Registration Open for SECO19, Agenda Set for Oct. 8-10 in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Sept. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Registration is open for the 2019 SECO conference, a gathering of 450 owners and operators of small to midsize manufactured home communities from around the country.

The educational format at SECO is divided into four categories: Pre-SECO workshops (open Oct. 8), solo presentations, panel discussions, and roundtable discussions.

SECO began as a gathering of regional community owners, but has grown into a national event. Registration for the 2019 event already show participants from 30 U.S. states.

David Roden is a community owner and one of SECO's founding members.

"Workshops are 'roll up your sleeves and get into the details' presentations on specialized topics," Roden said. "At SECO19, one of Atlanta's premier regional accounting firms will have someone out to talk about keeping the money you make – topics like changes in the tax laws, accelerated write-offs, succession, and opportunity zones."

Another session will discuss legal entities for manufactured home communities and sales operations, including LLCs, trusts and master leases.

"The greatest take-away from SECO may be the ability to meet other community owners who are doing, or have done, what you want to do, and to learn from their experiences, failures, and successes," Roden said.

He and other organizers would like to have even the most seasoned manufactured housing professional go away with a list of ideas that generate revenue, cut costs, increase sales, and operate more efficiently.

Other topics on the SECO19 and Pre-SECO workshop agenda include:

• A workshop on making the most of your photo and video images
• Virtual staging of homes
• Suggestions for the most effective use of online marketing
• Operation of in-community chattel financing
• Filing vacant sites and upgrading communities with new or used homes
• Conversation on conventional & lease-option financing
• What to expect for default rates
• Manufactured home lot prep and setup
• Emotional support and service animals
• Renting versus selling
• Passive investing
• Just for "newbies"
• Facebook and social media strategies

Pre-SECO Workshops Tuesday, Oct. 8
The Pre-SECO workshops have become an increasingly sought after and valuable portion of the annual programming. These workshops on Tuesday are a full day of interaction with leading manufactured housing professionals on topics vital to the operation of manufactured home communities.

2019 Pre-SECO and SECO agendas provide manufactured housing professionals with 57 presentations, including the new TED-like mini presentations that allow for a 5-minute topic summary and follow-up during general networking segments.

Solo Presentations and Roundtable Discussions at SECO
"Solo presentations during our two full days of meetings will be on such universal topics as internet marketing, industry updates, and ideas on bringing new life to older communities," SECO founder and organizer Spencer Roane said. "Lenders who finance mobile home parks and lenders who finance chattel will talk about their programs, priorities, and differences. Brokers familiar with the sales of manufactured home communities will share their thoughts on value, cap rates, and buyer/seller priorities."

Roundtable discussions will be guided by experienced community owners who are ready, willing and able to answer questions about RV parks, self-storage, property valuations, renting versus selling homes, offering new versus used homes, creative chattel financing alternatives and some industry history.

A key ingredient in the mix at SECO is the engaged participation of exhibitors and vendors that provide every form of industry product and service that may be useful to community owners. And plenty of time is allotted at SECO for attendees to visit and talk with vendors.

"A quote often attributed to William Butler Yeats intones 'There are no strangers here, only friends we haven't met yet.' That holds true each year for our group at SECO," Roane said. "SECO has always strived to appeal to the small to midsize community owners who represent the bulk of community owners in the U.S. We don't have resources like paid executives or on-staff accountants or attorneys. We are all focused on improving our communities, and have found there's no need for us to compete with each other."

Anyone who owns or has an interest in the vitality of manufactured home communities will find great value in attending SECO19. The programs focus on strategies that can benefit professionals who own anywhere from one to 100 communities. This includes owners and investors, but SECO also is beneficial for general managers, managers, sales teams and other operators.

SECO is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. All proceeds go toward planning and programming for the next year's national gathering. Any excess revenue supports the Veterans Assistance Fund started by SECO organizers in 2018.

For more information on SECO, including registration, lodging, exhibiting/sponsorship, programming or detail on the Veterans Assistance Fund, please visit http://www.secoconference.com.

SOURCE SECO Conference

Related Links

http://www.secoconference.com