Each year in the spring, MHInsider works with a group of manufactured home retailers to help readers get a feel for the marketplace; what’s selling, who’s buying, what type of volume are you experiencing, how much are higher rates affecting your business, what trends do you notice in most desired home features? This year, MHInsider is working with Home Center General Manager Joshua Mcgee.
The questions are abundant. Let’s start with some basics…
How long have you been operating?
I have been in the industry for 11 years serving the Central Mississippi market. I worked in sales for over 10 and a half years before transitioning into my current role as general manager at Freedom Homes of Pearl six months ago.
Is the average home you sell increasing in size, getting smaller, or staying about the same?
The average home size has remained consistent throughout my time in the industry. I’ve seen most homes range between 1,200 and 1,500 square feet.
How many homes do you sell annually?
On average, we sell between 70 and 90 homes per year. This number has remained relatively stable over the years but can fluctuate based on market conditions, interest rates, and customer budget preferences.
What is your average time from the order of the home to set up?
We keep our best-selling floor plans in stock to help reduce wait times. If a home is readily available, delivery can happen within days. For homes that need to be ordered, the process from delivery to setup typically takes five to eight weeks, assuming the site is prepared in advance. It’s important to remember that there are several factors that can influence the schedule.
What is the most common add-on feature in your market?
Site improvements are the most requested add-ons, including power, septic systems, water connections, and land clearing. Additionally, the Generac home generator is a popular option in our market due to frequent weather-related power outages.
How have you seen your business evolve over the last few years?
With the rising cost of living, customers are increasingly interested in affordable high-quality home options. Both nationally and locally, the growing housing shortage has made it more important than ever to innovate to meet our customers’ needs — and modern manufactured homes are positioned to help increase the supply of new, attainable homes.
Many buyers are starting to notice the quality and efficiency of today’s modern manufactured homes. For example, our energy-efficient homes include features like an ecobee® smart thermostat, Lux low-e windows, Shaw® carpets and more, helping homeowners significantly reduce utility costs and making homeownership more affordable over the life of the home.
What do you think is the greatest challenge facing the industry right now?
For potential home buyers, affordability remains a top concern as the cost of living continues to rise. As an industry, stigma and zoning continue to be two of our biggest challenges. For instance, the city of Jackson had a moratorium for over 20 years on manufactured homes within city limits. Recently, because of rising housing prices, city officials have lifted those restrictions and now allow manufactured homes in certain areas. This is a positive step toward addressing housing shortages and providing more affordable options for buyers.
Are there specific strategies you’ve identified to keep homes moving?
We closely monitor market trends and customer preferences to ensure we always have the right inventory on hand.
What customer trends do you see in terms of use-of-space and/or lifestyle amenities/materials choices?
With people spending more time at home, we’ve seen growing popularity with our flex spaces, which are versatile multi-purpose rooms that can be used as an office space, exercise room, game room or anything else that suits the homeowner’s needs. Having adaptable living spaces ensures that our homes accommodate changing lifestyles and evolving buyer preferences.
Why do you feel it’s important to attend events like Louisville, Biloxi, Congress and Expo and others?
I’m especially excited to attend the Biloxi Home Show this Spring – it’ll be my first time going. Industry events like these provide an important opportunity to seek inspiration from other builders, be introduced to new possibilities, and connect with other leaders in the industry.
MHInsider is the leader in manufactured housing news and is a product of MHVillage, the top place to buy, sell, or rent a manufactured or mobile home.
