The death toll in the United States from COVID-19, the deadly respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, rose above 75,000 Thursday.

About 26,000 of those, or just over one third, happened in the state of New York, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. But the death toll is rising in other states as the coronavirus pandemic goes on. New Jersey has reported 8,801 deaths, the second highest number in the nation. Massachusetts and Michigan have each recorded more than 4,000 deaths.

More than 1.2 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Globally, the number of infections has climbed above 3.8 million and more than 267,000 people have died.

Health experts have repeatedly warned that the number of deaths and infections in the U.S. and other countries is likely higher than reported, due to lack of testing, differences in how deaths are recorded and other factors.

United States:

-New Jersey is sending National Guard troops to assist nursing homes hard hit by coronavirus. It wasn't clear what role the troops would play, but Gov. Phil Murphy said on Twitter that they would "assist in our COVID-19 mitigation efforts." The governor added: "We dont take this step lightly, but the crisis in our long-term care facilities requires us to take it." The state will activate 120 National Guard troops, The Associated Press reported. One facility in Andover, New Jersey, became so overwhelmed in April that police found a makeshift morgue on site with 13 dead bodies. Nursing homes nationwide have been wracked by coronavirus infections, and some are under investigation for failing to handle the outbreak appropriately.

-The number of people on ventilators in New Jersey declined and the number of patients in critical or intensive care units dropped to its lowest point since April 4, Murphy said.

-Most of the states that have started to reopen their economies or plan to do so soon do not meet criteriarecommended by the Trump administrationto resume business and social activities, according to a New York Times analysis. The guidelines for Opening Up American Again are presented as what states should consider before reopening, but they are not binding. They suggest states should have a downward trajectory of documented cases or of the percentage of tests that come back positive. In more than half of states easing restrictions, case counts are trending upward, positive test results are on the rise, or both, according to the New York Times.

-A 17-page report by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention team, titled Guidance for Implementing the Opening Up America Again Framework, was created to give more detailed step-by-step advice to local authorities on how and when to reopen restaurants and other public places, but the report has been shelved by the administration, The Associated Press reported. The Washington Post reported that an anonymous coronavirus task force official said the report was overly specific and the White House had asked for revisions.

-Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will allow personal services like hair salons, barber shops, day spas, or nail salons to reopen beginning May 15. Outdoor dining will reopen on the same day, and dine-in service will resume May 21.

-Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo announced the state's stay-at-home order will expire Saturday. Social gatherings will remain limited to five people until May 22, Raimondo said. Employees of office-based businesses may go into work on a "very limited basis." Restaurants can now offer beer and wine with their takeout service.

-The NBA said franchises may open their facilities Friday in areas where local restrictions have been eased. On a voluntary basis, up to four individual players may use the facilities.

-The U.S. Labor Department announced another 3.2 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the past week. More than 33 million Americans have filed for benefits since the economy was largely shut down.

-Cell phone data shows an additional 62,000 people traveled to Georgia one week after the state allowed many businesses to reopen while they remained closed in nearby states, the Washington Post reports. University of Maryland researchers who analyzed the data said it shows that reopening some state economies ahead of others could potentially worsen and prolong the spread of the novel coronavirus.

-Moderna announced it has Food and Drug Administration permission to begin a phase two study of its coronavirus vaccine candidate with 600 participants soon, CNBC reported. The company, whose vaccine candidate was the first to enter a phase 1 human trial in March, said it is finalizing plans for a phase 3 trial as early as this summer. The first doses of the potential vaccine, which was developed by researchers at Moderna and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, are expected to be manufactured in July.

-Geneticists have determined that as the number of New York City coronavirus cases grew, infected people seeded outbreaks as they traveled to other parts of the country, the New York Times reports. Before officials imposed restrictions, the New York version of the virus helped to fuel outbreaks in Louisiana, Texas, Arizona and as far away as the West Coast.

-Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy on Thursday, making it the second major retailer after J. Crew to do so during the coronavirus pandemic.

-President Donald Trump said he will be tested daily for coronavirus after one of his valets tested positive for COVID-19. He said the episode underscored the fallibility of using testing exclusively to determine safety. "What happens in between when you got tested and just a couple of days later?" he asked, saying there were "a number of days missed" between when the valet was last tested and when he discovered he had coronavirus. Trump said he'd had "very little personal contact" with the man, a member of the U.S. Navy, who tested positive. Like the president, who has yet to be seen publicly wearing a face covering, the valets have not been wearing masks in the White House.

Worldwide:

-The Acropolis and other ancient sites in Greece will reopen May 18 and museums will end their lockdown June 15, The Associated Press reported. Visitor limits would be imposed at most of the reopened sites.

-Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon say the coronavirus lockdown restrictions in her country need to be extended to May 28 because any easing now would be very risky indeed. Sturgeon, the first minister, said her preference is that all four nations of the U.K. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland move at the same pace on easing the lockdown in order to present a consistent message. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce some minor easing of the lockdown for England on Sunday.

-Residents of Moscow are now required to wear masks and gloves when using public transit and visiting public spaces now that industrial plants and construction sites in the capital have been allowed to reopen, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said.

For the latest coronavirus information in your county and a full list of important resources to help you make the smartest decisions regarding the disease, check out our dedicated COVID-19 page.

The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

Continue reading here:
Coronavirus Updates: US Death Toll Tops 75,000; National Guard Troops Being Sent to Help New Jersey Nursing Homes - The Weather Channel

Last week, the Lancashire Post carried a feelgood yarn about a great British success story. Its plane sailing for BAE Systems with a little help from Carol Vorderman, ran the headline, accompanied by a picture of the smiling former Countdown maths whizz sitting in the cockpit of a plane.

Lancashires biggest private sector employer had designed and built a ventilator to aid treatment in the coronavirus pandemic, and theyd done it with a bit of help from the beloved TV personality, who said that her small private plane had delivered some of the vital components.

You had to read to the end of the article to find out that, in fact, the worlds sixth largest arms-producing company had simply manufactured 2,700 ventilator parts, and that ventilator design did not eventually go forward to full-scale production due to the drop in the need for ventilator technology.

All of which represents another great day at the office for the communications team of a company that made $21bn in sales in 2018 95% of them to military customers and whose Typhoon and Tornado aircraft have been key to devastating Saudi-led attacks on Yemen, which have killed thousands of civilians and contributed to what the UN calls a humanitarian catastrophe.

A key element of coronawashing is, of course, the performance being seen to be supportive in the face of a national and global tragedy

The word coronavirus has entered our vernacular in the space of a few months now its also swiftly become a shortcut to brand self-awareness and vague corporate caring, with many companies quick to jump on board. A Whos Who of polluters, tax dodgers and outsource vultures are urging us to #StaySafe, pumping out soft-focus branded content that makes Forrest Gump look like an episode of Chernobyl.

In a neoliberal society in which private companies need to project an image of public-spirited compassion, a global pandemic means back-to-back strategy Zoom calls for corporate communications teams. The mission objective is: how do we look like legends without impacting our profits?

More than that, these are often businesses that helped create and profit from the weakened public services and diminished standards of living that the outbreak of Covid-19 has served to expose, and which have hampered the UKs response. These feelgood pieces of PR, then, are exercises not just in making it look like corporations are fighting the crisis, but that they also are definitely not culpable in having helped worsen it.

We have become used to sportswashing, greenwashing, pinkwashing and even wokewashing. We are now in the first wave of coronawashing, in which corporations trip over themselves to clap for key workers, before packaging the footage up into moving nuggets of shareable content and promoting them on several social media platforms. In the background, these same companies are asking for government bailouts and taking advantage of a crisis to push for favourable legislation and the slashing of regulations that are more necessary than ever.

And so we have Holly Branson, doing her best Ivanka Trump, tweeting about Virgin ventilator design while her father, Richard, lord of the boomers, moves on from taking legal action against the NHS to pleading for government money.

Then we have HSBC, which, among much else, has been heavily fined in the US for facilitating tax evasion and money laundering and was found to have helped clients dodge millions in tax. The banking giant is now showing its caring side by filling newspaper advertising pages with messages of support in this time of crisis. Yet at the same time it has decided, at Ramadan, to block donations to a Palestinian aid charity.

Meanwhile, on YouTube, in a video entitled Thank You For Not Riding, plaintive piano lines soundtrack footage of ordinary people in their homes during pandemic. Its not until you get to the end of this moving tribute to the common man that you realise it was made by Uber, a company with a litany of questionable work practices, which is now using coronavirus sick-leave measures to argue against giving its drivers employee status.

Examples of coronawashing are everywhere. Amazon, the selfless buddy who does a favour for you behind the scenes and then tells you and all your mutual friends about it, was recently revealed as a mystery 250,000 donor to UK bookshops. Amazons CEO Jeff Bezos makesmore than $8m every single day. His company has been deemed worst for aggressive tax avoidance and has long been widely blamed for the destruction of the very independent bookshops it is now so generously and mysteriously donating to.

A key element of coronawashing is, of course, the performance being seen to be supportive in the face of a national and global tragedy. Primark donated care packs to staff at Londons new Nightingale hospital, established to treat coronavirus, but in Bangladesh it was cancelling production of $273m-worth of goods, leaving already immiserated workers destitute. (In the face of adverse publicity, Primark reversed its position.)

All of which recalls a line from, of all people, Peter Buffett, son of investor billionaire Warren. In an essay entitled The Charitable-Industrial Complex, Buffett described taking over some of his fathers philanthropic work and finding himself sitting around the table with power players searching for answers with their right hand to problems that others in the room have created with their left.

This is a neat description of the coronawashers: these corporations obviously werent responsible for the global pandemic, but they spent decades eviscerating the public sphere, which, in turn, has reduced the states ability to respond to large-scale problems. Now they hope to be patted on the back for throwing out some loose change and clapping the NHS (in an inspiring social media clip that you can like and share).

Oscar Rickett is a journalist and writer

See the original post here:
Coronawashing: for big, bad businesses, it's the new greenwashing - The Guardian

At 6 p.m. on Monday April 6, Salida City Council, joined by the Salida planning commission, did a virtual sit down via GoToMeeting to discuss an update on the Land Use Code. The overall goal of the Land Code Use plan is to make it easier to develop what the Salida community wants. The key theme within the project is to improve user friendliness.

City Council, coupled with the Salida Planning Commission, discussed the intricacies of the new Land Use Code (LUC).

A wide variety of housing opportunities for affordable housing was presented. The team hopes to further explore Co-housing, live-work units, dormitory-style, and boarding house buildings, options that would lend themselves to the seasonal nature of workforce housing within Salida. These options would increase flexibility and coincide with the communitys concerns. There is no quick solution for affordable and workforce housing, however a more flexible use of the new code is the first step to improving the shortage.

An architectural rendering shows the view of the proposed Salida Crossings condominium development as seen by west-bound traffic on U.S. Highway 50 (courtesy image).

Parking standards were also a main point of discussion, specifically making sure standards dont prevent desirable growth. The team says that it hopes to implement parking that is sufficient without being overly restrictive. This might be achieved by looking at maximum number of parking spaces and limiting huge parking lots that would affect aesthetics and walk-ability of the community. The goal is to not create too much parking that sits empty much of the time.

By updating the zoning districts, the LUC will streamline existing zoning and could create new districts for agriculture, parks and open space and community facilities. The changes made to the new code will allow manufactured homes within certain locations, the example given was R3 and R4 zones. A question was raised if the community would consider allowing manufactured housing in an manufactured housing park. Manufactured housing is a possible solution for affordable housing. Distinctions were also made for modular housing, making definitions and semantics important for each.

The meeting went in depth on the LUC Assessment report, which is the second step in the project scope and timeline. The assessment report documents whats working well, what regulations need to be improved, potential solutions and options, an outline to organize the new land use code, and identifying future additional implementation issues. It is organized by six key recommendations:

There are many ways to make the new code a clear, more user-friendly document. By improving the code, it will make it easier for the public, creating standard procedures. The overall goal is to simplify the process. By reorganizing the use regulations, it will become the standard, therefore streamlining the process, saving time for staff, developers and the Planning Commission. Expanding the household dwelling types (specifically housing with multiple units scattered throughout the community) is perceived as a key outcome.

For next steps, the first draft of the code will be done in late April. The public draft is expected to follow in June. For more information follow the link to the Land Use Code Rewrite packet. To contact the team email:

See the original post here:
Opportunity for Public Opinion: The Salida work Session on Land Use Code Explores New Affordable Housing Opportunities and Parking Regulations. - by...

The manufactured housing is commonly known as mobile homes in the United States. It is a type of prefabricated housing that is largely assembled in factories and then transported to sites of use. The affordability of manufactured housing is owing to the efficiencies of the factory-building process. These homes are constructed with standard building materials and are built almost entirely off-site in a factory. The controlled assembly line techniques and construction environment eliminate many of the problems faced during traditional home construction including theft, weather, vandalism, damage to building products & materials, and unskilled labor.

This intelligence report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Global Manufactured Housing Market. This includes Investigation of past progress, ongoing market scenarios, and future prospects. Data True to market on the products, strategies and market share of leading companies of this particular market are mentioned. Its a 360-degree overview of the global markets competitive landscape. The report further predicts the size and valuation of the global market during the forecast period.

Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/5820-global-and-north-america-manufactured-housing-market

Major Players in this Report Include,

Nobility Homes, Inc. (United States),Cavco Industries, Inc. (United States),Champion Home Builders Inc. (United States),Palm Harbor Homes, Inc. (United States) ,Fleetwood Homes, Inc. (United States) ,Jacobsen Manufacturing Inc. (United States),Excel Homes LLC (United States),Woodland Homes of Huntsville, Inc. (United States),Dutch Housing, Inc. (United States),BonnaVilla (United States)

Market Trends: Rising Popularity of Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing

Restraints: Lack of Customer Confidence over Manufactured Housing

Availability of Affordable and Attractive Home Loans for Site-Built Homes

Market Drivers: Technological advancements in Manufactured Housing

Rising Popularity of House Ownership at Low Cost

Each segment and sub-segment is analyzed in the research report. The competitive landscape of the market has been elaborated by studying a number of factors such as the best manufacturers, prices and revenues. Global Manufactured Housing Market is accessible to readers in a logical, wise format. Driving and restraining factors are listed in this study report to help you understand the positive and negative aspects in front of your business.

This study mainly helps understand which market segments or Region or Country they should focus in coming years to channelize their efforts and investments to maximize growth and profitability. The report presents the market competitive landscape and a consistent in depth analysis of the major vendor/key players in the market.Furthermore, the years considered for the study are as follows:Historical year 2013-2017Base year 2018Forecast period** 2019 to 2025 [** unless otherwise stated]

**Moreover, it will also include the opportunities available in micro markets for stakeholders to invest, detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product services of key players.The Global Manufactured Housing segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:by Type (Manufactured Homes, Modular Homes, Panelized Homes)

Application (Residential, Commercial)

Construction Type (Single section, Multi-section)

.

.

Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/5820-global-and-north-america-manufactured-housing-market Region Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & Africa

Country Level Break-Up: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc.

Keep yourself up-to-date with latest market trends and maintain a competitive edge by sizing up with available business opportunity in Manufactured Housing Market various segments and emerging territory.

Objectives of the Study

Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/5820-global-and-north-america-manufactured-housing-market

Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Manufactured Housing Market:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Manufactured Housing market

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary the basic information of the Manufactured Housing Market.

Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Manufactured Housing

Chapter 4: Presenting the Manufactured Housing Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region 2013-2018

Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Manufactured Housing market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile

Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions.

Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data SourceKey questions answered

Definitively, this report will give you an unmistakable perspective on every single reality of the market without a need to allude to some other research report or an information source. Our report will give all of you the realities about the past, present, and eventual fate of the concerned Market.

Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.

About Author:

Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies revenues.

Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As.

Contact US :

Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)AMA Research & Media LLPUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218[emailprotected]

Connect with us athttps://www.linkedin.com/company/advance-market-analyticshttps://www.facebook.com/AMA-Research-Media-LLP-344722399585916https://twitter.com/amareport

HTF Market Reportis a wholly owned brand ofHTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limitedwhich provides next-generation service for organizations with a deep focus on market intelligence, data analytics, and social intelligence, all uniquely delivered under one roof by skilled professionals. By combining and analyzing acquire lucid and most relevant data which would help in better decision-making. We provide your requirements with speed and cost benefit across the world, we are able to achieve a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the market at the delivery speed and price advantage that todays business climate demands.

Continued here:
Manufactured Housing Market to Eyewitness Massive Growth by 2025 | Nobility Homes, Cavco Industries, Fleetwood Homes - Curious Desk

In this article, I am going to discuss one of my favorite REITs. And when I say favorite, I don't just mean another REIT that pays a good yield but a company with tremendous long-term potential that finally can be bought at a discount. Equity LifeStyle Properties (NYSE:ELS) is one of the biggest residential REITs in the United States with a focus on manufactured housing and recreational vehicle communities. The company is operating in a stable and predictable environment and is massively outperforming its peers with regard to dividend hikes and stock price performance during bull and bear markets and is offering investors a strong business model with satisfying debt levels.

Source: Equity LifeStyle Properties

I have been a contributor to this website since 2015. And I have to say that the current crisis is by far the worst (unsurprisingly). Especially REITs are getting hit hard as companies are unable to pay rents while retail foot traffic is pretty much nonexistent. While I have been at home for more than four weeks, I have thought long and hard about the best places to invest in the long-term. Sure, real estate, in general, is always a good place to be. However, with some big guys like the Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) dropping to 2010 levels, I think it would be a waste of everyone's time and money to just start buying high-yielding REITs. That's why I am starting my 'own' bucket of REITs that I hope will easily outperform the iShares US Real Estate (NYSEARCA:IYR). Therefore, in this article, I am going to show you why I believe that ELS is a great addition to that bucket.

Before I start telling you anything about ELS, let me remind you that my other two high-conviction REITs are Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR) and Sun Communities (NYSE:SUI).

Just like Sun Communities, ELS is a residential REIT focused on manufactured housing (MH) and recreational vehicles (RV). The company has a market cap of currently $9.7 billion and is not a member of the S&P 500. This Chicago, IL-based REIT has been in business for more than 50 years and owns 413 properties across 33 states and British Columbia containing more than 150,000 sites. As you can see below, the company's assets are mainly located at the West and East Coast. To give you a number, more than 120 out of 413 properties are within 10 miles of coastal United States. More than 90 properties have lake, river, or ocean frontage.

Source: Equity LifeStyle Properties Investor Presentation (February 2020)

One reason why I like manufactured housing, in general, is because it is a good alternative for many people who are looking for affordable housing. Especially the increase in manufactured housing quality has allowed this segment to become a feared competitor for 'traditional' housing. On top of that, there is a second reason why I like this segment, and that's the threat of the coronavirus. Most major cities have 'stay at home' orders in place, and consumers are often reluctant to leave their homes. While this is bad news for the entire economy as it hits almost everyone, it hits retail REITs the hardest as stores are facing tenants who are either unwilling or unable to pay rents. While the same applies to some residential tenants as well, one has to acknowledge that refusing to pay rent is one of the last things someone does. Way after all discretionary expenses have been cut. In addition to that, the $1,200 coronavirus stimulus payments will be used to buy food and pay rents, making this segment even safer as massive domestic tenant eviction would be a worst-case scenario.

With that said, ELS has more benefits as it focuses on an older demographic. The average age of MH residents is 59. For RV communities, the average age is a bit lower at 55. Between 2020 and 2035, the population of people age 55 and older is expected to grow by 18% with 10,000 people turning 65 every day until 2030 according to ELS. So far, a favorable demographic and strategic site locations have benefited ELS's occupancy rate. As of 1/31/20, the company has a 95.1% occupancy rate among manufactured home communities.

As a result, the company is offering significantly higher same-store net operating income growth than its peers and the industry average, as you can see below. Even the prior two recessions were unable to hurt ELS's business.

Source: Equity LifeStyle Properties Investor Presentation (February 2020)

The graph below shows the long-term trend of total sales and operating income. Both have a compounded annual growth rate of 8.0% since 2004 without pullbacks during the Great Financial Crisis. On a side note, this does not mean that a company is immune to recessions. ELS's stock price is currently down more than 20% year-to-date as it is a risk asset and subject to selling in times when liquidity is needed. Investors also adjust their growth expectations - hence, a lower P/E ratio and stock price. The 'fact' that the company continues to grow in a recession makes it a tremendous buy during tough times as comebacks are often rapid and profitable for (new) investors.

Source: TIKR.com

As a result of the company's rapid expansion, the company has raised its dividend every single year - even during the recession of 2008. Mathematically speaking, dividend payments per share have risen by 35% per year since 2004. However, as dividend payments were almost zero in 2004, one needs to take this growth rate with a grain of salt. Since 2012, when the US housing market started to accelerate, the company has increased its dividend by 13.7% per year on average. It's much lower than 35%, but still a good growth rate.

Source: TIKR.com

Of course, this is only possible because of a healthy cash flow.

Just like its peer Sun Communities, ELS is rapidly expanding its business. In 2019, the total money spent on the acquisition of real estate assets was $443 million. This is up from $415 million in 2018 and one of the highest numbers in history as only 2011, with acquisition volumes of $713 million, is able to come in higher. In both 2019 and 2018, the company managed to fund 100% of acquisitions with cash from operations (100% coverage). Regardless, management has issued new stock worth more than $60 million every single year since 2016. This has allowed the company to remain financially flexible as total debt has failed to outperform total assets, while free cash flow has managed to stay fairly close to zero in every single year. Currently, total liabilities are valued at 69% of total assets. This is one of the lowest levels in company history.

Source: TIKR.com

Unfortunately, so far, the focus has not been on dividends. The current payout rate is 51.7%. The trend is increasing, but cash is currently used to fund the company's acquisitions. Note that the trend below is down instead of up. This is only because the total dividend paid is a negative value on the cash flow statement. Hence, a falling trend is an improvement in terms of cash spent on dividends.

Data by YCharts

Adding to that, the company's dividend yield is currently at 2.4%. This is 110 basis points below the iShares US Real Estate ETF yield of 3.5% and one of the highest levels in years.

Data by YCharts

From a personal point of view, it does not bother me that the company is issuing shares and is paying a below-average yield. Money is well spent on the company expansion, and even a slight reduction in investments will make room to rapidly increase dividend payments. Besides that, dividend growth of roughly 10% on a long-term basis with average free cash flow growth of 15% will still reward investors who are just now buying a below-average yield. Moreover, the current valuation of 21.8x cash from operations is not cheap. However, I believe this is justified as the company's business model is simply better than a lot of its REIT peers right now, and with bond yields near-record levels, it makes sense to pay a slight premium for 2.4% yield and long-term growth potential.

What I mean when I say paying for premium can be seen below. Portfolio 1, in this case, displays the performance of ELS. Both assets show the total return including dividends since 2001.

Source: Portfolio Visualizer

While the graph above leaves no room for doubt with regard to which stock is superior. However, the stats as seen below shows the true power of ELS.

The company has a historical CAGR roughly twice as high as IYR and a lower standard deviation. Adding to that, the worst year outperformed the ETF by more than 20 percentage points, while the best year was more than 10 full points stronger. Adding to that, the correlation to the US stock market is lower.

Source: Portfolio Visualizer

Of course, this is BACK testing. Unfortunately, forward testing does not exist yet. However, I still believe that the company's business model and the current economic situation warrants a long-term entry as I am convinced that ELS will outperform the US Real Estate ETF and deliver long-term capital gains on top of rapidly rising dividend payments.

With all of this being said, make sure to start buying a small position if you are not invested yet. Market volatility is high, and the market could technically drop another 10% to 15% if the virus accelerates further. Regardless, I believe current prices are a good entry point for investors with a long-term horizon who prefer dividend growth over a high dividend yield right now.

Be safe, and thank you for reading!

Thank you very much for reading my article. Feel free to click on the "Like" button and don't forget to share your opinion in the comment section down below! My long-term investments are stated in my Seeking Alpha biography.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, but may initiate a long position in ELS over the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosure: This article serves the sole purpose of adding value to the research process. Always take care of your own risk management and asset allocation.

See the article here:
Here's Why Equity LifeStyle Properties Is A Long-Term Dividend Beauty - Seeking Alpha

Every June 1st, Florida home insurance companies ask their policyholders if theyre prepared for hurricane season. This year, American Integrity Insurance Company (AIIC) became the only Florida domiciled insurance company to issue a catastrophe bond, Integrity Re II Pte. Ltd., as part of its overall financial portfolio.

"Despite current market volatility, investors recognized AIICs status as the most consistent cat bond sponsor among Florida insurers since 2017 with the successful closing of its Integrity Re II Pte. Ltd. Series 2020-1 Notes, completed in March 2020, which was the third 144A cat bond to utilize a Singapore-domiciled special purpose reinsurance vehicle," said Cory Anger, Managing Director, GC Securities. "GC Securities has been honored to support AIIC since 2017 in expanding its capital resiliency from the effects of natural perils that can affect its policies through the efficient and flexible usage of catastrophe bonds in concert with its traditional reinsurance program."

The current issuance is a great indicator of the Companys readiness for storm season and further protects its financial strength in the wake of catastrophic events, such as a hurricane. The fact that American Integrity is the only domestic carrier to issue a bond in 2020 speaks to the Companys solid financial footing despite Floridas dynamic and challenging property insurance market.

"The successful completion of American Integritys catastrophe bond transaction demonstrates our ongoing commitment to claims-paying capacity, surplus protection, and development a comprehensive risk management strategy to protect our company and policyholders against unforeseen events," says Ryan Hodges, American Integritys Vice President of Risk Management.

American Integritys $150 million catastrophe bond, with Hannover Rck SE acting as the ceding reinsurer, provides the Tampa-based insurance company and its policyholders with a multi-year source of financial protection against named storms that cause major damage in the state of Florida.

A catastrophe bond acts as another layer of reinsurance. Reinsurance, in essence, is insurance for insurance companies. In 2004, Florida was hit by four hurricanes in one season. It is imperative that insurance companies have enough coverage to handle multiple events to be able to pay claims, and continue to run and grow their business. American Integritys reinsurance program has consistently earned it an "A" Exceptional Financial Stability Rating from Demotech, Inc. As a liquid financial instrument, the new catastrophe bond adds to American Integritys already robust reinsurance program and will quickly and easily convert into cash for rapid claims-paying after a catastrophic storm.

American Integritys catastrophe bond becomes effective on June 1, the beginning of the 2020 hurricane season. "Entering the catastrophe bond market offers added stability for our Company, our policyholders and their homes," says American Integrity President and CEO, Bob Ritchie. "A hurricane is the ultimate test of our ability to fulfill our financial commitment to quickly pay claims to impacted customers, while continuing to conduct and grow our business. Our catastrophe bond provides us with an extra source of financial backing to do just that."

For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.aiiflorida.com, or call 866-968-8390.

About American Integrity Insurance Group (American Integrity)

American Integrity Insurance, the fifth largest Florida domiciled residential property insurer, has in excess of 300,000 customers and is represented by more than 1,000 independent agents. The Tampa-based company offers sound and comprehensive property insurance solutions, including traditional home insurance and coverage for vacant homes, condominiums, manufactured homes, dwelling fire, umbrella, golf cart, X-Wind policies, cyber coverage, and small boat coverage.

For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.aiiflorida.com, call 866-968-8390, or connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200326005522/en/

Contacts

Toni Logan TLogan@aiiflorida.com 813-512-6672

Read this article:
American Integrity Insurance Becomes the Only Florida Domestic Carrier to Issue a Catastrophe Bond in Preparation for the 2020 Hurricane Season -...

The second week of March, Phoenix announced that as part of its response to the new coronavirus crisis, it would not cut off water to people's homes, even if they couldn't pay their bills.

For the homes whose water service had already been cut off for delinquency, the city would restore "low-flow" water service, it promised, starting March 12.

But the Water Services Department, which has more than 1.5millioncustomers, so far has not been applying that edict equally across all homes, because it hasn't had the right parts, known as restrictor plates, to fit certain sizes of water meters, according to an employee of the Water Services Department.

Houses with water meters that are three-quarters or five-eighths of an inch in diameter have had their water curtailed with the installation of a small, fibrous disk punched with a hole the size of a pinhead, that employee said, but to date, those with one-inch meters have not.

A restrictor plate, next to a nickel.

New Times source

Families who get the low flow barely have enough water to shower, he said.

The employee, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, contacted Phoenix New Times because "there is no civil, moral, ethical reason for this practice to be implemented at this time."

He added,At a time when being sanitary is such a need, were going to restrict their water flow?

Other major utilities, including Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, and Tucson Electric Power, have halted all shutoffs for nonpayment for as long as the COVID-19 crisis lasts.

Another person, who has close knowledge of the restrictions and requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, confirmed both of the worker's claims.

For people in homes with smaller water meters, "you're getting a trickle of water from the city," that person said, but for the people in homes with larger water meters, the flow has stayed the same.

"How is that fair?" the person asked. "Just leave everybody on until this is over. Please!"

Both sources said that the city should not be curtailing people's water during an unprecedented health crisis, when both hygiene and compassion are more important than ever.

The Water Services Department disputed that it discriminates as it restricts the flow of water to people's homes. It also says it has enough parts to restrict water meters of all sizes.

"Your information is incorrect. We do have 1-inch low-flow devices," spokesperson Stephanie Bracken told New Times.

After being shown an email, obtained by New Times, from a Water Services Department supervisor from March 17 that explicitly said,"1[-inch] and greater restrictor plates are not available," Bracken said that on that day, the city did not have those specific restrictor plates.

She also said that when the pandemic first hit, the city's priority was to restore service to customers who had been cut off, and that "we did not at that time have enough low-flow devices on hand for all customers that were delinquent."

But in the weeks since, she said, "We have been able to regroup and get the plates in stock," adding that those larger plates had come in "recently" and were "manufactured in-house by staff."

However, the Water Services Department employee said Thursday that those plates were still not available, although he knew the city was "working on them"; Bracken said that the parts might not yet have reached all workers.

According to the department employee and the person with close knowledge of the matter,since the city announced its new policy, ithas returned water service (albeit a restricted flow) to 900 homes whose water had been cut for unpaid bills.

Bracken said that the city is still installing restrictor plates on delinquent accounts and "expect[s] to be caught up in about two weeks."

She disputed the claim that the restricted water supply, which she said flows at a rate of nearly a half-gallon per minute, isn't enough for people to live on.

Water flowing out of a faucet at a half-gallon per minute.

Elizabeth Whitman

"The amount of water customers receive on low-flow service is more than adequate for cooking, cleaning, and sanitation," she said. "Although low-flow water service for residential customers requires adjustment, revenue collection is necessary to avoid an even greater community disaster in which there is not enough money to continue to operate and maintain the public drinking water system."

She added, "Our focus is on helping customers that are in difficult financial circumstances by offering payment arrangements ... and by continuing to provide water service in lieu of disconnections through our low-flow program."

The department employee said that the actual rate of water flow can vary, depending on water pressure and other factors. He estimated the flow to be about half of what Bracken said about a quart per minute and said that if the tiny hole in the disk gets clogged, it becomes even slower or might stop entirely.

He also said the city's policy puts workers in a difficult position, forcing them to go to people's homes and telling families their water will be severely curtailed during a time of incredible anxiety. Employees don't want to do it, he said.

"Theres been people crying," he said. "Some people are pretty desperate right now."

Elizabeth Whitman is a staff writer for Phoenix New Times.

Go here to read the rest:
'Just Leave Everybody's Water on Until This Is Over. Please!' - Phoenix New Times

LCI Industries (NYSE:LCII) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, Zacks.com reports.

According to Zacks, LCI Industries is a supplier of components to the recreational vehicle and manufactured housing industries as well as adjacent industries including bus, cargo and equestrian trailer, marine and heavy truck. The companys product portfolio includes awnings, suspension enhancement, chassis, doors and laminates, electronics, interior, software and apps, windows and glass, thermoformed bath and kitchen products. LCI Industries, formerly known as formerly Drew Industries Incorporated, is based in Elkhart, Indiana.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on the stock. ValuEngine upgraded shares of LCI Industries from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 18th. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of LCI Industries from $100.00 to $76.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. CL King upgraded shares of LCI Industries from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $105.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Finally, Sidoti upgraded shares of LCI Industries from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $102.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. The stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $101.00.

LCI Industries (NYSE:LCII) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The company reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the Zacks consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.08. LCI Industries had a net margin of 6.18% and a return on equity of 19.20%. The firm had revenue of $564.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $554.35 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.82 earnings per share. LCI Industriess revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that LCI Industries will post 7.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In related news, Director David A. Reed sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.04, for a total transaction of $1,100,400.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 3.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in LCII. Russell Investments Group Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of LCI Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at $381,000. Stifel Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of LCI Industries by 11.5% in the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 8,631 shares of the companys stock valued at $788,000 after purchasing an additional 890 shares during the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of LCI Industries by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 38,028 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,493,000 after purchasing an additional 454 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in shares of LCI Industries by 12.8% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 44,505 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,088,000 after purchasing an additional 5,034 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Voloridge Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of LCI Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at $432,000. Institutional investors own 96.88% of the companys stock.

About LCI Industries

LCI Industries, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and supplies components for the manufacturers of recreational vehicles (RVs) and adjacent industries in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and Aftermarket. The OEM segment manufactures or distributes various components for the OEMs of RVs and adjacent industries, including buses; trailers used to haul boats, livestock, equipment, and other cargo; travel trailers, fifth-wheel travel trailers, folding camping trailers, and truck campers; trucks; pontoon boats; trains; manufactured homes; and modular housing.

Featured Story: Short Selling Explanation For Shorting Stocks

Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on LCI Industries (LCII)

For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com

Receive News & Ratings for LCI Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LCI Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

View post:
LCI Industries (NYSE:LCII) Lowered to Hold at Zacks Investment Research - Redmond Register

With the economy in flux and stock pricesdown across the board, the U.S. commercial real estate property outlook lookspretty grim, Green Street Advisorssaid in a webinar Tuesday.

Businesses have shut down, some restaurants are going to limited operations and many employees are working from home.REITshareholders are taking notice.

In the three weeks ending Monday, the S&P was down nearly 30% and REITs were down 35%, Green Street Advisors Managing Director of Strategic Research Peter Rothemundsaid during a conference call.

On Tuesday, the S&P and REITs were up slightly, but the wild market fluctuations in the past couple of weeksare atelltale sign of things to come, Rothemund said.

"The market is pretty freaked out about the spread of the coronavirus here in the U.S.," Rothemund said. "And it tells you that we are in a recession right now."

Fears about a recession, defined as two consecutive quarters of falling GDP, come as coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, continues to spread globally.

As of 8 p.m. EST Tuesday, there are more than 195,000 reported cases worldwide with 5,700 in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins. In the U.S., there have beenmore than 100 deaths across 17 states and the numbers keep going up,Johns Hopkins reported.

In an effort to stop the spread of the virus, several states and cities have declared a state of emergency, asked businesses to close or limit service, and have halted people from gathering in large numbers.

In San Francisco, officials have ordered 7 millionresidents to shelter in place. In New York and Los Angeles, bars, restaurants, theaters and even major theme parks have been asked to close, which many have done willingly.Major sports leagues, which draw thousands of spectators on any given night, such as theNational Basketball Association, Major League Soccer, Major League Baseball and the National Football League, have suspended some of their season's operations.

The closures and limited operating hours havealso stoppedtourism and economic activity. Gaming is down and some hotels, especially in Las Vegas, have been forced to close.

On Monday, economists from the UCLA Anderson School of Management reported that the U.S. economy has entered a recession, ending the expansion that began in mid-2009.

Courtesy of Green Street Advisors

A slide showing REIT performance from February 2020 to March 2020 by Green Street Commercial Property Outlook 2020

UCLA economists forecastGDP growth in the first quarter of just 0.4%. GDP for the second quarter of the year is now forecast todecline by 6.5%, and by 1.9% for the third quarter.

"With the assumption of an end to the pandemic and repaired supply chains by this summer, the forecast predicts the resumption of normal activity in the fourth quarter of 2020 and a GDP growth rate of 4.0%," UCLA officials said in their report.

Rothemundlikened the NBA suspension of its season last week to D-Day and Armageddon.

"That was the bottom," Rothemund said. "Now, everything is shutting down. And when things shut down, economic activity is not coming to a complete halt, but in Q2 we're going to have a nasty negative GDP number. Q2 is probably going to be the bottom."

Analyzing the public market, Rothemund said he's surprised by the underperformance of REITs during this time. Since REIT earnings from rent and profits are not as sensitive during a downturn as the S&P 500, it usually performs better, Rothemund said.

But the past three weeks or so, as the coronavirus spread, REITs have performed worse than the S&P. Rothemund couldn't really explain why, but correlates the performance of REITs and the drop in share prices as an indication of lower commercial real estate property values, which aredown 25% from at least three weeks ago.

REITs focused on gaming, lodging and healthcare are down 35% during the same time period. Student housing, which some had considered recession-proof, is down 30%. Office, apartments, malls and industrial REITs are down 20%.

Things can change very quickly, he said, because the marketis fickle.

"Some of these moves make sense and some of these moves are overdone," he said. "It's like the market is on a death scare ... In times of stress like this, there's a lot of distressed selling going on. You need to use some of these signals with a grain of salt."

One thing that is clear isa continued slide in private market real estate values. Rothemund said he sees market values going down by as much as 5% to 10% six months from now.

"The decline will vary a lot by property type," he said. "It's possible industrial values don't go down. [Manufactured homes] are probably not going to go down. Storage might not go down. But a lot of other property types are going down and going down significantly."

The rest is here:
Green Street: 'We Are In A Recession Right Now' - Bisnow

Some call them small homes, while others prefer tiny homes or tiny houses.

Whatever the terminology which, like the homes themselves, is evolving more and more people are getting their heads around the idea of creating living spaces that depart significantly from the consumption-oriented large-footprint model that has been considered the norm in recent decades.

With thousands worldwide building and living in their own tiny homes often off the grid, and usually off the radar of local authorities the idea has transcended what some critics decried as a fad to become an international movement with both economic and ecological advantages.

At the same time, there are roadblocks to full acceptance of tiny homes including a lack of formal recognition by governments on a local, national and regional level that have made most tiny home dwellers virtually rebels by default.

But online videos, like those produced and hosted by New Zealands Bryce Langston (whose Living Big In A Tiny House has become a highly popular YouTube channel) have provided examples of enterprising tiny home-owners and DIY builders around the world, helping to accelerate interest at an exponential gallop.

On B.C.s Lower Mainland, the highly successful Westcoast Small Home Expo, currently scheduled to return for a second year at the Abbotsford Tradex on the weekend of June 6-7 again with Langston as one of the headline guest speakers provides ample evidence of that interest on a local level.

READ ALSO: Home Buying 101 Forum cancelled due to COVID-19

Tiny home experts and professional builders provide one of the most attention-getting components of the show including a construction zone feature, where a live-build of a tiny home will take place through both days of the expo.

Exhibitors can also give attendees a good idea of whats available in the way of fittings, appliances and accessories, kitchen, bathroom and storage ideas, and many others products and services geared to a pared-down lifestyle (for tickets and more information, visit smallhomeexpo.ca).

A tiny home is generally defined as a residence of no more than 400 square feet, usually built on a flat-bed base for relatively easy transportation when towed by a truck, with a maximum width of eight-feet six-inches (anything wider makes special moving permits mandatory).

Lower areas of the typical tiny home strike a balance between kitchen, living room and bathroom areas, while beds are usually located in low-ceiling lofts accessed by ladders or stairways.

Working within such limits, owners and manufacturers around the world are daily probing the outer limits of ingenuity in finding solutions for creating a sense of openness in spite of long and narrow envelopes, as well as maximizing storage, bathroom and utility space.

Depending on the site chosen, theres potential for a tiny home to hook up to existing electrical and sewer/septic services, or, with the use of solar panels, propane-powered appliances and composting toilets, living off the grid entirely, with a minimal ecological footprint.

But its not just a matter of ecology. Reducing the footprint has become increasingly attractive as people ponder the very real 21st century challenges of owning their own homes, particularly in inflated markets where even exceedingly average houses have become million-dollar properties.

Langston who compares Auckland, New Zealands tough housing market with Vancouvers said following last years expo that it was a very real issue for him, as a young actor who had gone back to auditioning for roles after his character was written out of a major television series.

I began to realize that a tiny home was one of the only chances a young person like me would have to own their own home, he said.

READ ALSO: The priciest home for sale in Canada: A $38M Vancouver penthouse

Its clear that many others feel the same way. The Living Big In A Tiny House channel has 2.9 million subscriptions, with untold further millions of unsubscribed viewers while for Langston and his partner Rasa, shooting and editing segments around the world has turned into a full-time occupation.

Australian-born Ben Garratt of B.C.-based Healthy Homes an expert builder and teacher of low-impact tiny homes and a senior advisor for the expo agrees that economic factors are fueling the current wave of interest in this style of housing.

The main driving force is affordability, he said. I think the idea of this being a fad or a trend is long past. Maybe it was at the start, a little, but now affordability is the big thing, and thats not a trend thats reality for a lot of people.

While Garratt says that interest in tiny homes seems to cross all age demographics, he calculates that some 70 per cent of the people investigating the concept are women and many of those are approaching their retirement years.

They dont just want somewhere to live theyre interested in creating a home, he said.

On the Healthy Homes website Garratt whose company provides assistance and advice for would-be tiny home owners and builders from providing plans, through courses and building workshops to the finished product lists a rough rule-of-thumb cost for a tiny home built to professional standards of $60,000.

Prices can vary widely, however, with high-end manufactured homes coming in at considerably higher than that, while DIY enthusiasts have built for as little as $10,000 to $30,000 through enterprising sourcing of materials.

Langley resident Anette Atsma who coincidentally fits Garratts profile of the tiny home-curious did just that when she designed and built her own home in the Chilliwack area in 2016, with the help of a friend with building expertise who was also intrigued about the process.

The 240-sq. ft. home which included two lofts was built on an 18-foot commercially-rated flatbed trailer base.

We built it from scratch and it cost me a total of $17,000, of which $4,000 was for the trailer base, she said.

There was less than $1,000 in used materials and the rest was all brand-new material.

But Atsma, who has a working background in the RV industry and subcontracting out her own home renovation in the 1980s, said she benefited not only from that experience, but also by making friends with staff at a local Rona, who were able to advise her in choosing strong but flexible light-weight products and point her toward bonafide deals on materials.

I bought the trailer on June 1, we prepped it and had it all ready for construction by July 1 and even with only working on it on weekends, it was ready for me to move in by Nov. 1, she said.

Lightness and durability of construction was a must for Atsma, who said her natural wanderlust inspired a home plan intended for frequent moves from community to community.

You have to stay under 10,000 lbs. so that it is able to be pulled by a regular truck, she said.

While Atsma remains enthusiastic about the tiny home concept, shes less enthused by the haphazard building techniques and highly individual, but less than pragmatic, materials that she sees in a lot of current projects.

I look at some of these units and I cringe, she said. If you plan on travelling anywhere with it, you dont use drywall, you dont use tile you dont use anything that will crack or break. You hit a pothole and you know whats going to happen.

Garratt whose long-time career emphasis on safety and healthy building techniques stems from early experiences with toxic products in the mainstream construction industry that compromised his health also suggests that investing in some professional advice can help the unskilled and unwary DIY builder avoid costly-to-rectify mistakes.

These can range from dangerous construction flaws and wiring errors to serious condensation and mould issues as a result of choosing the wrong kinds of materials and not providing adequate ventilation to the structure, he said.

Even if one is not yet ready to take the plunge into a tiny home, Peggy Richardson, marketing manager for the upcoming expo, said it aims to provide a wide range of ideas for those interested in occupying a smaller footprint.

Were all about small homes of all types: condominiums, townhouses, laneway homes, tiny houses, Granny suites, and those downsizing from larger homes, she said.

Richardson noted that tiny home designs have also become far more individual over the last few years even though a typical long box/one-way tilted roof look has tended to dominate.

(The tiny home) used to be seen as very homogenized, she said. But its become very regionalized, depending on where you are in the world, incorporating traditional ideas and materials. Europe is putting a different spin on it than Asia, and Canada is putting a different spin on what the U.S. is doing.

Part of the appeal of a tiny home is that provides an opportunity to assert individuality and have a space which, while small, is truly reflective of the owners personality.

At the same time, it must be noted, most tiny homes currently occupy a grey legal area local governments have generally not kept pace with the trend or been able to modify zoning regulations to allow the homes legally-recognized sites.

And financing, while available in Canada, tends to hinge on the tiny homes being built on a flat-bed trailer base and CSA certified as an RV which, officially at least, precludes them being lived in year-round.

Garratt said he believes the majority of tiny homes in B.C. are technically sited outside the law not unlike the situation with illegal suites.

(Enforcement) is a complaint-driven process if you are on a property thats a little out of the way, and you get on well with the neighbours, you dont have a problem.

In the worst-case scenario, a municipality can demand a non-conforming tiny home either be removed or demolished, which is why its desirable to build on a wheeled base to protect your investment, Garratt said.

I think with tiny homes, were in the same place that lane-way homes were in in the early 2000s, when a lot of people had built out their garages as extra units. There had to be a lot of advocacy done for them to be permitted in Vancouver. Tiny houses are in the same early stages and there are a few different groups working on advocacy including the BC Tiny House Coalition.

But Garratt said the key for advocates is not demanding changes on a municipality or regional level, but lobbying for tiny homes to receive a new CSA certified RV category one that recognizes them as suitable for habitation year-round which would give municipalities flexibility to allow them in already RV-approved zones.

There are some indications on the local front that tiny homes could be accommodated.

White Rock housing advisory committee chair Coun. Anthony Manning said the committee would be prepared to look into tiny homes as one potential strategy for providing affordable housing.

City of Surrey general manager of planning and development Jean Lamontagne said its technically possible for someone to buy a property in the city and apply for a permit to build a tiny home. It just hasnt happened to this point, he said, since most property owners are focused on building a home near or to the maximum allowed by the zoning bylaw.

A tiny home on wheels would fall within the mobile homes category and Surrey has properties where the zoning allows for mobile homes, he added.

Garratt and Atsma agree that there are some lingering prejudices when it comes to tiny homes partly based in resistance to change, but also in fears that allowing them might result in a proliferation of casually-constructed eyesores and shantytowns.

Atsma ended up selling her tiny home for $35,000 more than doubling her money, it should be noted because she could not find enough RV parks in B.C. that were willing to set a precedent by accommodating it, even for an overnight stay.

I loved it and I would live in another one again if people wouldnt be so pig-headedly obstinate, she said. But very few parks will take them because they dont look like other RVs.

The people I sold my home to happen to be sitting on an acreage overlooking a lake near Kamloops, which is a perfect spot for it theyre in a non-conforming area where they dont have to worry about rules and regulations.

But Garratt said he remains optimistic that tiny homes will soon have the seal of legitimacy as a viable affordable housing option.

Were poised and waiting for the cities and municipalities to catch up, Garratt said. It will happen its just a matter of time.

One of the great things about the tiny house movement is that most of the kinks about building them have already been ironed out, he said.

Its always going to be trending up, he added.

Its plateau-ing a little at the moment because of a lot of these legislative and regulatory issues, but as soon as those are sorted out its going to spike. If this is the most affordable way for people to get into a house, then thats what people are going to do.

alex.browne@peacearchnews.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Housing

Langley resident Anette Atsma scratch built this 240-sq. ft. tiny home in Chilliwack in 2016 for a total of $17,000. Anette Atsma photo.

Read more here:
Big future in tiny homes, says New Zealand expert - Surrey Now-Leader