Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/708576
AUGUST 2016 26 THE JOURNAL Ask Eddie BY ED HICKS DEVELOPMENT MARKETING Should I be concentrating on seniors as prospects for manufactured home living? Jack- son Q., Jacksonville, FL Yes. I am making my personal history with the industry as a part of my monthly column this month. I did not want to be the only "Senior" re- c eiving some form of a "birthday card" for my birthday, now in semi retirement, has chosen a practical solution to my housing needs. Actually, in my opinion, it's not such a bad thing to be re- ferred to as a "Senior". And perhaps, even you may discover you are one, but almost for sure, with care and good health, you will be one! The manufactured housing industry is clearly a part of one of the best housing values in America. It's my heritage, and the primary reason why for so many years I have made it a part of my business life. I also have shared my enthusiasm with others, as a retailer, manufacturer, developer, RE Broker, and business consultant. My Scottish great-grandparents in the 1860's crossed America three times in a "covered wagon (the manufactured home of the day) with compa- nies of immigrants. My grandfather who had a "long, long trailer" (all of 8' wide and 25' long) lived in Southern California, and my mother who lived in a "pre HUD code factory built home" are examples of my heritage. My life in a "manufactured home" started out as a young family of 2, soon to be 4 with the arrival of twins, of a small 8' x 35' trailer in 1963 after leav- ing the University. Now as I near my birthday an- niversary, once again I find my wife and myself living in a manufactured home, this time in a resort style m/h seniors' community. Seniors know the value of goods and services: we are willing to drink good wine even if it may be in a box, live in a factory built home even if we don't own the homesite but lease it instead. We learn to take advantage of all the seniors discounts being of- fered by almost all businesses, and are not ashamed to ask for us. Life is good for us. We Seniors are easy to spot at public events; dur- ing the playing of our National Anthem. Seniors re- move their caps, cover their hearts, stand at attention and sing without embarrassment. We know the words and believe in them. And, when our Nations flag passes in front of us, we uncharac- teristically salute by placing their right hand over our hearts, and take off our headwear. Many Seniors are old enough to remember World War II, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Normandy, and Hitler. We also remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and the Moon Landing. We recall the 50 plus Peace- keeping Missions from 1945 to 2005, not to men- tion Vietnam If you bump into a Senior on the sidewalk we will usually apologize. If you pass a Senior gentleman on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady. Sen- iors trust strangers and are courtly to women and treat us with great respect. This can work against us when challenged by predatory scam artists in person or on the Internet. Seniors may hold the door for the next person and always, when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside of the walkway next to the street for protection. Seniors may be embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children and we don't like any filth or dirty language on TV or in movies. And, may even apologize for the cursor. Yeah, we may drive a little slower on the high- ways but most of us try to stay in the slow lane. Through experience we are aware of how little is the importance of saving a few minutes by driving er- ratically or too fast. And, we may take a little longer to walk across the intersections, but please give us the space and we will get there, eventually. In fact, we have learned its better to plan ahead by leaving for our appointments and meetings well ahead of time, so we don't have to speed, or worry about traffic tie-ups, or unexpected accidents on the way to make us late. Seniors have wisely given up on the idea that a larger, more expensive site built home is necessary for happiness in retirement, except for the "status driven". With today's high cost property taxes, ever increasing utility costs, and expensive home maintenance costs, smaller and "downsized" man- ufactured housing is obviously better. And, Sen- iors recognize all the benefits high quality factory built manufactured homes in communities can offer to those with fixed incomes. And, we are not em- barrassed for our relaxed, positive, lifestyle and often work together with our neighbors to provide for greater community support, safety, and tran- quility. Our site built home neighbors speak highly of us . Seniors make up a significant percentage of our high quality manufactured homes residents, most of which are in land lease communities, with a few in m/h condominiums and other community types, and happily so. In these communities we are highly respected members of the larger community, pro- viding community support, economic stability, and improving neighborhood security and values. Seniors have moral courage and personal in- tegrity. By our later years, we have saved wisely, and usually have good credit. When purchasing a home, we usually have substantial down payments, and lenders are more than willing to finance our purchases. When we live in a community, we keep up our homes with true "pride of ownership", and rarely leave our tricycles out in the roadway at night. We seldom brag about our personal accom- plishments unless it's about our children, grand- children or their pet animals. It's the Seniors who know our great country is protected, not by many of the self-serving politi- cians, but by the young men and women in the mil- itary, proudly and unselfishly serving their country. Seniors openly and proudly support them all for their service to our country. We are often the first to say "thank you for your service to our country". Our countrymen should recognize the value of caring for Seniors with their old fashioned work ethic, sense of responsibility, pride in their country, and decent social and human values. And, with recent advances in medicine, it is apparent that more and more of us are living into old age. In the 40s and 50s I was taught to respect my elders, not to disregard or disrespect us . It's just getting harder to find us these days. Seniors are and will continue to be good friends of the manufactured housing industry. We need us /us now more than ever. Thank goodness for Seniors Edward Hicks, Lic. Mortgage Broker, Licensed RE Broker, since 1963 as a m/h retailer, home manufacturer, community developer, and consultant. easteddie@aol.com, www.mobilehomepark.com, www.factorybuilthome.com 813 300-6150 T J