The Masthead - Latest Comments

Re: Haitian Disaster Relief and American Factory Built Housing: Crisis meets Opportunity?

moladi — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 08:29:55 -0000

Just returned from NY - moladi has been selected by the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum - Rockefeller Foundation Design with the Other 90%
CITIES to showcase the South African designed and patented formwork
construction technology as an innovative solution
to address the unprecedented growth of informal settlements globally.

Addressing two
critical issues

·
Backlog of quality
affordable homes

·
Unemployment

Re: Haitian Disaster Relief and American Factory Built Housing: Crisis meets Opportunity?

Galina — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 05:11:12 -0000

This is a good content.We can and should do our part in addressing the immediate rescue and relief aspects.This provide a great knowledge.Thanks to share this blog.

Re: What’s Your take on the State of the Manufactured Housing Industry?

Guest — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:50:08 -0000

Link just loops back to this page

Re: Muckraking and the Herman Cain lesson for Manufactured Housing

Tony — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:26:57 -0000

RN,
Often the comments are via phone, text or email. But I understand your point, thanks for YOUR comment.

Tony

Re: Muckraking and the Herman Cain lesson for Manufactured Housing

Rnodel — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:05:52 -0000

Really surprised this one didn't generate several comments

Re: Pre-Christmas Rush Surprise!

Chad Carr — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:09:19 -0000

Tony, thanks for covering the event. Could I add that anyone looking for more information about this event can contact me directly at (800) 336-0339. We enjoyed hosting this event, we also learned a lot from the terrific retailers, community owners and industry experts that attended.

Chad Carr
Rainmaker Software & Consulting

Re: Shame on us

Shawn — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:26:03 -0000

I love the comments and agree we as an industry need to stand together and come up with a united national media campaign to educate as well as familiarize home buyers, politicians and gov officials of the myths and misconceptions. We must address resale of used HUD homes and bring that process much closer to the residential site built process. Problem is no one wants to invest in a home that has almost no chance of easy profitable resale (marketing and financing) or is valued based upon some book. That may work for cars, trucks, RV's, but manufactured housing is almost never moved once set up and differ greatly by local. You can sell the same Ford pickup on the west or east cost and the value is about the same. Not so with factory built housing!

Re: Shame on us

Tony — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:01:16 -0000

GS,
Nice to hear from you, sir. Answer, not at all. What I'm saying is that experience shows that being in the GoToMeeting presentation has told us that time is saved and clarity achieved when someone attends. This vs just reading bullet points on a power point presentation the potential attendee has otherwise not seen or heard.

As an analogy,
Your notes for making a case make sense to you. Would they be as clear to someone else? Obviously, the odds of clarity on your notes go up if you first explained the notes to someone and then handed them over.

Finally, the GoToMeeting format also allows for discussion, comments, questions and answers.

Thanks for your question, I hope this clarifies the comment.

Re: Shame on us

Gspanos — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 07:02:21 -0000

Tony:The MH Alliance/Phoenix Project continues to draw new parties and inquires. One common question is, where do we find the power point on the MHProNews.com website?The Answer is, you don’t. Are you saying we are to dumb to understand this if we only have the program on our computer.

Re: Let’s not play Dick Tracy

advinjhonsan — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:31:07 -0000

The apparently confessional confidential files and twisted and distorted words and actions,They were fighting the wrong and meets for tell retreat to fight for the righteous.

new york cpa

Re: Let’s not play Dick Tracy

Guest — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:05:45 -0000

remove post

Re: Sneaking a Peek

Doug — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:42:25 -0000

Looks very impressive. I am printing a hard copy in color so I can study it closer and better appreciate the coming changes.

Re: Optimist vs. Pessimist

Anna — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 05:02:50 -0000

I just sent this post to a bunch of my friends as I agree with most
of what you’re saying here and the way you’ve presented it is awesome.

____________________
sales training

Re: Manufactured Housing News: Truth or Consequences

shawnsisco — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:58:15 -0000

Here is a real problem: Lack of financing of MH sales in MHP's.

Here are possible solutions:MHP owner assumes the role formerly held by dealer, and lender align themselves in providing retail financing to customer/resident. Some key components are a repurchase agreement by MHP owner in the event of default. MHP owner would then have a vested interest in structuring deals in a way that that would be a win-win-win. Lenders would need to price agresively making loans at say - the prevailing rate and length of term of auto finance paper. MHP owner agrees to keep lot fee pricing at no more than 33% of standard grade 3BR rental rates in his market. Lender/facilitator then can place loans with local banks and collect servicing fees (ala Triad).

Re: Haitian Disaster Relief and American Factory Built Housing: Crisis meets Opportunity?

shannon Jeter — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 23:57:00 -0000

A friend of mine makes relatively cheap, energy efficient disaster relief units out of shipping containers. Would they be useful? Here is a link:http://www.gorilladesign.org/P...

Re: Leaders’ and Readers’ comments on MHARR and MHI joining hands on Dodd-Frank reform

JimH3098 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:05:08 -0000

It is interesting to banter with you also.   I love my children but get down on them when I think the are going in the wrong direction.   You are the only one who has doubted my history. You use it to question my sincerity each time my banter is out of harmony with yours. Just admit, to yourself, that there can be more than one legitimate point of view.I agree, we need associations to organize legislative and judicial efforts that favor our business goals. The "pros" at MHI have always been mostly occupied with perpetuating their personal futures, while the MHARR has exhibited interest only in issues that effect their narrow builder constituency. What we have, at this moment, are two national organizations that have led our business to the edge of extinction. If our nation's security depended on generals with the batting averages of our associations. we would probably be having this discussion in Russian.

The future of home building is, no doubt, in factories. It is apparent that HUD housing is in a self inflicted nose-dive. I regret that there is not enough organization to get a firm hand on the stick.

What options that no other form of permanent housing can achieve are you talking about?   The options that HUD housing used to offer have evaporated. The best option advantages were price, alternative financing and mobility.

Our pricing can no longer compete effectively.   Over the last two decades the product has been over designed to approximate the appearance of site built. Our modern sectional homes are not designed or built for relocation. Our financing has become dependent on programs that were designed to serve site builders, not friendly for dealers or especially park owners.

Re: Leaders’ and Readers’ comments on MHARR and MHI joining hands on Dodd-Frank reform

Tony — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 21:00:43 -0000

Jim

Sorry, but your theater burning down
analogy does not hold up. There are many financial institutions and
their respective associations that now oppose Dodd Frank, and they
opposed it prior to passage too. So are no associations worth
supporting? My iPhone isn't perfect, but I do not toss it out if it
has a systems glitch.

Americans speak out at the polls
nationally every two years. What they were excited about before has
since shifted again. So it goes.

I agree that there have been excesses.
But I'd also say that most of the ne'er do wells in the MH world are
gone. Most pros today know you have to take care of your customer,
or they will not remain your customer. Today, MH paper is performing
better. HUD reports very few complaints these days. Our homes are
better and continue to improve. These are a clear signs that
satisfaction is there.

It is interesting to banter with you,
but in my mind I do understand the comments of those readers who
question your being an industry professional. You seem so down on an
Industry that you say you love!

The HUD Code is worth fighting to
preserve. Why? Because it gives consumers options that no other form
of permanent housing can achieve. For those who believe in serving
the public, we can and should do that with HUD Code MHs, Mods, and
other forms of factory building.

Over-regulation is as dangerous as no
regulations. We need associations, and we need to work with them to
make the regulatory environment a good one for all concerned.

Thanks for your comment.

Tony

Re: Leaders’ and Readers’ comments on MHARR and MHI joining hands on Dodd-Frank reform

JimH3098 — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:15:58 -0000

Any national association worth supporting would have been working congress, lobbying for the interests of our business PRIOR to passage of these obnoxious laws. Yelling fire after the theater has burned to the ground is useless.

The American people have spoken. What congress has heard is that the average citizen distrusts the manufactured housing industry. Can we really expect law makers to continue making exceptions to the laws, rules and customs that govern residential sales, in favor of a business that has the negative public profile our industry carries like a monkey on its back, and ignores?

The excess of our business in the 90's set the stage for the current housing bust by instructing the broader housing industry how to grab for higher profits regardless of how home buyers are victimized. The "me generation's" root belief that greed is good, severely infected manufactured housing yet there has never been any remorse or reform from within.

There are just not enough members of congress that our national associations can influence (buy) who don't fear the wrath of thier constituents if they make concessions to a gang held in such low public esteem.

With 70% of retailers across the country evaporating the only places MH can influence legislators is in Indiana and Tennessee. Manufactured housing is a failed endeavor. Anyone looking towards a better future needs to move up to modular and never look back.

Re: Leaders’ and Readers’ comments on MHARR and MHI joining hands on Dodd-Frank reform

Abc — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 11:07:15 -0000

All industry segments need to work together or we face extinction. There is no such thing as production and post production(aftermarket) issues. If there is no home sales, there is no production. The two interests should ALWAYS be identical!!!!!! It is juvenile, selfish and just plain ignorant to think otherwise.

Re: Leaders’ and Readers’ comments on MHARR and MHI joining hands on Dodd-Frank reform

Tony — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 04:16:45 -0000

David,
Thank you for your idea. As you mentioned in a separate message to me, this below from George F. Allen, was his top item on his blog post this weekend:

===

I.

MHI MHARRvelous Dream! Turns out MHMSM; you know – the nearly two
year old online ezine at MHMSM.com, has a timely take on last week’s
post at this website: ‘MHI (‘My’) MHARRvelous Dream’! Like many who make
their living in one or more segments of the manufactured housing
industry, the publication believes the time has come, once again, for
the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (‘MHARR’) and
Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’) national advocacy bodies to work
together!

Once again? That’s right.

If a novice in the MHIndustry and
LLCommunity asset class, know many of us have seen these bodies ‘bury
their bloody hatchets’ in the past, to pass or fight legislation.

Think
the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, for starters. This
time around, however, we need the ‘MHI MHARRvelous Dream’ to become
Reality on several fronts: defeat of Dodd – Frank legislation, HUD’s
full implementation of aforementioned MHIA @ 2000, even the veritable
survival of the manufactured housing industry!

For more information,
visit MHMSM.com And remember; we can either ‘hang together’ during
these trying times, or for certain, die separately. Me? I’m all for
strength in numbers.

===

I changed the spacing for ease of reading, but between the hash marks is a verbatim quotation.

Re: Leaders’ and Readers’ comments on MHARR and MHI joining hands on Dodd-Frank reform

Davidroden — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:47:45 -0000

Tony,
How about this idea:

What if someone like you, George and any others contact the top three players in Danny's camp and the top three in Thayer's camp.

Draft up a short, pointed letter on the need for united action on key lobbying issues such as Dodd-Frank, MHCC or others.

Then, ask every member of each association to sign that drafted document.

By signing, we all would be agreeing for the need of unity against Dodd-Frank. We would agree not to make any effort to abolish either group.

If enough members from both groups signed, is should send a message to Thayer and Danny to put aside all differences and join forces.

After a brief explanation of Dodd-Frank, then followed by a statement like:

"I sign this petition and join in the hope with all in this industry that our two Washington lobby groups will and must join together and put aside any differences and take action to reform Dodd-Frank before it goes into effect, and harms millions of manufactured home owners and costs our Industry tens of thousands of more lost jobs and opportunities."

Then we all sign it across the county with name address/e address and phone number so that we might could work together again as a united industry.

Someone like you, George or Spencer could put this on paper much better than I to sell the idea to everyone.

Then, that petition could be sent to every elected Rep. in Washington to show our unity.

That has potential power and would seem to make sense.

David Roden

Re: Can MHI and MHARR Join Hands on Dodd-Frank for Manufactured Housing’s Future?

Boevine13 — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:14:58 -0000

Tony - we published articles centered on resales and MLS idea's. The magazine's we publish are custom printed for over 430 communities in two states every month. Our focus is on homeowners and supporting them with our magazines.

Re: Can MHI and MHARR Join Hands on Dodd-Frank for Manufactured Housing’s Future?

L. A. Tony Kovach — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:35:02 -0000

Boe,
Thanks for your comments. Remind me about your own publishing, please. Merchandiser and...

...please fill in the blanks for me! When I burn the candle at both ends, some details slip into those darned mental cracks!

Thanks again for your comments. Best regards,

L. A. 'Tony' Kovach
http://www.MHMSM.com
tony@mhmsm.com
Voice 847-730-3692
iPhone 832-689-1729
Sent from my iPad

-- This electronic message contains information from which may be confidential or privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately delete and notify us by electronic mail reply.

Re: Can MHI and MHARR Join Hands on Dodd-Frank for Manufactured Housing’s Future?

Boevine13 — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:55:11 -0000

From the perspective of a former member of MHI and a couple of different state associations in the western US here are a couple of comments:

I think many of our associations have lost their way in terms of doing what is right for their members. The continual railing at government and regulations and how they will hurt us may or may not be true but...we have caused economic harm to bankers and our customers alike. At some point we need our leaders to say we screwed up, it was our fault and we should expect to suffer the consequences. But you won't hear that for fear of losing dues paying members. Connected to that as we contract and become weaker as an industry how can you expect to wield influence in Washington.

Here in California rent control is the big problem...I've read articles from reps of WMA who have referred to homeowners who defend rent control as communinists. These homeowners in many of these communities military vets who fought for this country. How is that helpful. And how can you support attacking the very customers who provide your livelihood.

I mention this as it seems to me all I ever hear or read about is how government, tenants,pick your enemy are against us and they should stop. The amount of whining about how we are wronged by regulation or government from both MHI and MHARR is endless. Well guess what...we deserve it. I don't know how many times you can screw up your business model and in the process hurt either your customer or the lending institution you need and expect everything to go back to normal.

If I were a prominent member of either of both of these association I would get Danny and Thayer in a room and tell them how the merger was going to go and who was responsible for what and that if you want to keep your job get on board. I don't know Danny at all but I have always found Thayer to be a good guy who wants to do the right thing.

It seems there is a central disconnect in our industry. We want things to go back to where they were in terms of lending and regulation. THAT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN! We need to take stock of what we do right, what we we do wrong and fix it now. The chirping and whining is useless. If that is all our associations can do then maybe we don't need them. Maybe we need to build a new house from the foundation up.

Re: Can MHI and MHARR Join Hands on Dodd-Frank for Manufactured Housing’s Future?

Tony — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:00:27 -0000

We often get more private comments than those that are posted. Two
private ones so far include the following, with tell tale give aways
removed to protect the anonymity of the writers:

--- one emailed comment ---

Tony,

Thank you for this...

...this was the most informative piece I have ever read on the "Hatfield
and McCoy" fued of our industry. Its a sad story actually of the state
of our industry and even bigger of our nations leaders not able to join
together and bring us out of our funk.

---- another emailed comment ---

Tony,

From my iPad while driving Best piece you have ever done!

--- each of the two above are quotes ----

There are many reasons why people chose to email in a comment. They
include, but are not limited to the fact that the writer may be:

1) an owner or executive role that is 'politically' tied to a 'side' of
an issue, examples: in this case can be with MHI or MHARR.

2) a gov't official, elected or appointed.

---

While we know from our web statistics and login information that many of
you read us on the mobile web - and Android, BlackBerry, iPhone or iPad
- we do not encourage comments while driving! ;-)

Thank you,

Tony