"Recognizing this trend, the Federation of Manufactured Home Owners of Florida in the late 1980s formed a corporation to assist and advise members on the community purchase process. FMO provided "how-to" educational materials and assisted some communities through the purchase process."

"FMO dropped out of the conversion business for several years, but recently, largely because of the increased interest in community purchase, the federation has formed FMO Conversion Services Inc. The new corporation is headed by Jennifer Tobin, who worked with the FMO Storm Ready program for several years."

"Community conversion is a complex real estate transaction that requires not only expertise and knowledge of the business transaction, but also an understanding of the needs of the community and of individuals - those who purchase and those who don't."

"Besides FMO, a number of conversion services exist to assist a community in the purchase process. I urge communities to request proposals from several services before selecting one to help. Price is a consideration, yes, but so are experience and service before, during and after the purchase."

"FMO proposes a nine-step process, which starts when the community contacts FMO Conversion Services and fills out a purchase analysis form. The information is analyzed before a meeting with the community's board or acquisition committee. At that first meeting, services are explained and a determination is made whether the community is ready to move forward. If the answer is yes, a contract is prepared and signed."

"Next the conversion service prepares an evaluation of the community, projecting the income and expenses and determining a fair market value and a proposed purchase price. If the community wishes to make an offer, a letter of intent is prepared and presented to the community owner."

"If the owner and the community reach
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