Since President Obama entered the White House real estate has been the best investment in terms of returns, specifically real estate investment trusts (REITs), companies that own a variety of properties, or just one type of investment. According to cnnmoney, investors have bought REITs during the recovery from the recession …
REITs have been a Good Investment during the Economic Recovery Read More
A survey by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGCA) found last year that 83 percent of construction firms had difficulty filling carpenter, laborer and equipment operator positions, according to wsj. Nearly 2.3 million construction jobs disappeared between April 2006 and January 2011, 40 percent of that particular workforce. As …
If Demand Surges for New Homes, Who will Build them?? Read More
The aphorism that to own your own home was the American Dream, and that with a little more initiative you could have your very own Dream Home, has proven to be more elusive. As builderonline says, “The fact that easy and crazy lending made ownership possible does not mean that …
Market Conditions are Ripe for Manufactured Housing to Fill A Void Read More
In manufactured housing news, L. A. “Tony” Kovach defines path to revitalize the MH industry, while one MH supplier picks new head, another MH producer closes, HUD Code production continues rising, MHC reverting to stick-built homes, Cavco seeks tax abatement, AZ MHC closing, Sen. Donnelly and MHI’s Jennison defend H.R. …
Falling to the lowest level since Q1 2012, the average down-payment for single-family homes, condos and townhouses purchased in the first quarter dropped to 14.8 percent of the purchase price, a slight decrease from 15.2 percent the previous quarter and 15.5 percent a year ago, according to what RealtyTrac tells …
Drop in Down Payment Signals Uptick in First-time Home Buyers Read More
MHLivingNews and MHProNews publisher L.A. “Tony” Kovach follows the time line formation of renter households versus homeowner households, from the New Deal’s attempts to increase homeownership in 1933 to present day attempts, correlating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac expansion with economic programs, artificially induced interest rates and subsidies to stimulate …
The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) informs MHProNews that, based on statistics released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HUD Code production for April, 2015 hit 6,085 homes, a 7.6 percent increase above the 5,653 produced in April, 2014. Total production for the year is …
HUD Code Production of Manufactured Homes Continues Climbing Read More
“Hispanics are one of the fastest growing demographics, and their prospects for homeownership and what they will seek from communities in a lot of ways will reflect the outlook for the entire country,” says Louise Keely, president of the non-profit think tank The Demand Institute, a joint operation of The …
Burgeoning Hispanic Demographic presents Opportunities for Manufactured Housing Read More
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) reports that 66.5 percent of new and existing homes sold between January and March this year were affordable to families earning the median income of $65,800, the point at which half U. S. incomes are higher and half …
The U. S. news this week was dominated by the flooding that ravaged Texas, leading to the loss of some 30 lives, 4,000 damaged homes and millions of dollars in damages. In manufactured housing news, residents at an MHC threaten to move because of high utilities, UMH acquires another MHC, …
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that pending home sales rose again in April, 3.4 percent over March, following March’s increase of 11 percent over March 2014. April’s rise was 14 percent year-over-year, the highest level since 2006, says realtor. NAR’s chief economist Lawrence Yun remarks about today’s numbers: …
A modular home being tested in Germany is controlled totally by a smart phone, generates enough energy from solar panels on the roof to power houses on either side and can be assembled in one day. At the end of the test, B10, as the house is known, will be …
In an attempt to help house the homeless and low-income residents of Bithlo, Florida, outside Orlando, Tim McKinney, CEO of United Global Outreach (UGO) has designed a 456 square-foot tiny home that can be assembled with a screwdriver and wrench, meets current hurricane standards, and has a 40-year warranty on …
Old Manufactured Homes and Tiny Homes address the Florida Homeless Read More
In this week’s News: Despite Zoning, MH would be Replaced. Modular Housing adding up. Builder Confidence Slips. Aries Mods in NC. Art’s Way Honored. Deer Valley Stock Zooms. Owning Cheaper than Renting. Good Housing Deals in Rust Belt. Rent Stabilization Extended. Mainstream Media Hinders MH Buyers with no Recourse. Correct …
Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said that if the economy maintains the path of improvement it is on currently, it will be “appropriate” for the Fed to raise the Federal Funds Rate later this year, which will increase the interest rate for mortgages, according to housingwire. “Because of the substantial …
Interest Rates will Likely Ease Upwards this year, says Janet Yellen Read More
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that sales of existing homes dropped 3.3 percent in April following a sharp gain of 6.1 percent in March, according to icis. The seasonally-adjusted annual rate (SAAR) for April was 5.04 million units, a drop from the 5.21 million pace in March. In …
Existing Home Sales Fell in April, although Housing Starts Rose Read More
Noting the worldwide emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency, Global Industry Analysts, Inc. tells MHProNews prefabrication is gaining renewed interest in modern construction, and projects worldwide shipments of off-site homes will reach 1.1 million units by 2020. The report states: “Today, manufactured homes are one of the most sought after …
Interest Growing Worldwide for Manufactured, Modular Housing Read More
New home construction in April hit its highest level since November 2007 as privately owned housing starts hit 1.1 million, a 20.2 percent increase over March. Building permits also increased, rising to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.1 million as well, 10.1 percent over March, the highest rate since June …
MHProNews has learned from CNNMoney the top housing markets for buyers are where the inventory is fuller and houses tend to remain on the market for a longer time, giving more opportunity for bargaining strategies. Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Providence, Detroit and Pittsburgh are strong buyer markets, according to …
One-time Manufacturing Areas Now Lead as Top Housing Markets for Buyers Read More
According to a report by Trulia, on a national level homeownership is 35 percent cheaper that renting, up from 33 percent last year. While home prices have risen a little more than rents, lower mortgage rates provide a financial advantage to home buyers. The top five markets where buying provides …
