NAHMCO (?); 82 yrs of MH; new SWAN SONG book; & a never before told story…

Blog # 485; Copyright @ 27 May 2018; community-investor.com
Perspective. ‘Land lease communities, previously manufactured home communities, & ‘mobile home parks’, comprise the real estate component of manufactured housing.’

This blog posting is the sole national advocate, voice, official ombudsman, historian, research report & online communication media for all North American LLCommunities

To input this blog &/or affiliate with Community Owners (7 Part) Business Alliance, a.k.a. COBA7, use Official MHIndustry HOTINE: (877) MFD-HSNG or 633-4764.

COBA7 Motto: ‘U Support US & WE Serve U!’ Goal of its’ print & online media =
to not only inform & opine, but to transform & improve MHBusiness performance!
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INTRODUCTION. Here’s what follows: I = significant semi-announcement; II = 82 years of national MH advocacy; III = key places to be August-October; IV = new Desk Reference edition of SWAN SONG available for purchase; & V = the story no one knew.

I.

National Association of Manufactured Housing Community Owners (‘NAMHCO’)

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new national advocacy presence ‘soon to be’ on the manufactured housing industry scene! Being formed to represent and advocate for business interests of land lease communities, from the smallest to largest in size, by rental homesite count.

Where do I stand on this potentially controversial matter? As administrator of COBA7, I am not one of NAMHCO’s organizers, though I certainly understand the pent-up frustration of state MH associations and property owners, feeling underserved by the three present day national MH advocates. Today’s status quo relative to the realty asset class? In my opinion,

Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform is 100% HUD-Code housing manufacturer focused. Land lease community owners/operators are not eligible to belong. Though MHARR does advocate for a new national presence to represent all non-manufacturing segments of the manufactured housing industry. (202) 783-4087

Manufactured Housing Institute is the ‘broad brush’ national advocate serving all segments of the manufactured housing industry. It is primarily financed and perennially led by the ‘Big Three C’ HUD-Code housing manufacturers: Clayton Homes, Champion Home Builders (soon to be, I believe, Skyline Champion), & Cavco Industries. MHI, through its’ National Communities Council division, since 1996, has, in this industry observer’s opinion, given little more than lip service to the land lease community real estate asset class it claims to serve. (703) 558-0675
Community Owners (7 Part) Business Alliance was launched in early 2014 to serve the product and service needs of land lease community owners/operators nationwide. COBA7 is the source of the (29 years running) ALLEN REPORT (a.k.a. ‘Who’s Who Among Land Lease Community Portfolio Owners/operators Throughout North America!’), more than a dozen Signature Series Resource Documents (‘SSRDs’), e.g. National Registry of ALL Lenders!; the Allen Letter professional journal & the Allen CONFIDENTIAL! business newsletter. Also host of the (27 years running) Networking Roundtable (next one, 5-7 September in Indianapolis, IN.); unique deal-making opportunities; and most important, the popular Manufactured Housing Manager professional property management training & certification program – boasting well more than 1,000 MHMs owning/operating LLCommunities in the U.S. & CN. To affiliate, do so via Official MHIndustry HOTINE: (877) MFD-HSNG or 633-4764

Postscript. Not that you need to know this, but to underscore my neutrality in this matter; if I was naming this new national MH advocacy entity, it’d not be manufactured ‘housing’, but ‘home’. And more than likely, I’d opt for the contemporary trade moniker National Association of Land Lease Community Owners. Nuff said, from me anyway.

II.

82 Year History of National Advocacy in Manufactured Housing

The following information gleaned from MHI’s website (MHI.org); Bruce Savage’s The First 20 Years! – a comprehensive history of land lease community advocacy via MHI’s NCC division, from 1996 thru 2016; and, George Allen’s SWAN SONG (a 47 year history of the realty asset class, & official record of manufactured housing shipments from 1955 to the present day).. Here we go:

(The) Trailer Coach Association was formed 5 March 1936 in Los Angeles, CA.

Mobile Homes Manufacturers Association was formed, via name change, during August 1936; moved to Chantilly, VA in 1972; then to Washington, D.C. in 1974; and then, following a 1975 name change to the Manufactured Housing Institute, to Arlington, VA.

National Manufactured Housing Federation was formed in 1977, and eventually represented 41 states by 1983. The NMHF became the Federated States Division of MHI in October 1991, effectively uniting ‘all aspects of the manufactured housing industry – suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, and communities, into one association body.’ MHI

Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform was launched during 1986 by smaller, regional HUD-Code home manufacturers desiring stronger resistance to attempts at increased regulation of the manufactured housing industry, post 1976 implementation of the HUD-Code. MHARR continues to lobby that narrow, but important, focus to the present day. And is informally referred to as the ‘Washington watch dog’ for the manufactured housing industry!’

Industry Steering Committee, an ad hoc group of 19 (then) manufactured home community owners who met in Indianapolis, IN., August 31, 1993, to form the short-lived, albeit much needed ISC, to represent this unique, income-producing property type, when attendees (i.e. large property portfolio firms) launched IPOs (Initial Public Offerings of stock), as real estate investment trusts (REIT), during 1994 & 1995.Heretofore, representation had been handled by MHI, using a committee of volunteers. During the next 2 1/2 years, ISC member meetings with MHI led to formation of an Interim Communities Division (‘ICD’) that, in turn, led to the debut of the….

National Communities Council on 1 January 1996, under the leadership of James Ayotte. Division status would be conferred on the NCC more than a decade later. For a comprehensive history of the first two decades of the ISC cum ICD cum NCC, read Bruce Savage’s The First 20 Years! An excellent ‘read’. Available for the ‘asking’, as long as copies remain in stock, by phoning (317) 346-7156.

Community Owners (7 Part) Business Alliance, one way or another, traces its’ roots to the publishing of Mobile Home Park Management in 1988 (now in its’ 6th edition & retitled as Land Lease Community Management); the annual ALLEN REPORT in 1989; and soon thereafter, the Allen Letter; two industry classics published by J. Wiley & Sons, NY; the Manufactured Housing Manager professional property management training & certification program; and most recently, publication of the history of land lease communities since 1970, as told in SWAN SONG. With all that said, know COBA7 was formally launched in January 2014, serving the ongoing product & service needs of land lease communities throughout North America! For more information, phone the Official MHIndustry HOTLINE: (877) MFD-HSNG or 633-4764.

National Association of Manufactured Housing Community Owners, or NAMHCO.

Where will manufactured housing and land lease community national representation and advocacy go from here? That we will certainly have to wait and see!

III.

NOW is TIME to PREPARE for the FOLLOWING:

MHAlive! ‘think tank’ on 6 August 2018 at the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, IN., from 9AM to Noon! Theme? ‘Solving Our Nation’s (Lack of) Affordable Housing, with Factory-built Housing & Land Lease Communities!’ & other HOT TOPICS at the time! Cost? Minimal, but RESERVATIONS a MUST, by phoning (317) 346-7156.

Writers’ Workshop: ‘Who Will Preserve Your (Personal or Corporate) Legacy…as a manufactured housing or community businessperson? Answer: YOU! Interested? Join us at the RV/MH Hall of Fame from 1-3PM on 6 August 2018. Again, RESERVATIONS a MUST, by phoning (317) 346-7156. And again, cost = minimal. Just enough to cover cost of a new HOW TO booklet on this important subject, and meeting-related expenses.

RV/MH Hall of Fame (‘HOF’) Induction Banquet, evening of 6 August 2018, at the RV/MH Heritage Foundation’s museum & library facility in Elkhart, IN. RESERVATIONS a MUST, by phoning (574) 293-2344. And if you’re a HOF member, wear your distinctive green blazer to the banquet!

Manufactured Housing Manager (‘MHM ‘), one day, professional property management training & certification session on 5 September 2018, at the Alexander Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, IN. Cost? Only $295/MHM candidate. No test. To register, phone (317) 346-7156 or visit www.getmeregistered.com/COBA7NRT2018

27th annual International Networking Roundtable, 5-7 September 2018, at the Alexander Hotel in Indianapolis, IN. Frankly, you won’t believe the agenda and lineup of presenters until you read the event brochure. Visit getmeregistered.com/COBA7NRT2018 Attendance limited to 200, so don’t delay! Also RV/MH HOF members welcome to wear their distinctive green blazers to both evening receptions at this sterling industry event!

SECO Conference, 9-11 October 2018 in Atlanta, GA. If you haven’t patronized the fastest growing regional MH event in the U.S., make this one your first of many visits! For information, reach out to genevieve@roane.com

IV.

Purchase SWAN SONG, 2nd edition!

Upon widespread request, we’ve updated, enlarged, and improved the Collector’s Edition of SWAN SONG, first sold during the Networking Roundtable in September 2017. This new Desk Reference Edition contains a new chapter (detailing resident-owned community history), the latest (#29) ALLEN REPORT, and much much more.

And here’s the Best Part. Until 1 August 2018, you can buy your copy of the new Desk Reference edition for the pre-publication price of only $24.95 (includes shipping & handling). After 1 August, the retail price will jump to at least $34.95, possibly higher. So, don’t miss this opportunity, order your copy today by phoning (317) 346-7156.

V.

The Story No One Knew…
Friend or associate? Go to www.dailyjournal.net2018/05/26opening_up/ GFA

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