First, a correction from our April 24, 2006 update.  I incorrectly identified former General Electric CEO Jack Welch as Jack Wells.  Having read his book and with a brother who has been with GE for 25 years, the error is unforgivable.  Thank you, Pete Bleth, for pointing out the mistake.
 
Recapping more news from the Congress & Expo, many national awards were presented, most notably was Palm Harbor being named Manufacturer of the Year!  Palm Harbor also received two design awards during the ceremony held Wednesday April 19, 2006 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.  Our congratulations to this innovative, vertically integrated company that is designing and building some outstanding looking manufactured and modular homes.
 
Other awards include recognizing Kevin Clayton as Industry Person of the Year, 21st Mortgage as Floor Plan Lender and National Lender of the Year, Triad Financial Services as Regional Lender of the Year and Hometown America tied with SSK Communities as Manufactured Home Community Operator of the Year.
 
Troy Brost, co-owner of Songbrook in Eugene, Oregon with wife Cheryl Brost, conducted an age-restricted case study on their award winning land-lease community at the National Resident Relations Forum preceding the Congress & Expo.  It was an outstanding presentation that shared with others why Songbrook is among the finest manufactured home communities in America.
 
If you haven’t contacted your Senator or Congressman to voice your support for FHA Title 1 reform, please do so.  You can use the following statement, courtesy of Mr. Brost:
 
I ask you to co-sponsor S.2123, "A bill to modernize the manufactured housing loan insurance program under Title 1 of the National Housing Act". 
 
Your support will raise loan limits and annually index them for inflation; ultimately leading to greater competition, lower interest rates, and more plentiful financing for moderate income homebuyers looking to purchase affordable housing.  Thank you. 

Greg Harmon - President
Commonwealth Real Estate Services
E-mail: greg@cwres.com
Telephone 503.244.2300 Ext. 101