Communities Need Attention Despite Travel Restrictions

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November 23, 2020

Whether or not your state employed a “stay-at-home” order, it’s been clear that traveling and managing remote properties has become increasingly difficult. Traditionally, manufactured housing community owners have been able to manage multiple properties across the country because of on-site staff and the ease of travel for regional managers and corporate staff.

During recent months with coronavirus precautions and restrictions, traveling has been made very difficult, if not impossible. Many corporations have implemented a freeze on travel — either out of due caution or cost-cutting measures — and some employees simply cannot or are unwilling leave home overnight for many reasons, including childcare.

So how do community owners and operators ensure that their properties are meeting expectations?

Hire A Qualified Third-Party Manager

Here’s one idea: Trust a qualified representative to visit the communities on your behalf.

Blank Family Communities, for example, visits MH communities located in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois for owner/operators who are located out of state and cannot easily or safely get to their properties. Third-party management provides the service for less than it costs most out of state operators to fly corporate staff to communities. There are no cars to rent, no flights to book, no hotels to stay in and no dinners to expense. This keeps staff safe, while keeping the insight on your properties where it should be.

Essentially, third-party managers act as liaisons for the management of your properties.

Most hired property managers take less than full management of a client’s properties. Rather, it takes over the “boots on the ground look” at each property, bringing an owner’s perspective, making sure the most important aspects of the community are in good working order. It may also provide secondary services and aid in ways that may be unforeseen at the time two parties enter the contract, particularly with the dynamic nature of community operations and management under the best protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As ever, the effort is to provide great value in a safe, healthy living environment.

Most hired management companies set a monthly schedule for visiting properties. For Blank Family Properties, given the uncertainty of the global health crisis, the contractual commitment is offered on a month-to-month basis.

The monthly visit is followed up by sending the owner/operator an in-depth site-inspection report and high-definition video drive-through to vividly show the current condition of the community.

Some Areas Third-Party Management Can Cover:

Aid in ongoing construction projects
Help with collections and delinquency
Community curb appeal
Communication and aid with corporate staff on ongoing to-do list items

When you can’t get to your property, reports from an on-site manager won’t give you all of the information you need to make informed decisions. But it offers the best way to be there without being there. To find a third-party management company in or near the market of your properties, take a look at regional to national providers in the Service Providers section of the MHInsider Buyer’s Guide — search for property management.

HUD Increases Minimum SAA Payment

By

Patrick Revere

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November 16, 2020

Minimum Per Section Compensation Goes from $2.50 to $14 for Participating States

HUD CDBG for Coronavirus — HUD Secretary Ben Carson

The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently published a final rule in the Federal Register to take effect Dec. 14 that increases payments to states participating as State Administrative Agencies in the department’s manufactured housing program.

Participating and compliant State Administrative Agencies in the 33 U.S. states that carry out manufactured housing oversight programs will see the minimum per home section federal payment increase from $2.50 to $14.

Manufactured housing programs in the state of Florida, where there are eight homebuilding facilities, may see increased annual revenue of about $70,000, the Florida Manufactured Housing Association recently stated.

The minimum $9 payment per shipment of a home within or into a state for participating agencies will remain.

“More than 22 million Americans have used manufactured homes as a means of attaining the stability and financial independence of homeownership, particularly in areas where housing affordability is a challenge,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson said. “Making sure that states are appropriately compensated for the work they do to ensure the safety and affordability of these manufactured homes, for families within their own communities, is both right and responsible.”

The goal for the final rule placed to the Federal Register is that the revised payment formula in the Manufactured Home Procedural and Enforcement Regulations will make the payout more commensurate with the level of manufactured housing production and the associated work performed in a state when a manufactured home is produced an installed.

In addition to the per-floor increase, HUD for the first time in two decades will allow participants that have received conditional approval to receive fiscal year-end supplemental payments for work performed.

“This is another example of HUD reducing barriers to the adoption of manufactured housing as an affordable housing alternative,” said Assistant Secretary for Housing Dana Wade. “States are valuable partners in this process. We believe this change will strengthen existing partnerships, incentivize more states to participate in the program, and reduce the reliance on federal resources for activities that are more appropriately handled at the state and local level.”

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

HUD also published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for public comment on additional refinements to state payments. The considerations include additional options to fund state participation in a way that recognizes contributions and incentivize participation in the manufactured housing program.

HUD’s Office of Manufactured Housing Programs administers the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 which authorizes HUD to establish federal standards for the design and construction of manufactured homes to assure quality, durability, safety, and affordability. The standards are carried out directly or through states that have partnered with HUD to inspect factories and retailer lots, implement installation standards for the homes, and administer a dispute resolution program.

2021 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show Dates Jan. 20-22 Canceled

By

Patrick Revere

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November 12, 2020

KEC 2023 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show — Kentucky Expo Center is the venue for the 2023 Louisville Manufactured Housing Show Jan. 18-20. Industry professionals only.

The Louisville Manufactured Housing Show, the Midwest’s premier event for manufactured housing professionals, previously scheduled for Jan. 20-22 has been canceled. Plans are underway for the annual event’s return in 2022.

For more than 60 years, The Louisville Show has brought together the latest manufactured home designs, tech specialists, and a top network of suppliers in the manufactured housing industry. In 2020, The Louisville Show attracted a near-record 3,536 attendees from 1,130 companies.

“The Louisville Show offers manufactured housing professionals the most robust introduction to the latest trends and opportunities in the industry, from home design to materials and all of the new and improved products and services to be considered,” Chairman Byron Stroud said. “The educational and networking opportunities in Louisville are unlike anywhere in the industry, and they improve each year.”

The Louisville Manufactured Housing Show allows exhibitors to display their products and services at the place where qualified industry buyers come for ideas and inspiration. January is an optimal time to understand customers’ wants and needs as they prepare for the spring selling season.

Though there continue to be concerns and restrictions in place due to COVID-19, those restrictions are lifting and most markets in the nation are getting back to business.

“By the end of January, we anticipate the situation will have improved significantly and the show will proceed as planned,” Show Coordinator Dennis Hill said. “Obviously, the health and safety of everyone attending remains our highest priority. So, we will be closely monitoring and following all CDC and local guidelines that are in place in January.”

In addition, hand sanitizer stations will be set up in key locations throughout the show for use by attendees and exhibitors.

Exhibitor Opportunities Open Soon

Exhibit space will sell out fast, so join the mailing list to keep up on the latest event news including reminders on deadlines for exhibit entry, sponsorship, registration, and activities.

For 2022, The Louisville Show will operate with a new floor plan that places supplier exhibitors in a more central location among the manufacturer exhibitors.

“We believe the new floor plan with service and supply professionals set up within greater proximity to all of the homes will increase attendee access and traffic flow more evenly through the show,” Hill said.

General registration details for Louisville 2022 will be announced in the coming months.

Each year, The Louisville Show is organized and presented by The Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation, which represents the states of Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.

As an industry trade event, the 2022 Louisville Show is not open to the public. For more information, visit The Louisville Show website at www.thelouisvilleshow.com.

Bookmark MHInsider for more manufactured housing industry news, including updates on manufactured housing industry trade shows and events.

Central Florida Manufactured Housing Market Steady Through Pandemic

By

Matt Rearden

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November 11, 2020

Central Florida Manufactured Housing Community

Matt Rearden Four Star Central Florida Manufactured Housing — Matt Rearden is the chief operating officers at Four Star Homes in Central Florida. Photos courtesy of Four Star.

By Matt Rearden

2020 has been a unique year, bringing with it a pandemic that resulted in a shift in the way people buy and sell manufactured homes.

The year started with a bang as one of the strongest beginnings in the Central Florida manufactured housing resale market. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit toward the end of the first quarter. The state of Florida began a lockdown to try to control the spread of the virus, and several cities and counties in Florida were in a heightened state of awareness.

Yet when Florida moved into Phase II of reopening, what we saw was an immediate backlog in demand. People wanted to buy manufactured homes, and they wanted them quickly.

Manufactured Home Buyers Are Motivated

The major trend we have observed this year is a lot of interest and sales from buyers in northern states. Florida has always attracted retirees and snowbirds from all across the U.S., but this year has shown a specific increase from that geographic region. A lot of our call volume, web traffic, and purchasers are coming from the north, from people who are looking to escape some of the more populous areas and retire early in Florida manufactured homes.

With both a backlog in demand and highly motivated home buyers wanting to move quickly, many are purchasing sight unseen, making their decision based on video consultations and virtual home tours. Being able to meet these buyers where they are, online and by phone, has been crucial to keeping business going.

Our northern clients are looking for wide-open spaces, affordable housing, and sunshine—all of which are readily available in the Central Florida manufactured housing market. Many also seek the lifestyle and amenities afforded by the various mobile home communities, some of which they may not have seen up north.

Central Florida Community Residents Are Staying Put

On the other hand, we have seen a downtrend in inner-city moves within Central Florida this year. More are staying where they are because they love the area, community, neighbors, and amenities, and are financially comfortable with their current monthly payments.

Another trend we have noticed is more mobile home communities being purchased by new owners and an increase in the market rate for lot rent. Lot rent increases can change the resale market. The price of homes tend to shift down to accommodate the higher monthly payments with the intention of keeping manufactured housing affordable and finding qualified buyers. This could be another reason why more buyers are coming from out of state while in-state residents are staying put.

For example, a northern client who has lived in their site-built home for 25 or more years will have earned a good amount of equity when their house is sold. They are often able to purchase a manufactured home without financing and can easily afford lot rent at a higher market rate.

It’s Really About Lifestyle

As previously mentioned, these buyers also seek the lifestyle and amenities available in Florida manufactured home communities, which creates additional value for them. Manufactured homes are more easily cared for and maintained than most standard site-built homes, and many communities include services like lawn care, irrigation, and trash removal.

The communities that seem to be most successful in holding home values while also increasing the monthly lot rent are the ones reinvesting in the communities and homes. While residents are never thrilled with a lot rent increase, we are seeing that when new owners quickly add value or amenities, it becomes a win-win. Some of the unique things we have seen are new community owners remodeling outdated clubhouses, paving roads and sidewalks, purchasing new shutters for every home in the community and even putting in new brick paver driveways. When this is done, we tend to see happy residents (both current and new), an increase in value for all of the homes in the community, and the attraction of new buyers.

Despite shifts in the market rate for lot rent and a global pandemic, the manufactured housing resale market in Central Florida is trending very well. Even with a dip early in the year, sales are on par with last year overall. The fact remains that manufactured housing remains a very affordable alternative to rented properties and site-built homes. Manufactured housing community residents get a sense of community, tons of amenities, and included services.

It is the job of Four Star sales agents to educate buyers on the value of lot rent and detail the benefits that come along with their monthly payment.

Community Owner Post-Eviction Best Practices for Debt Collection

By

Ryan Fishman

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November 10, 2020

Best practices post eviction community owners collections

So, What About the Balance?

Editor’s Note: Second installment of a 2-part overview on community owners’ best practices for debt collection, originally published in MHInsider Magazine. Part I covers delinquency-to-eviction collections.

best practices debt collection post-eviction community owners — Ryan Fishman, The Fishman Group

If it’s not enough that you’re exhausted by the process of rent collection, you’re stuck with the accumulation of unpaid rent and fees, along with potential damages and other expenses. Throw in the accelerated rent if you’re not able to quickly mitigate your damages and re-let the home or site, and these post-eviction outstanding balances can be shocking.

What’s Next?

After sending your security deposit notice and demand for payment, you could pick up the phone and call the resident about payment, but they have very little incentive to pay now that the symbiotic part of your relationship has come to an end. Unfortunately, this is typically where the ability of you or your staff to collect these payments runs its course. However, This does not mean give up or write it off and move on — but it is time to internally cut your losses and pursue a third-party alternative to collect that money — it’s your revenue and you deserve it.

Often out of habit, the shortcut option that comes to mind is to hire a collection agency. There are many reasons these boiler-room bill collectors add little value, which is why community owners or operators should turn to a debt collection law firm – beyond the cash value of actual success collecting, law firms are far better equipped to shield their clients from liability.

Bill collectors are handcuffed in their abilities to collect from your debtors – that’s why it’s easy to understand that anecdotally their gross collections rates are most often at 5%. All they can really do is beg for your money with letters and phone calls and have no real tools at their disposal to incentivize these payments other than massive discounts or penny-ante payment plans. You know this is an exercise in futility because you’ve already asked for the money on multiple occasions and had no success.

The Work of a Debt Collection Law Firm

Conversely, a debt collection law firm has an arsenal of tools to legally compel payment. The first letter and phone call from a collection law firm comes with the signature of authority of an attorney and your debtors will understand you are serious about getting paid. If negotiations for a payment plan or settlement do not quickly materialize between the firm and the debtor, the firm will file a lawsuit on your behalf. This will allow the firm to obtain a judgment on your behalf and, depending on where your communities are located; garnish wages, bank accounts, and state income tax returns; seize cars and other assets; lien real property; and compel a debtor’s appearance in court to satisfy a judgment.

Qualified debt collection law firms understand the operation of a manufactured housing community and the laws regulating how you do business, but they’re also studied in the legal risks involved in debt collection, another area where those bill collectors are known to be reckless. Law firms often employ compliance attorneys to ensure the firm is acting responsibly on your behalf. The reality is that the debt collection field – especially as it relates to manufactured housing – is becoming more legally hazardous as time passes. Exposing your community to the unnecessary potential for lawsuits or penalties eventually will hurt your bottom line and rack up losses more damaging than just the defaulting residents.

Constructing a standard operating procedure from move-in to post-eviction collections can be arduous, but the long-term benefits for your community are overwhelming. Take the time to consider today how to improve the best practices to boost cash flow and reduce the likelihood of defaults.

Industry Icon Art Decio Passes Away

By

Patrick Revere

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November 10, 2020

Art Decio Skyline obit — Arthur J. Decio, 1930-2020. Photo by Barbara Johnson/University of Notre Dame.

Arthur J. “Art” Decio, president and chairman of Skyline Corporation, passed away at his home in Elkhart, Ind., surrounded by friends and family. He was 90.

Mr. Decio took over the fledgling company his father Julius founded and grew it into one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of homes and RVs. He was dedicated to his family, faith, and sharing his good fortune. Not only did he lead the RV and manufactured housing industries, but he had a profound influence on the development of his hometown as an industrial and manufacturing center.

He assumed leadership of Skyline Coach Company in 1952, which had been operating from a rented garage, and expanded the company to include 25 companies with 3,500 employees in 12 states. He was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1965 and the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart denotes on his induction credentials that Decio was “a marketing pioneer responsible for many inroads to the acceptance of manufactured housing.”

Born Oct. 19, 1930, to Julius and Lena Alesia Decio, his arrival during the Great Depression profoundly shaped his desire to help others. His philanthropy started at age 8, when he gave a third of his paperboy earnings to the Elkhart Salvation Army, a charity he would later serve at the national level, and another third to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, founded upon the principles of charity and compassion that were a guide through his life.

Mr. Decio attended DePaul University in Chicago, and it was during his time taking classes at Marmion Military Academy that he met and married Patricia George, his wife of 59 years.

Art Decio in Service, Philanthropy

In the late 1950s, Decio began raising money for a range of community causes, which he supported to the end of his life. In his hometown, he led fundraising campaigns to build St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, remodel Elkhart General Hospital and renovate the Lerner Theatre. In 2016, Beacon Health System dedicated the Arthur J. Decio Pavilion at Elkhart General Hospital to honor his 60 years of financial support.

Mr. Decio was instrumental in establishing and sustaining an Indiana University campus in Elkhart. In 1984, United Way of Elkhart County honored him by establishing the Arthur J. Decio Volunteer of the Year Award.

He was a life member of the Elkhart County chapter of the NAACP and was active in the Elkhart Urban League. He was a large contributor and fundraiser for the 1968 Democratic Presidential campaign of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and introduced Kennedy at a rally in downtown Elkhart that drew 9,000 people. Within months, he would serve as an honorary pallbearer at the senator’s funeral.

Mr. Decio was a trusted adviser to officials in all levels of government and from both parties. He served on the boards of businesses, banks, and nonprofits and received dozens of awards. Three U.S. presidents appointed him to federal commissions. He served on the boards of more than 40 civic, religious, educational, and financial organizations including the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He joined the international board of Special Olympics at the request of founders Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver and helped organize the International Special Olympics at Notre Dame in 1987. He was among the founders of WNIT-TV, and with his wife underwrote “Sesame Street” and other public television programming. He was awarded the station’s first Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. He was a founding director of the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

Art Decio Notre Dame Trustee

Mr. Decio was a trustee at the University of Notre Dame and later was appointed a life member and fellow. In 1989, he received Notre Dame’s Rev. Howard J. Kenna C.S.C. Award, as well as the Rev. John J. Cavanaugh C.S.C. Award for distinguished public service and community involvement from the National Notre Dame Alumni Association. In 1990, the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley named him Man of the Year. A lifelong friend of Notre Dame President Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, Mr. Decio was deeply moved and honored to be named a Hesburgh Trustee in 2018.

“Art was a cherished, wise and generous friend of Notre Dame, and a dear friend to me personally,” University of Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins said. “He likewise lent his many talents to innumerable civic, religious, educational and humanitarian causes here in the South Bend-Elkhart region, statewide and nationally. My prayers are with his family and many friends as we mourn his passing while celebrating a life so very well lived.”

Mr. Decio leaves a rich legacy of serving others. He believed everyone should do their best to help those in need. “I’m a very wealthy guy… in values.”

He is survived by his sister, Barbara Decio Vite, of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; five children, Terrence (Marlene) Decio, of St. Joseph, Mich.; Jamee Decio, of Los Angeles; Lindy (Robert) Reilly, of Winnetka, Ill.; Jay (Peter IV) Christman of Simsbury, Conn; and Leigh (Paul) Laird of Reno, Nev., as well as 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

The Decio family will celebrate his life in a private mass, with interment at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the University of Notre Dame’s campus. Palmer Funeral Homes – Hickey Chapel, South Bend, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

November JLT Manufactured Home Community Reports from Datacomp Published for Idaho, Minn., Ore., Wash.

By

Patrick Revere

-

November 4, 2020

Manufactured housing community JLT Market Reports from Datacomp for November 2020 mobile home rent comps, occupancy, and other vital data from Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington are now available for purchase and immediate download.

JLT Market Reports provide detailed research and information on communities in 186 housing markets throughout the United States. These include the latest rent trends and statistics, marketing programs, and a variety of other useful management insights.

Datacomp maintains and provides the JLT Market Reports and is the nation’s #1 provider of market data for the manufactured housing industry. JLT Market Reports are recognized as the industry standard for manufactured home community market analysis.

The November 2020 manufactured housing market data published in JLT Market Reports for Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington include information from 10 markets on 294 “All ages” and “55+” manufactured home communities.

Altogether, the reports from the four states’ manufactured home communities include data representations for 50,547 homesites.

Regional Trends in Manufactured Housing Community Rent

Midwest region manufactured home communities show a year-over-year 3.8% increase in rent and a 2.1% increase in occupancy.
Pacific region manufactured home communities show a year-over-year 3.0% increase in rent and a 0.1% increase in occupancy.
West region manufactured home communities show a year-over-year 4.5% increase in rent and a 0.9% increase in occupancy.

“November 2020 JLT Market Reports continue to show that manufactured housing community rent and occupancy is incredibly stable, in the northwestern tier and through much of the country,” Datacomp Co-President and Chief Business Development Officer Darren Krolewski said. “This is important because U.S. manufactured housing stock is growing in response to affordable housing demand, and housing stability becomes increasingly critical as we navigate the pandemic, stay-at-home measures, and shutdowns or limitations in various industries.”

What’s in 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
Oregon rent control and next increase data
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 November 2020 rents and occupancy rates to November 2019, as well as a historical recap of rents and occupancy from 1996 to the present date in most markets.

The November 2020 JLT Market Reports for Idaho, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington 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.

Industry Mourns the Passing of Deer Valley’s Chet Murphree

By

Patrick Revere

-

November 4, 2020

Charles “Chet” Murphree, president and general manager for Deer Valley Homebuilders, passed away Oct. 24. He was one of the founders of the company, and a primary contributor to the industry.

Mr. Murphree had been ailing. He was 59. Services and burial were on Oct. 28 in Hartselle, Ala.

Joey Aycock, Deer Valley’s director of sales, said Murphree was a great business partner and a better friend.

“Chet was a true visionary for our company and our industry as well. His creative designs along with the ability to stay within the confines of factory-built production techniques exemplified the direction our industry is headed,” Aycock said. “He always had a passion for designing homes that would put our company and industry in a different light.

“We all loved Chet and he loved this industry and the people he met,” Aycock said. “He will be missed by many.”

Mr. Murphree was born May 8, 1961, in Morgan County, Ala., to Charles Leroy Murphree and Elizabeth Ann Sample. He graduated from Decatur High School and of the University of Alabama-Hunstville. Along with being president and general manager of Deer Valley Homebuilders, he was one of the company founders and served on the board of directors.

Involvement in Industry Advancement

Mr. Murphree was Person of the Year for the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission in 2015. He was inducted into the Alabama Manufactured Housing Industry Hall of Fame in 2017. He served on the Alabama State Board for Manufactured Housing and on the board for the Alabama Housing Foundation.

“Chet Murphree had such an impact on our industry, not just with Deer Valley but also serving on our state SAA’s Advisory Board and on the board of our charitable foundation,” Alabama Manufactured Housing Association Executive Director Lance Latham said. “He was always thinking about others, and trying to help those in need. His devout faith in Jesus Christ showed though in everything he did. Our loss is truly heaven’s gain.”

Mr. Murphree also served on the board of Real Party Ministry.

He was preceded in death by daughters Kendall Page and Kelsey Graham Murphree. He is survived by his wife Lisa Graham Murphree, daughter Carly Sample Murphree, father Charles Leroy Murphree, and nine siblings.

Donations may be made to Real Party Ministry, P.O. Box 2302, Hamilton, AL 35570.

Drone Mapping for Real Estate

By

Contributed Content

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November 3, 2020

Drone Mapping Strategies Benefit Manufactured Housing Communities

By Seth Thompson, National Land Realty

Year to year, the evolution of computer technology can be staggering. In most cases, the advancements cause disruption— and opportunity—in every industry. In real estate, one such disruption is caused by drones, which have become an extremely effective tool for mapping and marketing property.

Drone mapping is replacing manned aerial flyovers, like Google Earth, a technology the industry has relied on for decades. More than taking pictures, videos, and plotting property boundaries on a map, drone mapping provides buyers and sellers with low-cost, high-resolution, and frequently updated imagery.

Drone Mapping for Manufactured Housing Communities

drone mapping white closeup camera Drones autonomously capture multiple overlapping images that are georeferenced and stitched together to create an orthomosaic, used just like any other layer in a GIS to serve as an accurate, high-resolution, updated aerial basemap.

Data such as boundary lines, trails, flood zones, and topographic contours can be laid on top of the drone imagery for mapping. Informative manufactured housing community data about utilities, damage, repair, and maintenance also be collected and plotted.

Photogrammetric software is available for drone mapping, such as Pix4D, DroneDeploy. Each software has its pros and cons, but all generate more than just imagery. A standard DJI drone and camera alone can create 3D meshes, digital elevation models, and measure plant health (via VARI algorithm). The data outputs can be used to generate topographic contours, identify troubled areas in agricultural fields, or even help determine the best location to build.

A small, helpful practice is adding the property boundaries and descriptive text on the drone photos. Software such as Photoshop or GIMP can aid with editing the raster photos themselves and adding vector boundaries and text.

Drone Pilot Certification

Drone pilots will tell you one of the best parts of drone mapping is being able to fly as you show a property to potential buyers, or discuss expansion projects with contractors.

It is even possible to buy and sell properties that have never been walked in person, because of the ability to survey the property through a live feed on a tablet from an airborne drone.

An FAA Part 107 certification is highly recommended for becoming a successful drone pilot and drone mapping. Many local and online schools offer preparation for the 60-question test. Drone Launch Academy online offers a pass guarantee or your money back.

Occasionally, you will need to coordinate with the airport before you fly, so it is always a clever idea to plan your flights ahead of time, particularly if a property or established community is near an airport or restricted airspace.

The Bottom Line About Drone Mapping

Modern drone technology is an excellent mapping tool that helps agents close deals more quickly. There are an exponential number of supplementary applications that provide a myriad of benefits to those in the broker industry. When all is said and done, drone mapping is a must-have for every listing in the brokerage industry.

Seth Thompson is a Realtor with National Land Realty licensed in Northwest Alabama and based out of the Tuscumbia (Ala.) office. The company’s proprietary video technology, Land Tour 360™, as well as its GIS land mapping system, LandBase™, is offered for free to the public. As a Land Professional, Thompson offers professional representation, integrity, and a keen depth of knowledge in land transactions.

YES Communities Starts New Podcast to Profile Resident Voices, Experiences

By

Patrick Revere

-

November 2, 2020

YES Communities has launched a new podcast to tell the stories of residents and to share the dynamic advantages of living in a manufactured home community.

“What Living Means” is available at YES Communities website as well as through most commonly used podcasting platforms.

YES Communities Vice President of Marketing Vanessa Jasinski is the host of the show, which will provide a mix of authentic resident stories with discussions about particular experiences in raising children, engaging with the broader community, and finding ways to live affordably.

“This podcast is a way to look at manufactured home communities a little more closely from all angles, with both serious discussion and entertainment thrown in,” Jasinski said. “We work to make quality, affordable housing a reality for individuals and families across the United States—now we want to share those stories.”

Steven Schaub, YES Communities CEO, said “What Living Means” explores and brings to a wider audience the individual stories of the residents are powerful, and need to be heard in a new way. Guests on the show will share experiences from manufactured home communities nationwide, providing a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

Some current topics being explored include the impact of afterschool programs for manufactured home community residents, the value of organized sports for children, and local resources that can provide family support and structure for individual residents.

“Our goal is to inform our listeners and recognize the individuals who are a part of YES Communities. We believe that both our residents and community team deserve more appreciation for the integral part they play both in their individual communities, as well as our larger YES Communities family,” Schaub said “We want to highlight the impactful but sometimes overlooked everyday actions that take place in our communities. We believe the podcast will allow a wider audience to join us in experiencing the extraordinary magic that lives in our family of communities.”

Hire A Qualified Third-Party Manager

Some Areas Third-Party Management Can Cover:

Minimum Per Section Compensation Goes from $2.50 to $14 for Participating States

Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

Exhibitor Opportunities Open Soon

By Matt Rearden

Manufactured Home Buyers Are Motivated

Central Florida Community Residents Are Staying Put

It’s Really About Lifestyle

So, What About the Balance?

What’s Next?

The Work of a Debt Collection Law Firm

Art Decio in Service, Philanthropy

Art Decio Notre Dame Trustee

Involvement in Industry Advancement

Drone Mapping Strategies Benefit Manufactured Housing Communities

By Seth Thompson, National Land Realty

Drone Mapping for Manufactured Housing Communities

Drone Pilot Certification

The Bottom Line About Drone Mapping

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