OREGON – An agreement between Oregon’s Department of Business and Consumer Services (DBCS) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will give some county governments the authority to handle document processing and taxation of mobile home. In previous years the DMV has handled mobile home fees and taxes in the same manner as automobiles. Under the agreement extension, counties can act as their own agent and give mobile home owners an ownership document like that provided to traditional home owners. Owners will be able to transfer the homes and acquire a title at a county DCBS office or through a title company.
WASHINGTON— Port Townsend-based architect, Randy Fax has taken a cue from local minimalist builders and created five new modular home designs that emphasize simplicity and affordability. The sizes of these dwellings range from 14-by-28 foot condo-sized units to a much smaller 10-by-12 foot “Outlaw” model. The homes result in no construction waste, as compared to site-built residences that often produce 10-15 percent waste. It is an ideal entry level home at $100 per square foot. Additionally, Kulshan Community Land Trust is partnering with Seattle’s Method Homes to design a factory-built residence or dwelling built onsite using wall panels. The goal is to locate the units in densely populated areas as in-fill homes. A group called Countywide Housing Affordability Task Force (CHAT) is promoting these panel units to create more affordable housing and reduce impact fees.
COLORADO— Modular Construction is the perfect fit for the Aspen resort’s employee housing. In just 12 days, a 44,000 sq.ft. 36 unit housing complex was crane set in the midst of one of the Rocky Mountain’s most upscale ski villages. Thanks to The Neenan Company and Barvista Building Systems, more than 120 workers have attractive, energy-efficient (LEED cert.) housing.
CALIFORNIA— Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for an investigation of building code protocols and emergency policies after two major fires destroyed over 600 manufactured homes. The losses may prompt tougher fire retardant building codes for new homes.
LOUISIANA— Bossier Homes has created a portable house for the Santa’s Workshop on the Louisiana Boardwalk. The new, log-cabin style manufactured home has 2,315 sq ft, superior quality and is fully furnished. It is a real Christmas promotion for MHomes.
As America copes with the financial crisis there are still areas throughout the country that are still doing relatively well in regards to property and home sales. People over extending and buying out of their price range helped to put the U.S. in this position. The necessity to have quality affordable housing will always be a need across the economic spectrum. This will definitely help the manufactured housing industry. Despite the negativity flooding the airwaves, TV and newspapers, there are some pockets of sunshine as far as the overall housing market is concerned.
There are even some up-ticks in housing activity in the hardest hit states, namely Nevada, California, Florida and Arizona. Certain elements of the bank and GSE bailouts and the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 help our industry. For example, the Act says that when a first time home buyer purchases a house between April 9 of this year and July 1, 2009, he or she will get a $7500 tax credit. It also establishes a “duty to serve” the manufactured housing industry. There is no easy way out of this economic downturn, but in these times of crisis, we must find the opportunities. This is the time to be creative and work collaboratively. The fastest, most effective way to turn this economy around is to shore up the housing sector.
Manufactured and modular homes offer the best cost per square foot and can allow people to have energy efficiency, additional space, amenities and upgrades that they may not have considered or been able to afford in a conventional site-built home. Factory-built homes have come a long way in the design and quality that they offer. Current or future home buyers can do their research and find sites online where manufacturers and retailers display various models and options. These web sites offer some solid information and resources to help consumer decisions. Anyone looking to upgrade their current living conditions may want to check out the new look in homes and may be surprised that a manufactured home payment is less than renting.
Linda Lindholm Executive Director
Jack Lyman's Report
Jack Lyman's Report
The national economic slowdown has hit Idaho hard. In late September Governor Otter ordered a one percent budget holdback for state agencies, directing them to reduce their spending immediately – just three months into the new fiscal year. His actions were in response to forecasts that state revenue may fall by more than $174 below last winter's projections. He also directed the agencies to hold an additional 1.5 percent of their budgets in reserve for now as a hedge against further declines.
Just two weeks after the Governor's precautionary actions Micron Technology, the state's largest private employer, announced it would lay off 1,500 employees over the next two years. Most of those layoffs will come from the company's Boise operation, and will be a significant drag on the local and state economies.
With these announcements, and the continuing concern about the national and global economies, people are likely to reduce their spending. This will result in lower tax revenues to all levels of government. Unfortunately, governments don't react to lower revenues the way you would in your business. You would look for ways to reduce expenses, would probably look for ways to reduce the work hours for your key employees and, if things got bad enough, would have to lay off people. If you operate in multiple locations, you may consider closing one or more of them
Government will probably respond by spending money it doesn't have, at least at the national level. At the state level, where the Idaho constitution requires a balanced budget, I expect legislators, to avoid the expansion of programs, perhaps to put a freeze on new hiring, and will take a look at tax increases. I am fairly confident they won't eliminate any programs, won't close any state offices and won't force the layoff of any state employees.
These dire economic times will be mixed blessing for our legislative goals. Our efforts to revise the Landlord/Tenant Act will take place in an environment where park closures will be rarer due to the dramatic reduction in land prices. This will significantly reduce the pressure on us to agree to some expansive and expensive quick-fix program to address the dislocations associated with closure. On the down side, it also means we won't be able to count on any state participation in the funding that may be necessary to solve this problem. Legislators may even be reluctant to approve any increase in taxes or fees on residents and park owners to fund relocation assistance programs.
Our challenge will be to craft a bill that effectively addresses the closure issue with creative ideas that recognize the difficult economic environment in which we and our residents live. I'm confident we will be able to do so. Our challenge will be to craft a bill that effectively addresses the closure issue with creative ideas that recognize the difficult economic environment in which we and our residents live. I'm confident we will be able to do so.
Money Making Web Sites
Web Sites That Make Money!
You don't have to be number one in Google to make your web site a success. What you need is to target your client and make sure they do more than just visit your web site. There are many web sites that get great traffic and little or no business. When I talk about having a strategy for your web site, it really boils down to two things: (1) accurately identifying your client and (2) getting a response from them when they visit your web site.
For example, if your business is in Utah, it won't help if your web site visitors are from New York. There are many parts in the design of a web site that will productively filter visitors that are local and able to purchase a home. Putting your client first in the design and strategy of your web site is critical to its success. Bringing a client in from a Google search has as much to do with design as with your ranking. I have web sites selling homes within 4 weeks of a launch and they were so far back in the Google search we couldn't find them. I am not whistling “Dixie”, these are facts. Identify your client.
The statistics of how many visits you have to your web site are fun and sometimes productive tools, but I will take quality over quantity any day. With having identified your client now let’s get what we call a conversion. A conversion is nothing more than having a client either call you or email you. Forget trying to pre-qualify online and all those fancy forms to fill out. You know if you can get them to call you that you will have a good shot at getting them to buy from you.
Too often a web site owner wants to impress with flash or some other device to dazzle the client, but all too often it really just wastes time. Create a simple path of steps that will make the client want to contact you. Get those conversions!
Imagine if 150 visitors came to your web site in a week. Mind you, we have “productively filtered” these visitors. Now of those 150, only 10 were conversions (you got a response) and of those 4 actually came in to the sales office and 2 were not qualified. Would you like to sell 2 homes in a week from your web site? Also, compare your web costs to your paper advertising costs. The web site is better in every way!
Get tough, be smart and make money.
Max Marble owns a web design service which matches businesses with happy customers! Specializing in strategies for businesses on the internet, it's simple, do what you know and do it well. Call at 503-378-7166 or email now.
Calendar of Events
CALENDAR OF EVENTS October 27 – Pocatello – Community Dinner Ramada Inn October 28 –ID Education– Pocatello, Ramada Inn, Juniper Rm. October 28 – Twin Falls, Comm. Dinner, Rock Creek Restaurant October 29 – ID Education Twin Falls, Hampton Inn October 30 – ID Education, Nampa Civic Center October 30 – Community Dinner, Boise, Casa Mexico Banquet November 5 – Community Dinner, Red Lion, Copeland Room November 6- ID Education Lewiston, Red Lion November 6 – Community Dinner, Coeur d’Alene Inn, Idaho Rm. November 7 – ID Education Coeur d’Alene, C d’Alene Inn November 13-14 – Building Industry Show, Long Beach, CA November 20 - Idaho Board Meeting, Boise, Idaho November 24 - Idaho Building Safety MH Board December 9 – Utah Board of Directors, Salt Lake City, UT December 10 – Nevada Board of Directors, Reno, NV December 24-January 1 – Happy Holidays to all! January 13-15 – Louisville MH Show, Louisville, Kentucky February 19 – ID Board Meeting, Crane Creek, Boise March 18 – Utah Board Meeting, Salt Lake City March 19 – Nevada Board of Directors Meeting, Reno April 14-15 – MHI Congress, Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, NV April 29-30 – Great SW Home Show, Tulsa, OK
OREGON – An agreement between Oregon’s Department of Business and Consumer Services (DBCS) and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will give some county governments the authority to handle document processing and taxation of mobile home. In previous years the DMV has handled mobile home fees and taxes in the same manner as automobiles. Under the agreement extension, counties can act as their own agent and give mobile home owners an ownership document like that provided to traditional home owners. Owners will be able to transfer the homes and acquire a title at a county DCBS office or through a title company. 
As America copes with the financial crisis there are still areas throughout the country that are still doing relatively well in regards to property and home sales. People over extending and buying out of their price range helped to put the U.S. in this position. The necessity to have quality affordable housing will always be a need across the economic spectrum. This will definitely help the manufactured housing industry. Despite the negativity flooding the airwaves, TV and newspapers, there are some pockets of sunshine as far as the overall housing market is concerned. 
The national economic slowdown has hit Idaho hard. In late September Governor Otter ordered a one percent budget holdback for state agencies, directing them to reduce their spending immediately – just three months into the new fiscal year. His actions were in response to forecasts that state revenue may fall by more than $174 below last winter's projections. He also directed the agencies to hold an additional 1.5 percent of their budgets in reserve for now as a hedge against further declines. 