If you’ve been in manufactured housing:
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at least 5 years, and
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have been to at least 3 MH professional events/association meetings/shows a year,
then odds are excellent that you know first hand how diverse our industry is:
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politically,
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by Industry segments (MH Retailers, MH Communities, MH Producers, Lenders, Installers, Transporters, Suppliers – plus sometimes stark differences within each of those segments!)
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in size, business plans and approaches within each industry segments,
and any other measure of diversity (religion, ethnic, gender, familial status, etc.) you want to mention.
So it’s no surprise when you see a diversity of Featured Articles in this power-packed December to Remember 2015 issue of MHProNews.com. Here are examples of what you’ll find in this month’s featured articles. In no particular order of importance…
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3 featured articles focused on the thoughts of ELS/EGI Chairman, Sam Zell, with our thanks to his friendly and efficient contact at ELS.
2) What some will see as the near ‘polar opposite’ of ELS, an exclusive video interview with Paul Bradley ROC USA (by the way, while their politics or other views might differ, both are savvy professionals, executing their respective plans). If you are thinking about exiting (selling) your MHC, this is timely viewing you’ll not want to miss.
3) MHI and MHARR featured articles (second month running).
4) A gathering of samples of praise for our independent trade publishing – again, across a wide spectrum – including kudos from “competitors” in their respective niche’s too.
5) Wayne Coakley’s strategies on managing your online MH reputation.
6) Spotlighting a new, rising start in MH in our exclusive – A Cup of Coffee with…Lindsey Bostick.
7) Another insightful column from the Fair Housing Lady, attorney Nadeen Green.
8) 21st Mortgage’s Lance Hull’s latest column, reporting on an update that should perk even more activity for their popular CASH Program – must reading for MHC pros.
9) Bob Vahsholtz unique take on the Image Problem (which is but one example that proves in part Tim Williams’ point – see #4 above – that not every comment or article on our site is something I necessarily agree with…but I’m still happy to share them).
10) Inspirational, thought provoking columns from our good friend Tim Connor, CSP – and from a cherished legend, Zig Ziglar, RIP.
11) Barry Cole’s update on the Kevin Clayton Debt Elimination challenge for the RV MH Hall of Fame.
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An inside look at something new for the 2016 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show – complete with a new video.
13) The Wisdom of Dr. Thomas Sowell. Want to bring common sense to a political or economic discussion? A few words from Dr. Sowell will often do the trick! Each quote a tweetable gem!
14) Exclusive comments to MHProNews and a downloadable report by Dr. Sebastian Gorka, on terrorism in the U.S. (eerily timely, given the tragic San Bernardino apparent terror attack). Let me take a moment and say that almost any business of any size today needs to consider their preventative steps in case of an active shooter incident. Please plan and prepare now, and mitigate or avoid problems later.
All told, we have 18 new Featured Articles in our December to Remember issue.
Bonus! Free Christmas Gift that Keeps on Giving! You can sign yourself or a team member(s) up in seconds for the industry’s leading emailed news updates. Go to MHProNews.com/subscribe and give the free gift of priceless insights – the Industry News, Tips and Views Pros Can Use © – that keeps on giving.
From our family to yours, let me hereby wish you a good Advent, our Jewish friends a happy Hanukkah and to all a Merry Christmas.
With no further adieu, please dive into this month’s fabulous Featured Articles, also found via the MHProNews home page under the Daily Business News module.
Featured Articles and Reports for Vol. 7, No. 2, 2015
Alphabetically by Category
COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)
• Snow Removal, Community Rules and Fair Housing…really?
by Nadeen Green, JD
Many manufactured housing communities are in warm and sunny climes or in areas where a few snowflakes are all that you will see; although when they fall, even those few snowflakes can be a source of great panic, requiring residents to stampede to the grocery stores for bread and milk.
FINANCING
• Act NOW for Enhanced Manufactured Home Lending
by Lesli Gooch, Ph.D.
The federal government is currently operating under a “Continuing Resolution,” which passed in October and runs through December 11th.
• Getting More Affordable Housing for Manufactured Home Communities
by Lance Hull
In 2012, 21st Mortgage launched the Communities Affordable Spec Home (CASH) Program to expand affordable housing finance options to home buyers purchasing homes for placement in land-leased communities.
GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS
1) Who, What and Where: (Your name and your formal title at Sunshine Homes and where your company is based).
My name is Lindsey Bostick. I work at Sunshine Homes, which is located in Red Bay, AL.
• Kevin Clayton Debt Elimination – RV MH Hall of Fame
by Barry Cole
Great News! The manufactured housing (MH) segment of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation has received pledges totaling $622,314 toward the $1 Million Kevin Clayton Debt Elimination Campaign.
• World Economy Operating on Slow – Sam Zell Video
by L. A. “Tony” Kovach
Investment legend Sam Zell is Chairman of manufactured home communities leader, ELS – as well as a host of other investments. Mr. Zell is featured in this recent video interview.
• Sam Zell’s Investment Fundamentals – Performance
by L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach
Equity Lifestyles (ELS) has long been a leader in the manufactured home community business.
• Can Factories or other Businesses be targets for ISIS or other Jihadi Groups? Insights on Terrorism from Expert, Dr. Sebastian Gorka, Ph.D.
by L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach
In the wake of recent attacks in Paris and Mali on civilian targets, reasonable professionals may ask, what is the possible threat to U.S. businesses and the MH industry?
• The Wisdom of Dr. Thomas Sowell
by L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach
Proven, sound principles should trump posturing. Common sense needs to become more common again.
• Something New to See at the Louisville MH Show! Or in many markets…near you?
by L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach
As a successful MH Retailer – who sold the sales center but still does manufactured home consulting for firms of all sizes – I know first hand things savvy retailers want.
• Why Should Exiting Manufactured Home Community Owners Consider Going Resident Ownership? Inside MH Video Interview with Paul Bradley, ROC USA
by Soheyla Kovach
There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Manufactured Home Communities (MHCs – aka ‘mobile home parks’) that are on the market or could be for sale soon.
• ‘Politicians, President Lies’ – Dodd-Frank, China and Contrarian Investment Insights from Sam Zell
by L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach, NABE and EGI
Diane Swonk introduced investment mogul Sam Zell to the living gathering reported by the National Association of Business Economics (NABE) with an explanation that Mr. Zell speaks with very little filter.
• The Importance and Value of Independent MH Trade Publications
by MH Industry Voices
What follows is a sampling of comments by professionals and manufactured housing (MH) industry members, who have specifically commented on the importance and value of independent, online MH trade publications.
• The Image Problem— Stage Three
by Bob Vahsholtz
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed.
• MHARR Calls On FEMA To Terminate “ROGUE” Contract – Exposes Effort to Expand Role of Monitoring Contractor
by M. Mark Weiss, JD
For the second time in less than a year, the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR)
MARKETING
•How Marketing Your 5 Star MH Reputation Leads to More Sales
by Wayne Coakley
I’m hopeful you are aware of the importance of online reviews for your manufactured home business.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION
• 3 Tips – Expectations, the Present, Differences
by Tim Connor, CSP
Absorb and apply these three tips this week.
• ZigOn: A Special Christmas Message
by Zig Ziglar
It’s Christmas, Not a “Holiday Season.”
