Blog Posting # 729, Copyright 24 February 2023. EducateMHC
Parallel Perspectives. HUD-Code manufactured housing is federally-regulated, performance-based, factory-built housing! And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’) comprise the investment real estate component of manufactured housing! EducateMHC alone is the online advocate, historian, trend tracker, and text resource for these two business models! To input this blog or connect with EducateMHC, telephone (317) 881-3815, email gfa7156@aol.com, or visit EducateMHC.com to order Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry (Sole MH property management text available today); SWAN SONG, a history of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955; and, my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven – my combat adventures in Vietnam & business career in MH & communities.
George Allen, CPM®Emeritus, MHM®Master, Emeritus member of MHI, RV/MH Hall of Fame inductee, and retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines.
MHI Takes Legal Action to Delay DOEs ‘Energy Conservation Standards for Manufactured Housing’
Despite a recent (5 February 2023) lambasting of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’) by MHARR’s long retired founder/still influencer Danny Ghorbani*1, for not engaging with the Department of Energy’s (‘DOE’) ‘Energy Conservation Standards for Manufactured Housing’, MHI on 14 February sent an Important Message to Members from Chairman Leo Poggione, describing the institute’s recent legal action to delay implementation of said standards on 31 May 2023.
The following summary paragraph well-describes what I’ve seen, heard and read about MHI’s ongoing efforts to stop implementation of the DOE standards: “For several years, MHI has been pursuing a multipronged strategy to stop implementation of the DOE standards until the standards are properly incorporated into the HUD Code. Progress has been made with HUD and lawmakers, and we are continuing to work with DOE and HUD to find a workable and affordable solution. However, with the looming deadline and continued lack of clarity from DOE, MHI decided legal action was the only option available.”
End Note.
*1 Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform communique (2/5/23) titled: ‘Using MHARR’s White Paper to Evaluate the Veracity of MHI’s Public Relations Activities’. The tone of this diatribe (‘bitter and abusive denunciation’) was clear in the first sentence: “To be frank, I don’t particularly seek to read anything published by MHI.” Danny Ghorbani
Recent Grassroots Answer to U.S. Housing Crisis
Perhaps it’ll take this straight-from-the-heart critique and commentary, from a longtime land lease community owner/operator, to get the rest of us motivated to communicate and work with local land planning and zoning regulators, increasing opportunities for manufactured housing placement in our local housing markets. The following communique, lightly edited, was recently emailed to nearly a hundred folk throughout the U.S. manufactured housing industry.
Referencing an article titled. ‘Don’t Call Them Mobile – Manufactured Housing Might is the Answer to U.S. Affordable Housing Crisis’ – with this lead: “In the first half of last year, more than 50,000 manufactured homes were shipped across the country….” the owner/operator goes on to say….
“…more often than not I see these articles in Yahoo News or elsewhere talking about ‘affordable housing’. But these articles don’t turn up in our local papers where local commissioners are clamping down or trying to cut off the blood supply (i.e. purchase of new manufactured home) to our industry.
When was the last time state MH association executives or property owners invited county or city commissioners out to look at a new home or land lease communities?
Yes, we still have some dogs (disreputable ‘mobile home parks’) that bring down our industry, and property owners who refuse to haul junkers to local landfills. But we have many nicer communities that would make great places to visit and tour with local reporters and elected officials. Who has invited local codes enforcement officials to view new homes lately?
I’m guilty here. Haven’t done this in years, but when I did, there was good publicity for our community and industry. Also the same with our unique large tornado shelter for residents. I’m ready to do this again!
We need our state MH associations to invite a select group of community owners, in each state, to work on and fund a media blitz for our affordable housing products. Perhaps our housing manufacturers would join us and furnish up to date information on the quality and energy usage of these homes. Our $125,000 3BR/2B homes look pretty good when compared to the payments on a $300,000 site-built home!*1
I hear there’s interest in launching national level manufactured housing brand awareness and
advertising campaign. Why wait? Let’s do both! We have folk in our group here in the southeast who’ve led the way cleaning up dilapidated ‘parks’ and worked with elected officials, who’d be willing to share how they did it.*2
End Notes.
1. Manufactured Housing Institute has just this sort of data, and much more, readily on hand and available for the asking via (703)558-0400 & manufacturedhousing.org
2. David Roden via (423)760-4819 & davidroden@yahoo.com
February 24, 2023
MHI Takes Legal Action
February 17, 2023
THE BIG NEWS FIRST
Blog Posting # 728, Copyright 17 February 2023. EducateMHC
Parallel Perspectives. HUD-Code manufactured housing is federally-regulated, performance-based, factory-built housing! And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’) comprise the investment real estate component of manufactured housing! EducateMHC alone is the online advocate, historian, trend tracker, and text resource for these two business models! To input this blog or connect with EducateMHC, telephone (317) 881-3815, email gfa7156@aol.com, or visit EducateMHC.com, to order Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry (Only MH property management text available today); SWAN SONG, a history of land lease communities, & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955; and, my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven – my adventures in Vietnam & business career in MH & communities ownership.
George Allen, CPM®Emeritus, MHM®Master, Emeritus member of MHI, RV/MH Hall of Fame inductee, and retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines.
THE BIG NEWS FIRST
End of year 2022 HUD-Code housing production/shipment grand total is now history. What is that final figure? Well, first let’s remember the end of year 2021 total was 105,772 units. Hint. The 2023 total is larger! But how much so? Pick a number: 112,886 or 112,882 or 112,863 or 112865. Yes, all four totals were reported yesterday, respectively, by EducateMHC, MHARR, MHI, & EducateMHC, again. How is this possible?
First off, know the first two totals, reported respectively, by EducateMHC & MHARR, are based solely on unadulterated month-by-month data supplied by HUD’s reporting agency, the Institute for Building Technology & Safety or IBTS. Why the six unit difference? At this point in time the two of us are unable to agree on our respective mathematical computation acuity.
The next two totals, reported respectively by MHI, and other with MHI methodology mirrored by EducateMHC, are in part, based on IBTS monthly-reported data, but with a twist. MHI takes the IBTS figure, each month, and deducts from it the number of Destination Pending Units (‘DPUs’) – also reported by IBTS. Then, to that reduced subtotal, MHI adds back the number of DPUs deducted the previous month. Consequences? Fairly close alignment between annualized total of IBTS monthly reported units, and those adjusted by MHI – but never the same! Why? Because there’ll always be a lag, small & large, transferring DPUs from one year into the next. And in this particular case, my ‘adjusted’ month by month annualized total, using MHI methodology, is two units different from MHI. Go figure.
So, the Big News is this: IMHO, the number of new HUD-Code homes produced and shipped during year 2022 was 112,886. This makes year 2022 the best year since 2006, when 117,510+/- new HUD-Code homes were produced and shipped. Also recall how year 2006, in industry annals, is memorialized as the year of the Katrina Factor – recalling how the hurricane significantly boosted FEMA house production for a time
Oh, and bet you’d like to know just how much those 112,886 new homes (production value only) contributed to the national economy. Well, using MHI’s formula and factor, researched by Dr. Stephen C. Cook (consultant), where he valued the average new HUD-Code home, again production-wise, at $43,126; the annualized value pencils out to approximately $4.87 billion! Now, this formula and factor are at least a decade old, so it stands to reason there’s room for update. My guess is a more accurate $ factor is closer to $60,000 per HUD-Code manufactured home, increasing annualized production value to $6.8 billion! MHI has promised to address this matter for some time. Perhaps they have, but just haven’t informed us, the hoi polloi.
And the Wall Street (& Canadian) stock markets has been looking favorably on HUD-Code housing manufacturers and land lease community portfolio owners/operators of late. On 6 February 2023, four of five public housing manufacturers saw their stock prices increase. And all five of the land lease community portfolio firms saw their stock prices increase. Overall, the Composite Stock Index (‘CSI’), tracking nine or these ten ‘players’, increased from $676.86 last month to $750.49 this month. That’s still $39 behind the all-time high of $790.07 recorded in January 2022.
If you’re not receiving our monthly ‘MHShipment Volume & Stock Market Report’, but would like to, it’s FREE by letting me know of your desire via gfa7156@aol.com or phone (317) 881-3815.
STRATEGY OR CONTRATEMPS?
OK, what I’m about to share with you is either a straight-up business enterprise strategy, or it’s simply a contretemps. What’s a contretemps? It’s an ‘embarrassing occurrence’. Got that?
This started with an email from a ‘friend in the industry’ who happens to be a deep thinker. Yes, we have some of them in the manufactured housing industry, even some among my land lease community brethren. And I hear from them from time to time – like now.
In any event, he described the recurring presence of high-end HUD-Code manufactured homes displayed on the U.S. National Mall in Washington, DC., as being ‘smoke and mirrors’. Well, first off, what’s ‘smoke and mirrors’? Generally, ‘an explanation or description that is not true or not complete, and used to hide the truth about a matter.’
Here my friend described how HUD-Code housing manufacturers ‘pitching these homes as affordable housing, to get concessions’ was misleading, since the lavish display units are not nearly as affordable as smaller, simpler lines of manufactured homes. So, is that a simple straight-up marketing strategy to sell more (and more profitable) new homes? Or is it an embarrassing occurrence, where truly affordable housing, though the theme of the event, is not present on the National Mall at all?
Our deep thinker (and I) go on to call for better education of federal and state bureaucrats relative to adopting a working definition of affordable housing; addressing the dire need to ameliorate local regulatory barriers to all forms of affordable housing; and – once and for all – realize the manufactured housing product and the land lease community lifestyle, in tandem, offer the absolute best form of affordable housing available to homebuying consumers today!*1
So, what say you? Which is it, or both? A strategic business strategy or contretemps? Let me know your thoughts via gfa7156@aol.com
End Note.
1. Working definition of affordable housing. The following definition has been commonplace since at least year 2007. “Housing is affordable when an individual or household’s annual Gross Income (‘AGI’) or local housing market’s Area Median Income (‘AMI’) – identified by postal zip code and available online via zipwho.com, can lease a conventional apartment or buy a home in this local housing market, using no more than 30 percent of said AGI, or AMI, for shelter, and related household (utility) expenses.” See p. 44 of SWAN SONG, available for purchase via EducateMHC.com
ENDING ON A LIGHT NOTE…
In a recent edition of the AMAC magazine, they identified Merriam-Webster’s 2022 ‘word of the year’ as being ‘gaslighting’. The writer goes on to say, “This outcome seems fitting considering the pervasive lies and misinformation pushed to the American people by the mainstream media and the President of the united States. At least we can be thankful the word of the year for 2022 was not ‘woke’.”
February 10, 2023
Attention Navy & Marine Corps Veterans
Blog Posting # 727, Copyright 10 February 2023. EducateMHC
Parallel Perspectives. HUD-Code manufactured housing is federally-regulated, performance-based, factory-built affordable housing! And land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’) comprise the investment real estate component of manufactured housing! EducateMHC alone is the online advocate, historian, trend tracker, and text resource for these two business models! To input this blog or connect with EducateMHC, telephone (317) 881-3815, email: gfa7156@aol.com, or visit EducateMHC.com, to order Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry (Only MH property management text available today); SWAN SONG, a history of land lease communities, & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955; and my autobiography, from SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven – my adventures in Vietnam & business career in MH & communities ownership.
George Allen, CPM®Emeritus, MHM®Master, Emeritus member of MHI, & RV/MH Hall of Fame
Attention Navy & Marine Corps Veterans
‘Homecoming 250’ will be a national celebration of the founding of the U.S. Navy & the U.S. Marine Corps, in their birthplace, the city of Philadelphia, PA., during October of year 2025.
‘The Navy and Marine Corps were created by the Continental Congress in Independence Hall, organized at Tun Tavern, & launched their first ship & amphibious mission on the Delaware River.’ To this end, ‘Homecoming 250’ Navy Marine Corps will assemble ships representing every American conflict from the Revolutionary War to the present. The unique historical sites (including a restored Tun Tavern) and ships will provide an unmatched visual backdrop for Americans across the country to see the history of our naval forces.
Yes, this stellar event is 34 months away. But now is the time, especially if you or someone you know is a Navy or Marine Corps veteran, to mark it on your calendar and plan now to attend. I’ll see you there!
On a very personal note, I was sworn into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1964 at the U.S. Naval Base in Philadelphia. My engineer platoon constructed a 30’ tall naval gunfire spotting tower on the south edge of the DMZ in South Vietnam, facilitating ship-to-shore bombardment of the enemy by the famous battleship, the U.S.S. New Jersey – now birthed along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, PA. And like every Marine, I want to ‘hoist a brew’ at historic Tun Tavern (birthplace of the USMC) before I die! GFA
Challenge & Suggestion Conversation Continues
The Challenge? How to effectively address the “…problem of sharply escalating rental homesite rates in land lease communities!” throughout the U.S.?
The Suggestion! “Encourage National Communities Council division (i.e. MHI’s NCC), and realty asset class at large, to ascribe to the decades old (i.e. ‘time-proven) 3:1 Formula for balancing conventional apartment unit rent, and land lease community homesite rent, in (every) local housing market!” For details, reread last week’s blog posting # 726.
Following are direct quotes from the many responses we’ve received to the ‘A Challenge to & Suggestion for, the MHIndustry’ blog post of one and two weeks ago.
“…as much as the industry needs incentive for change, so dies MHI. They are so busy looking out for manufacturer interests; they either do not have the bandwidth, or feel any reason to mess with site rents or reigning-in of investors.” If you disagree with this, let me know!
Furthermore, “Most investors look for a minimum of 20% or greater ‘return’ on their investment, which is achieved via a combination of increasing rents and or reducing operating expenses. Part of those expenses are property and income taxes. Income taxes alone are 20%; so governments could say: ‘If you agree to certain rent controls, we’ll cap your income tax at 5% and you still get full depreciation.’ The same consideration needs to be made for reserves and capital expense improvements for properties with extensive deferred maintenance. And there could be property tax incentives to investors for bringing in both a huge tax base and inexpensive labor to serve tight labor markets due to lack of housing. Right now, the only thing government knows is capping rents without consideration of negative consequences and that is what needs to be communicated and corrected!” (Lightly edited. GFA)
And this mixed message from the Manufactured Housing Institute. On one hand MHI reports “…the White House announced new actions to protect renters and promote rental affordability, including a new ‘Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights’. On the other hand, MHI goes on to report, “…manufactured housing is not specifically referenced in the Blueprint.” But this isn’t the whole story. MHI and its housing coalition partners have “…stated that housing providers and renters are (already) governed by layers of statutes, case law, regulations, and private contractual agreements – all providing for specific protections and responsibilities.” Bottom line? “MHI and its coalition partners argue that layering additional federal regulation on an already overly regulated industry will only further exacerbate housing affordability challenges, making it increasingly difficult for renters to navigate. So, MHI is indeed working in our behalf on the federal regulatory level. But the question remains, when and how will MHI work with NCC members and non-member companies to address the ongoing problem of sharply escalating rental homesite rates in land lease communities throughout the U.S.? As I posed in the previous blog: ‘An interested business audience is watching to see what occurs during the months ahead!’ – at the winter NCC meeting, at the MHCongress in Las Vegas, and beyond.
This from another responder to this ‘challenge & solution’ blog topic: “I read recently about your 1-3 rule. I respectfully disagree. I think it should be a 1-2 rule. An apartment owner supplies two items to his customers, land and structure. I supply half that package, that is, the land. I submit it makes sense for me to charge half what an apartment owner charges in rent, rather than a third.” I suppose there’s some logic in this proposed rule, but for anyone who’s owned and operated a conventional apartment community, there’re more and greater operational and capital improvement expenditures involved relative to marketing (dealing with a 50+% annual turnover rate vs. 10% with land lease communities), make-ready of vacated units (i.e. carpet cleaning, appliance servicing & wall painting), real estate taxes (on buildings vs. just land), and more.
National Manufactured Housing Awareness
So, is the program ‘paneled’ on 19 January 2023, at the Louisville MHShow, ‘dead in the water’ OR is it quietly-but-effectively being planned as you read these lines? All I know is there are at least four opportunities on the MH horizon where this program can be further discussed even moved ahead: MHI’s winter meeting (already past when you read this), a Zoom call on 16 February 2023, maybe at the Biloxi MHShow, and certainly at the annual MHCongress in Las Vegas. When and where will YOU be involved in bringing this to fruition?
One thing ‘for sure’ is the need to bring heavy hitters, executives with ‘skin in the game’ into the planning and execution (i.e. ‘as in performance’) stage of National Manufactured Housing Awareness. And who might they be? At the very least, reps from Clayton, Cavco, and Skyline/Champion; also from the largest of the land lease community portfolio firms, independent (street) MHRetailers, and some or all the 18 chattel capital lenders who exhibited at the recent Louisville MHShow. Without that broad support, there’s not much point in even, once more, starting down this road – hopefully, to increased home sales and production!
Not everyone is enthused about what you’ve been reading here and before. Quoting from one of the most well-known and respected individuals in the manufactured housing industry: “George. Hate to be a naysayer, but we have been through this advertising program exercise before and to no avail. (Agreed. GFA). I get tired of hearing of the 300,000+ past (unit) production, etc… Plants are at peak production now and expanding. The problem is a regional one, and an advertising campaign can’t be a one size fits all, as the RV (marketing) program has been. Looking for something to do? Roll out the plan prepared at great expense by MHI and then shot down by the ‘Gorilla in the Room’ years ago.” (Lightly edited. GFA)
Now there’s something maybe worth looking into. I doubt many who read this weekly blog posting recall the past MHI proposed program and how it got shanghaied. Are we setting ourselves up for a similar contemporary disappointment today? I don’t know, but think it bears looking into by the present day planning committee. Who will brief current MHI leadership of the historic details?
February 3, 2023
A Challenge to & Suggestion for, the MHIndustry
Blog Posting # 726, Copyright 3 February 2023. EducateMHC
Parallel Perspectives. HUD-Code manufactured housing is federally-regulated, factory-built affordable housing, and land lease communities (a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’) are the real estate component of manufactured housing! EducateMHC is online advocate, historian, trend tracker, and text resource for these business models. To input this blog or connect with EducateMHC, telephone (317) 881-3815, email: gfa7156@aol.com, or visit EducateMHC.com, to order Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry (Sole MH property management text in the U.S. today!); SWAN SONG, a history of land lease communities, and official record of annual MH production totals since 1955; and my autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, from combat in Vietnam to community owner
George Allen, CPM®Emeritus, MHM®Master, Emeritus member of MHI, & RV/MH Hall of Fame
A Challenge to & Suggestion for, the MHIndustry
Last week I emailed the following Challenge & Suggestion to dozens of manufactured housing industry leaders and land lease community owners/operators throughout the U.S. And we’ve been receiving helpful replies; but first, the Challenge & Suggestion (lightly edited. GFA).
“I’m dismayed to hear and read NOTHING from or about MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division efforts to address today’s ongoing problem with sharply escalating rental homesite rates in land lease communities from coast to coast. In my opinion, today’s NCC is NOT the organization that 19 community owners, meeting on 8/31/1993 in Indianapolis, IN., had in mind! Part of their original Mission Statement proclaimed the “goal of providing affordable housing and a quality lifestyle”, with one of the Issues of Note identified in that founding document as being: “Avoiding and combating rent control and landlord/tenant legislation”. NONE of this is happening today!*1
“Do I have a suggestion for combating the problem of sharply escalating rental homesite rates in land lease communities? Sure, but it’s one I’m reluctant to make – as a former 40 year owner/operator of this unique income-producing property type.*2
Encourage NCC division members, and realty asset class at large, to ascribe to the decades old (i.e. ‘time-proven’) 3:1 Formula for balancing conventional apartment unit rent, and land lease community site rent, in any local housing market! How so? First, effect a local housing market survey, then ascertain the average monthly apartment rent among 3BR2B or townhouse units. Then, divide that average $ by ‘3’, to estimate what land lease community rental homesite rate should/could be. For example, $1,500 average apartment unit rent divided by ‘3’ = $500.00 per month rental homesite rate.*3 Does this always work? No. It’s already out of sync in markets where community portfolio owners/operators have skewed site rents closer to a 2:1 ratio (e.g. $1,500/apartment unit & $750/rental homesite). However, formally adopting and endorsing the 3:1 Formula would be a major step in the right direction! Question is whether the NCC will be bold enough to take a public stand on this issue, suggesting this & other practical remedies?
An interested business audience is watching to see what occurs during the months ahead!
And as was mentioned earlier, replies to this email challenge have been rolling in of late. Here’s a summary of some of those commentaries:
“George. The 3:1 Rule has been replaced with ‘whatever the market will bear’. Unfortunately, with high moving costs, and counties with move-in restrictions (e.g. age, size), ‘the market’ has no choice but to charge outrageous site rent rates – until residents run out of money.
&
Those who sell their communities for ridiculously low income capitalization rates can’t blame buyers for subsequent rent increase damage to residents – how else can buyers pay such ridiculous prices without substantially increasing rents?” (Edited for space. GFA)
“George. We hear you, but out here in CA we now have more than 100 rent control ordinances designed to protect affordable housing – but the thing everyone forgets is that rent is only a portion of that monthly cost. For example, in Oxnard, CA. we’re allowed limited yearly CPI increases and max of $80 increase upon a home sale. This is very one sided, as residents now sell pre-1976 homes, for which they paid $30,000 in the 70s, for a minimum of $200,000. Furthermore, no new land lease communities have been built in CA for nearly 20 years! We had more than 500,000 rental sites in CA; today fewer than 400,000.
&
If it is such a great business model, why are there less than 150 manufacturing plants throughout the U.S.? I think California now has but six. As you’re aware, location-location drives rents in California. We currently have site rents above $5,000/month and some still under $300/month. The good news is, as a company, we continue to enjoy 100% rent-producing occupancy among more than 13,000 rental homesites because the demand for manufactured housing (i.e. affordable housing) is still a great alternative!” (Edited. GFA)
It’s not too late for you to input your observations and views into this timely and critical conversation. Simply email your thoughts to me via gfa7156@aol.com
End Notes.
1. The complete founding document of the Industry Steering Committee (‘ISC’), i.e. forerunner of the NCC division launch on 1 January 1996, is featured on page #97 in the book SWAN SONG, available for purchase from Educatemhc.com
2. Why reluctant? Because, as a former community owner, I don’t like anyone telling me how to run my business enterprise. But, sad to say, the time has arrived for some sort of definitive action of this sort. Who knows? Perhaps some other organization than the NCC division will pick up this voluntary regulatory baton and run with it. Possibly SECO, ROC USA, even one or more of 500+/- known land lease community portfolio owners/operators.
3. Don’t forget to factor into the estimate, adjustments for amenities and extras like water & sewer charges, CATV, etc…
POSITIVE POSSIBILITIES
Two weeks ago (i.e. blog # 724) I revealed the identity of ‘mystery community owner’ as Dr. Matthew Jenkins, DVM. Well Dr. Jenkins, before his passing in 2017, authored the autobiography, Positive Possibilities. His life story joins nearly a dozen other such books penned by pioneers and noteworthy owners/operators of land lease communities over the past several decades.*1 I recently read Positive Possibilities (available via amazon.com), and here’re selections from the book, as well as my observations.
Matthew was strongly influenced by his large family while growing up in Alabama. Here he describes a typical table conversation led by his mother who’d: “…gather us around the breakfast table and talk about life. She spoke of integrity, values, and setting goals, success, honesty, discipline, hard work, getting along with people, and finding a lifetime mate” – and in her words, ‘If you want to be successful, your word is your bond. If you tell a person you are going to do something, do it. Take pride in everything you do. If the job must be done, do it well. Be careful about the friends you choose. Make sure their values are consistent with yours.’ Pp. 32 & 33.
A lesson to his children and business associates: “…your reputation is all you have. If you tarnish it, doors of opportunity well slam shut. So my advice to any youngster is this: ‘Don’t half do anything. To see a botched job appalls me. If you can’t do it right, keep trying until you get there. If you’re really stumped, ask for help from someone you respect’.” P.60
His Success Formula? “…train your mind to look for positive possibilities in any situation, no matter how bleak it may seem. Tough situations test your character. Many people miss out on opportunities during tough times – discrimination, hard financial times, and countless other challenges.” P. 87
Matt’s advice to land lease community owners/operators and independent (street) MHRetailers? “…customers are your greatest advertisers. If you treat them right, they will recommend you to others. This seems elementary, but too many business owners forget this. The customer may not always be right, but they should always be treated right. You can’t have angry customers talking badly about you. It will destroy your business.” P.139. Know what? Considering our realty asset class’ struggle with extravagant rental homesite increases these days, this advice just might be the Achilles ’ heel that leads to the landlord/tenant ‘shakeout’ many of us fear is in the not too distant offing. Matthew, goes on to say, “What I see in this country right now is a scourge of greed in the business world.” P.170
Dr. Jenkins was a voracious reader. Four daily newspapers. And this, “Learn to discipline yourself to read instead of watching television. I read because it inspires me, often ushering me into a state of comfort and tranquility, and it can do the same for you.” P.146
So, how did I get to know Dr. Matthew Jenkins? He bought my 500 rental homesites land lease community during the early 1980s; and in the process, he, his wife Roberta, Carolyn and I dined a couple times in a fine French restaurant in Mooresville, IN, that no longer exists. His musings on our business model? “Overall, I feel eminently fortunate to have unwittingly discovered the mobile home park investment opportunity.”p.150 (&) “At our peak, we owned 18 parks in eight different states.” P.154
His final word of advice? “Hard work, discipline, and sacrifice channeled into the implementation of a well-researched strategic game plan is an age-old formula for success in any endeavor.” P.167
So, those of us who knew Dr. Matthew Jenkins were blessed to know a true and honorable business man. Hopefully, some day, he’ll be selected for induction into the prestigious RV/MH Heritage Foundation’s Hall of Fame.
End Note.
1. Here’s a summary list of manufactured housing and land lease community autobiographies housed in the RV/MH Hall of Fame library in Elkhart, IN. Also indications as to where you can obtain copies to read. Suggest you save this list for future reference.
• Kristian Jensen, Sr., authored A Danish American. The first such life story, but long out of print, and available for reading, only in the RV/MH Hall of Fame library in Elkhart, IN.
• John Crean, with Jim Washburn, co-authored The Wheel & I. A leather-bound tome with gilded pages and engraved cover. Available via amazon.com & the RV/MH Hall of Fame
• James Clayton, with Bill Retherford & Amy Nolan, co-authored First a Dream. Available for purchase via amazon.com & the RV/MH Hall of Fame. (800) 378-8694 Ask for Jose.
• The life & Times of B.M. Vukovich, a family-produced photo-autobiography chronicling the personal adventures & business career of the late Borislav (‘Boro’) Vukovich. Available for reading only in the RV/MH Hall of Fame library.
• Harrell & Darrell Cohron, with Matt Cohron, co-authored The Trailer Twins. Available only from the RV/MH Hall of Fame, and for reading at the RV/MH Hall of Fame library.
• Mike Conlon’s Unconventional Wealth reads like the first half of this author’s life story. Available via amazon.com, and for reading in the RV/MH Hall of Fame library.
• George N. Goldman authored The Road Less Traveled. George’s perfect bound book is available for purchase via amazon.com, & for reading at the RV/MH Hall of Fame library.
• Alvan L. Schrader’s No Respect At All…A PATH TO MILLION$, is considered by some to be ‘required reading’ about manufactured housing. Available from RV/MH Hall of Fame.
• Samuel Zell authored Am I Being Too Subtle? Published by Penguin Random House in 2017; title is available via amazon.com & for reading at the RV/MH Hall of Fame library
• Jim, Ralph & Jeff Scoular co-authored Leap of Faith, ‘The Story of an Industry, Family & Unmovable Values’. Available for purchase only from the RV/MH Hall of Fame
• Dr. Matthew Jenkins, DVM, authored his autobiography, Positive Possibilities, ‘My Game Plan for Success’, in 2017. Available for purchase via amazon.com
• George Allen, CPM®Emeritus, authored semi-autobiographical SWAN SONG to preserve annual MH production totals from 1955 forward. In 2021 EducateMHC published George’s autobiography, From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven, to commemorate his retirement. Both books available from EducateMHC.com and the RV/MH Hall of Fame.
Only a few copies of the memoir HOW TO booklet, Who Will Preserve Your Legacy (as a manufactured housing or community businessperson)? remain, a new updated edition is being prepared for distribution to 2023 RV/MH Hall of Fame inductees. If you’d like to receive a free copy of the updated booklet when ready, simply communicate your desire to me via gfa7156@aol.com GFA