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At the Novi Home Show, on October 8-10 at Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi in Michigan, there will be several brand new, upper scale manufactured homes on display that can be toured at no additional admission cost. Meaning, there are other things occurring at the Novi Home Show, and if you attend anyway, then your fee-entry into the show also is your ‘ticket’ to see these hyped new models. What follows is going to be the guts of a press release that Mobile and Manufactured Home Living News (MHLivingNews) has decided to publish, but not precisely for the same reasons as the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association (MMHA) would anticipate. The Michigan manufactured home trade association might blanch at how MHLivingNews will suggest individuals look at these homes. This report, following their press release (which should not be construed as an endorsement of the brands mentioned) will be additional information, report and fact check.
Buckle up for that part of the ride, following what is provided from their press release.
NOVI, MI / ACCESSWIRE / September 27, 2021 / The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association (MMHA) Manufactured Home Showcase is a great opportunity to tour the newest manufactured homes featuring open concept floorplans, advanced technologies and high-end features. The exhibit is part of The Novi Home Show, October 8-10 at Suburban Collection Showplace, Novi.
Attendees can tour three manufactured home models featuring gorgeous floor plans, incredible kitchens and luxurious master baths from some of the industry’s leading manufacturers. Showcase homes average 2,100 square feet and range in price starting at $129,900 to $149,995. These homes represent the latest in design trends and technology innovations.
“We like showcasing a home to promote awareness about today’s manufactured homes,” said Brian Stone, general manager of AJR Homes and Communities. “They are not what many people think they are and folks are always impressed with the style and construction. All the homes featured in this show represent a great combination of modern looks with practical necessities and are sure to amaze.”
Homes on display are:
- The AJR 3 by Champion Homes is a gorgeous 2,108 sq. ft. multi-section home with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Spacious kitchen with an island that includes black-stainless-steel appliances, a farmhouse sink and a large, open dining area with a gorgeous built-in hutch. A luxurious master suite features tiled shower, furniture-style dual sink vanity and walk-in closet with island. Large utility/laundry/mud room with hall tree and cabinet storage. Presented by AJR Homes & Communities.
- The Winston by Champion is a spectacular 2,184 sq. ft. multi-section home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. This spacious home features a large living room with entertainment center and built-in electric fireplace, huge gourmet island kitchen with stainless steel appliances, farmhouse sink, and a separate dining area. Barn doors separate the kitchen from spacious den, which makes a perfect home office, craft or TV room. Master bedroom suite features large spa-like bathroom with large walk-in ceramic shower, separate soaker tub, and dual vanities. Presented by Augusta Woods.
- The LX Custom HUD by Skyline is a stunning 2,112 sq. ft. home. In addition to three bedrooms, two bathrooms and covered porch the home features a spacious master suite with soaker tub, tiled stall shower and walk-in closet. Island kitchen with stainless-steel appliances, farmhouse style-sink and dining area. A built-in entertainment center and desk are also included. Presented by Sun Homes and Communities…
MHLivingNews note: Skyline Champion is now one company, and it is a prominent member of the arguably problematic Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI). That said, we editorially encourage touring the homes, but we do not encourage buying those homes, for reasons discussed in the articles that will follow.
A few more details from the Novi Show – MMHA press release, and then we will provide some additional stunning and embarrassing insights for MHI. Back to a few more items from their press release.
The Manufactured Home Showcase is an exhibit within The Novi Home Show and does not cost additional admission. The Novi Home Show is October 8-10 at Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue in Novi, Friday 2-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Adult admission (ages 13 and over) is $10; seniors (ages 55 and over) is $9; and children ages 12 and under admitted free! Special “$5 after 5” admission pricing on Friday and Saturday. Parking is not included with ticket purchase and can be purchased prior to the event at www.suburbancollectionshowplace.com/parking.
Purchase advance tickets online and skip the line (and save 30%) at michhome.org, sponsored by My Local Pros. Advanced tickets purchased are good for any day of the show. FREE tickets available to the military, first responders and teachers while supplies last, sponsored by My Local Pros. Email brians@builders.org for details. Must be purchased online in advance.
Find buy-one-get-one free adult admission coupons at Great Lakes Ace Hardware stores, SaveOn and Valpak. Additional coupons and offers are located at www.michhome.org. Limited to one coupon per person. One discount per coupon. Coupon may not be combined with any other offers, including “$5 after 5” and must be presented at box office (no online discounts). Expires October 10, 2021…”
Note that if you Google or search on Duck Duck Go for discount coupons for Novi Home Show you may find a similar or perhaps better deal from someone besides the Michigan Manufactured Home Association (MMHA). Look for the other options mentioned, above, Ace, SaveOn, or Valpak too. In the end, it is up to you – “We Provide, You Decide.”©
The video below is from a prior Novi show.
Additional Information, more MHLivingNews Analysis and Commentary
The agency that posted this press release said that additional information was going to be provided that was asked by MHLivingNews. But over a day elapsed and that PR professional failed to do what she said. More on that, perhaps, another time. But it would not be a surprise if the MMHA and/or MHI begged – or insisted? – that she not answer the questions, once they knew MHLivingNews was asking for the information.
Samuel Strommen at Knudson Law specifically named MHI’s Big Three (Big 3) of Clayton Homes, Skyline Champion, and Cavco Industries as in his view violating federal laws in conjunction with MHI itself.
Almost a year ago, this writer was interviewed by Pissed Consumer, and some time before Strommen did his independent research, we made the case to avoid doing business with several arguably problematic brands involved at MHI.
Not every MHI member is automatically a black hat brand, but certain brands are arguably engaged in black hat and apparently illegal behavior. Who says, beyond Strommen and others? How about the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC), which recently filed suit against Cavco. Note that other brands are mentioned in their complaint.
Note in that featured image for the photo above that Skyline-Champion’s CEO is sitting next to Joseph “Joe” Stegmayer, who is specifically named in the SEC legal action. Now, Cavco denies the allegations, but the previously admitted to their shareholders that they were trying to negotiate a settlement too. Chew on that tidbit.
Manufactured housing is underperforming during an affordable housing crisis. Strommen and others have said that specific MHI members are among the reasons for that. If that sounds odd at first, keep in mind that Cavco and Skyline Champion specifically state in their investor pitch decks that they want to consolidate. Consolidation is difficult to do if an industry is growing.
When we first launched what we now call MHProNews almost 12 years ago (mid-October, 2009) and launched MHLivingNews some three years later we frankly did not realize just how ‘rigged the system’ in manufactured housing was.
But as we began to develop the facts and evidence, often from tips that include consumers as well as professionals, this platform and our MHProNews sister site pivoted based on what was being learned. We have demonstrated for some time our willingness to tackle the thorny topics.
According to a tip from a source connected with the West Virginia (Manufactured) Housing Institute (WVHI), another MHI affiliate, the following was from a research study published by them in 2008. Per a (WVHI) newsletter obtained by MHProNews, the following: “The manufactured housing industry can overcome its negatives by accentuating its positives to a national audience that is largely ignorant of the factory-built housing industry, the study, by Charlton Research Co., showed. Charlton Research of Grants Pass, OR, and Germantown, MD, found in a survey it did for MHI that 23 percent of the public “don’t know who you are.” Another 54 percent surveyed had a positive attitude about manufactured housing. The remaining 23 percent had a negative attitude. When the company presented information about the homes and showed the survey group pictures, the favorable rating climbed to 79 percent with 12 percent saying they had a less-favorable attitude. The industry should not address negative stereotypes concerning the industry, Charlton President Chuck Rund, who was director of survey research for the Reagan-Bush campaign in 1984, urged the meeting in St. Louis. “You have to move on.” When given additional educational material about the quality of manufactured homes, researchers received comments like, “If I heard all this stuff, I’d be more likely to purchase,” Rund said. He urged MHI to move forward with a request for proposals for an image consultant to a fully integrated communications program to tout the industry on radio, the web and on television.” Note, highlighting was added by MHLivingNews in the above.
On our MHProNews site and on MHLivingNews, we’ve called out apparently faked (per sources, manipulated and obscured results) from a more recent MHI backed move. But note that there is no evidence that MHI went beyond talking on the above, just as they did not go beyond talking on other similar concepts.
Our position has been straightforward for years. Once people discover the truth about manufactured homes, many fall in love with the homes as a good option for themselves, their household or family. MHLivingNews has provided information on that for years. But what others have not done, and what the “Charlton Research Co.” arguably missed too – is that there should be a bright-line distinctions made between black hat brands and white hat brands.
Seek out good companies in manufactured housing while avoiding problematic ones.
Additionally, there needs to be a thorough investigation of MHI and their dominating brands by federal and/or state officials. More on that topic in the days ahead, so check back soon for what we believe is coming.
WND.com is a news site that tends toward the conservative or right side of the media spectrum. Out of billions of websites, per Alexa – an Amazon owned brand – says on this date (9.30.2021) that WND.com news site ranks as follows.
#5,606
in global internet engagement
Per Alexa, WND.com are trending up in traffic. No surprise, because they dig into a wide range of news topics that many in mainstream media avoid or downplay.
Unique Visitors – Certified – All visitors to this site in the past 30 days
1.67 M – Monthly Unique Visitors
9.39 M – Monthly Pageviews
On that WND.com news website, we made the case to enforce the law against corporate lawbreakers in a brief, fact- and evidence-based letter.
We believe then and now that there are apparent lawbreakers in manufactured housing, and they seem to have gathered at MHI. That’s not just the views of Strommen, but others have raised similar concerns.
Affordable housing is necessary. Just as there are black hats in the car business, the solution isn’t to not buy a car if you need one. Rather, you buy from someone that does good clean business and stands behind their product. The same principle applies in manufactured housing. Manufactured homes are needed. We’ve publicly challenged MHI and their dominating brands to respond to the concerns by Strommen. They’ve declined to do so.
The silence of MHI and their so-called black hat brands, plus the evidence, it all speaks loudly!
Manufactured homes are a good option. The video in the focus group below featured actual homeowners, most of whom had owned other kinds of conventional housing before buying a manufactured home that they fell in love with. The message is simple. Steer clear of the black hats. Seek out the white hats. If you do, per actual manufactured home owners, you’ll be glad you did.
We lay out the facts and insights that others are too lazy, agenda-driven, or otherwise uninformed to do. That’s what makes our sister site and this location the runaway leaders for authentic information about affordable housing in general, the politics behind the problems, and manufactured homes specifically. That’s a wrap on this installment of “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) (See Related Reports, further below. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)
By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHLivingNews.com.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing. For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com. This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position, and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
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