Elections | NMHA Board of Directors

     ANNOUNCEMENT —- NEW NEVADA CONTACTS

Nevada Housing Alliance

     MHI National Congress and Expo

April 14-16 2009

Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada

     We know it is tough out there. Major players in our economy – many of whom were considered recession- proof – are suffering. But we are here to tell you good times will be here again, and for our industry, they may be here sooner than you think! The National Congress & Expo is the largest annual national tradeshow for the manufactured housing and modular housing industry sectors. Register by March 18 at www.congressandexpo.com to take advantage of the early bird registration. The Congress & Expo is well known for its series of highly regarded educational sessions and programs presented each year. It is also draws a crowd, including hundreds of community owners and operators, builders and developers, and manufacturers.

Three Reasons Why YOU Need to Be in Las Vegas in April:
• With a new $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers, changes and updates to FHA, and consumers looking for homes they can afford, our industry is ready to come BACK. You’ll need to learn the rules, and how to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities the industry can offer.
• Did you know manufactured and modular housing actually INCREASED market share of new homes in 2008? Did you know community owners and retailers are starting to report an increase in traffic? Now is the time to get in the game, not get out!
• You can’t be an ostrich and be successful. Business may be slow now, but you still need to get out there, strut your stuff, and make sales.

     The Congress & Expo offers you the BEST place to do business. AND- Las Vegas is easy to get to, with cheap airfare and discounted hotel rates, you can do Vegas for under $1000. We guarantee it is WORTH it! Nevada Housing Alliance members get a discount on Congress registration!

Nevada Housing Alliance members get a discount on Congress registration!

Nevada Congress Registration Form

     KEEP SHOWING UP

Entrepreneurs are generally an optimistic group. But given enough bad news, even they can turn negative. And lately, so much of the news on the front page has been bad, really bad. So how have successful business owners responded to the credit crisis, housing mess, Wall Street turmoil and other lousy news? They keep showing up. They open their doors every day. They call on prospective clients. They tighten their belts. They try new marketing. They do whatever it takes to keep their business going. And if that doesn’t work, they try something else. We can’t control the economy, but we can control how we, as an industry, respond to these difficult times.

At the Housing Alliance, we’re not immune to the bad economic news. But we are taking our own advice and we keep showing up. Everyone in this business wants it to prosper and grow. We produce top quality energy-efficient homes and provide safe, friendly, economical community lifestyles.

There is a demand for our products and services, and there are many manufacturers, retailers, developers, suppliers and community owners who would provide manufactured housing if the opportunities existed. This is the message we need to get through to the public, media and our lawmakers. You can’t preserve or grow an industry by choking it with regulatory interference and restrictions. I’m optimistic that we will make headway this year on regulatory and legislative issues that are critically important to the factory-built industry.

I am confident that even though the financial lending is slow, our members will find ways to keep their businesses profitable and successful. A soft economy is the perfect time to sharpen your skills and try new resources and techniques. Let’s focus on what we can control. We just have to keep showing up.

With all the challenging issues we have on the table this year, I encourage every member to help your state association. By now you should have received your annual membership renewal forms. Maintain your annual dues, contribute to the Housing Alliance Political Action Committee (PAC), attend annual convention and continuing education classes. We are only as strong as our membership, so please become involved and make this a positive year where we implement goals that will help us stay a strong association and help you grow as a vital component of the nation’s housing stock. Keep showing up!

Linda Lindholm

    
     GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE

By Tracey Woods

In a highly anticipated speech, Governor Gibbons announced his budget for the 2009-2011 biennium on January 15th in the Assembly Chambers in Carson City. Faced with the daunting task of submitting to the Legislature a constitutionally required balanced budget proposal during an economic crisis, the Governor outlined the major provisions before a packed room of legislators, guests and the press. The Republican governor’s proposed $6.17 billion budget for the next two years has $2.3 billion in cuts and revenue enhancements. True to his long held aversion to tax increases, the Governor’s proposal included no tax increases, instead focusing on cuts to education, a temporary 6% cut to state employee salaries, changes in state employee benefits, and the streamlining of government services through the merging of various departments within state government. In addition, the budget proposal diverts to the State 4 cents of every $100 in assessed valuation of property tax currently earmarked for Washoe and Clark Counties.

The Democratic response to the budget was predictable in its opposition to the proposed cuts, particularly in education. Speaker Barbara Buckley again reiterated her intent to overhaul the tax system’s structure to avoid future cuts to the state budget in times of fiscal crisis. She has yet to outline her proposals to the budget, but it is expected she will hit the ground running with her proposals on February 2nd, the first day of the 120 day legislative session. The Assembly has a veto -proof Democratic majority. The Senate Democrats need only 2 votes from the Republican side of the aisle to override the Governor’s veto. It will be an interesting political fight, no doubt.

Of special note to the manufactured housing industry, the Governor is proposing to merge the Housing Division with the Manufactured Housing Division. In his address, the Governor stated, “We are also going to reduce state government expenses through agency consolidations and by elimination of duplicate service providers. For example, we eliminate redundancy and provide better services for our citizens by bringing all the various Consumer Affairs offices into one agency and by combining government agencies, such as Tourism with Economic Development and the Division of Housing with the Division of Manufactured Housing.” The Governor’s office also cites the benefits of cross-training and tax credits as needed benefits to the manufactured housing industry which would result from the merger.

Nevada is expected to be one of the top recipients of federal economic assistance from the Stimulus Package. We all continue to await the actions of the new President as his first 100 days in office unfold. As the state with the dubious distinction of having the highest foreclosure rate in the nation, it is certain we will get additional federal assistance, but how much will remain to be seen. As gaming and sales tax revenues continue historic declines in Nevada, the Legislature is in the driver’s seat in terms of solutions to the crisis. We wish them well in their deliberations and decisions. We will keep you abreast as the Legislative session roles out.

Tracey Woods