Are You a Member of MHI or a State Association?

[Ken Rishel]

Simple Question. You can answer Yes or No. You can also expound on your reasons. 

[Ken Rishel]

In full disclosure: I am the current Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Manufactured Housing Association, have served on the BoD of other state associations, and am heavily involved with the Manufactured Housing Institute.

First, I think the only stupid questions are the ones that go unasked. Second, and to the point of your question, members of a state association have access to a great deal of information for free, that non members do not have, which can be very valuable to an investor. There are also great opportunities for networking with others in the industry that provide access to people you may want to invest with and an opportunity to ask questions of others in the industry that might bring light to an investment opportunity or warn you off of a potentially disastrous investment.

Contrast this with Wall Street Investment firms that pay our firm $500 per hour for information and for opinions on their strategies in the manufactured housing industry. They think they are getting a good deal - and they are. However much of what they want to learn in the early stages of the consulting assignment which might cost them $2,000 or more could be had for a membership in a state association plus the time involved to attend one or more member meeting a state association holds.

I hope this helps.