Industry Happenings

Happenings Industry HAPPENINGS

Transactions Crown Communities Buys Ohio Property

Westview Estates in Sandusky, Ohio, has been acquired by Crown Communities and will be managed by Kodiak Property Management. "This is another great acquisition for Crown Communities and our eighth acquisition in 12 months," Alex Cabot, of Crown Communities, said. "Westview is one of the highest quality manufactured housing communities in Northwest Ohio and represents the type of property Crown Communities seeks to acquire and operate in the future."

RHP Properties Purchases Illinois, Delaware Communities

Farmington Hills, Mich-based RHP Properties has acquired Valley View Estates in Shiloh, Ill., as well as three communities in Delaware, expanding the company’s portfolio to 15 communities in Illinois and 311 nationwide. Valley View Estates is on 57 acres and features more than 230 homes near local schools and large employers. The acquisition in Delaware consists of Colonial East, an all-ages community, and Sussex East and Sussex West, a pair of 55+ communities. All of the properties are located in Rehoboth. RHP has seven communities in Delaware.

Yale Brokers Two Large Deals in Hot Market

Yale Realty & Capital Advisors in the second quarter topped its best single sale in the St. Louis market with a $17.5 million closing, registering $75,300 per pad in the 200-plus homesite, 95% occupied community. Upper Midwest Regional Director Ken Schefler credits his record-breaking close to the buyer's longstanding relationship with Yale. In Florida, Yale National Director of Brokerage James Cook closed a $19 million, 175-homesite, senior community with spacious lots, abundant amenities, and below-market rents.

California Community Added to Hometown America Portfolio

Hometown America has agreed to purchase Mary Manor Estates, a manufactured home community in Sunnyvale, Calif. The 116-site community is fully occupied, and sits about 12 miles from San Jose, and 40 miles south of San Francisco. Built in

1974, the Mary Manor Estates has a pool, clubhouse, and car washing station.

UMH Purchases Pennsylvania Community for $5.8 Million

UMH Properties has acquired a manufactured home community in Monaca, Pa. for $5.8 million. The community has 96 developed homesites and is situated on about 18 acres. “We are happy to announce the acquisition of this well-located community,” UMH President and CEO Sam Landy said. “This community is located near some of our communities that are at or near full occupancy and it complements our existing portfolio. Landy said UMH will upgrade the community to increase revenue and community value. He said the company continues to seek opportunistic acquisitions that meet their growth criteria. UMH Properties owns and operates 128 manufactured home communities with more than 24,100 homesites in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Alabama, and South Carolina, and has one co-owned community in Florida. UMH also recently opened a pair of new home retail locations, one in Carmel, Ind., and another in Catskill, N.Y.

Industry Giving Community Owner Provides Support, Funding for Fifth School

RHP Properties, the nation's largest private owner and operator of manufactured home communities, is providing a $10,000 donation to support Mountain »

View High School in El Monte, Calif. The donation is in partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org. The funding is for pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade schools and teachers in the U.S. to purchase materials and tools for their students to learn and succeed. This is the fifth school RHP Properties has adopted through the program, with a total of $50,000 in donations. Mountain View has about 1,340 students in ninth through 12th grade, including about 200 students who reside in nearby Brookside Country Club, an RHP Properties community.

Personnel Washington Association Hires New Director

The Northwest Housing Association, which represents manufactured home retailers and builders in Washington, has hired Lance Clark as executive director of the organization. Clark brings about 20 years of association management and building industry experience to the role left vacant by the recently retired longtime Executive Director Joan Brown. “I am excited to serve as NHA’s executive and support members during a time of dynamic growth in manufactured home sales,” Clark said.

In Memoriam Texas MH Professionals Mourn Passing of Industry Leader

Norman Pate, 78, of Woodway, Texas, passed away in March. Mr. Pate came to Texas from Alabama in 1973 to work with Winston Industries and Crimson Homes. He and his wife Susie worked at Brigadier Manufactured Plant and started Brigadier Homes of Waco. Mr. Pate loved being a small business owner, and developed many friendships from his associations in the industry; his employees, and clients. His passion was providing quality manufactured housing to the community and developing his business. A visitation was held in early April at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel. He is survived by his wife, children Lane and Ashley, sister-in-law Lola Murphy Pate, nieces Vicki and Rhonda, nephews Scott, Chris, Ray, and Dave, as well as countless cousins and other family and friends. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Michigan Community Owner, Advocate Passes Away

Joseph Adlore Chaudier, who built L’Anse Mobile Home Park in Michigan, died in March from brain cancer. He had been in the United States Air Force, and worked as a draftsman for Ford Motor Company before returning to his hometown. He served on the Michigan Manufactured Housing Commission. Mr. Chaudier is survived by his wife Doris, three daughters, eight grandchildren, and three brothers. He was preceded in death by his parents John and Gladys Chaudier and six siblings.

Wisconsin Retailer, Advocate Laid to Rest

Eugene “Gene” Victor Remy, 84, of Remy’s Homes, passed away in April. Mr Remy was an entrepreneur from an early age, catching and selling minnows at his parents’ resort, and selling manufactured homes during his high school lunch breaks. What began as a business venture led him to the realization of his true passion of providing affordable housing for families. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a trained electrician. He and his wife Pat also owned and operated Thunderhill Estates and Gitche Gumee Resort. Mr. Remy served on the boards for the Wisconsin Manufactured Housing Association and Wisconsin Housing Alliance, and in 2001 earned the Elmer Fry Award for leadership and industry innovation.

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Call Magazine Publisher, Patrick Revere, at (616) 888-6994, or email at patrick@mhvillage.com