Manufactured Home Shipments

Again we are seeing an increase in housing sales.  Nationwide this year’s year to date is 19.3% higher than last year with unit sales increasing by 5,249 homes.  Overall the housing market is looking good, and we are beginning to be able to take advantage of it.

Maine and Connecticut, +97.4% and +188.2%respectivly, are the two states that have seen the biggest increase in manufactured housing shipments as the housing and job market stabilization is finally planting roots on the Northeastern coast.

Some in the Midwest such as the Dakotas and Wyoming have seen a decrease in manufactured housing sales but this is mostly due to the seasonal and volatile nature of jobs in the Oil industry.  The drop in sales in this region is more reflective of the Oil industry than it is the housing industry.

Overall sales are up nationally and I’ve spoken with several bankers and realtors from my area expressing that the flood of foreclosures that had been on the market has begun to dry up and property values are on the rise.  Due to the rising property values and the shrinking inventory of existing homes in the housing market, new buyers are being forced to either site-build or turn to manufactured housing as a way of becoming homeowners or purchasing their next home.

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7 ways you don’t want to enable buyers to abuse you

Fred Ashforth, sales coordinator at Titan Homes, found this article and was sharing it with his co-workers. The article was then brought to my attention by my sales rep, Ron Major, at our Open House last weekend.  I discussed it with my team this morning at my sales meeting. I thought I would share it with all of you! Have a great weekend!

From Close the Deal: Smart Moves for Selling by Sam Deep and Lyle Sussman©2000

 

1. Don’t give buyers free consulting.

Yes, buys should get all the information they need to make an informed buying decision. They shouldn’t, however, “pick your brain” or let you serve as an unpaid consultant. You can help buyers discover that you can help them solve their problem. Don’t show them how until they become customers.

 

2. Don’t prepare detailed, costly proposals without assurance that the proposal will receive serious consideration.

Buyers should receive a written proposal if they ask for one. Some buyers ask for one after a decision has been made, just to get multiple bids. Don’t play the game. Get a guarantee that the proposal will be reviewed fairly.

 

3. Don’t allow you and your proposal to travel up and down the buyer’s organizational hierarchy.

In your up-front contract, clarify the buyer’s decision-making process. Get an agreement that each presentation you make will be followed by a mutually agreed upon action by the buyer. Stick to your position.

 

4. Don’t tolerate open-ended indecisiveness.

If buyers think you’ll hang around indefinitely, they are in no hurry to make a decision. Extract an up-front agreement on some length of the buying cycle. If time starts to drag, impose the limit.

 

5. Don’t let your products or services be demeaned.

Some buyers will minimize what you do and what you sell. If you allow that to pass without a challenge, you’re reinforcing the notion that you’re just another salesperson with a product no better than anyone else’s. If you don’t show respect for your product, and company, who will?

 

6. Don’t let your company or coworkers be demeaned.

Be open and candid in accepting responsibility for past failures. At the same time stand up for the integrity, competence and commitment of your team. Buyers who demean your people to your face are saying even more to others behind your back. Be sure they have the facts about any situation s they claim to have knowledge of. Defend the honor of the good people who work in your company. Your loyalty will not be lost on buyers.

 

7. Don’t enable buyers to put you in ethical or legal dilemmas.

Should you bend over backwards to get a sale? Certainly. Should you marshal all the resources at your disposal to make the buyer happy? You bet. But don’t ever let that mean that you compromise your integrity or sell your soul.

 

February 2014 HUD-code Home Shipments

The report has been released for February 2014 new manufactured home sales. 4,359 new manufactured homes were shipped in February 2014 which is up 5.9 percent from February 2013.  The total floors that were shipped were 6,706 which was an increase of 7.9 percent in comparison to February 2013.

The SAAR or seasonally adjusted annual rate of shipments was 61,881 in February 2014.  These numbers are down 2.5 percent from the adjusted rate of 63,457 in January 2014.

The number of plants that are reporting production in February 2014 was 123, and the number of active corporations was 46, both unchanged from the number in January 2014.

*The SAAR corrects for normal seasonal variations in shipments and projects annual shipments based on the current monthly total.

December 2013 HUD-code Home Shipments

The report has been released for December 2013 new manufactured home sales. 4,005 new manufactured homes were shipped in December of 2013 which is up 14.0 percent from December 2012.  The total floors that were shipped were 6,289 which was an increase of 15.1 percent in comparison to December 2012.

The SAAR or seasonally adjusted annual rate of shipments was 60,956 in December 2013.  These numbers are down 0.2 percent from the adjusted rate of 61,074 in November 2013.

The number of plants that are reporting production in December 2013 was 123, one up from prior month and the number of active corporations was 46, unchanged from the number in November 2013.

*The SAAR corrects for normal seasonal variations in shipments and projects annual shipments based on the current monthly total.

Champion Home Builders to Open Second Plant in Lake City, FL

Champion Home Builders to Open Second Plant in Lake City, FL to Meet Growing Demand Redman Homes returns to the Southeast

Premier Showing @ Southeast Community Owners Symposium October 8-10

TROY, Mich.,  – Champion Home Builders, Inc., the nation’s leading producer of modular and manufactured homes and commercial buildings, based in Troy, Mich. announced today that it will be opening a second home manufacturing facility located on their current campus in Lake City, FL.  The new plant will reestablish the Redman brand in the southeast as the housing market continues to recover. Redman has a long-established and well-regarded history in the Southeast with manufacturing facilities that were located in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina.   

The Riverview series will be the initial product offering from the new Redman facility and will target homebuyers seeking cost-effective housing options in manufactured housing communities.   “There is currently a lack of pre-owned homes for sale inside Florida communities and many communities throughout the Southeast. Many new homes are simply too expensive for some budgets.  Through value-engineering and a focus on high-efficiency manufacturing, we feel we can offer these buyers a new home at or near the cost of a pre-owned home,” said Wade Lyall, South Region Vice President, Champion Home Builders.

The Riverview will be on display at the upcoming Southeast Community Owners Symposium in Forsyth, GA to be held October 8th through the 10th.  “We are pleased to showcase the new Riverside at this exciting event.  Community owners are a growing market sector and this symposium will attract a wide attendance from across the Southeast.  This is a perfect opportunity for us to launch the Redman Riverview series,” said Byron Stroud, Sales Manager for Champion Homes in Florida.

June 2013 HUD-code Home Shipments

The report has been released for June 2013 new manufactured home sales. 5,347 new manufactured homes were shipped in June of 2013 which is up 6.2 percent from June 2012.  Good news all around because increases were up across the board including both single and multi-section home shipments in comparison to June 2012.  The total floors that were shipped were 8,299 which was an increase of 4.7 percent in comparison to June 2012.

The SAAR or seasonally adjusted annual rate of shipments was 55,493 in June 2013.  These numbers are down 9.8 percent from the adjusted rate of 61,536 in May 2013.

The number of plants that are reporting production in June 2013 was 122 and number of active corporations was 46, both unchanged from the prior month.

*The SAAR corrects for normal seasonal variations in shipments and projects annual shipments based on the current monthly total.

The Truth in Lending Act

Beginning on June 1st, 2013, The Truth in Lending Act or TILA ban on mandatory arbitration provisions in certain mortgage loans became effective.  This has effected applications received on or after the June 1st deadline.

Under this ban, lenders using the loan documentation that contains such requirements will be required to remove them for loans covered.

Now make sure you note that this bans does implement a provision of the Dodd-Frank Act.  The provision bans “terms that require arbitration or any other non-judicial procedure to resolve any controversy or settle any claims arising out of the transaction.”

Lenders using loan documentation that contains such requirements will be required to remove them for loans covered under the ban. The ban implements a provision of the Dodd-Frank Act that bans “terms that require arbitration or any other non-judicial procedure to resolve any controversy or settle any claims arising out of the transaction.”

There is more detailed information here about the regulations, Regulation Z, and additional links for more resources on this news.

West Virginia Housing Institute Inc.’s 2013 Convention

There is an interesting opportunity on the horizon — a housing convention in West Virginia!  The West Virginia Housing Institute Inc.’s 2013 convention will be held at the Stonewall Resort in North Central West Virginia from the 24 – 26 in June.  

Co-Presidents, Kevin Wilfong and George Gunnell, invite you to attend this convention that has said to have an exceptional line up.  The line up for this year’s convention includes:

• Tim Williams who is the head of 21st Mortgage Corp., and he will be presenting on industry financing

• G. Kent “GK” Magelson who is with the American Society of Asset Protection in Las Vegas will be sharing how to reduce your taxes and help to avoid lawsuits

• There will also be housing professionals on hand including legal panel of general counsel – John Teare, board member – Johnnie Brown, expert from Huntington – Jason Stemple, Chief Regulator – Mitch Woodrum, President of West Virginia Coal Association – Bill Raney and an official from Champion Homes.

There will be a second-evening banquet, political action funding raising auction and the statewide meeting.  There is a lot packed into these days but don’t forget to attend the sponsored breakfast on June 26th!

Don’t forget about the recreational fun you get to enjoy while at the Stonewall Resort.  Take a stroll down the trails near the lake and park or how about a two-hour lake cruise with legal beverages and heavy snacks.  You could attend the Phil Fogleman’s special wine-tasting program or play a round of golf at the Arnold Palmer-designed course.

Join this convention in June and fill out this registration form.  Please don’t forget to call the Stonewall to make your reservations.

**Note — the rooms are limited at this location so reserving a room is strongly suggested as soon as you know you will be attending.  Call today 304.269.7400 or 1.888.278.8150.There has been a negotiated rate of $149.18/night.

Announcement: NCC Fall Leadership Forum for 2013

The NCC (National Communities Council) Fall Forum for 2013 has been announced for October 16th through the 18th in Chicago.  This year’s theme is “Building a Vision for the Future” which will have a focus on leadership and networking.  The featured speaker is Sam Zell who is the Chairman of Equity Group Investments.

The networking events are  planned for the evenings of Wednesday, October 16th  and Thursday the 17th.  There will be a full day of programming on the 17th prior to the networking event.  The plan is to wrap up all events by noon on Friday the 18th.

*David Lentz was quoted about the event, “With the housing market recovery well underway and our members getting more and more excited about the future, we felt the time was right to create a flagship event that will signal the next phase of success for the NCC and growth for our industry. Our goal is to make the NCC Fall Leadership Forum a total knockout and the ‘can’t miss’ industry event of the fall. The terrific team at MHI is poised to make this a winner.”

The goal of this event is to be able to bring together veterans and leaders as well as outside perspectives.  This program will be able have an impact on not just community owners in the industry but manufacturers, lenders, consultants and service providers.

If you would like to received updates about this event click here and then proceed to enter your contact information.

 

*David Lentz is the NCC Chairman and President and CEO of American Land Lease, Inc.

Champion Home Builders wins “Best of Show”

Congratulations goes out to Champion Home Builders for winning “Best of Show” at the Modular Building Institute ‘s 2013 awards that took place in Scottsdale, AZ!  Champion Home Builders is one of the leading producers of  modular homes, commercial buildings and manufactured homes.  The modules were built in the Champion facility in Strattanville, P.A.

The award was won for a student housing project that Champion constructed located in Ithaca, N.Y.  The construction of the building was for Beers Properties and is helping to serve off-campus housing for Cornell University.  The building includes four stories all of which are modular construction placed over concrete and steel podium.  The building has a mix between one, two and three bedroom apartments.  Images of the building can viewed here.

Jack Lawless, CEO of Champion Home Builders stated, “Champion works hard to manufacture the best buildings in the industry and we are incredibly please to be recognized by the modular building industry and our peers with this honor.”

Congrats Champion Homes Builders!