American Financial Resources, Inc. now offers conventional financing for singlewide manufactured homes, in addition to their existing financing for singlewides from the Federal Housing Administration and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“AFR has been financing manufactured homes for more than 10 years, so we are experienced in this growing segment of the housing market,” American Financial Resources Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Bill Packer said. “With our growing portfolio of loan options for manufactured homes of all sizes, including singlewides, we can help our partners bring more families home.”
One of the few lenders that offers financing for singlewides, AFR offers a comprehensive suite of manufactured home programs and financing options, including FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae MH Advantage®, and Freddie Mac CHOICEHome®.
Providing an affordable solution for families nationwide, more than 22 million people in the U.S. live in manufactured homes, according to the Manufactured Housing Institute.
Students enrolling in accredited colleges or universities in the 2021-22 academic year are invited to apply for scholarships from the Tim DeWitt HARVEST Education Foundation, which supports careers in the recreational vehicle, manufactured housing, self-storage industries.
While the foundation offers support for students entering those specific fields, scholarships do not require recipients to pursue careers in those industries. The deadline for submitting scholarship applications is April 9, 2021.
Last year, 18 college-bound students received scholarships of between $500 and $1,250. The foundation has awarded more than $373,000 in financial aid for college-bound students since 1991.
“The Tim DeWitt HARVEST Education Foundation has given almost 650 scholarships in its 30 years of existence,” said Bill Sheffer, executive director of MMHA/RVCA and Self-Storage Association of Michigan. “Our membership and staff are proud to have helped so many students work toward advanced education. In offering these scholarships, we are introducing students to career opportunities they might not have realized are available in the RV, camping, manufactured homes, and self-storage businesses.”
The scholarships provide a unique career path for students while providing the industries “new critical thinking and fresh perspectives,” Sheffer said.
Cavco Industries has purchased a newly constructed building in Glendale, Ariz., for the production of park models, RVs, cabins, and cottages.
The final buildout at the facility continues through the year, and Cavco expects new park model production in Glendale to begin in late 2021 or early 2022. The new production facility will create 200 new jobs in the area.
All of the new models made in the 118,000 square-foot-facility will be built under American National Standards Institute “ANSI” standards. Each of the models is a seasonal dwelling typically used in resorts and other properties in the outdoor hospitality industry.
New Facility Also Increases Volume for Manufactured Homes
Cavco Industries President and CEO Bill Boor said the Glendale facility improves operating efficiencies and output in the RV lines, allowing the company to expand regional production. The move also provides the opportunity to revert one of the two lines at Cavco’s Goodyear, Ariz., from park model production to a full focus on HUD code manufactured homes.
“Not only will it allow us to better serve our park model customers with a dedicated facility, but it will also create additional capacity for HUD code homes at our Goodyear factory to serve the Southwest region of the U.S,” Boor said.
Tim Gage is national vice president of the park models and specialty product division with Cavco.
“The new facility will feature state-of-the-art production processes and full-factory air conditioning, creating a highly efficient and employee-friendly workplace,” Gage said. “Cavco has a long history of developing innovative products and close customer relationships in the park model market. With the transition into the new, dedicated Glendale facility, we will be able to take those customer relationships to a new level.”
Updated Maryland, New Hampshire, New York JLT Reports Available Now
Manufactured home communities in the northeastern United States show sustained growth in rent and occupancy, according to updated reports published by Datacomp, the industry leader in manufactured home appraisal and market data.
Rent and occupancy trends for manufactured home communities in Maryland, New Hampshire, and New York are available for order, including immediate download.
JLT Market Reports provide detailed research and vital information on communities in 186 major housing markets throughout the United States. Along with the latest rent trends and occupancy statistics, the manufactured home community market reports include information on home types, amenities, community infrastructure, as well as other management insights.
Datacomp is the nation’s top provider of manufactured housing data, and JLT Market Reports are recognized as the industry standard for manufactured housing community market analysis.
March 2021 JLT manufactured housing market data includes information on 227 “All ages” and “55+” manufactured home communities and 39,564 homesites in Maryland, New Hampshire, and New York.
Manufactured Housing Community Data in the Northeast
The Northeast region 55+ communities experienced an adjusted rent increase of 3% and an increase in occupancy of 0.6%
The Northeast region all-ages communities experienced an adjusted rent increase of 3% and an increase in occupancy of 0.3%
“The manufactured housing community market in the northeast is extremely steady and growing,” Datacomp Co-President and Chief Business Development Officer Darren Krolewski said. “Rents in the region are up across the board, and only a single state in the region showed a dip in year-over-year community occupancy.”
More About JLT Market Reports
Each JLT manufactured home community rent and occupancy report from Datacomp has detailed information about investment-grade communities in the major markets. The detailed information includes:
Number of homesites
Occupancy rates
Average community rents, and increases
Community amenities
Vacant lots
Repossessed and inventory homes, and much more
JLT Market Reports also include management insights that rank communities by the number of homesites, occupancy rates and highest to lowest rents. Established reports show trends in each market with a comparison of March 2021 rents and occupancy rates to March 2020, as well as a historical recap of rents and occupancy from 1996 to present date in most markets.
The March 2021 Maryland, New Hampshire, and New York JLT Reports for manufactured home communities are available for purchase and immediate download online at the Datacomp JLT Market Report website, or they may be ordered by phone in electronic or printed editions at (800) 588-5426.
Each fully updated report for mobile home communities is a comprehensive look at investment-grade properties within a market, enabling owners and managers, lenders, appraisers, brokers, and other organizations to effectively benchmark those communities and make informed business decisions.
MHInsider strongly encourages readers to follow guidelines provided by local, state, and national authorities (including the CDC) regarding COVID-19 safety procedures.
Prospective manufactured home buyers understand that shelter in place, social distancing, and other COVID-19 mitigation efforts eventually will subside.
Until then, there are a few ways retailers and leasing offices can sustain the interest in available manufactured homes. Among them, broadcasting live virtual open houses that showcase a community or the home.
What follows is a step-by-step guide to assist in setting up and hosting a manufactured home virtual open house.
The billiards room at Plantation Oaks in Ormond Beach, Fla.
Prepare
Many of the tools required by live virtual open houses are readily available. Here are four of them.
A Capable Smartphone
If the smartphone used for your live broadcast is relatively recent — produced within the last couple of years — it should be able to capture a quality video image. This device can be an iPhone from Apple, Pixel from Google, or a similar Android device. Note that an iPhone is required for live tours using FaceTime, a topic that is covered later in this feature.
Strong, Reliable Bandwidth
Many factors can influence the bandwidth needed for a broadcast. That said, a general rule of thumb is to aim for nothing less than 5Mbps.
Ideally, you want about 10Mbps. A site such as Speedtest.net can help you determine your current internet speeds.
A Wireless Mic
Viewers need to be able to hear the host during an open house. Use a wireless mic that clips on to the lapel, for instance. The goal is to allow the host to move without being tethered to the camera.
Apple’s AirPods are one such option many people seem to have already.
Virtual Open House Game Plan
Take a test run or two to figure out what elements of the community or homes you would like to highlight for your guests.
Broadcasting on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitch, or any other similar platform requires careful planning. If the goal is to sell something, “winging it” won’t cut it.
Hosts must understand where the virtual open house is going to start, how it will progress, community or home features to highlight, and all the detail for each step along the way.
Facebook recommends a live stream of no less than 20 minutes, so there will be plenty of time to cover everything, including Q&A. A test run or two would be helpful in getting the game plan set for your manufactured home virtual open house.
Broadcast Your Manufactured Home Virtual Open House for Guests to See All You Offer
Facebook Live and Apple’s FaceTime are two of today’s most popular live video platforms; the number of Facebook Live viewers in the U.S. has risen by 50% since January 2020, while users make 15-20 million FaceTime calls per day among the 100 million or so iPhone in the U.S.
Instructions for broadcasting manufactured home virtual open houses from both platforms follow.
Android users may consider Google Duo as a FaceTime alternative.
Create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for your community and homes.
Use Facebook Live for a Manufactured Home Virtual Open House
A virtual open house with Facebook Live allows offices to promote a mobile home to many prospective buyers at the same time.
Open the Facebook app on your smartphone
Tap “Live” at the top of the screen
Allow Facebook to access the device’s microphone and video capabilities
Tap the camera icon at the top of the screen to switch between selfie and standard modes
Tap the “Start Live Video” button
A two-person streaming team is ideal, with one person operating the camera (smartphone) and the other person acting as host. A gimbal is recommended to help keep the phone and recorder stable. This will help in creating a smooth video file.
Finally, make sure that the smartphone is in your preferred mode — landscape or portrait — before you begin the Facebook Live broadcast. Modes cannot be switched during filming.
HOW TO PROMOTE A FACEBOOK LIVE TOUR: Promote the Virtual Open House on Facebook Events, as well as any and all other social media platforms, and your website. It may be a good idea to do an email blast to your followers, as well. Once the tour is over, host it on MHVillage for free.
Show your virtual open house guests all of the most compelling aspects of your property.
Use FaceTime for a Virtual Mobile Home Open House
FaceTime is a great application for one-on-one virtual mobile home open house.
Open the FaceTime app on your iPhone
Tap the “+” icon at the top of the screen
Enter the client’s name or contact info (if it isn’t already in the device’s contact list)
Tap the “Video” button
After a brief introduction, tap the camera icon to switch from selfie mode to standard mode
HOW TO PROMOTE A FACETIME TOUR: During conversations with clients, via email, and in a prominent post on the business website’s home page.
Leverage Your Virtual Open House on MHVillage
MHVillage now provides a way for its customers to upload a Facebook Live video of a virtual open house on our site for presentation to a wider, and audience of manufactured home buyers.
Skyline Champion Corporation has aquired ScotBilt Homes, a company that last year shipped more than 1,600 homes from a pair of manufacturing facilities in Georgia to markets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Prior to the acquisition, ScotBilt had been owned by SHI Group Holdings.
“We are excited to welcome ScotBilt Homes and its almost 400 employees to the Skyline Champion family,” Skyline Champion President and CEO Mark Yost said. “We believe ScotBilt is an excellent fit given our compatible company cultures and shared values. While working with founder Sam Scott and his team during this transaction, we learned that their work ethic mirrors our core operating principles. Sam Scott has been a pioneer in the manufactured housing industry for more than 50 years and we are fortunate to benefit from the high quality and unique home designs for which ScotBilt is known.”
“Their efficient manufacturing facilities produce a streamlined product offering,” Yost said. “We expect this transaction to generate solid returns with meaningful shareholder value creation from day one, supported by ScotBilt’s attractive client base, and margin profile.”
Scott said he and his family feel they have found the right partner in carrying on the ScotBilt tradition.
“We wanted a partner who we could trust would operate the company in a manner consistent with how we’ve done business since our founding in 2004,” Scott said. “The customers who value the reputation of our brand will continue to receive the high-quality products they have grown to expect. I am confident that we have aligned with a great company that will leverage the culture and brand integrity that has set us apart from our competitors.”
There’s a fresh idea emerging in manufactured housing.
It’s one that can provide community owners with an influx of cash, lighten management requirements, and provide an easy avenue to operating a pure land-lease property.
GoFresh Homes CEO Jim Davis had been in banking for 28 years and was contemplating a next career when his desire for a mission-driven business plan brought him to affordable housing.
“It wasn’t difficult to see the opportunity once I began to study the sector,” Davis said. “The consistent cash flows and strong occupancy rates of manufactured home communities make it a compelling story to share with investors.”
Partners and operating investors Howard Lieber, Chris Murray, Scott Pomeroy, and John Rich joined the effort and in less than four years the Evergreen, Colo.-based company has acquired and is managing 83 homes in four states with another 300 to 400 homes in its line of sight.
“Even though we are interested in talking to all sizes of operators, when we have these discussions with larger operators, they’re interested because having cash tied up into rental homes is sometimes deemed inefficient use of their capital,” Chris Murray said.
“In our world, we want partnerships where we can come in and provide cash alongside them as they seek to own more parks or put more homes on their lots for land-lease revenue,” Murray said.
GoFresh takes ownership of park-owned homes, becoming the tenant for a monthly land-lease payment to the manufactured home community owner. They also can assume management responsibilities through their full-service property management company.
“Aspirationally, we’re seeking to own 10,000 homes in the next five years,” Murray said. “And we are flexible, we can work in multiple ways with community owners and managers. We are completely set up to manage but we also are fine coming to an agreement on owning the homes and letting them manage.”
From Niche to National Provider
Davis and Murray went to school and played football together at Cherry Creek High School in Denver. Murray’s early career emphasis was in talent management and representation, which he continues today exclusively for National Football League players.
“I had known John since about 2010 and I had heard him talking on the radio about growing up in a manufactured home,” Murray said. “I called him and asked if he wanted to be involved because his story is genuine, based on personal experience.
“He really wanted to get into the industry and has a lot of love for hard-working Americans who seek to have a home of their own,” Murray said.
Invest in the New Rental Ownership Model
GoFresh provides investment opportunities in the manufactured housing industry by allowing passive investors to put funds into a portfolio of park-owned homes with anticipation of favorable returns.
“We’re creating a new asset class, doing this at large scale,” Murray said, similar to special purpose vehicles, or SPV investments, in other parts of the multifamily offering. “We’re looking at five-to-seven year runways on these investment vehicles. The first one closed in 2016, a relatively small one at $2 million, and the second one of about $30 million is still in flight. We probably have another four-year run on the second fund.
“The approach provides a wide array of exit strategies for our investors,” Murray said.
Countryside Estates in Muncie, Ind., a UMH community. Photo courtesy of UMH Properties.
The Development of Patriot Village
In addition to being a partner in GoFresh, Rich is a high-profile advocate for the industry, and recently began to form plans for a swath of land outside Nashville, where the “Big & Rich” entertainer resides.
“He wants to put his money where his mouth is,” Murray said of the community GoFresh and Rich are calling Patriot Village.
“The memories I have growing up in a double-wide in Amarillo, Texas, from 1980 through 1988 are some of the best in my lifetime,” Rich said. “I love being part of GoFresh, working within the industry to help foster its growth, and listening to heart-felt stories from our residents that remind me of my own story.”
The GoFresh team is developing the small property from the ground up in Ashland, Tenn., and is looking for partners to supply homes, with a commitment to provide affordable housing for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
“One of the objectives is to give a home to a family of a fallen veteran through Folds of Honor, which is a charity that is very close to John’s heart,” Murray said.
As the nation emerges from the unprecedented economic and social upheavals in 2020, the need for more affordable homeownership options will continue to be a critical priority for policymakers in Washington. With a new Administration, a slimmer House Democratic majority, and a Senate with the Democratic party in narrow control, the affordable housing crisis is one area where cooperation is possible.
MHI is continuing its work to ensure the manufactured housing industry is well-positioned to be a part of federal considerations about addressing our nation’s housing challenges. As the industry’s voice in Washington, and through our constant and influential advocacy with policymakers in both political parties, we have been able to elevate the industry’s priorities.
Our access to Washington policymakers is as strong as ever, and the direct engagement from MHI members to their elected representatives also helps keep our issues at the forefront. MHI has secured bipartisan champions across government, many of whom are returning to Washington, so that federal rules and regulations support the industry’s efforts to provide quality homes at affordable prices. In addition, we are meeting the new members of Congress and working with President-elect Biden’s transition teams so that manufactured housing is considered as their housing agendas are developed.
We are building upon our momentum from 2020, where we had an active year due to the needs of the industry through the pandemic. By working closely with Congress and the new Administration to ensure the interests of the manufactured housing industry were considered, we solidified and strengthened our relationships with policymakers.
Further, we secured rental assistance funding in COVID-relief bills and federal funding support for businesses through programs such as the Paycheck Protection Program. In addition, we were able to secure the first-ever industry-wide alternative construction letter for our home builders to overcome supply chain shortages caused by the crisis.
In addition to our work to support the industry through COVID, we also continued to pursue our advocacy work to grow the market. We secured an extension of the Energy-Efficient New Home Tax Credit (45L Tax Credit) through 2021. We also were successful in having HUD propose the first comprehensive updates to the HUD Code in over a decade. With respect to financing, FHA program requirements were updated to accommodate the financing of CrossMod™ homes, and Congress directed HUD to make changes to the FHA Title I and Title II programs to better support manufactured housing.
The interior of a new model home by Sunshine Homes.
MHI will keep this forward progress going in 2021. We are focused on four main areas:
Improving financing for the purchase of manufactured homes
Ensuring HUD Code regulations encourage innovation and are cost effective
Addressing local zoning and land planning issues
Successful representation in Washington on issues that impact the industry
Improving Financing for the Purchase of Manufactured Homes
One of MHI’s top priorities continues to be bolstering the availability of financing for manufactured housing. The economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis makes access to FHA financing programs more critical than ever. As such, MHI continues to work with FHA to update both its Title I (personal property) and Title II (land-home) programs, which have been needed for some time. MHI is also advocating for secondary market support for manufactured housing lending through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and working to ensure they continue to fulfill their Duty to Serve obligations. Further, MHI is working with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to better support the availability of financing for consumers interested in purchasing a manufactured home.
Ensuring HUD Code Regulations Encourage Innovation and are Cost Effective
In 2021, MHI continued to strongly advocate that HUD move forward with finalizing updates to the HUD Code that have been approved by the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee but are still pending HUD action and for future revisions to be implemented regularly. Further, MHI is pushing for a streamlined process for updating the HUD Code. As a part of the transition, MHI is arguing for the elevation of the Office of Manufactured Housing Programs (OMHP) to ensure that manufactured housing is an integral part of the Department’s affordable housing initiatives.
Addressing Local Zoning and Land Planning Issues
Addressing local zoning and land planning ordinances that discriminate against manufactured housing remains a top priority for MHI in 2021. MHI’s leadership has formed a zoning task force to develop strategies to support the placement of manufactured housing in localities across the country. The task force will approach this issue from all levels of government. At the national level, with increased attention by Congress on affordable housing, MHI is calling on HUD to exercise its preemption authority and use its funding influence when local building standards and zoning policies adversely impact manufactured housing and the supply of affordable housing. We will continue to bring to the incoming Administration’s and Congress’ attention examples of state and local zoning, planning, and development restrictions that either severely limit or outright prohibit the placement of manufactured homes. We will also continue to support our state associations as they address these issues.
Successful Representation in Washington
Across the federal government, MHI is the industry’s eyes and voice. Our strong bipartisan, and bi-cameral relationships and our effective advocacy strategy will help to ensure that federal actions support the industry’s momentum in supplying quality, affordable housing to consumers. MHI will work closely with the incoming Congress and Administration officials to ensure the interests of the manufactured housing industry continue to be considered across the range of issues that impact us, including federal actions with respect to economic stimulus and the pandemic. We will keep monitoring and addressing supply shortages in the industry, work with the 117th Congress and the new Administration on their energy efficiency and transportation initiatives and look for opportunities to tout manufactured housing at hearings and convenings of Congress and the Administration. Further, MHI will continue to advocate the benefits of land-lease communities and ensure that any federal legislative or regulatory actions support this popular homeownership option.
Access to safe and affordable housing is not a partisan issue and manufactured housing provides the largest form of unsubsidized affordable housing in the country. MHI will continue its effective approach to federal advocacy so that manufactured housing continues to be a part of the affordable housing dialogue in Washington. While 2021 will pose unique challenges and opportunities, MHI will ensure policymakers support the manufactured housing industry’s work to supply quality, affordable housing across the country.
Louisville Area Community Autumn Leaf Estates Doubles Number of Homesites
Autumn Leaf Estates south of Louisville in Shepherdsville, Ky., last year doubled in size and is selling homes in a high-demand area to buyers who are overjoyed to move their family into a new home of their own.
Brothers Tony and Brad Wilcox own Autumn Leaf, as well as the neighboring community, Hickory Acres, with a third partner, Mike Whobrey.
“Autumn Leaf was originally approved as a 231-lot community,” Tony Wilcox said. “The original developer in 2000 only developed the front half of the property and stopped.”
When the Wilcox brothers were able to acquire the community in 2016, they took a two staged approach. First, they needed to make several hundred thousand dollars in improvements to the developed portion of the property. The manufactured home community was stabilized and brought to 100% occupancy. Next, they set out to complete the development in 2019.
In addition to doubling the number of homesites, new sewer lines, waterlines, power, roads, and 115 driveways need to be completed.
The second section developed in 2019 is about 40% occupied.
“It wasn’t planned as a phase one and phase two, but it just worked out that way,” Brad Wilcox said. “We figured there would be about a three- to five-year absorption rate, and we now think it will be closer to three years than five.”
‘There is active management and support in ensuring that everything looks great and everyone is safe and proud to be here’
New Homes for Sale
Autumn Leaf Estates primarily sells Fleetwood and Clayton Maynardville but also sells Champion Homes out of Kentucky and Tennessee as well as Hamilton from Alabama. Autumn Leaf has overflow parking and will get a pair of upgraded bus stop facilities for the school children, as well as a community park that will include a playground, picnic tables, grills and open spaces.
Kristee Fuhrman is the general manager for both of the Wilcox’s properties. She said landscape design has been top of mind through the expansion.
“We really want to provide the view our residents and prospects want to see,” Fuhrman said. “By far the biggest compliment we receive is that we are the nicest community in the area. We are constantly upgrading and improving the community.”
Selling Homes During the Pandemic
Demand for affordable housing is at an all-time high, yet the pandemic and COVID-19 protocols and restrictions continue to make home availability a challenge. The office takes appointments now rather than allowing walk-ins, for instance.
Autumn Leaf Estates, Shepherdsville, Ky.
“We spent a lot more time uploading photos and sharing website links with customers to reduce the foot traffic,” Fuhrman said. “We have relied more on virtual tours and using those MHVillage home sales leads.
“It hasn’t slowed down in terms of home sales, we’ve stayed very steady,” she said.
Fuhrman said residents in both communities have been able to deal admirably with the challenges of 2020.
While rent must be collected, we have been extra conscious about working with and helping people, especially residents who communicate and make a plan with us. There has been very little turnover during this difficult time which is somewhat unique.
Brad Wilcox said he and his brother, along with Fuhrman and two full time maintenance professionals, consistently walk the properties to look for and address issues as well as opportunities to improve the resident experience.
“There is a constant eye on the properties as we have employees who live with their families in each of our communities,” Brad Wilcox said. “There is active management and support in ensuring that everything looks great and everyone is safe and proud to be here.”
‘A Great Place to Be’
Jessica True and her family have lived at Autumn Leaf for about three years.
The entry lane to Autumn Leaf Estates. Photos courtesy of Autumn Leaf.
“The community is a great place to be and our neighbors are all great people,” True said. “Everyone helps each other out. Our neighbor across the street from us mowed our yard because my husband and I have been working crazy hours.
“Whenever we have any issues with our home or anything of that matter, Kristee has been helpful and gets it all taken care of in a quick amount of time. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” she said.
The MHInsider blog for Manufactured Housing Professionals strongly encourages readers to follow guidelines provided by local, state, and national authorities (including the CDC) regarding COVID-19 safety procedures.
Virtual Tours on the Rise for Home Sellers, Homebuyers
But the fight against the spread of COVID-19, including restrictions on group gatherings and other social and economic norms, puts virtual tours in the real estate spotlight like never before.
One big reason: they help prospective manufactured home buyers practice shelter-in-place and social distancing practices espoused by health experts. The National Association of Realtors reports that the average home buyer visits 10 homes over 10 weeks before a purchase, and those numbers seem untenable in today’s climate. However, accessing a listing directly from a desktop or laptop computer practically eliminates risk from the home shopping equation.
If you, your brokerage, or your community is considering a virtual tour — a digital simulation of a property that leverages video, photos, and imagery — here are five virtual tour best practices to consider.
Review Your Software
When it comes to real estate virtual tour software, there are many from which to choose. The particular use-case will help determine which one you select:
Is a comprehensive, all-in-one solution necessary?
Will collecting the various digital assets to compose a virtual tour be an issue?
At what resolution will prospective buyers view the virtual tour?
If photographing model homes — and COVID-19 best practices allow for it — consider professional photographers who offer Matterport Virtual Tour services or a similar service.
Set the Stage
Just as with an in-person tour, the property must look its best. That means:
Cleaning, decluttering and removing personal items from all rooms
Lighting the space well, with natural and artificial light as necessary
To extend the theater metaphor just a bit further, rehearse a walk-through before the cameras roll. This includes capturing video, still images, or 3D virtual tour/360-degree virtual tour display.
If the virtual tour is for a model home, put away any marketing materials such as flyers, posters, and table tents.
A tip: Creating a list of each room and its most attractive qualities will help ensure that all footage necessary to create an effective virtual tour is captured.
Look at Live Tours
Several popular online destinations now incorporate live video into their platforms, including:
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
Add device-focused Skype from Microsoft and FaceTime from Apple and home sellers today can host their own broadcasts and make the home listing the star of the show.
In the right circumstances — perhaps a currently unoccupied listing cleaned beforehand to the CDC’s recommendations — arranging a live video walkthrough for a prospective manufactured home buyer is a relatively straightforward process.
One caveat: Reliable network connectivity is a must. Fortunately, there are several tools to help gauge connection speeds. One of the simplest ways to check internet speed is to do a Google search for “internet speed test”, then click the blue “Run Speed Test” button on the top search result.
Schalamar Creek, Lakeland, Fla.
Offer a Different Perspective
There are few real estate offerings as attractive as a manufactured home nestled within a great land-lease community. Yet, highlighting those offerings can be a challenge in a crowded market.
To play up any especially distinctive features of a listing, consider drone footage of the property and surrounding area. Proximity to a community center, pool, play area, or beautiful natural splendor may add distinction to a virtual tour.
Get Up Close and Personal
A new home from Fairmont, on display at The Louisville Show in 2020.
Even the best virtual tours cannot completely replicate the experience of being on-site … but they can come closer if you implement these virtual tour best practices and offer buyers a thorough sense of a home’s condition.
That’s because manufactured home buyers aren’t just interested in the general characteristics of a home. They want to know whether the carpet is worn, whether there’s any water damage near the windows, what sort of shape the roof is in, and other similar detail.
It’s easy to share this information. Increase the frequency and scope of close-ups at a listing during live video or more traditional virtual tour offerings.
Read More from the MHInsider blog for Manufactured Housing Professionals
MHInsider will continue tracking COVID-19 developments and their impact on the manufactured housing market, so bookmark our site now
In August, the RV/MH Hall of Fame will celebrate the 2025 class of inductees, five from each industry.
“Our selection committees held meetings to review...
If the smartphone used for your live broadcast is relatively recent — produced within the last couple of years — it should be able to capture a quality video image. This device can be an iPhone from Apple, Pixel from Google, or a similar Android device. Note that an iPhone is required for live tours using FaceTime, a topic that is covered later in this feature.
Many factors can influence the bandwidth needed for a broadcast. That said, a general rule of thumb is to aim for nothing less than 5Mbps.
Viewers need to be able to hear the host during an open house. Use a wireless mic that clips on to the lapel, for instance. The goal is to allow the host to move without being tethered to the camera.
Just as with an in-person tour, the property must look its best. That means:
