"As information marketplaces, these sites will provide helpful information about the manufactured housing industry and empower consumers with the knowledge to make educated buying decisions," commented Brad Nelms, Chief Operating Officer of SearchCore and a factory built housing expert. "The acquisition of these web properties and the valuable tools they provide support SearchCore's strategy to target niche fragmented industries and become the number one or number two visited consumer site in that industry."
As recent as 2011, domestic retailers shipped more than 50,000 manufactured homes, reaching annual retail sales of $3.2 billion. The new vertical focuses on empowering consumers and related-professionals with information and tools for buying and selling manufactured homes in the United States. Manufactured homes are entirely produced in a factory. According to a 2012 report by the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), technological advances, evolutionary designs, and a focus on delivering quality homes at an affordable price are some of the forces driving interest and demand among consumers for manufactured housing. SearchCore's manufactured housing vertical will provide buyers, sellers and other constituents with best-in-class web destinations and solutions to navigate this growing industry.
Website and content development is underway for the build out of the newly acquired web properties on SearchCore's technology platform. The Company expects to complete beta testing and launch the sites incrementally starting with http://www.ManufacturedHomes.com, which is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2013. These finder sites will provide extensive databases of featured listing of manufactured homes for home buyers, builders, manufacturers and lenders. The sites will include features such as custom price quotes, retailer and builder directories and profiles, retailer price comparison tools, a local site contractor finder and a display model home center, among others.
"In the face of a challenging economy, the need for quality, affordable housing has never been greater," said Jim Pakulis, Chief Executive Officer of SearchCore. "The ever-improving and outstanding quality and performance of manufactured homes provides consumers with affordable options at prices ranging from 10% to 35% less per square foot than conventional completely site-built homes. With limited online options currently available, the launch of SearchCore's manufactured housing vertical will provide the premiere online destination for this evolving consumer-based industry. Along with the acquisition of Sportify.com and the management agreement with Tattoo.com in January 2013, this new vertical demonstrates SearchCore's continued commitment to creating best-in-class online destinations within a variety of niche industries."
About SearchCore, Inc.
SearchCore, Inc. is a technology-based Internet marketing services company that offers customers an integrated suite of services including media, technology, marketing and information. Founded in 2010, SearchCore is headquartered in Lake Forest, California. The Company's common stock trades on the OTC Market's highest tier, OTCQX, under the ticker symbol "SRER." http://www.SearchCore.com
Safe Harbor Notice
Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). SearchCore, Inc. cautions that statements made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. SearchCore, Inc. undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release.