Flagship Communities, Adventure Homes Enjoy Big Day in Vegas
MHI in Las Vegas announced awards winners among manufactured housing professionals, as well as some updated consumer research. MHVillage also made an announcement, a new product offering to help home sellers better manage their time.
After a virtual meet-up to and extending the network in New Orleans and Orlando on consecutive years, the return of Congress to Vegas was an exciting one at the MGM Grand. Those who came in early had the opportunity to participate in the 5th Annual Hart Kiel Pentecost and Lutz Bobo & Telfair Clay Shoot and the 17th Annual Oliver Technologies Golf Open.
More formal business got underway Wednesday with a full day of programming at the 2023 MHI National Communities Council Spring Forum and the adjacent seminar on Developing with Manufactured Housing.
Meet, Greet, and Network
The expo hall was sold out, with more than 120 organizations showing the latest innovations in manufactured housing. Total attendance for the event topped 1,600.
A pair of receptions took place Wednesday afternoon, one for new MHI members and first-time attendees, and a Welcome Reception for all attendees. Thursday began with a Continental Breakfast followed by an open session on updated consumer research commissioned by MHI.
Trifecta Research Senior Vice President of Client Solutions Linda MacKenzie said new research shows growing appreciation for manufactured housing, including among mainstream homebuyers.
“A majority of manufactured home buyers already live in single-family homes, not just other manufactured home or in apartments,” she said. “They feel very positively about manufactured homes.”
The general session was followed by more than a dozen educational sessions on a variety of important industry topics geared toward keeping manufactured housing professionals up-to-date on the latest trends and the best strategies for business development.
MHI also presented the Excellence in Manufactured Housing Awards in nine categories, including a pair of new categories, Leadership in Sustainability and Community Impact Project of the Year.
Excellence in Manufactured Housing
Manufacturer of the Year —Three Plants or More: Clayton Home Building Group
Manufacturer of the Year — Two Plants or Less: Adventure Homes
Manufactured Home Design — Single Section: Adventure Homes
Manufactured Home Design — Multi Section: Adventure Homes
Modular Housing Design: Marietta, by Champion Home Builders
Supplier of the Year: ManufacturedHomes.com
Lender of the Year — National: 21st Mortgage
Lender of the Year — Floorplan: 21st Mortgage
Lender of the Year — Regional: Credit Human
Retail Sales Center of the Year — East: Flagship Communities, Erlanger, Ky.
Retail Sales Center of the Year — West: Homes Direct, Chandler, Ariz.
Community Operator of the Year: Flagship Communities
Land-Lease Community of the Year — East: Summerhill Village by Four Leaf Properties
Land-Lease Community of the Year — West: Dolce Vita by Equity LifeStyle Properties
Community Lender/Broker of the Year: Yale Realty and Capital Advisors
Leadership in Sustainability: Colony Cove Microforest by Equity LifeStyle Properties
Community Impact Project of the Year: Education at Grandin Point by Flagship Communities
“We are beyond proud and excited to receive three of the top MHI national awards,” Flagship CEO Kurt Keeney said. “This is a testament to the dedication of our staff who always ensure excellence in customer service and continually work to bring high-quality affordable communities to the market. Thank you to the Manufactured Housing Institute for shining a spotlight on the efforts of its member companies to build and grow quality communities across the United States.”
The Summerhill Village redevelopment, Four Leaf’s winning community, was launched two years ago as a complete redevelopment, including new roads, infrastructure, homes, and an expansive amenity center that is the centerpiece of the community.
“We are incredibly proud of Summerhill Village and appreciate this honor as a top community in the nation. The MHI award is given for work that propels the industry forward, re-visioning, redeveloping or building new communities that set the standard for the future. In the next 50 years, the manufactured housing industry will look nothing like it has over the last 50, and that’s a very good thing. We’re participants in leading that change and Summerhill Village is a great example,” Four Leaf Properties Managing Partner Michael Callaghan said.
MHVillage and Datacomp served as sponsors for the event and welcomed attendees to booth spaces 125/224, as well as to the MHInsider ’80s Lounge for networking, and a little bit of arcade fun at booth 341. MHVillage on April 19 also unveiled its highly anticipated new product offering related to the “It’s About Time” campaign, an appointment-setting feature that allows home sellers to better manage leads and general workflow.
Congress and Expo wrapped with a half-day on Friday.
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