Register today at www.congressandexpo.com for the 2011 National Congress & Expo which will be held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on April 26-28, 2011.

The NCC Consumer & Community Finance Forum will be held on April 26. This highly regarded annual land-lease community event will focus on a major challenge facing today’s communities – home financing. Panels of experts will discuss several proven programs for filling community vacancies that will include rental, rent-to-own and lease-purchase programs, and in-house finance programs. Topics covered will include loan origination, underwriting, managing, servicing, recovery methods, required licenses and regulatory compliance.

Here is what Kenny B. Lipschutz, SIOR, Brookside Companies had to say about the NCC Forum, “I have found the NCC Forum to be educational and very useful with applications that I can take back for our community operations after each meeting.”

Topics and speakers for the forum are as follows:

Dr. Henry Fishkind, Ph.D. will present information on the most recent national economic data and events and evaluate their impact on housing markets. Dr. Fishkind is a former associate professor of economics at the University of Florida, and Director of the University’s forecasting program. His firm, Fishkind and Associates, is an economic and financial consulting firm specializing in real estate analysis, market research, feasibility studies, finance and economic forecasting.

NCC Communities Forum paricipants will also hear from the following industry experts on these topics of great concern to this important segment of the manufactured housing industry:

Rental and Lease-Purchase Option Programs for Homes in Communities
Moderator – Richard Winkelman ACM®, Brookside Communities; Speaker – Chris Parrish PHC®, Parrish Manor

Operating In-House Finance Programs in Communities – Which is Best for You?
Moderator – George Allen CPM, MHM, GFA Management, Inc.; Speakers – Andy Blank, Franklin Companies; Greg Brooks, Triad Financial Services; Kenny Lipschutz, HomeFirst Certified Communities; Ken Rishel, Precision Capital Funding

Third Party Financing for Homes in Communities – Is This Still an Option?
Moderator – Dick Ernst, Financial Marketing Associates; Speakers – Don Glisson, Jr., Triad Financial Services; Scott MacFarlane, U.S. Bank Manufactured Housing Finance; Jeff Mouat, CU Factory Built Lending; Tim Williams, 21st Mortgage Corp.

Preparing Your Property for Financing
Moderator – David Lentz, American Land Lease, Inc.; Speakers – Creighton Weber, Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital; Cary Monroe, Monroe & Giordano, LCC; John Jacobs, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.; Chris Dyson, Grandbridge Real Estate Capital, LLC

Innovations in Community Management and Operations Today
Moderator – Steven Schaub, Yes! Communities; Speakers – Chris Parrish PHC®, Parrish Manor; Craig Bollman, iCafe; Robert Coldren, Hart, King & Coldren; Fran Hirsch, Brandenburg, Staedler & Moore; Michael Silverman, ManageAmerica

In addition, the Congress & Expo will offer the following:

-     Powerful general session speakers, including Dr. Mark G. Dotzour, Chief Economist and Director of Research , Real Estate Center at Texas A & M University who is currently monitoring how global and national trends are likely to impact the residential and commercial real estate markets. For more information, click here. Robin Crow, Author of Evolve or Die will share seven steps to rethink the way you do business. For more information on this speaker, click here.

-     More than 15 top quality educational programs and special events focusing on sales, marketing, public relations, social media, community management, finance, emergency preparedness and regulatory compliance, providing effective solutions to keep pace with the changing industry and economic environment.

-     Over 90 exhibits comprised of leading suppliers, manufacturers, community owners, financial service providers, insurers and more.

-     Countless networking opportunities, including two receptions, breakfasts and two luncheons all held in the Exhibit Area.

MHI thanks the following Congress & Expo sponsors for their generous support:

Diamond Sponsor

Triad Financial Services

Platinum Sponsors

GE Appliances
Oliver Technologies
ROC USA

Gold Sponsors

Assurant Specialty Property
Connexion Technologies
Follett Investment Properties
Hometown America
Manufacturedhomesource.com
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage
Whirlpool Corporation
UMH Properties, Inc.
Yes! Communities

Silver Sponsors

Kinro, Inc. and Lippert Components, Inc.
Newport Pacific Capital Company

Bronze Sponsors

21st Mortgage Corporation
CU Factory Built Lending
Green Courte Partners, LLC
Manufactured Housing Insurance Services
NTA, Inc.
Realty World Todd Su Associates
RHP Properties
Riverstone Communities
The Housing Marketplace, Inc.
U.S. Bank