EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

AT THE COMPANY:
Jeffrey P. Jorissen
Chief Financial Officer
(248) 208-2500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


        SUN COMMUNITIES, INC. AGREES TO INVEST IN ORIGEN EQUITY FINANCING


SOUTHFIELD, MI, OCTOBER 3, 2003 - SUN COMMUNITIES, INC. (NYSE: SUI), a real
estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates manufactured housing
communities, today reported that it agreed to invest $50 million in the $150
million equity financing of Origen Financial L.L.C. ("Origen"), which is
scheduled to close on Wednesday, October 8, 2003. Origen has indicated that the
capital raised in Origen's equity financing will be used in part to repay all
indebtedness to Sun Communities (approximately $35 million) and to acquire
certain interests in Sun's manufactured home loans.

These securities will be issued by Origen in a private placement in reliance
upon an exemption from registration provided by the Securities Act of 1933. The
securities will not be, and have not been, registered under the Securities Act
and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an
applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Sun Communities, Inc. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that currently
owns and operates a portfolio of 130 manufactured housing communities mainly in
the Midwest and Southeast United States. On June 30, 2003, Sun Communities'
portfolio consisted of 44,520 developed sites as well as 7,050 sites suitable
for development.

                FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.
                   VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SUNCOMMUNITIES.COM