“Follow the Money.” – says MHI-award winner, Marty Lavin, JD.
“Pay more attention to what people do than what they say.” – Marty Lavin suggests, after many successful years in the retail, community, finance, plus as an expert witness in the Manufactured Housing Industry.
We strive to watch the money, to see what moves money, and why. We also watch what people write and say. We save their statements. That means, we can later check back, and see what someone or some group did and are doing.
That’s how accountability happens.
Those statements – past and present – money flow, and facts are amazingly revealing in our industry, nation, world. They impact – for good or ill – tens of millions of lives.
This week, guest writer Julia Granowicz quoted Daniel Patrick Monaghan, “You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.”
A widely acclaimed article by Granowicz subtitled – A Millennial Considers Economic Liberty – is linked here.
Millennial Granowicz has also published one on another hot-button, controversial topic. The minimum wage and manufactured housing, is linked here.
Breaking Bread
We spotlighted ELS this past Friday. In that Daily Business News market report we mentioned a private dinner at the invitation of ELS’ Howard Walker (a nice dinner, we two).
We ought to mention that 21st Mortgage President and MHI Chairman, Tim Williams and Clayton’s Tom Hodges – in the company of 3 others from Berkshire Hathaway units – likewise invited me to a private dinner. A good meal, nice time, with robust discussions.
None of those, IMHO, will deny those private meetings took place, because they are demonstrably true.
The significance of those may be revealed, at the proper time.
Industry Billionaires Taking Opposite Positions, Publicly
Warren Buffett seems pretty left-wing in his politics, see this link here.
Sam Zell, seems pretty right wing, see that story, linked here.
Who will win, who will yield? Will they work together? Both have seats at the 4 man, MHI Executive Committee table. Buffett has two, Zell, one.
Follow the money.
Watch what people say, and then watch what they actually do.
Principles Matter – Words, Allegations
In the wake of our MHI Fly-in report, we have two sources that tell us that “more than 30,” came to the MHI DC event. That word came after the article linked here, so we will cross link this post with that report.
The facts matter. We want to be accurate. If new facts emerge on a subject, we have for years brought them to our readers’ attention.
See an error, or what you think might be one?
Just show us the article, and the new information, or contrary claim/information.
In the case of the fly-in, one post-publishing source said, “about 40,” were there, and that party found the meeting useful.
FYI, the first Daily Business News report – and the updates, properly understood – may actually confirm each other. If less than 30 came, but the later sources are counting MHI staffers, that about 30 combined with staffers and workers is roughly equal to that ‘about forty’ total.
MHI has declined comment. Why?
Pay More Attention to What People Do Than What They Say…
One source suggested that a possible reason so many didn’t come is the extended legislative sessions in several states. Worth considering.
But that only makes the point that a significant numbers who come are state execs, which is routinely true. For only about 3 dozen total to be at a national event that is supposed to advance MHI’s agenda…isn’t that embarrassing?
Isn’t it also a vote of little confidence by their own members?
We must point back to what another successful industry pro said. While Barack Obama was President “one call from Omaha” could have fixed Dodd-Frank for manufactured housing.
Keep in mind two things.
1) Prior reports on the Daily Business News from MHI insiders that consumer groups and MHI could have gotten the MLO ruled passed by agreement, if only 21st/VMF and those impacted would have given up their points and fees hike.
2) That Richard Cordray himself said in this video, that there never was much high cost lending in manufactured housing.
So why has it taken MHI so many years to try to get the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act done?
Why did MHI never use this video, our still quotes graphic and these powerful admissions by Cordray to move their own stated agenda??
Why?
This is simple logic.
-They couldn’t get it done.
-They may have had the ability to get Preserving Access done, but had the wrong strategy or execution.
-They didn’t mind if it got done, or not. Why? Could it be that either way, a few companies benefited?
Remember.
–Follow the money.
–Pay more attention to what people do than what they say.
–One call from Omaha to then President Barack Obama could have fixed what 5 years and some $15 million in efforts by MHI did not.
Sam Zell and Jenny Hodge, Nathan Smith – will share that he another time – have all directly or indirectly pointed out what is obviously true.
Heavy regulations harm smaller producers more than big ones.
Heavy regulations harm smaller banks – or any other kind of business – than big ones.
So when MHI ‘tries but fails’ – time and again – who still wins?
Hint. It’s not the little guys, it’s not the independents, is it?
Have a small number of larger companies figured out a clever way to slowly create ever-bigger monopolies – indirectly, by allowing (or encouraging) regulations – that only a few benefit from?
The answer to that impacts literally everyone.
Knowledge is potential power!
Against that backdrop, and with no further adieu, here are the featured articles and reports for July.
Meet Donald Tye, The Flashback Fast-Forward Face of Factory-Built Homes?!
by Soheyla Kovach
“Affordable home ownership is Human Capital Investing as opposed to warehousing humans like cattle in a corral,” said Donald Tye, Jr. Read more …
Liar! MHI report calls Gov. John Kasich, Allies Liars
by RC Williams
In a saga that the Daily Business News has followed closely, the battle in Ohio to keep the Ohio Manufactured Homes Commission (OMHC) alive and independent has drawn a well-known name into the fray… but, are they the pot calling the kettle black? Read more …
Americans On the Move – How Often? What are the MH Opportunities?
by Soheyla Kovach
Manufactured home professionals may not always realize how many people are ‘on the move’ in their market Read more …
Retailers, Communities, Producers Warned – Another HUD Power Grab
by Matthew J. Silver
In what the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) says is a violation of the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders issued January 20, 2017 to ease regulations, the HUD MH program published an interpretive bulletin (IB) in the Federal Register that will alter the standards for MH foundations in “freezing climates.” Read more …
HUD Secretary Ben Carson Exclusive Video – ‘Absolutely!’ ‘We Need Crusaders’
by Soheyla Kovach
As June 2017 winds to a close – a time which President Donald J. Trump proclaimed to be Home Ownership month – Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Dr. Ben Carson hosted a video broadcast via Facebook, which MHLivingNews captured, enhanced from the original and provided to the Daily Business News. Read more …
Retailers, Communities, Producers Warned – Another HUD Power Grab
by Matthew J. Silver
In what the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) says is a violation of the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders issued January 20, 2017 to ease regulations, the HUD MH program published an interpretive bulletin (IB) in the Federal Register that will alter the standards for MH foundations in “freezing climates.” Read more …
Insider Trades at Tricon, Spotlight – Check Moves at Cavco, Skyline, More
by Soheyla Kovach
The evolving Daily Business News market report sets the industry’s stocks in the broader context of the overall market stocks. Read more …
Manufactured Home Owners Can Save Big
by RC Williams
In the state of Vermont, a critical utility is working to make life easier for manufactured home owners to save money. Read more …
What is Affordable Housing? How Affordable is Manufactured Housing?
by Soheyla Kovach
Recently, a manufactured home industry professional said, “We hear about affordable housing all the time.” Read more …
OPEC Disarray May Yield Manufactured Housing Industry Hooray
by Matthew J. Silver
In the 1970’s President Jimmy Carter urged the nation to turn down thermostats as a way of conserving resources, to become “energy independent” from foreign countries. Some wags suggested Americans lower our body temperature below 98.6 as a means to conserve energy. Read more …
Governor’s Controversial Manufactured Housing Battle Concludes
by Soheyla Kovach
“From the moment Governor John Kasich‘s Administration first proposed to eliminate the Ohio Manufactured Homes Commission, the air has been full of misleading information and derogatory comments directed at almost one million Ohio residents who live in manufactured homes,” said Tim Williams, Executive Director of the Ohio Manufactured Homes Association (OMHA). Read more …
Climate Change, Tornadoes, and ‘Mobile Homes’ – Dangerous Oversights – Mark Skidmore Admits Michigan State Univ Study’s Omissions; Revealing Analysis & Report
by L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach
“If the climatologists are right about the continuing effects of climate change,” said Mark Skidmore, MSU economics professor and co-author of the study, “then people living in mobile homes could be particularly vulnerable to tornadoes in the years to come.” Read more …
PreFab and Modular Housing May Be Key For Students
by Matthew J. Silver
Where is the lack of affordable housing not an issue? Read more …
Are the Blind, Leading Legally? Ruling on Websites, ADA Puts MH Businesses on Notice
by Soheyla Kovach
That a wide array of private businesses are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is not a surprise to thousands of manufactured housing industry professionals from coast to coast.
Are Americans Hunting for the Single Sectional Manufactured Home Alternative?
by Matthew J. Silver
The hands down king of affordable permanent housing in the U. S. is single section (a.k.a. ‘single wide’) manufactured homes. On a cost per square foot basis, they are hard to beat, as U.S. Census Bureau – and other research from sources such as Zillow, or the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) – demonstrates. Read more …
Texas Strut$ Their Stuff – What Association Success Looks Like
by Soheyla Kovach
The Texas Manufactured Housing Association (TMHA) has wrapped up the heavy lifting from their legislative session. The TMHA’s DJ Pendleton tells MHProNews that they set out to achieve two major goals. Read more …
Deer Valley Soars, Spotlighted, Most Tracked Stocks Rise
by Soheyla Kovach
The evolving Daily Business Newsmarket report sets the industry’s stocks in the broader context of the overall market stocks. Read more …
Regulation Nation – Manufactured Housing Associations, Companies, and Professionals
by Soheyla Kovach
“You are entitled to your own opinions. But you are not entitled to your own facts.” Read more …
Nobility Homes Spotlight Report, Nobility Rises, Most Tracked Stocks Slip
by Soheyla Kovach
The evolving Daily Business News market report sets the industry’s stocks in the broader context of the overall market stocks. ,Read more …
Challenges Loom for Ohio MHC Residents
by RC Williams
As the Ohio Manufactured Homes Association (OMHA) wages a battle in the state capital for manufactured home owners, residents of a community in Fairborn face an uncertain future. Read more …
4 and 0 – Special Elections and Manufactured Housing – Clayton, Connor, Hamilt
by Soheyla Kovach
“I don’t care whether you are a liberal, conservative, independent or something else – the bottom line with this year’s [2016 presidential] election was simply more of the same or something new, different or unique,” said Tim Connor, CSP.
