Michigan Manufactured Housing Association Optimistic After Louisville Manufactured Housing Show

OKEMOS, MI--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) -  The "Road to Success" was the theme for last week's Louisville Manufactured Housing Show and those attending the conference -- including many from Michigan -- are very optimistic about the direction the industry is heading. 

According to Bill Sheffer, director of Michigan Manufactured Housing Association (MMHA), Louisville 2015 was the best attended show in the past five years. "Community owners and finance folks are getting on the same page and beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of financing."

The number of exhibitors and model homes also signaled how well the industry is coming back. There were nearly 80 exhibitors and more than 40 homes on display, an increase in previous years. The seminars -- ranging from how to super charge your manufactured home marketing to manufactured home community commercial lending -- were well attended, with standing room only. "People were eager to learn and purchase," said Sheffer.

Show attendee Mark Barrett, president of Barrett Property Management, said he could tell attendance was up and that the more diverse crowd reflects the positive growth the manufactured housing industry is experiencing.

"I was very impressed with the quality improvements of the single section, lower-end homes and their options -- which is what I specifically went there to see," he said. But he also noticed the number of people considering opening up retail operations and how that signals the improvement of the economy. 

MMHA board member Byron Stroud, Champion Homes, was excited to see exteriors looking so well. "The exterior products, features and options were definitely more upscale and is a good reflection on the industry," he said. "Buyers are returning and choosing options again which is great for the industry as a whole."

MMHA was well represented as multiple association members were there to talk shop and make deals. "There were many incentives and answers -- lots of encouragement to community owners to purchase new homes for their communities," Sheffer said. 

Darren Ing, assistant director of MMHA, noticed everyone was very optimistic about the industry's future and that it showed in the number of people expressing interest in renewing their MMHA membership or getting involved with the association for the first time. "People were coming over to us to talk about becoming members," Ing said, "And we were glad to talk to them."