 |
||
NEW LINE OF MODULAR HOMES Palm Harbor Homes, Inc. subsidiary Discovery Custom Homes is making its modular homes available in Arizona. The homes feature a variety of external styles and can be built to local codes or building specifications to be placed on a buyer’s lot or in a subdivision, Discovery officials said. Residential overhangs, 6/12 or higher roof pitches and other features the company says are often considered “site built” are among the characteristics of the Discovery homes, which are built in Tempe. “The addition of our new Discovery modular product brings exciting options to the customer who may have felt they could not afford a custom-built home in the past,” said Richard Boles, General Manager of the Discovery Building Center. The first of three model homes may be seen now at Palm Harbor Homes’ Chandler location, 1200 S. Akimel Dr., near the intersection of 56th Street and Allison Road. Source: The Business Journal 11-01-05
NEW PRESIDENT FOR FALL CREEK HOMES Capital First Realty announces that its affiliate, The Fall Creek Home LLC, of Elkhart, Indiana has appointed Chuck Wilkinson as the President of their Manufactured Home Division. “Mr. Wilkinson, a well seasoned veteran who has 35 years of manufactured housing industry experience, is a very welcome addition to our company and expresses our deep ongoing commitment to the manufactured housing industry”, said Richard J. Klarchek, President and CEO. “His experience in both manufacturing and retail will be of great value to Capital First, as we continue the development of our vertical integration plan”, noted Richard J. Klarchek. Capital First Realty, Inc. is a 25-year privately held full service real estate management and development company built on a tradition of honesty, integrity and a commitment to personalized service through strong professional management. Our long-term success in building an outstanding portfolio of commercial properties and manufactured home communities has enabled us to diversify into a full service, fully integrated real estate firm.
FEMA ORDERS 3,000 MANUFACTURED HOMES FROM FLEETWOOD In late September, FEMA awarded Fleetwood a $170 million contract to build 7,500 trailers and 3,000 manufactured homes, making the Riverside based company one of the federal government’s largest suppliers of emergency housing this year. Leonard McGill, Fleetwood Vice President expects the FEMA contract to smooth out the RV slow season, but he noted the effects of the hurricane could provide major opportunities in coming years for Fleetwood’s manufactured housing operations. “The Gulf Coast...has been a traditional stronghold for us and the manufactured housing industry as a whole,” Fleetwood President Elden Smith said in a statement. “We expect Fleetwood will play a significant role in rebuilding the region.” In the second quarter of this year, sales of manufactured homes increased 4 percent to $223 million, according to Fleetwood, primarily due to $30 million worth of homes built for FEMA strong sales in California and the Southwest. MODEL INSTALLATION STANDARDS HUD announced that the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee will receive a draft final rule for the Model Installation Standard within the next week for the Committee’s final review and comment prior to its submission to the Office of Management and Budget(OMB) and HUD’s departmental clearance. OMB typically takes 90-day for its mandatory review. Although the effective date of the final rule has yet to be determined, it is anticipated that the final rule should be published in the Federal Register by early spring with the implementation (effective) date 180days later. |
The proposed rule for the Installation Program (training/licensing of installers and home installation inspection) is to be released for Office of Management and Budget clearance next week. The anticipated publication of the proposed rule should be March or April. SOURCE: MHI-Just the Facts 12-02-05
LOAN LIMITS INCREASED Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have increased their loan limits for 2006 to $417,000 for single-family homes. The limit for 2005 was $359,650. Multi-family limits will also increase for the new year:
While the median home price in many areas of California exceeds the new limit, it is estimated that the new limit of $417,000 will make home ownership a possibility for nearly 30,000 more families than were eligible under the old limit.
MHIS EXPANDS SERVICE CU Factory Built Insurance Services, (CUFBIS), an affiliate of CU Factory Built Lending, Inc. (CUFBL) inked a joint venture contract with Manufactured Housing Insurance Services (MHIS) in November to market and administer CUFBIS manufactured homeowner insurance products to its customers. Andy Griggs, President of CUFBIS said our due diligence team led by Bill Strunk (General Manager of CUFBL’s Western Division) established MHIS as being a quality company with a great reputation. MHIS has an efficient, licensed staff ready to process all quotes, binders and policies quickly, efficiently and professionally. Griggs and Strunk were careful in researching the best insurance program for CUFBL members and are looking forward to a long and successful relationship with MHIS. Griggs said the insurance program starts immediately in the 12 Western States, thereafter moving East. CUFBIS west coast production office is located in Federal Way, WA and may be reached at 866-595-7228. MHIS is headquartered in Orange, CA and may be reached at 866-644-7111.
BUILDING BUSINESS WITH ENERGY STAR HOMES The Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed into law as Public Law number 109-58 on August 8, 2005 provides many benefits for the homeowner and the retailer to make use of. Benefits for the Homeowner: Save Money - Depending on the area of the country, homeowners can save approximately $39 to $67 a month by choosing an ENERGY STAR package. (see chart) As energy cost rise, as much as 70 percent this winter, the savings will also increase. Durable and Comfortable - ENERGY STAR qualified homes are quiet, environmentally friendly and have superior moisture control. All of these features make for a more comfortable and durable home. Third-party Verified - ENERGY STAR is verified by third-party certifiers and MHRA and must meet the standards set forth by the EPA. Quality is further confirmed by an MHRA ENERGY STAR label that goes on every ENERGY STAR qualified manufactured home. |
New Mortgage Choice - First, MHI and MHRA successfully persuaded the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to make ENERGY STAR manufactured homes eligible for FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). Manufactured homebuyers planning to purchase an ENERGY STAR home who qualify for an FHA loan and place their home on private property could have the following two advantages with an EEM:
Benefits for the Retailer: The ENERGY STAR label can be a pow-1. Natural gas heated double section home with electric water heating erful sales tool and can be used effectively 2. All electric single section home. 3. Propane heated home with electric water heating. to build demand and increase overall sales. Recognized Brand - ENERGY STAR is a nationally recognized brand, backed and promoted by two federal agencies (The EPA and U.S. Department of Energy). Associating with this brand can increase the credibility of a retailer and differentiate it from industry peers and from site-built homes. Cutting-Edge Technology - ENERGY STAR qualified homes can help a retailer develop a reputation for being on the cutting edge of technology and quality. Competitive with Site-Built - Since the ENERGY STAR label is used in both site-built and manufactured housing, the certification helps retailers compete in a tough market where they are competing with site-built homes that don’t qualify for the ENERGY STAR label. Advertising and Promotions Assistance - The EPA will invest advertising dollars in markets where at least three partners (such as retailers, manufacturers or utilities) team up to promote ENERGY STAR qualified homes. ENERGY STAR Partner Locator - All active ENERGY STAR partners are listed on a state-specific, national online directory where homebuyers can find retailers selling ENERGY STAR qualified manufactured homes. Retailers can become a partner for free by signing up at the ENERGY STAR Website at www.energystar.gov. Incentive Programs - Some state energy offices or local electric utilities provide incentives and /or rebates for sellers or purchasers of ENERGY STAR qualified homes. a list of these can be found at the MHRA Website.
Specialized Market Materials: MHRA, through its ENERGY STAR Marketing and Training Committee, is working with MHI to develop industry-specific materials that will help promote ENERGY STAR qualified manufactured homes. Items under consideration for development include: * point of sale materials Some items should be available in early 2006 on MHRA’s Website at www.mhrahome.org. SOURCE: Modern Homes |
 |
||
|
||