News and Publications

Charley Bedwell Retires from AMHA Board of Directors

AMHA Retailer Member, Charley Bedwell, retired from the AMHA Board of Directors and the manufactured housing industry this year. He was presented with a plaque commemorating his dedication and service as a Retailer Member on the AMHA Board of Directors.

Charley has been involved in the manufactured housing industry for 31 years, starting as a territory sales manager for Chapman Homes. In 1984 he joined the management team of River Oaks Manufactured Homes. In 1986 he founded Gadsden Home Retail Center which he has operated until his retirement this year. Charley has been active in AMHA for 22 years, serving on the Board from 1996 until 2010, as Treasurer, Vice-Chair and Chair. He also served on the Zoning, Convention, Advertising, and Executive Committees during his tenure as a Board member. Charley was voted AMHA Person of the Year in 2000.

Charley will be missed by AMHA Board members, staff, and the entire industry.

TOWN OF ELMORE RENAMES ANNEX TO CARMICHAEL-MERCER COMMUNITY CENTER

The Elmore Town Council adopted Resolution 2010-09 at its June, 2010 meeting to rename the Annex Building to the Carmichael-Mercer Community Center. The building was donated to the Town of Elmore by the Mercer Family in honor of Virginia Baltzer Carmichael and Azel Thornhill Mercer, grandparents of Bart Mercer. Bart is the owner of Mercer Properties in Wetumpka and community member of AMHA.

The Annex Building was originally purchased by Bart's family in 2001 and used as the Elmore School. It was later developed into apartments. However, the Town of Elmore needed additional meeting and office space, so the original building was donated to the Town of Elmore and moved to its present site beside the Elmore Town Hall. According to Bart, the family requested that if the building was named, it would be named after Bart's grandparents, Virginia Baltzer Carmichael and Azel Thornhill Mercer. Both grandparents are life-long residents of Elmore. Also, if remodeled, the building would keep the appearance and architecture of the original building, and that the building would be used for meeting space or events for all the citizens of Elmore.

The Carmichael-Mercer Community Center houses office space, kitchen, meeting space and the town library. The Community Center is used for wedding receptions, Christmas parties and other special events held in the Town of Elmore. The Town Council holds its regular monthly meetings at the newly named Community Center. The Town of Elmore is extremely pleased to have received this donation from Bart Mercer and his family.

Atkinson Homes Named Top-Notch Retailer by Commission

AMHA member Atkinson Homes of Childersburg recently received the following proclamation from the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission in recognition for their hard work and dedication to the manufactured housing industry. AMHA congratulates Atkinson Homes for a job well-done!

WHEREAS, Atkinson Homes, Inc., at 33230 US Highway 280, Childersburg,Alabama 35044, has earned the high distinction of being a top-notch retail sales center; and

WHEREAS, Atkinson Homes, Inc. has demonstrated the highest level of professionalism while providing honest and ethical services to the homeowners who have purchased their homes; and

WHEREAS, Atkinson Homes, Inc. has fully complied with the federal and state laws and regulations governing manufactured housing in the State of Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Atkinson Homes, Inc. has developed an exemplary reputation of providing prompt and efficient responsiveness to consumers; and

WHEREAS, the records of Atkinson Homes, Inc. at the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission reveal that they are providing the best possible service to the citizens of Alabama.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission wishes to salute, commend, and express our appreciation to the owners and employees of Atkinson Homes, Inc. for their exceptionally outstanding performance and selection as a top-notch retail sales center.

Adopted - April 14, 2010

Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission

2010 Tunica Show a Success

The 2010 Tunica Show was a great success in its efforts to bring Retailers, Builder/Developers, Community Managers, Service/Suppliers and Manufacturers together to showcase new products and share information regarding local and regional markets. This jam-packed show featured the hottest products available on the market today while providing the luxury of being able to walk through new and innovative homes.

Held at Harrah's Casino & Convention Center in Tunica, Mississippi on March 24-26, the Show boasted registration of approximately 1,400 with 90 homes on display. There were 100 Service/Supplier Companies with 72 exhibit booths and 17 Manufacturer Companies represented. The Tunica Show is sponsored by the South Central Manufactured Housing Institute.

Show sponsors played a vital role in the success of the 2010 Tunica Show. We would like to take this opportunity to thank those sponsors who helped make this year's Show possible:

Gold Sponsors: Whirlpool Corporation, Harrah's Casino & Convention Center, and Clayton Homes

Silver Sponsors: Alacrity Lending Company, Andy Israel/Merrill Lynch, Blevins, Inc. & Miller HVAC, and KABCO Builders

Bronze Sponsors: Champion Homes, CIS Financial Services, Inc., Deer Valley Home Builders, GE Capital Solutions, Lexington Homes, Platinum Homes, River Birch Homes, Style Crest, Inc., The Journal, Triad Financial Services, U. S. Bank Manufactured Housing Finance, and Waverlee Homes

The SCMHI Board of Directors was also an integral part of the success of this year's show. Members of the Board include Sherry Norris, AMHA; Ty Batchelor, Southern Energy Homes; Keith Bennett, KABCO Builders; Paula Reeves, CIS Financial Services; Jennifer Hall, MMHA; Shane Upshaw, Magnolia Estates, Inc.; Ken Wilson, Wheel Estate Mobile Homes, Inc.; Phil Fowler, Waverlee Homes; Gene Rogers, Lexington Homes, Inc.; Sam Huffman, Triad Financial Services; Richie Swinney, Southern Housing, Inc.; and Tom Gilbert, Cappaert Manufactured Housing, Inc.

First and Second Place Awards were given for best display to Service/Suppliers and Manufacturers. Criteria for winning the Service/Supplier Awards were: display well presented, original ideas, welcoming reception to attendees, and different promotional items. Criteria for winning the Manufacturers Display Awards were: home exterior display well presented and welcoming, homes landscaped well, separate welcome area for Retailers, and signage in the display area.

AND THE WINNERS WERE:

First Place Award for Service Supplier Display - Blevins, Inc.

Second Place Award for Service Supplier Display - Universal Forest Products

First Place Award for Manufacturer Display - Southern Energy Homes

Second Place Award for Manufacturer Display - Cappaert Homes

This year's Show featured two days of Finance Seminars. Tuesday's seminar was specifically for manufacturers. The seminar covered topics such as the S.A.F.E. Act/RESPA changes; FHI Title I; FHA Title II; and Ginnie Mae. The seminar also addressed Chattel and Mortgage Lending Programs. A question and answer session followed the seminar. Wednesday's seminar focused on retailers and consisted of morning and afternoon sessions. Each session covered the same topics as Tuesday's seminar. Thanks to CIS Financial, 21st Mortgage, and Triad Financial for presenting the lending programs.

Plans are already underway for the 2011 Tunica Show. Dates for the 2011 Tunica Show will be announced at a later date.

Bostick, James and McDaniel Join 27 Others in Industry Hall of Fame

(From left) Jerry James, Revis McDaniel and John Bostick join 27 other members of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Industry Hall of Fame. The three inductees were honored at a ceremony on December 9, 2009 at Bevill Community College in Hamilton, Alabama.

Click photo for full-size image.

The Alabama Manufactured Housing Industry Hall of Fame Ceremony was held on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at Bevill State Community College in Hamilton, Alabama. The 2009 Hall of Fame inductees are John Bostick with Sunshine Homes, Jerry James with Franklin Homes, and Revis McDaniel with Cavalier Homes. Special guests included Senator Roger Bedford from Russellville and Representative Mike Millican from Hamilton. Both Senator Bedford and Representative Millican spoke about the importance of the manufactured housing industry in Alabama and the valuable contributions the 2009 inductees have made to the manufactured housing industry. The inductees have been active in the manufactured housing industry in Alabama for at least ten years and owned, managed, or been a part of a successful business that contributed to the manufactured housing industry. A total of 30 persons have been inducted into the Industry Hall of Fame since it was established in 2001.

The 2009 Alabama Manufactured Housing Industry Hall of Fame appreciates the monetary contributions from past honorees, Senator Bedford and Representative Millican. The Hall of Fame is located at the Alabama Manufactured Housing Association building in Montgomery, Alabama.

Governor Riley Signs Manufactured Home Certificate of Title Bill Into Law

(Montgomery, AL - July 28, 2009) Governor Bob Riley held a signing ceremony to commemorate the passage of the Alabama Manufactured Home Certificate of Title Act that passed in the 2009 Legislative Session. The ceremony was held in the Archives Room at the State Capitol on Friday, July 25, 2009.

Attending the event were Sen. Roger Bedford of Russellville, sponsor of the bill in the Senate, and Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, sponsor of the bill in the House. Also attending were, Tim Russell, Revenue Commissioner; Brenda Coone, Director of the Motor Vehicle Division of the DOR; Mike Gamble, Assistant Director of the Motor Vehicle Division of the DOR; Sam Huffman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Association; Sherry Norris, Executive Director of the Alabama Manufactured Association; Jeff Underwood with Sirote & Permutt; and Doris Hydrick, Assistant Director for the Alabama Manufactured Housing Association.

The Alabama Manufactured Home Certificate of Title Act creates a new chapter 20 under Alabama law that addresses the titling of manufactured homes and will be effective January 1, 2010.

FEMA Homes Considered "Scrap" Not Allowed Into Alabama

There have been some questions regarding whether FEMA homes that are not fit for human habitation and are being auctioned as scrap are allowed to come into the state of Alabama. According to Jim Sloan, Administrator of the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission these units are considered salvage units and include park models. These units are not allowed to come into the state of Alabama because they do not have a HUD label and do not have a data plate and have been damaged by floods, wind or fire. Again, the AMHC does not allow these homes to be shipped into Alabama. Also, the Title Section of the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Revenue will not issue titles on these salvaged FEMA units.

Real Estate Agents: HUD Code (Manufactured Home) or a Modular Home?

Licensed real estate agents must know if a home is a manufactured home, or a modular home when listing or selling the home, and licensed real property appraisers who use comparables from MLS sources must ensure the comparable was listed correctly.

Both homes are built in a factory and delivered to the site and installed. However, each home is built to a different building code; manufactured homes are built to the HUD Code, a federal building code, and the home has a red HUD Label on the back of each section of the home; a modular home is built to the International Residential Building Code 2006 and has a State of Alabama Modular Insignia inside the home, usually on the electric panel box.

Definitions:

Manufactured Home:

A structure defined by and constructed in accordance with the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, Title VI-MANUFACTURED HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS as amended by the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, Title VI 42 U.S. Code, Section 603(6). A Manufactured Home bears a RED HUD Seal affixed to the rear of each section of the home. The home was built after June 15, 1976.

Mobile Home:

This is a home that was manufactured in a factory prior to June 15, 1976. It does not bear a HUD Seal.

Modular Home:

A modular home is built to the International Residential Building Code 2006. It is a factory-built home consisting of units designed to be incorporated at a building site on a permanent foundation and to be used for residential purposes and which bears an insignia that indicates compliance with the codes and requirements established by the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission (International Building Code) Alabama Code 24-4A. The Insignia is placed on the electrical panel door of a residential modular home.

Site-Built Homes:

Homes constructed by a builder or contractor on-site that may meet standards set by the local building code. In Alabama this is the International Residential Building Code.

For additional information you may contact Sherry Norris, Executive Director AMHA at snorris@alamha.org