Manufactured Housing | The Masthead

First Down!

February 4th, 2012 joe No comments

It is Super Bowl weekend, and so it is easy to think in terms of football analogies. In this past week, we had a vivid reminder of how important it is to get a “first down” in our lobbying efforts that yield a fresh set of 4 more downs to advance the ball so we can get more points on the board for our Industry. I'm talking about the latest Congressional hearings focused on Manufactured Housing. Thanks to the ongoing ground work by state associations, MHI and MHARR, there is steady progress being made in getting bi-partisan support for efforts to provide regulatory relief for our industry.

It is good to see the enhanced level of cooperation between the two national manufactured housing trade bodies, and while still imperfect, the good efforts on both sides deserves mention and encouragement by all of us.

The testimony and legislative efforts underway can only help our Industry. In these often difficult times, it is important to give that public pat on the back to all those involved who make such advances possible. You can stay informed of such matters with our Daily Business News briefs, but it is equally important to stay in touch via your state's association. They need your time, talent and treasure to do what is needed for your business and others.

When I look at a news article such as this recent effort in CA, that would require manufactured housing communities who want to sell to pay market rates for every home in the community, we have to realize that there is on way to understate the need for associations and their 'protect and promote' efforts.

To me, the 'competition' facing us in our Industry is more those outside of our ranks than between our ranks. Learning to keep our own businesses advancing while working with others through associations to protect and promote our mutual causes is just common sense.

Growing your Business Through Events

I've been given word that more business building seminars are planned for the Great Southwest Home Show coming up soon in Tulsa, OK. The idea is to something similar to what happened in Louisville that attracted and made hundreds of attendees their smile and walk away armed with information that can grow their business and profits.

Events take time and money on the part of everyone who participates. There is no question that 'free' attendance by a retailer, community, installer or developer at a show such as the Great Southwest Home Show (GSWHS) in Tulsa has a cost in time, meals, etc. But that investment of time and a little travel money can be more than recouped from the first additional sale that is made from what you can learn at the event! One man called me to say that the seminars at the Louisville Show made it “…the best show I've attended in my forty years in the business.” Wow! Now that's a powerful testimony. Not everyone has been in the Industry for 40 years, but many made similar calls, emails or sent a text to that similar effect.

The same can happen for you and others who attend the Great Southwest Home Show in Tulsa. We plan to be there, and we will provide you with updates on the specifics for the speakers and business building workshops that will be available. Never forget that the products and services you find at a trade show or event can also make you or save you money. The mixers and networking at such events can also yield an idea or insight that is worth many many times the cost of time and travel.

New Lending/Finance Opportunities

For those seeking new financing options or opportunities, I have advanced word that you will be able to learn about plans, programs and even companies that will be rolled out or that you may not have used or worked with previously that will be available in Tulsa's indoor Quik-Trip Center during the GSWHS.

Staying plugged into news, tips and views you can use here and by supporting associations and events, you can advance your own business and professional cause in 2012. The more you know, the more you can move the ball down the field, ppick up those first downs and score more. We will be in Tulsa for the Show, and we hope to see you there too. Please stop by our booth or come to a free, live business building workshop and say hi. # #

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

The Great Depression and Manufactured Housing

January 25th, 2012 joe No comments

We have heard (and perhaps said ourselves) that we are in one of the toughest financial times since the Great Depression. There is no doubt that American businesses and the public at large is hurting, notably when compared to more robust economic times. But as my family and I go to the restaurant, grocery stores or malls, I see people shopping, lined up at check out and spending money. The check out line is a far cry from the bread and soup lines of the Depression. Times may be more difficult than 5 or 10 years ago, but the point is that hard times today are not the same as hard times of the Depression 80 years ago.

In fact, some have learned to thrive during these hard times.

McDonald's Corporation announced on 1.24.2012 strong results for the fourth quarter and year ended Dec. 31, 2011, fueled by growth across all of its global markets. The fourth quarter results included an 11 percent profit increase.

Regular readers have seen me reference McDonald's in columns and posts before. Both they and manufactured housing are in the affordability business. We offer homes for less, they offer the meal out and fast food for less.

I was telling a client of ours about the importance of proven processes in terms of gaining success and profits. What makes McDonald's work? What makes it profitable? Books could be written on that, but let's drill it down to some sample bullet points:

Marketing – advertising – and branding (perhaps the most recognized logo ever) that keeps them top of mind. They never stop advertising! So they are often top of mind when it comes to making a fast food selection.
Ronald McDonald House. Their fine charity gives them a level of respect they may not otherwise get. It is also a stealth form of marketing and a way to build brand loyalty. What makes it interesting, is that they get a lot of funding from others, so they get the philantropic and name recognition benefits without having to put up all the cash.
Processes and procedures that work. They can teach the basics to people and their processes yield reasonable service and their routine level of quality and speed.
Service. Now if you hate McDonald's, please don't laugh, but the fact is that they have their own systems that make getting food rapid and reasonably accurate. Most McD's today have two drive in windows. The first takes your cash or credit card. The second gives you your order. Brilliant in its simplicity.

Having worked with McDonald's in high school and my early college years, I guarantee you that you don't do a lot of ad libbing or flying by the seat of your pants. You are taught how to do something. You do it. You repeat those processes and procedures daily. If a new product or service is added, you get trained for that, you do it, you repeat it daily.

That is not to say that personality, drive or other factors don't matter, of course they do. I recall being made the store's 'motivational leader' while still a blue hat (do you remember those days, with white hats for trainees, blue for crew and red hats for managers?). It wasn't much longer when I earned my red hat, still as a teen. Looking back, it was a little crazy, making not much more than the minimum wage other earned, while having the responsibility for the store when all the other managers were gone! But at the time, it was just a great experience.

Sorry for the diversion down memory lane…

…the point is that they have systems. They are taught, they are followed. They can integrate people readily and rapidly as a result.

Why do so few independents in our Industry do the same? Why do so few focus on creating a process or procedure for marketing and selling, the same as you would have for a legal installation or doing an application for residency a land lease community?

You can bet the vertically integrated operations do, and those like Centennial Homes on the northern Great Plains states have their processes for success – and profits to match – too. Is it any wonder that those in our industry who have processes and training do better than those who don't have proven systems or wing it day by day?

Every month, we offer free Feature Articles by top writers in areas such as communities, management, sales, general industry, inspiration and more. In the past few months, we have been doing weekly columns on marketing, advertising and sales in the Cutting Edge blog. We also do seminars and workshops for associations and meetings, such as the Dominate Your Local Market or Attracting more Customers with Cash or Good Credit. Such opportunities exist here for one good reason: to support associations and to support professionals and businesses like you!

Speaking of opportunities to learn, network and grow your business, we hope to see you at the 2012 Great Southwest Home Show in Tulsa.

The Great Depression was a far cry worse than what we are experiencing today. There are businesses in and outside of our Industry who are profitable. Some are making record profits. We know that the future of manufactured housing is bright, because the 'stars' of demographics and economics have lined up in our favor (learn more at this link).

We can become the dominant form of housing in the years to come. You can be a part of that brighter future,

but only if and when professionals 'do what it takes' to adapt, plan and execute to advance past the malaise towards the opportunities that exist now and in the years ahead. # #

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Advancing Manufactured Housing through Education

January 18th, 2012 joe No comments

Business and profit building education has always been one of the many benefits of membership in state and national associations. When we say that an association exists to protect and promote the industry, that's true. One of the ways those goals are accomplished is precisely through educational workshops, seminars, symposiums and events tailored for manufactured housing owners, managers and professionals.

This year, at the 2012 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show, thanks to the support and vision of the Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation executives, Chairman Ron Thomas, Sr and with support from Dennis Hill at Show Ways Unlimited, we arranged a series of 'business building' seminars. Top professionals from coast to coast were presenting facts as part of our business-building forums.

The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive.

In addition, the MMHF extended invitations to MHI Chairman and Cavco/Fleetwood CEO Joe Stegmayer and MHARR Chairman and Sunshine Homes CEO John Bostick. While Mr. Bostick was unable to attend due to a conflict, Mr. Stegmayer attended and spoke in positive terms about both national organizations. Joe further emphasized the importance of state associations, as being the place where 'all politics is local' intersects between Industry members and their Congressional and U.S. Senate representatives.

Dick Ernst, who moderated a finance forum on manufactured housing lending, insightfully commented on the wide array of financing options that are available today. This is an important message, as so many are under the mistaken notion that there is a 'lack' of third party lending options for fee simple or personal property (home only/chattel) lending.

My team and I routinely heard from manufacturers, exhibitors and attendees that the overall tone from those at the event was positive. Not many think we are 'out of the woods' yet. But clearly well over a thousand industry professionals (actually, over 1500 pros came this year to the Show!) who came to Louisville believe that we can help guide our destiny and can shape our future.

Having the timely, useful and positive information is part of that mix!

Part of our mission at MHProNews.com from the beginning has been to support associations and to support Industry professionals through articles, news and more recently through live business building workshops, seminars and discussions. Having now topped 90,000 visitors in December 2011, averaging some 700,000 page views monthly and with over 2 million 'hits' monthly, you and thousands of others are finding daily value right here.

Those numbers continue to grow. Our growth can be your growth too.

The combination of online information and live information and events is powerful. An industry leader told me and others at the end of the Show that we can't wait for printed material any more. Events move too quickly. We need the speed of the Internet to get news and information out fast to Industry members.

Just as we learned the ABCs or 1-2-3s in school not by listening or reciting it once, but going over and over the same material many times, new information typically must be heard more than once to be effective. That's why advertisers don’t just run an ad once! They repeat the ad until enough customers 'get it.'

Bob Thieman, CAE and executive director for the Illinois Manufactured Housing Association is the most recent person to share a kind word in recommending via LinkedIn our work in manufactured housing:

Details of the Recommendation: "Tony and his company are leading the way for manufactured housing to enter the 21st century. He and his staff have put together remarkable educational programs and marketing that are ahead of the time and benefit the industry greatly."

I thank Bob and dozens of others who have been so kind to recommend our work, and want to particularly note that 'our work' is much more than Tony. MHProNews has 5 others besides myself involved in the day-by-day work, plus the many who graciously volunteer their skills at submitting helpful articles in their areas of expertise every month.

The vision from day one was to have a platform that brought good people together so that the Industry could grow as a result. As another state executive director has said:

"Tony really is pulling the MH industry together with thoughtful comments; suggestions; ideas on key topics that need addressing at the local, state, regional and national level. I applaud the work that you are doing…as the network grows, & grows & grows. You are an inspiration, with timely ideas and follow-through. Keep up the great work!" ~ Mary McBrady, Executive Director, MMHA Mass Manufactured Housing Assn.

All industry's and professions have and need trade media. We are pleased to be your choice – the Industry's run away first choice – in trade publishing for factory built housing. But it is vital to remember that we are ALL part of this effort! When you read, when you write a column that shares your knowledge or insight, then we all benefit.

We can all win.

In 2011, I was very pleased to be a part of seminars, trade show events and symposiums in various parts of the U.S.. MHI, 3 state associations and 3 trade shows (8 presentations in all) invited me to be a part of their 'moving ahead' business growth mix. Certainly, there are a number of others who are well qualified to bring their expertise to bear for the benefit of the Industry's members. This is what happened at Louisville!

That is a formula for Industry success! Your skills and experiences, that of others who share their time and talent here, blended together at live events or through online trade media. Everyone involved wins.

Needless to say, we tip our hats and thank all of those advertisers and sponsors who make this business building platform possible.

Working together with forward looking Industry professionals, let's make 2012 the year of the great Industry turn-around. Knowledge and information freely shared – Education – within our ranks as professionals is part of the key. # #

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: business building, Cavco, ceo john, Dennis Hill, Dick Ernst, educational workshops, finance forum, industry members, John Bostick, Manufactured Housing, MHI, mistaken notion, national associations, national organizations, ron thomas, senate representatives, state associations, u s senate

Post Show Post

January 14th, 2012 joe No comments

The Louisville Manufactured Housing Show for 2012 is now in the history books. Hats off to Dennis Hill and the Show Ways team, Show Chairman Ron Thomas Sr., the Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation (MMHF) executive directors, our speakers, panelists and each company that helped make this show a success. An exhibitor I spoke with summed up the achievements by saying: "Wednesday was every bit as strong or better for business as the Tunica Show has been." That says a lot. An attendee summarized the value they obtained, "We've attended every one of the seminars and speakers, and it has all been great."

MHI Chairman and Cavco/Fleetwood CEO Joe Stegmayer addresses
an SRO (standing room only) crowd of industry professionals at the
2012 Lousville Manufactured Housing Show.

Ron Thomas Sr. and Tim DeWitt introduced Joe Stegmayer's standing room attended address. Ron Thomas used a phrase that resonated with MMHF execs and myself. Paraphrasing slightly: "We have to stop looking back. We've been through an economic upheaval. We have established a new base line, and we have to measure our success against this new base line, not using a base line from the past."

Dozens of manufactured home land lease community professionals
pouring into the seminar room to hear Andrew Peters CEO of
First Guarantee Mortgage Corporation and Tony Kovach
introduce a pilot project for financing that will mimic
land/home rates and terms in MHCs.

When we think in terms of the current realities – the new current base line – we can see that we are now on the path back up.

Andrew Peters, CEO of First Guarantee Mortgage Corporation (FGMC)
at the yellow draped table watches as Tony Kovach addresses
land lease community owners and executives about the
non-recourse MH financing pilot project that will mimic
land home rates and terms in select MHCs.

Attendance was up in terms of attendees and total attendance. 1018 MH retailers, community owner/operators, builder/developers, installers and suppliers came though the doors. 1506 total were at the Show, when you include exhibitors and their teams. 27 homes were on display (35% more than 2011), along with some 80 exhibitors. I spoke with a number of leaders from a manufacturer that has not come in recent years. They indicated the show was strong for them, that they were very pleased with it. Others told me similarly. Ron Thomas told me a number of companies have already said they will be back in 2013 and at least one manufacturer that did not attend this year is planning to come next year.

Chad Carr addresses another SRO crowd of industry professionals

at the 2012 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show's

profit and business building seminar series.

"Louisville is back."

To be sure, it isn't the same show as the go-go 90s. But this is where Ron Thomas' wise statement comes into play. We have a new base line. We build from where we are, so that we can move in the direction we want to go. Which is up!

The youngest exhibitor at the Show was Tamas

(pronounced tah-mash) Kovach, right front.

Soheyla Kovach, Jeff Templeton and Matthew Silver

(L-R) all with MHProNews.com (MHMSM.com).

The above isn't to say that all was perfect at Louisville.

Another SRO crowd of MH Community and Retail professionals listen

to the lenders finance forum, moderated by Dick Ernst.

7 lenders described their finance products and services,

including new programs unveiled at Louisville.

Of course there were pluses and minuses too. After great weather on Monday and Tuesday, with highs in the 50s, we had rain all day Wednesday. The rain didn't keep almost as many people coming through the doors the first day as arrived for all of last year! That said, Thursday around 1 PM, weather reports and light snow fall sent many packing and. I doubt kept many from coming. That dampened total attendance for the day.

Tony Kovach pointing to the behind the scenes stars of the Show,

Michelle Middleton and Dennis Hill from Show Ways.

This photo taken 1.10.2012, the day before the Show opened.

Living west of Chicagoland, I was not quite sure why light snow would keep some from coming or send other people packing. Snowfall in Louisville may have hit 1" total through Friday around 1 PM, and the streets were just fine. The road home had maybe half a dozen vehicles in the ditches, but the roads were great with one very brief patchy exception. When I look out the window here on Saturday morning , there might be 3" on the ground. The point is day two attendance was not what day one was. Still, the overall result was very good.

James Cook, Creighton Weber, Eddie Hicks and Gerry DiMarco address

MH Community owner/operators in a well attended finance forum

focused on RE commercial lending for MHCs. Snowfall slowed

attendance at the last 2 seminars that followed this session,

which all drew positive praise from attendees.

On a personal/professional note, our book sales were brisk! When I was in the booth we had industry pros that bought books and asked to have their books signed. My sincere thanks to all who came by the booth, had kind words about MHProNews.com, our presentations and who purchased a copy of the Manufactured Housing Revolution.

I want to thank my team for all their hard word, and recognize the speakers and moderators and all who pulled together to work so hard to make the show a success. You can see videos of the show and some stills linked here too.

We expect to share more post show reports and feedback in the days ahead. Again, hats off to all who attended and made this show a reality!

Tulsa and the 2012 Great Southwest Home Show is next up! My team and I hope to see you there too. ##

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Live from Louisville: the 2012 Manufactured Housing Show.

January 9th, 2012 joe No comments

We are starting a pre-show and at show series of videos here on the Masthead blog, entitled "Live from Louisville: the 2012 Manufactured Housing Show." The pre-show registrations reveal that 20% more community, retailers, builder/developers, installers and suppliers are signed up for 2012 than through the same period in 2011. Hundreds more typically show up at the door to sign up on site. As the one video shows, make sure you bring your business card and ID to gain entry, to this industry trade show.

Behind the Scenes videos, before the Start of the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show followed by live video coverage of the show starting 1/11/2012.


1/09/2012	1/09/2012	1/09/2012

1/09/2012	1/10/2012	1/10/2012

1/10/2012	1/11/2012	1/11/2012

1/11/2012	1/11/2012	1/11/2012

1/11/2012	1/11/2012	1/11/2012

1/11/2012	1/12/2012	1/12/2012

1/12/2012	1/12/2012	1/12/2012

1/12/2012	1/12/2012	1/12/2012

1/12/2012	1/13/2012	1/13/2012 These are the Executive Directors of their respective states from the Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation (MMHF). Tim DeWitt from MI had to leave, do to the death of a member.

1/13/2012 We hope you have enjoyed the live video coverage and photo gallery of the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show 2012, brought to you by MHProNews.com. Be sure to visit this web site often for announcements of next year's show, and others like it.

Louisville Manufactured Housing Show 2012 Photo Gallery.

Jim Morris Louisville Show celebrity!

Lindsay Horton – Registrations for the Show!

Don Westphal

Mark Speranza Ray Best (L-R)

Mark Tackett Rhett Simpson (L-R)

Sponsors – Bill Macke Chris Hollars Jim Cauzillo ( L-R)

Wendell Harrold

FHA – VA – USDA – 1 close lenders.

Dennis Rooney – Rob McMains – Matt Martin – Bill

Jerry Bretton - Tanja Garrow (L-R)

Thomas McNulty

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: business card, celebrity, developers, Manufactured Housing, Masthead, photo gallery, pre show, registrations, speranza, trade show, video coverage, westphal

Lovin’ La Vida Grande! Plus Iowa upset?

January 7th, 2012 joe No comments

The BUZZ is on because it will be 'show time' in Louisville this week!

The extended weather forecast for next week indicates high temperatures in the 40s and 50s. The show is all indoors at the South Wing of the fine Kentucky Exhibition Center, so no matter what is happening outside, it will be comfortable indoors. Pre-registrations ran hot this year, about 20% more than the same period a year ago. Total pre-registrations for all sides of the industry total 1016. Normally hundreds more arrive at the doors and sign up on site. For those who do, bring your business cards with you to speed the registration process. What all this means is that Louisville 2012 could set a recent attendance record!

Why all the excitement? Why all the buzz?

Many factors.

CEO and consumer confidence seems to be rising, according to recent reports. Demand for housing is also showing 'signs of life.'

For those in the Manufactured Housing Industry who felt that financing was a need, Louisville will feature all sorts of financing options, some of them will be new or at least new to many of your peers and/or you.

As an example, one lender – First Guarantee Mortgage Corporation – will be part of the Wednesday morning finance forum panel on manufactured home lending, and will talk about their MH Home Loan program that features, among other factors, 'no minimum credit score.' The same firm offers manufactured and modular home retailers two different loan programs that offer legitimate “no down payment” financing, including low rate loans to those with low incomes.

If a person can write up more new business with that type of financing, ouch, something must be wrong!

The full line up of seminars is linked on this page:

Be Sure! Make More Home Sales in 2012.

Are you in the MHC business? Do you have vacancies you want to fill through home sales? Make a special note to attend Seminar #4 on Wednesday. A financing plan will be unveiled there that can be a powerful magnet for Manufactured Home Land Lease Community Owners and Operators. For those ready to do what it takes, this will be a game changer.

Iowa Upset?

Channel 8 in Des Moines Iowa reports that a caucus poll worker Edward True, 28, of Moulton, asserts that the published result from the 53-person caucus at the Garrett Memorial Library, Mitt Romney received two votes. But according to the Iowa Republican Party's website, True's precinct cast 22 votes for Romney. "This is huge," True said. "It essentially changes who won." While no official word on this will likely take place until the vote is certified, True said: "Numbers that I personally witnessed being counted and assisted in counting and am certain are right," he said. As a side note True is a self-proclaimed Ron Paul supporter.

With rumors that President Obama may dump Biden, sending him over to be Secretary of State and making Hillary Clinton his running mate in 2012, and with Rick Santorum surging in New Hampshire and South Carolina, with Newt making a come back fight against Mitt Romney's lead, the 2012 election cycle will be interesting indeed. If you missed it,catch the opportunity this election cycle could have for manufactured housing event planners here.

Love the Grand Life by going to Louisville. You will get out of it everything that you put into it, and more. Come to learn, come to do business, come to network. Come!

My team and I would be pleased to see you and your associates in Louisville. Bring your business cards, if you didn't pre-register, you can sign up at the door. If I can bring my wife and our little guy, you can be there with your loved ones too! When we aren't busy elsewhere, you can find our team members in booth #119, right near the front doors. # #

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500

latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

2012: the Manufactured Housing Industry’s Year of the Turnaround?

January 1st, 2012 joe No comments

Happy New Year, 2012!

When you look at:

the recent rising trend in manufactured housing shipment reports,
when you look at the fact that the 2012 Louisville Show could shatter last year's attendance record and
you realize that home and other financing options are available or coming online that most would not have dreamed about in 2011,

it is easy to see why 2012 could be the year of the great Manufactured Housing Industry turn around.

Be a part of the action…

While the recent RV show held at the Kentucky Exhibition Center was down, free pre-registrations for the 2012 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show were up 10% in early December, year of year. The most recent report tells us that pre-registrations are now up 20% over the same period a year ago! Please see the articles linked below for more information.

We can now report that we have a second manufactured housing lender who has offered in writing to co-sponsor the MH Alliance Phoenix Project. With one or two more co-sponsors, it is entirely possible that a pilot project will be underway by the 2^nd Quarter of 2012, or perhaps even in the late first quarter of the New Year.

Readership has been growing here! We set a new record in November. If you aren't already signed up to receive our free emailed news updates, you can sign up for free here. Start out the New Year right with the knowledge and information that can take leaders and professionals to higher heights.

No where else can you find the most news, tips and views you can use that right here at MHProNews.com. Let's dive into the new Feature Articles for January, 2012.

Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 3, No. 4, 2012

Alphabetically by Category

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)

• Do You Hear What I Hear? Do you see what I see?

by Nadeen Green

nadeen-green-50 Aha! Now that Christmas carol is going to be an ear worm for those of you in manufactured home community management! Memory devices are great, and maybe this one will keep you and your land lease community staff out of trouble…

• A New Year's Possibilities

by Eddie Hicks

Starting the new year brings possibilities for land lease community (LLCommunity) refinance and development opportunities.

With all the site built home foreclosures, many families have turned to apartments, resulting in a relatively high occupancy rate in many markets, while at the same time, in those same areas, there may be many vacant LLCommunity homesites.

• Content Area of Guidelines for Living: Refuse Removal through Rights of Management

by Chrissy Jackson

chrissy-jackson-50

Happy New year! In December's article on the guidelines for living in manufactured home land lease communities, we covered the topics of Number of Residents to Recreational Vehicles, we covered Guidelines for Living topics, Number of Residents to Recreational Vehicles. Let's get started with our new topics for January, 2012~

• What About Your Utility Systems?

by Kurt Kelly, JD

kurt kelly american insurance agency aia 50x50

When purchasing a manufactured home community, experienced investors focus considerable pre-purchase due diligence on the community’s utility systems. This infrastructure is a large part of the value of most properties.

• Rent Control Out at Surf and Sand

by Eric Miller

eric-miller-50

Rent control isn't such a hot topic in California anymore, except when it comes to 'mobile home' and manufactured housing communities. That's because most communities in the state don't have vacancy control.

When an apartment turns over, rents revert to a market rate. Manufactured home communities are an exception.

FINANCING

• Financing more manufactured homes, getting inventory and community financing

by L. A. 'Tony' Kovach

tony-kovach-2-50

One of the challenges of doing a trade journal is putting an article in a category that makes sense. Some articles could well be in more than one category, but we don't want readers who skim to think we just mistakenly duplicated something! Then there are the resources for getting more of the various types of financing, and that is what this brief article is about!

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

• MLS…Multiple Listing Service for Manufactured Housing

by Boe Davis

boe-davis-50

For almost 30 years we ran what may have been the only true Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for manufactured home sales in communities. Initially called the Mobile Home Board, then as an association it was called the California Mobile Home Guardians and in its last version it was called MHMLS.org.

• What I Learned From Santa

by Suzanne Felber

suzanne-felber-50

The holidays this year were very special – I was able to do an early Christmas with my amazing new grandson in Florida. My son and his family live in the West Palm Beach area, so we were able to enjoy some beautiful weather, but it was a given there would be no snow in sight.

• The Texas Playbook

by D. J. Pendleton, J.D.

DJ-Pendleton-50

I had met Tony several times previously at various national events. However, it wasn’t until Tony was kind enough to attend the Texas Manufactured Housing Association's (TMHA’s) recent annual convention in September when I got a chance to talk substantively with him.

• You Can't Fix It Till You Know It's Broken

by George Porter

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This month's topic can apply to a lot of things in the installation and repair of manufactured housing. The bottom line is you have to know what is correct before you can see that there is a need for change or repair.

• “It's Show Time” in Louisville!

by Ron Thomas, Sr.

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It's show time in Louisville at the Kentucky Exhibition Center (KEC). The annual Louisville Manufactured Housing Show (Louisville MH Show) will run January 11-13^th, and this year's line up is simple impressive.

• Model Homes or Not!

by Katy Weldon

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For the past several decades Model Homes have been an important part of the housing industry, including manufactured and modular homes. A model home complex was considered a necessity and major selling tools for most retailers.

MANAGEMENT

• Improving Corporate Communications

by Tim Connor, CSP

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Every corporate client I have worked with for over 40 years has had communication problems or challenges throughout their organization to a lesser or greater degree. Some have been critical issues that had cost them dearly off the bottom line, while others were nothing more than annoying inconveniences that got in the way of employee or department effectiveness.

MARKETING

• QR Codes—What are they and how can your business use them?

by Beth Monicatti Blank

You have probably seen Quick Response (QR) codes printed in an advertisement, on a product or even online. They are small black and white square boxes with smaller pixilated boxes inside. These QR codes are similar to the UPC barcodes used by retailers to track inventory and price products for scanning.

• Plan for Success in 2012

by Chris Nicely

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The holidays always allow us time to reflect on what is important in our lives and can lead us to consider necessary changes. We consider those things that made us happy, satisfied and helped our business and those events that caused us to question. Each of us has a life centered around a business that is dependent upon a stagnant economy and possibly the worst housing market ever.

• Use Systems and Discipline for Successful Campaigns

by Jeff Templeton

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I was speaking with a respected member of our industry the other day and he said something very obvious, but also very intuitive. What he said to me was, “It’s all about systems and discipline.” A system is a plan, formula or blue print for achieving results and discipline is needed to monitor, adjust and repeat the system to achieve the desired results again and again.

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION

• Get out of Auto-pilot

by Tim Connor, CSP

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Are you going through your life in auto-pilot? Are you letting your responses and reactions to life’s circumstances and events be dictated by your previous values, attitudes and beliefs or are your responses a result of living in the present?

• Zig On The Next Hill to Climb

by Zig Ziglar

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I recently received an interesting letter from one of our subscribers, quite complimentary. He pointed out that he particularly enjoyed an article having to do with success. Then he elaborated on the fact that he has achieved so many things–God has been really good to him–and his question was, "I guess it's like winning the World Series or the Super Bowl.

SALES

• What's Working in Manufactured Housing Retail

by Chad Carr

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On November 13^th – 15th, Rainmaker Consulting hosted what turned out to be one of the most exciting, positive and productive events of the year for the Manufactured Housing Industry – at least for those who were able to attend.

• Marketing & Sales – The Current State of Affairs and The Strategic Blending Process

by Tim Connor, CSP

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If you are paying attention, the social media folks would have you believe that all you need to do to be successful in your business or career today is to be a social media guru with Facebook, LinkedIn etc.

I beg to differ.

post by

L. A. “Tony” Kovach, MHM

www.MHProNews.com
www.MHMarketingSalesManagement.com or www.MHMSM.com
Innovation – Information – Inspiration for Industry Professionals

Office – 815-270-0500
latonyk@gmail.com or tony@mhmsm.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

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