Following a Daily Business News post from June 18, 2012 about two MHCs in Carver, Massachusetts being snatched from the jaws of Equity Lifestyle Properties and becoming co-operatives, MHProNews has learned from boston, according to MA law, MHC residents have the first right of refusal if their community is being sold. Pine Tree Village (family, 186 homes) and Cranberry Village (55+, 280 homes) owner David Piper signed an agreement to sell the pair to ELS in Dec. 2011 for $22 million, a figure the residents had to match. The residents approached Piper with their offer the day before he was set to close with ELS. ROC (resident-owned communities) USA, a specialist in MHC co-operatives, arranged the 30 year mortgages for each community—6% for Pine Tree, 6.2% for Cranberry. Massachusetts-based Community Development Institute assisted ROC in developing budgets, finding a management team, and setting up operations.

(Photo credit: Amelia Kunhardt/The Patriot Ledger—Pine Tree residents Susan Roovers with daughter Whitford)