinks along the way, this report gives us a better, more accurate view of housing start volume in the U.S. month to month and annually.

Your observations, comments, and recommendations are welcome here: Gfa7156@aol.com

GFA

End Notes.

1. For annual MH production totals dating back to 1955, read SWAN SONG, a history of land lease communities, to see the roller coaster this industry has been on for 50 years. This text available for purchase directly from www.educatemhc.com

• Land lease communities, a.k.a. manufactured home communities, and before that, ‘mobile home parks’.

• Census.gov/construction/nrc.pdf/newresconst/pdf (Reminder: Use monthly data)

Blog Posting # 809; Copyright 6 September 2024. EducateMHC

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’) comprise the commercial real estate (‘CRE’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatemhc.com to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955. And my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consultant & author of many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, and MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist and editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran and retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, and author/editor of 30 books & chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer & figures of speech.

It’s Been Awhile…

On occasion I like to share a potpourri (‘mixture of eclectic factoids’) of observations, definitions, and information accumulated over a period of time, I hope will be of interest to readers. Here goes:

Let’s begin by picking up where we left off in last week’s blog posting (#808), relative to best features to include when spec’ing a new HUD-Code manufactured home. One of our loyal blog readers sent me his list of additional recommended features:

Heat Pumps – 15 SEER or better

House fans throughout the house

Dehumidifier hook up

Hybrid heat pump water heaters

Crown molding throughout

Wired and braced for ceiling fans in all rooms

Wired and braced for outside motion security lights

Supply cutoff valves on all sinks and toilets

OSB wrapped

And, of course, this list could go on, but you get the idea. When asked why he recommends these features, this land lease community owner/operator says: “The more energy upgrades we add to the home, the lower the power bill for our homeowner/site lessee. And since we plan on seeing these residents daily for the next 20-30 years, we want them to have a quality built home in which to live!”

Did you know the trendy word WOKE can be thought of as an acronym? I didn’t either. Knew it started out as ‘alertness to racial prejudice and discrimination’; then broadened to include identity politics of the American Left. Well some pundits of late, disillusioned with controversial societal interlopers like DEI and CRT, opine that WOKE has shifted camps, and now as an acronym, ‘Willfully Overlooks Known Evil’ of contemporary liberal politics and social mores.*1

There’s a new type ADU (accessory dwelling unit) seeking traction in the affordable-attainable housing discussion. It’s called a BUNKIE. What’s a Bunkie? It’s a small cabin (oft sold as kits) ranging in size from 99 – 220 square feet, and in price from $6,000-20,000. In Canada it’s referred to as a livable shed. So we now have Bunkies, Park Model RVs, Tiny Houses, converted steel shipping containers, and other variants as ADUs. It’s one reason I hope to journey to Grand Rapids, MI., on 25 September, to take in the annual ShedBuilder EXPO at the DeVos Place. While it hasn’t happened yet (that I know of), I fully expect some shed builders to raise their product to the next level of sophistication and start turning out something akin to ‘shed homes’ (Need a much better marketing term; maybe Sophished?), as their answer to the shortage of affordable-attainable housing in the U.S. today.

Skeptical Inquirer magazine, in a recent promotional piece, suggests using the acronym SLACK to combat pervasive, persuasive conspiracy theories in one’s news resources:

S. ‘Does the news attempt to scare or shock?’ Then ‘watch out’!

L. ‘Does the news rely on complicated logistics?’ Be wary!

A. ‘Does the news revolve around A-list celebrities?’ Check it!

P. ‘Does the news demonstrate prejudice? Run!

OK, so now for some interesting ‘Aging by the Numbers’, citing U.S. Census Bureau statistics:

“More than 10,000 people turn 65 every day in the U.S.”

“By 2060, the U.S. is projected to have 88.8 million citizens over the age of 65.”

“As of 2020, females comprised a slightly higher share of the U.S. population than males.” 168.8 million Or 50.9% vs. 162.7 million or 49.1%

“According to the 2020 census, 1 in 6 people were 65 or older.”

“Baby boomers are those defined as being born between 1946 & 1964. The first baby boomers turned 65 in the year 2022.”

“The United States population, as of August 2024, is 336,851,169.”

“The world population is 8,063,791,098.”

And finally, a couple book reviews:

J.D. Vance’s ‘memoir of a family and culture in crisis’, Hillbilly Elegy, was first published in 2016, well before he was named as former President Donald Trump’s VP running mate in this year’s presidential election.  IMHO, this is an autobiography (i.e. a collection of life memoirs) that deserves to be read by every American! Why? Because it introduces the ‘whole man’ who might well be our next vice president. Many folk with a humble and troubled childhood like his would not deign to share it with the U.S. public at large – but JD does. And it is so encouraging to read how he worked and fought to put much of his past behind him, by joining the U.S. Marines and serving overseas, then graduating from college and Yale Law School. It’s a fairly easy ‘read’ and certainly engaging from beginning to end. Let me know what you think of the book? Gfa7156@aol.com

Just finished Kristin Hannah’s epic tale of women (mainly nurses) who served in the Republic of Vietnam (i.e. Vietnam War) during the 1960s & 1970s. The book, titled The Women, is hard to put down at times, especially during action sequences. I lost interest only when the main character engaged in opposing that conflict (via Vietnam Veterans Against the Vietnam War & protest marches). But as she battles back from her personal emotional battles, the reader is again immersed in a gripping narrative. I particularly appreciated the descriptions of causes, manifestations and consequences of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). In my case, after returning from Vietnam, I battled an inability to cry or show emotion for ten years, and being mirthful whenever in the presence of death among family members and friends. All that’s behind me now. But reading the book certainly stirred long suppressed emotions, but in a healthy fashion. So, if you have friends or family who were involved in the Vietnam era, and even if you don’t, The Women makes for an engaging and worthwhile ‘read’!

***

End Notes.

1. DEI = Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & CRT = Critical Race Theory.

George Allen

Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable factory-built housing (a.k.a. another type of offsite construction). And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’) comprise the commercial real estate (‘CRE’) component of MH! EducateMHC is the online advocate, official historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as information resource for both business models, and to a lesser extent the recreational vehicle (‘RV’) industry. Access EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email: gfa7156@aol.com, and via www.educatemhc.com to purchase Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry and SWAN SONG – a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955. And my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consultant & author of many nonfiction texts.

George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, and MHInsider magazine’s ‘Allen Legacy’ columnist and editor at large. He’s a Vietnam combat veteran and retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, and author/editor of 30 books & chapbooks on MH, communities, business management, prayer & figures of speech.

HUD-Code Housing Features

One land lease community portfolio owner/operator, who regularly markets and sells new HUD-Code manufactured homes onsite, offers potential homebuyer/site lessees no fewer than three dozen features to consider, in addition to those which are standard fare with most manufacturers. Here they are broken down into two lists; the first are ‘Preferred features, but not necessary’, and the second one ‘Strongly preferred features’. Perhaps this is something you should consider offering your customers.

Preferred features, but not necessary

• Upgrade rear door and light panels
• Ensure insulation (approx. R30, R11 & R22) within ceilings, walls and floors
• Improve with thermos-pane and tilt-in windows
• Upgrade roof venting; especially in overhangs, and certainly ridge vents
• Add dormer over front entrance
• Use Fiberglass and porcelain showers, tubs and sinks
• Prefer flat ceilings throughout
• Consider an electrical connection near end of house, away from hitch
• Prefer sheetrock in living room and kitchen
• Use attractive durable kitchen cabinets, longer & taller when possible
• Ensure Internet & USB ports in kitchen, living room or foyer
• Have a garbage disposal unit
• Install cabinets & shelves in laundry room
• Have separate shower & tub in master bedroom

Strongly prefer features:

• Use transom windows in living room, bedrooms and hallway
• Upgrade the front door
• Upgrade exterior lights at both entrances
• Ensure shutters on all windows
• Include deadbolt & knob locks all keyed to same key
• Installed windows closer to corners and not in middle of the wall
• 2” blinds throughout the home
• Panel interior doors
• Have lights over mirrors in master bathroom
• Upgrade lighting package to include ceiling lights throughout home
• Use 40 or 50 gallon hot water heater
• Install a water shutoff valve for entire house
• Wall switches for closets – on the outside of closet
• Linoleum or panel flooring in all areas of house, but carpet in bedrooms
• Ensure kitchens are ‘eye candy’, e.g. island or breakfast bar preferred
• Include dishwasher, and refrigerator with ice maker
• Finish interiors of all cabinets; no raw USB or plywood surfaces visible
• Prefer canned or pendulum light fixtures in the kitchen
• For attractive view across living room & kitchen, install front door on opposite wall from kitchen sink
• To improve living room ‘eye candy’, consider wainscoting
• Put ceiling fans in living room, master bedroom, and on front porch ceiling
• Ensure large mirror and double vanities in master bedroom
• Put frames around bathroom mirrors
• Install a 200-amp electrical panel
• Use overhead A/C ducts and vents
• A/C ‘A’ coil installed in furnace (air handler)
• Put an electrical outlet on front porch

So, what do you think? Too many options, or frankly, what our manufactured housing customers deserve to have in their dream home? What different features do you offer that are not on either of these two lists? Let me know via gfa7156@aol.com

George Allen