There’s no doubt you have a laundry list of preparations to complete if you’re awaiting the arrival of a new baby in your life. Among the most important of those preparations is childproofing your manufactured home. While it may not seem like it at first glance, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of everyday dangers that can cause harm to little ones. Start your childproofing journey with these basics that every family with a baby or toddler should consider:

Cabinets – Curious kids love nothing more than exploration. While encouraging that sense of adventure is a great idea, you certainly don’t want to let them get into ground level cabinets and cupboards. Fortunately, cabinet locks are very affordable and easy to find. Many styles slide right over knobs or handles, requiring no installation effort at all.

Drawers – Not only can young children gain access to dangerous household items by getting into drawers, but it’s also possible that they will pinch or otherwise hurt sensitive fingers when slamming those drawers shut. Basic drawer locks can be installed in your manufactured home with just a screwdriver, and they are easily removed once your child grows older.

Sharp Corners – As little ones learn to crawl and walk, they inevitably take some tumbles. Sharp edges and corners, such as those on coffee tables or on the edges of your fireplace, can cause major injury. Cover up these surfaces with specially designed foam padding or plastic pieces. They come in a huge variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, so you can choose a style that blends in well with your decor while still keeping your baby safe.

These are just a few of the measures everyone with a new baby should take. Keep your manufactured home safe for every member of the family by thoroughly researching the topic and by spending some time on this important process!

Port Royal Village chosen as Land-Lease Community of the Year

UMH Properties, Inc. is proud to announce the Port Royal Village community has been awarded the 2017 Land-Lease Community of the Year by the Manufactured Housing Institute. UMH Properties, Inc. CEO, Sam Landy, accepted the award at the 2017 National Congress & Expo in Las Vegas, NV on May 3, 2017.

In the Area

Nestled in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Belle Vernon is a beautiful town situated on the Monongahela River in Pennsylvania. This region has a lot to offer, as it is surrounded by various shopping, dining, and entertainment options as well as parks, libraries, and recreation areas. Take the kids to Idle Wild Soak & Soak Zone for a fun afternoon or spend a weekend canoeing along the Youghiogheny River. Find more recommended activities in the Belle Vernon area at UMH.com. http://www.umh.com/community/port-royal-village

About Port Royal Village

Port Royal Village features three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes with modern and spacious floor-plans, name brand appliances, and plenty of storage space. Enjoy plenty of natural light while eating breakfast at your two-level island. Many homes have decks, covered front porches, storage sheds, and two-car driveways. This community has a pool to swim in during the summer, a community clubhouse for activities, and a playground and basketball court that many of our residents enjoy year-round.

Never fret with 24-hour on-site management and maintenance. If a problem arises or you need assistance with your home or lot, we are right there to help. You’ll be proud to call Port Royal Village your home.

About Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI)

“The Manufactured Housing Institute is the only national trade organization representing the factory-built housing industry. Its members come from all sectors of the manufactured and modular housing industries and include builders, lenders, home retailers, community owners and managers, suppliers, more than 50 affiliated state organizations and others associated with the industry.” – MHI

If you are interested in viewing this community and its properties, please contact us at (724) 929-4224 or pasales@umh.com. To apply for residency, please fill out these forms – http://www.umh.com/content/residency-application) and return.

Model Hours: Monday-Friday 9am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 3pm

Address 485 Patterson Lane, Belle Vernon, PA 15012

Sam Landy is the CEO of UMH Properties, Inc., a Freehold, New Jersey based Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), for over two decades.  Having fostered the company’s eminent success and rapid growth in the manufactured home market, Sam Landy takes great pride in working within his industry, as well as the prosperity of his firm. Matt Bechard interviews Sam Landy in this recorded video at REIT Week 2015, an internationally attended conference held in New York, New York annually to convene several hundred REIT firms from around the world. Sam Landy discusses many key topics revolving around his industry, including the current and past status of the manufactured home market, the future outlook for the market and the firm, and much more.  Sam Landy foresees a bright outlook for the manufactured home market as geographically inclined developments in the American financial and industry sectors bring new growth hotspots into range for UMH Properties, Inc.  

• Shared Amenities. Many manufactured home communities include extra conveniences for residents. They can enjoy sport courts, outdoor pools and sun decks, and even club houses that can be used for resident get-togethers or to host parties or special events. Non-communal living areas aren’t able to offer those kind of extras that allow residents to get to know each other.

• Affordability. In a manufactured home community, homes are much more affordably priced than comparable site-built homes, sometimes selling for up to 60% less. While these homes are less expensive, they are large and modern, with three bedrooms, two baths, spacious kitchens and bedrooms, and plenty of storage. You can choose to live in a beautiful home that fits your lifestyle and fits within your housing budget.

• Land-Lease Opportunity. In a manufactured home community, land leases allow residents to lease the land that their home stands on for a much lower cost than purchasing the land. Now, your housing costs become even more affordable. Buying the land in a non-communal area means you’ll spend a much bigger chunk of your housing dollar.

• Desirable Locations. Many suburban and rural manufactured home communities are located in areas that you want to live in, with dining, recreation, entertainment, shopping, and schools nearby. In some communities, you can even walk to work, school, or leisure activities. Stand-alone homes, on the other hand, can often be in more isolated areas.

When you think of the Baseball Hall of Fame, great players like Hank Aaron and Joe DiMaggio jump to mind. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has honored hundreds of all-time musical greats like The Beatles, Aretha Franklin and David Bowie. 

But there’s another hall of fame you may not have heard of, that we proudly call our own: The RV/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame and its newest inductee, Christine Lindsey, UMH Vice President of Sales. While not exactly a household name, ask anyone in the manufactured housing industry about Christine Lindsey’s 30+ years of service and you’ll hear accolade after accolade. 

Christine has made numerous contributions to UMH and the industry she loves, through hard work, care, and commitment. On the national level, Christine has served as the Chair of the Manufactured Housing Institute National Communities Council and the Manufactured Housing Institute Board of Directors. She was awarded the National Communities Person of the Year at the 2009 National Manufactured Housing Institute 19th Annual National Congress and Expo.

In her role as Vice President of Sales, Lindsey has been instrumental in improving customer satisfaction and brand loyalty, which have led to a remarkable 100% site increase from 2011 to 2016. Additionally, Lindsey has been a charismatic advocate for the role of manufactured housing in solving our country’s affordable housing shortage. She’s even been known to make emergency repairs to homes on occasion.

Christine Lindsey got her start in the manufactured housing industry as a community manager in 1979 with UMH Properties, Inc., gaining firsthand knowledge about the operations and resident relations so critical to the success of any manufactured home community. She was promoted to Tennessee Regional Manager in 1990, then to Regional Vice President in 1993, and most recently to Vice President of Sales in 2003. Christine was honored with prestigious designation of Manufactured Housing Manager – Master, January 1, 2007 by the Land-Lease Community Real Estate Asset Class.

Christine has always been active in the Tennessee Manufactured Housing Association, where she has been on the board of directors since 1994. She has served as State Park Director for three years and was Chapter President from 2000-2007. She was elected to the Executive Board acting as secretary in 2000. She was elected as Vice President in 2008, President from 2011-2013, and then inducted into the Tennessee Hall of Fame in August 2013.

“This Hall of Fame event is truly a major industry affair,” says Darryl Searer, president and COO of the RV/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame. “It honors the inductees who have attained a major milestone in their lives and careers.

The profile of the average manufactured homeowner has certainly shifted. Chances are, prospected home buyers will have more in common with residents inhabiting manufactured homes than not. Below we have gathered a list of people that fit the description of your new neighbors. Without further adieu, let's introduce them.

The Downsizers
The Downsizers have been married for over 40 years and put their three children through college. They are both retired and ready to spend their golden years in a quiet community. The upkeep of their current home has been a hassle and it's outgrown them. They have grown tired of the constant repairs and they're not as young as they used to be. Both of them no longer want to live in a home with stairs. She insists that they look into a household that's affordable and easy to maintain. They both enjoy staying active by taking peaceful walks through nature trails as well as participating in community events.

The Firstheimers
The Firstheimers are recently engaged and ready to embark on their lives together. They've been renting out an apartment for the past two years of their relationship and they're prepared to finally have a home to call their own. They are expecting their first child in three months and are looking for a place that's not too small, not too big, with a price that's just right. Community is extremely important to their family; so her and her husband decided to take a look at a UMH Village. The Firstheimer's are currently residing in a safe and secure community. Their neighbors even threw them a surprise baby shower at the community clubhouse.

The Highrisers
The Highrisers are former city-slickers that desperately need a change of pace. The hustle and bustle of the rat race no longer excites them. They're yearning for more of a relaxed and easy going lifestyle. Peace and quiet is of the utmost importance in their lives. A few of their family friends just recently moved into a UMH community and expressed to her how peaceful and quaint it is. He loves the affordability and she appreciates the ambience. They are now able to take a deep breath and truly enjoy their new lives.

The Downsizer, Firstheimer, and Highriser Families all have something in common – a need for change. These could be your neighbors so start a new beginning and create lasting memories at one of UMH's 68 communities today.