Craig’sDetroit notes southeast Mich. is home to two of the largest owners of manufactured home communities. RHP Properties of Farmington Hills is the largest privately-owned MHC in the nation, having just competed a deal to acquire 71 more communities, bulging its portfolio to $2.25 billion, as MHProNews posted April 16, 2013. It now owns 231 communities comprised of 51,000 homesites. Meanwhile, Sun Communities, Inc. of Southfield, Mich. owns and operates 183 communities with over 67,000 homesites. Tim DeWitt, executive director of the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association (MMHA) in Okemos says industry production began in Mich. but moved across the border to Elkhart, Ind. in the 1960’s when workers compensation laws took effect. Richard Lutz, associate at the Southfield office of Marcus and Millichap Real Estate Investments Services, Inc. says around 2000, approximately 12,000 MH units were selling in the state each year, but that has dropped to 2,000. The three county Detroit area has 41,000 homesites in almost 100 communities. Kevin Flaherty of Champion Homes, Inc. in Troy, Mich. says some community owners are buying direct from the producer and selling them to residents, thereby lowering the cost.
