Calling all Entries for MHI and NMHC Awards!
Calling all entries! Calling all entries! We are exited to announce that the National Industry Awards are looking for entries to award the following categories:
- Best manufactured home communities
- Best manufactured home retail sales center
- Best industry leaders
Please submit your entry form and associated fee by February 10th, 2012. Then submit your entry materials for judging by February 24th, 2012. There are additional explanations in the links below.
The Congress & Expo Conference will be handing out the awards on April 10-12, 2012 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Each winner will receive a trophy and wonderful recognition by the industry communications. The following information explains how to enter and gives you the entry forms:
NMHC’s Quarterly Modular Housing Report – 3rd Quarter of 2011
NMHC or the National Modular Housing Council’s 3rd quarter’s report is out everyone! 3,544 new modular homes were shipped in the third quarter of this year. Those results are down 2.0% from the same quarter of the preceding year (2010).
However, in comparison with quarter three in 2010 to quarter three 2011, state shipments show an increase in six different states. There were reductions in 18 states and five states that had no change in shipments.
If you would like to review the full report, please click here.
Why is the Manufactured Housing Industry Great?
I wanted to give you all a brief synopsis of a great piece that I recently read. The piece was written by Thayer Long who was the former President and CEO of the Manufactured Housing Institute.
One of my favorite statements he made was, “Since 1989, manufactured housing industry has accounted for 21% of all new homes sold. Citizens can realize the American Dream of owning their own home at an affordable price, without sacrificing quality or the level of amenities they desire” (Long, 2011). What a beautiful way to capture the manufactured housing industry in just two sentences.
Three more subsections of the piece really capture the focus of the industry as a whole. I chose the statements that best capture the sections. If you would to read the piece in its entirety click here.
1) We are thinking about the customer
“Customers are what make factories operate, they keep sales centers open, and communities occupied. We have done a good job in building homes and creating lifestyles and value to keep customers satisfied and coming back. Satisfied and happy customers are the best way to build a good “national” image” (Long, 2011).
2) We are learning from the past
“I believe the industry has done a very good job in advancing new methods and technologies to build our homes, and has been very disciplined in not returning to a system of lending that puts customers in difficult situations” (Long, 2011).
3) We are embracing change
“The industry has undergone rapid transformation in the past few years to rise to the challenges of a tougher economy, and industry members are always changing how they do business to increase their value proposition. The partnerships that are being forged by different business units in these difficult times are a testament to the resolve members have to
survive” (Long, 2011).
Overall, this is a great article that captures the present look and feel to the manufactured housing industry.
It’s time to Save-The-Date!
Even though April 2012 does sound very far away, it will be here before you know it, so save-the-date now April 10th – 12th, 2012! Join everyone at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to gain the knowledge and resources to shine in today’s housing market. This national show will consider the following topics and more:
- What will the next decade bring for housing in America?
- How will the U.S. housing marketing be affected by demographic trends?
- Where will the Millennials call home?
- What housing choices will seniors make going forward?
- How can factory built housing gain market share?
Please feel free to visit Congress & Expo website for more information and here is the schedule.
Reauthorization of Preferential Tax Treament of Imported Lumber
Guess what? Good news is on the forefront. “After months of delay, manufactured home builders will now be able to purchase imported lumber duty free!” President Obama signed legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (*GSP). The program will be upheld from October 21, 2011 through July 31st, 2013.
The expiration date of the program was December 31, 2010. The delay in reauthorizing the program was upheld by a controversy created by the impact on one U.S. producer of one product imported from one GSP beneficiary. The lapse in the program also concluded in substantial increases in the cost of plywood and other lumber materials.
Sherry Norris – Executive Director of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Association – initiated a grassroots lobbying effort to reauthorize the GSP.
*The GSP is a program that provides preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products including lumber, from 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
MHI’s Economic Report August 2011
Good news is in the air, the Manufactured Housing Institute’s monthly economic report is out for August 2011. The manufactured home shipments for August 2011 were up 6.3% from August 2010. The shipments for August totaled at 5,166 new homes. Shipments of the single section homes showed a 21.7% increase from last year in August.
In comparison to 2010 for the month of August the number of homes sold year-to-date is down by 9.9%. Currently, the YTD is 31, 994 for 2011. In 2010 the YTD for August the number of homes sold was 35,521.
The total floors shipped in August was up 1.8% from the same month in 2010. The current YTD totals are 7,913 for total floors shipped.
ENERGY STAR Program for Modular Homes
The ENERGY STAR Program for Modular Homes has been in the news lately and leaving most people confused. The EPA is introducing a new version of the program requirements.
Here are the important take-aways you should be aware of with this program:
- ENERGY STAR modular home ordered from modular builder or homebuyer between 10/1/2011 and 06/30/2012 must comply with Version 2.5 requirements
- Modular homes with an order date on or after 7/1/2012 must comply with the ENERGY STAR guidelines Version 3
- Homes with sales orders placed prior to 10/1/2011 can still comply with Version 2
- The guidelines for Version 3 can be found here
There is still some debate of when Version 3 will be completely implemented for modular homes but the fluctuation should be resolved in the next few months.
MHCC Subcommittee Considers Accessibility Standards for Manufactured Homes
A couple of weeks ago the General Subcommittee of the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee met to discuss considerations new accessibility standards for the HUD Code.
“The proposals have been pending before the Committee for at least four years with only one of the 10 subcommittees dissenting and one abstaining. The subcommittee recommended changes that would require a minimum of one exterior door to have a wider clear opening from 28″ to 32″ and hallways for homes 14′ wide or larger would be increased to 30″ from 28″ (MHI Newsletter, 2011).
Originators of the committee suggested that the costs could be as much as $100.00 per home for a wider door rather then the $15.00 per door put forth by the proponents. Originators scaled back the proposals significantly to receive additional support.
The full committee will consider these recommendations in October.
The 55+ Community & Manufactured Housing Communities
Upon heading towards retirement or already in retirement most people are looking for a simple and stress-free type of lifestyle.
Living in a manufactured housing community sounds ideal for people looking for a relaxing retirement. As the Boomer demographic begins to hit retirement age the options for what they will do with their retirement are beginning to expand.
Here’s why a community is a great option:
- The homes can be customized for the needs and wants of all types of buyers
- The purchase price and maintenance costs (including smaller yards) are drastically lower
- One story living is accessible and convenient for most retired home buyers
- Many communities can be gated which increases the feeling of security among it’s community members
The owners of these homes still get to feel a sense of independence because they own their home but feel comfort in the fact they are only leasing the land and do not have worry about property taxes. Throughout the United States you can find all different types of communities some are large with lots of amenities including pools, workout areas and social rooms. Community members therefore have the opportunities to socialize with others in their same demographic age range.
A great example of a Manufactured Home Community is from one of our own Jensen Communities.
Weather Radio Legislation
Legislation was approved by the House Financial Services Committee that would require all new manufactured homes to be equipped with NOAA weather radios. The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has stated, “if Congress is to mandate the installation of weather radios they should be required of all form of housing and not just manufactured homes.”
Now this measure is forecasted to “come up for floor consideration under suspension of the rules (a tool to provide swift floor consideration of bills and are typically passed by unanimous consent decree) in September.”
MHI is conducting outreach to Rep. Bachus (the representative who sponsored the weather radio legislation) and his senior staff to revise the bill. The weather radio legislation also competes with existing warning notification system (WARN Act) that is scheduled to be active in April of 2012. The WARN Act will provide owners of hand-held wireless devices with emergency notifications.
For more information on the legislation on weather radios click here.
For more information on the committee report on the weather radio legislation click here.
