Nicholas Retsinas, director emeritus of Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and senior lecturer in real estate at Harvard Business School, has been elected chairman of the board of the Community Development Trust (CDT), the country’s first and largest private real estate investment trust (REIT) which provides capital for …
Community Development Trust Elects Retsinas Chairman Read More
The Manufactured and Modular Home Association of Minnesota (MMHA) reports that manufactured home lender and Green Tree Financial founder Larry Coss passed away May 18 after a two-year fight with cancer. He started Green Tree in 1975 and built it into one of the top lenders in the country, selling …
While tampabay.com writer Drew Harwell pounds owners of manufactured housing communities (MHCs) for taking advantage of people of limited means—”Mobile home parks charge homeowners every month to rent their square of dirt and concrete,” he says, which is not exactly complimentary of the residents either, because “they can’t afford to …
Writer Slams Manufactured Housing Communities but Residents Love Life Read More
Gloucester Township in Camden County, New Jersey will soon have three temporary modular units for homeless military veterans, according to nj.com. The Home of the Brave is a partnership between the county and Volunteers of America, which will manage the 30-bed shelter. MHProNews has learned they intend to begin housing …
A veteran of the manufactured housing industry for over 40 years, Gary Abbate has passed away, according to Ken Anderson of the Arizona Housing Association (AHA). After joining the Redman Homes sales team in 1970 in Texas, he served as sales manager for Redman first in Florida from 1987-1996, and …
Governor Deval Patrick took up a shovel to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a housing project in Chelsea, Massachusetts, at 44 Gerrish Ave. that will include a new modular unit along with the rehabilitation of the Standard Box building for 41 market rate apartments and five affordable rentals, already …
Modular Building part of Massachusetts Affordable Housing Program Read More
An industry leader and pioneering producer of manufactured homes since 1965, James L. Newman, Sr. of Bryan, Ohio passed away after a brief illness May 13 at age 75. He founded Manufactured Housing Enterprises (now MHE,Inc.) in 1965 with the motto of ‘Building Dreams One Home At A Time’ and …
The founder of Republic Mobile Homes in Texas in the late 1960’s, Ralph Nattrass passed away at age 88 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada April 30. An owner of communities, subdivisions and part owner of Republic-Henslee Manufacturing, he teamed with Frank and Marina Woody to start the current Republic group in …
Following a story MHProNews posted April 29, 2014 regarding postponement of the mark up of the housing finance reform bill by the Senate Banking Committee, nationalmortgagenews.com reports the bipartisan legislation by Senators Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) will be voted on by the committee on Thursday, May 15. …
The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) informs MHProNews.com the House Financial Services Committee adopted, by voice vote, the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act (H.R. 1779). Although the measure will not be formally approved until a recorded vote is taken, which is expected to occur the week of May 19th, the …
House Financial Services Committee Voice Votes “Yes” to H.R. 1779 Read More
Writing in the Opinionator section of The New York Times, Andrea Levere says 18 million people with an average median income of $30,000 live in factory-built housing, making it the largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing in the U. S. Although over 70 percent own their own homes, most who …
New York Measure Seeks Financing Parity for MH and Site-built Read More
Following a story MHProNews last posted May 5, 2014 regarding ongoing problems at Meadowbrook Park manufactured housing community (MHC) in Richmond, Maine, the state’s Manufactured Housing Board (MHB) unanimously voted to revoke the license of owner Russ Edwards after chastising him for poor management of the community going back to …
License to Operate Manufactured Housing Community Revoked Read More
In January 2014, interim managers at Lexington, Washington’s Tim Wa Estates manufactured home community (MHC) banned a group of residents, called Helping Hands, from assisting elderly and ailing neighbors with household chores and minor repairs, citing the community’s anti-soliciting rules. MHProNews.com has learned from tdn.com in April, managers began requiring …
Managers Removed from Tim Wa Estates MHC in Washington Read More
Sixteen high school students and their carpentry teacher from a program begun at Walter W. Brown High School in Langham, Saskatchewan, Canada constructed a modular building that will provide housing for four low-income families in Saskatoon. The students constructed all of the 660 square foot units in eight months, from …
Students Build Modular Housing for Habitat for Humanity Read More
Reporting on the RV/MH Heritage Foundation in Elkhart, Indiana, Hall of Fame President Darryl Searer says, “From August 1, 2013 through April 30, 2014, the Foundation has made significant improvements in its financial obligations and has made some major changes in its display area, gift shop and exhibitor booth area.” …
Updating a story MHProNews.com last reported on March 25, 2014 regarding the Life O’Riley Mobile Home Park in Lansing, Michigan condemned because of unsanitary conditions, State Representative Andy Schor introduced Bill 5513 to give local leaders more clout in dealing with problems at manufactured housing communities (MHCs). Lansing city officials …
Measure would Empower Local Officials over Land Lease Communities Read More
Updating a story MHProNews.com last posted April 25, 2014 concerning an MHC in Richmond, Maine that was ordered closed due to water and sewer problems because owner Russell Edwards allegedly said he could not afford repairs, residents now want to buy the community. According to wmtw.com, while Edwards is scheduled …
Sam Zell, chairman of Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) and Equity Residential (EQR), says homeownership may continue to fall as low as 55 percent because so many Americans are postponing marriage and having children. According to Census Bureau data, the homeownership rate dropped from 65.2 percent in Q4 2013 to 64.8 …
In a far-ranging interview with MHProNews publisher L. A. “Tony” Kovach, Clayton Homes founder Jim Clayton discusses his path from acquiring his first mobile home, when he initially realized the profits of manufactured homes over cars, to the concept of vesting company employees with ownership rights and responsibilities. Armed with …
Following a story MHProNews posted yesterday regarding the planned markup Tue., April 28 by the Senate Banking Committee of housing finance reform that includes provisions supportive of the manufactured housing industry, that discussion has been postponed. In an Action Alert from Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) Chairman Nathan Smith said, while …
