The temperature may be dropping and the snow may be flying where you are, as it tends to do around Chicago-land at this time of year. But things are sizzling here at MHProNews. Thousands like you have ‘voted’ for the new format and have set a new record for number of visitors (readers) and page views! We will share more details soon, but you’ve BLOWN away the previous records, thanks for that vote of confidence.

Things are also heating up about planning for the upcoming Show and Event season. Louisville will be hear soon, and the line of up seminars has just been tweaked! Retailers, builder/developers and manufactured home community owner/operators will find THE BEST line up of topics ever! Get the latest financing options and programs, from all the major players, plus some new faces coming onto the playing field looking to EARN your retail home selling BUSINESS.

Community Owners/Operators? Are you looking to fill, refinance or prepare your community for sale? Then the new and improved line of seminars are for you! We have workshops and seminars on exactly those subjects and more designed just for YOU.

Besides all the great information and education, you will find about 12 times to 24 times the new home inventory to look at and compare – all under a nice, warm, cozy roof at the beautiful Kentucky Exhibition Center – than you’d see at a roundtable or symposium!

You won’t find anything like it anywhere in the country, a great way to kick start your New Year. So fly, drive, catch a train or hitch a ride to Louisville, where you will see us and 6 other panels, workshops and discussions.

Cavco CEO and MHI Chairman Joe Stegmyer will be coming, and so will MHI’s Jason Boehlert will be on hand to share their thoughts and to talk with you. You won’t get this opportunity anywhere else to start the New Year off right, so make plans to come.

We also have a fine new line up of Featured Articles for December, 2011. Knowledge is power, but only if you and your team members read it, understand it and then put it to work. It is obvious YOU are a reader, you are here! Make sure your associates at work and your friends at associations, buying groups and anyone who cares about building a better future for our Industry reads and applies what they learn too.

Let’s jump into this month’s featured articles.

 

Alphabetically by Category

 

COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT & FAIR HOUSING (LEGAL)

 

The Whiny Neighbor in your Manufactured Home Community

by Nadeen GreenIn manufactured housing community management, we know that we have to do what the law tells us. At times a resident may question us about certain items that… Read more

 

Housing Trends that will affect the Manufactured Home Community Business

by Joanne Stevens The “Baby Boomers” are changing the face of retirement. Instead of retiring many will keep working. Some out of necessity caused by the recession and their 401Ks (now… Read more

 

Content area of Guidelines for Living: Number of Residents to Recreational …

by Chrissy Jackson In November, we covered Guidelines for Living topics, Laws through Noise. Let’s get started with our new topics for December! Number of Residents per Home. This is a really… Read more

 

 

Congress Requests GAO Probe of HUD Code Manufactured Housing Program

The Chairmen of the House Financial Services Committee and the Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee have asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a thorough examination of certain… Read more

FINANCING

 

MH Chattel Lenders Rate War Over? and MH Lenders Choose to “Fly The Coop” …

by Dave ShanklinBREAKING NEWS out of Seattle: CU Factory Built will be raising rates .25% on their very popular “One-Step” loan product effective December 1. This announcement seems to indicate… Read more

GENERAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING INDUSTRY TOPICS

 

Get the Sizzle even in Winter!

 

by Dennis Hill  and Ron Thomas, Sr   Editor’s Intro: Ask yourself this: what are the biggest events, shows or meetings for manufactured housing community owner/operators, retailers, builder/developers, lenders, manufacturers, suppliers or vendors?… Read more

 

The Greatest Manufactured Housing Show of the Decade West of the Mississipp…

by Deanna Fields The Great Southwest Home Show 2012 will begin in about 90 days at the QuikTrip Center Expo Square, Tulsa beginning March 1-4.  Trade days are March 1-2! If you are already planning… Read more

 

Don’t get Bent out’a Shape about Cambering

By George Porter Cambering a frame is literally bending it so it can hold a manufactured home. I have had occasions to learn more about frame cambering and, as usual, I… Read more

 

You are NOT Alone!!

by L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach Our first full month – November 2011 – with the new format for MHProNews.com has yielded a slew of new records, and one in particular is… Read more

 

Are We There Yet?

by Marty Lavin As the industry settles into 50,000 home shipments, one wonders whether something better is in the forecast. In spite of many claiming the best days are ahead of… Read more

Top 10 Mistakes made when Insuring a Mobile Home Park

by Kurt Kelly You want to do ALL the right things when you are getting or renewing insurance coverage for your manufactured home community (or mobile home park). Use this checklist… Read more

 

MARKETING

 

Promotional Planning to Kick Start 2012

by Chris Nicely Planning promotions that support your long term goals and WORK to drive traffic is critical. Give sales people the opportunity to sell more by talking to more prospects…. Read more

 

MANAGEMENT

 

The 3/3/3 Management review process

by Tim Connor, CSP If your factory-built housing business has employee behavior that needs changing, don’t wait a year, with an annual review to change it. For a number of years… Read more

 

MERCHANDISING, STAGING AND DECOR

Good Color Schemes Can Boost Your Sales

by Katy Weldon In difficult times companies are seeking ways to spark more interest in their products. Manufactured housing is no exception and many companies are using color to help their… Read more

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS, MOTIVATION and INSPIRATION

 

ZigOn the Immigrant’s Attitude for American Success

by Zig Ziglar Some time ago, my associate, Krish Dhanam, and I were returning from an engagement in Tampa, FL, where we had spoken for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce…. Read more

 

My Most Memorable Christmas Story

by Greg McClanahanKenneth Parsons said; “The gift of love is about the only present that isn’t exchanged after Christmas.” Today’s story about Jerry’s love for his big brother is one of… Read more

 

 

Rear View Mirror

by Greg McClanahan Similar to the genius behind the invention of paper clips and sticky note pads, the rear view mirror was a brilliant and simple idea.  I believe there is… Read more