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Vicki Coons is with Complete Mobile Home Sales and generously agreed to share this article with MHCO Members.  Her contact information is listed below.  MHCO is always excited to showcase an MHCO Associate Member.

At some point, you'll feel ready to settle down and start a family. Though it's an exciting new chapter in your life, you have to consider a lot of things first, from career plans to personal goals. You also have to take into account adjusting to the married life and eventually becoming a parent.

One of the most important preparations you have to think about is where to live. You want a decent place to raise your family - somewhere that you can truly call your home. Many young households today don't have a clear idea of where to settle down. Usually, they'd go for anything that's not pricey or isolated.

Manufactured houses are great options for young families. For the past few years, mobile homes have gained widespread popularity. From one end of the country to the other, you can find communities of pre-fabricated homes, particularly in places like Oregon.

If you are thinking about settling down or looking for a quality property to move into, take a look at the following to know why manufactured homes in Oregon are a great choice:

Pre-fabricated homes are affordable

Compared to brand new modern homes, manufactured housing is an affordable alternative for young families. You get more value for your investment. From the actual construction of the structure to maintenance and upgrades, the cost is significantly less than what you'd spend on a stick-built house. For a starting household, this is a great selling point.

Mobile homes are all about quality living

Affordability doesn't equate to inferior living standards. In fact, families are better off with mobile homes because they offer just the solutions they need. With the number of options available, they can choose the house that suits their situation. Mobiles homes in Oregon, for instance, vary in design and function. From elaborate floor plans to simple yet elegant house design, you can certainly find one that matches your preferences.

Green Living

Another less obvious yet equally striking benefit of mobile homes is green living. Builders don't waste a lot of materials during construction because they have complete control over the quality. The materials themselves are made of sustainable, eco-friendly components. As they are built with having a minimal impact to the environment in mind, in a way, you are giving back to nature. Residing in a mobile home can kick start your family's green living.

You belong to a community

No place is better for raising a family than in the safety of a community. Many mobile homes are located in communities and RV parks. Our listed manufactured homes in Oregon, for instance, are located in some of the prime spots in the country.

More financing options

There are also more financing options available for mobile homes. Here at Complete Mobile Homes, we work closely with local and national lending institutions. You can easily get the financing resource you need, so you can finally move into your manufactured house. You may consult with our team of manufactured home professionals to know more about your financing options.

Starting a family is a major decision, so is choosing a place to live. With all the benefits of living in a manufactured home in Oregon, deciding is now much easier to do. If you want the best for your family, a mobile home is for you.

Vicki A. Coons 

4741 Hillcrest Rd

Medford, OR 97504

Phone: 541-951-6953

Fax: 541-772-3938

Email: vickicoons9@gmail.com

Website: www.complete-mobilehomes.com

Escrow/Title Companies and Manufactured Home Dealers:

The Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) is moving toward launching a new online Manufactured Home Ownership Documents System (MHODS) with a projected "go-live" date of Feb. 1, 2017. 

MHODS Online

The MHODS system will replace the state's current LOIS Manufactured Records System. While the systems have similar features, there are some differences. 

•       To use MHODS, individuals will need to provide a username, password, and contact information to establish an online account. After registration, users can complete applications and upload documents required for an ownership transaction. Note: Each registered user must have a different email address in MHODS, so businesses cannot have multiple individuals associated with the same email address.

•       All transactions in MHODS will require prior county approval. Before getting a trip permit or ownership document, users must submit a county notification and certification document signed by the appropriate county certifying that there are no outstanding taxes or other issues. These forms will be available on BCD's website at www.oregon.gov/bcd in mid January.

•       When submitting documents online to MHODS, all fees must be paid by credit card.??

Businesses that have historically used the billing option in LOIS, going forward, will either need to pay online with a credit card or submit documents and fees to BCD or the appropriate county for processing. Note: In early February (because we anticipate that the LOIS system will not be accessible), the division will email invoices for the month of January to users with billing accounts; the invoices will include January transaction fees and any additional outstanding fees due to BCD. 

•      Users who want to pay fees by check can print applications from the BCD website at www.oregon.gov/bcd and submit them via the U.S. mail or in person at a division office in Salem, Pendleton, or Coos Bay, or at a participating county office.

•      BCD will provide online previewing of MHODS and training opportunities in mid to late January. We will send an email in January with more information.

Public records and reports

Everyone will have the ability to search records in MHODS by home identification number, HUD number, serial number, license plate number, owner name, site address, zip code and map tax lot. In addition, users will have the ability to generate data reports.

Trip permits

Transporters will need to submit a trip permit application and the appropriate county notification form prior to purchasing a permit online. The permit can then be printed from the MHODS system.

Additional information

A few other items regarding MHODS:

•    Unlike the LOIS system, manufacturers will no longer enter information about new homes in MHODS. New homes will enter the system when dealers and sellers apply to sell and transport the new home. Manufacturers, however, will continue to provide lenders and dealers with a Certificate of Origin for a new home. 

•   There is no option in MHODS for a business to place a hold" on a home (until a lender or dealer is paid

The Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) will launch a new online Manufactured Home Ownership Document System (called MHODS") on Wednesday

By Michael G. McClory

Although Sir Isaac Newton, the Lad from Lincolnshire, called by some the Father of Physics, has been dead for nearly 300 years, his thinking can help us make sense of the modern marijuana debates.  I am thinking in particular of Newton's Third Law of Motion: For every action

The City of Portland upped its economic attack on the city's landlords last week by passing a tenant relocation assistance" ordinance. The ordinance requires landlords in the City of Portland to pay relocation expenses to tenants evicted for no-cause

By: Arthur Grebow, founding partner of Grebow and Rubin,?LLP

There is an old Chinese curse which says: May you live in interesting times." While sometimes taken as a blessing

We are now into the fifth week of the 2017 Oregon Legislative Session. 

Last week MHCO held a very successful Lobby Day on Wednesday, February 22nd. We have a great turnout - 93 attendees - who met with 76 Legislators. Thank you to everyone who made the effort to attend and visit with their Senator or State Representative. Attendees came from as far as Michigan! Face to face meetings with legislators are still important in the digital age - your efforts make a difference. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Here are some highlights of bills introduced last week or changed status since the last report: 

o HB 2008 - We mentioned this in the last report as LC 2997 It is a lengthy bill changing park sales, establishing an enforcement agency that can investigate landlord actions with up to $10,000 fines. It contains nearly every bad legislative idea that MHCO has fought against for the last 20 years. MHCO STRONGLY OPPOSES 

o HB 2009 - Advances sunset for subtraction for sale of manufactured dwelling park to certain entities. Creates personal income tax credit for sale of park. Provides that calculation of credit for taxes paid to other state allowed to nonresident taxpayer or allowed to estate treated as resident of another state occurs before allowance of credit for sale of park. MHCO is currently has no position - waiting to see what the Legislature wants in return. 

o HB 2990 - Increases time period during which tenants of manufactured dwelling park must identify or form tenants committee for purpose of purchasing park from 10 days to 60 days. Provides tenants committee with 15-day right of first refusal for offer or agreement to purchase park. MHCO Opposes. 

o HB 2165 -Requires building official to inspect small home for compliance with recreational vehicle program standards if home is not intended for use as residence or is not permanently sited. Requires building official to inspect small home intended as residence and permanently sited for compliance with Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code. MHCO testified against and has been sent back to legislative counsel. 
 

By Zach Koucos

Director, Holliday, Fenoglio, Fowler (HFF)

The second half of 2016 and early 2017 signaled a great amount of uncertainty regarding the future of fiscal and regulatory policy in the United States. While everyone is trying to figure out what the impacts of policy changes by the Trump administration will be on the economy, the stock market has surged and interest rates have climbed. Both of these occurrences reflect a positive reaction to the election in the financial marketplace, however the effect on real estate and income property values remains a concern for owners.

Higher interest rates certainly impact the feasibility of borrowing money, which in turn affects the purchasing power for real estate acquisitions as well as property values. Most fixed rate lenders price their loans based on US Treasury yields. Many borrowers have been focusing on rising benchmark interest rates, however the good news is that US Treasury yields today are still far lower than their long term averages. As of March 7, 2017, the 10 year US Treasury yield stood at 2.51%, compared to 1.83% on November 7, 2016, the day before the election. The 10 year US Treasury yield began 2016 at 2.24%, and 2015 at 2.12%. To provide some perspective, below is the average yield on the 10 Year US Treasury during the last 5 decades, and so far in the 2010's:

1961 - 1969:  4.73%

1970 - 1979:  7.50%

1980 - 1989: 10.59%

1990 - 1999:  6.67%

2000 - 2009:  4.46%

2010 - 2016:  2.38%

We have definitely enjoyed some very low interest rates over the last few years, which has benefitted borrowers and helped to support increasing property values. Most economists are predicting that ultimately Treasury yields have to return closer to these long term averages shown above, citing the Trump administration's mix of reflationary policy initiatives. Rates can always go down in the short term, however if the United States is successful at growing nominal gross domestic product (GDP) over the next few years, Treasury yields could likely follow. Given this outlook, today's still historically-low interest rate environment offers an extraordinary opportunity to evaluate your near and long term financing objectives.

Notwithstanding recent volatility due to the political climate and rising interest rates, the marketplace for income property financing remains very healthy, with no shortage of capital. Lenders remain optimistic for 2017, and most are planning to equal or exceed their loan origination volume from 2016. This includes lending for manufactured home communities (MHC's), an asset class of ever-increasing interest to capital providers. Volatility forces commercial lenders to gravitate towards lower risk, stable, income-producing real estate. Manufactured home communities are increasingly high on their lists, since the cash flow is consistent and demand for affordable housing is strong.

Numerous institutional and private owners of manufactured home communities and other commercial real estate have taken advantage by locking in historically low fixed rate loans. In several cases, refinancing existing loans with prepayment penalties still made economic sense given the savings realized with today's low interest rate financing. If you've been considering a refinance to lower expenses, access additional capital to fund overdue projects, or facilitate additional acquisitions, it's still a great time to take a look at the programs available in today's market.   

The pool of varying capital sources deepened even further in 2016. Lender demand for existing, stabilized real estate transactions remains strong, despite escalated regulatory practices imposed on the industry. Over $1 Billion in commercial real estate loans will be maturing daily through the end of 2018, and the necessary lender appetite is present to service this need. Owners of manufactured home communities will benefit from this activity, as the capital marketplace for MHC's continues to expand and lenders are seeking to deploy capital on lower risk housing assets.

An overview of community financing options for 2017:

As a result of Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform policies and Basel III regulations imposed on banks, construction and high risk" lending is tightening. Thus

There are several significant deadlines in the Oregon Legislature that start to willow down the life span of legislative proposals. The first of these deadlines was last Friday, April 7th. As of midnight on last Friday any bill in a committee in the chamber of origin (Senate bills in the Senate and House bills in the House) must be scheduled for a hearing and work session or the bill will not be considered any further during this legislative session. The exceptions to this rule are bills in Revenue Committees, Rules Committees and Ways and Means Committees which stay open the duration of the legislative session. The remaining bills will need to move out of committees by April 18th.

A number of bad legislative bills that MHCO has been fighting were stopped by last week's legislative deadline. However there are three bills that remain 'alive' that are of great concern:

HB 2004A: Prohibits landlord from terminating month-to-month tenancy without cause after first six months of occupancy except under certain circumstances with 90 days' written notice and payment of [relocation expenses] amount equal to one month's periodic rent. Provides exception for cer- tain tenancies for occupancy of dwelling unit in building or on property occupied by landlord as primary residence. Makes violation defense against action for possession by landlord. Requires fixed term tenancy to become month-to-month tenancy upon reaching specific ending date, unless tenant elects to renew or terminate tenancy. Requires landlord to make tenant offer to renew fixed term tenancy. [Repeals statewide prohibition on city and county ordinances controlling rents.] Permits city or county to implement rent stabilization program for rental of dwelling units. This bill passed the Oregon House and is now being considered in the Senate.

HB 2008: Requires landlord of manufactured dwelling park to pay tenant necessary relocation costs or applicable manufactured dwelling park closure penalty, as determined by Office of Manufactured Dwelling Park Community Relations, upon closure of park to convert to other use. Requires owner of manufactured dwelling park to give notice of final sale to office upon sale of park. Prohibits landlord from terminating without cause, unless under certain circumstances with 90 days' written notice, month-to-month tenancy consisting of rental of manufactured dwelling of float- ing home owned by landlord on space in facility. Requires fixed term tenancy consisting of rental of manufactured dwelling or floating home owned by landlord on space in facility to become month-to-month tenancy upon reaching specific end date, unless tenant elects to renew or terminate tenancy. Requires landlord to make tenant offer to renew fixed term tenancy. Requires office to produce materials to inform tenants of rights and adopt rules to require landlords to post materials in manufactured dwelling park public spaces. Directs office to establish and administer landlord-tenant dispute resolution program. Requires office to submit annual report on progress of program to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to housing and human services for five years. Authorizes office to impose penalties for violations of landlord-tenant law against landlords of manufactured dwelling parks. Scheduled for a legislative work session on Thrusday.

HB 3331: Directs Office of Manufactured Dwelling Park Community Relations to establish and administer landlord-tenant dispute resolution program for disputes arising from notices of certain rent in- creases. Scheduled for legislative work session on Thursday.

We will be sending updates on the status of these three bills as they move through the legislative process. We are expecting significant amendments to HB 2008 but not enough to change MHCO's opposition. We are also expecting significant amendments in the Senate on HB 2004A. Again, the amendments will likely not change MHCO's opposition.

MHCO was successful in negotiating a landlord-tenant coalition bill (SB 277). This bill will be significantly amended on Wednesday in the Senate. We were also successful in exempting manufactured home communities from HB 2511. Obviously, all the bad bills left behind so far this session are a success - but we still have a lot work ahead. 

We have reached the halfway point of the 2017 Legislative Session. Unlike past legislative sessions this one looks to be a ugly and nasty fight to the end in July.    

A detailed list of bills currently being tracked by MHCO is attached - just click above the title.