There are several new and recent items that are purportedly making it ever more clear what is occurring that are artificially stymieing manufactured housing industry growth.
There is a new report from the Washington, D.C. based independent producers association – linked below – that raises several disturbing concerns. They should each raise the question, where is the Manufactured Housing Institute on these issues?
The topics that the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform covered are serious ones, and are outlined in their bullets, below.
- HUD WHITEWASHES ALLEGED DOE ENERGY RULE COSTS
- PROCEDURAL CHANGES SHOULD APPLY TO ANY DOE MH RULE
- REVISED DTS PLANS RELEASED – CHATTEL STILL IN LIMBO
- 2018 PRODUCTION UP – BUT SHORT OF 100,000 HOME BENCHMARK
- UNFINISHED BUSINESS – HUD MONITORING CONTRACT REFORM
- CONGRESS TAKES UP GSE REFORM
- HUD ANNOUNCES MHCC/SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS
Sources from outside of the MHARR office – with connections to MHI – are telling MHProNews that the reasons to sound the alarm are increasingly self-evident. Rather than deny or clarify issues, MHI’s hired outside counsel to do sabre rattling instead. Wouldn’t it be easier and less costly for MHI if they simply disproved – if they could – concerns like those raised above or below?
On January 9th, 2019, MHProNews revealed that on the MHI website, several key topics – important for the industry’s growth potential – are no where to be found.
Surprising Discovery on Manufactured Housing’s Enhanced Preemption, Hidden Gem$
MHI’s outside counsel specifically stated – and several sources in MHI – routinely monitor what is published here. So, they knew this was a concern. What have they done since the screen capture is done about 6 weeks ago?
Nada. See the screen capture from this evening, which is time-date-stamped in the file name.
There seems to be several developing patterns. Consider these to-date uncontroverted facts:
- The Duty to Serve mandated in 2008 by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) that the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac support underserved markets, that included rural and manufactured housing.
- MHI – purportedly at the bidding of Clayton Homes, per MHI sources – focused their push on DTS toward the so-called new class of homes, instead of on all manufactured homes. Why?
- Even if that works for Clayton, how does that help the millions of current or potential ‘standard’ manufactured home owners that might have benefited from lower cost chattel loans?
- Now, in hindsight, the MHI’s odd stance on the energy standards for DOE would have significantly raised the costs of new manufactured homes. MHARR was essentially battling MHI, as much as they were the Obama era DOE and their allies. MHARR worked to align third party research that proved just how flawed the MHI plan was, and only then, did MHI do an about face – during the Trump Administration.
- At each stage, MHI’s actions – or failures to act – reveal an arguably stated or unstated tendency toward increased consolidation through artificially enhanced barriers or entry, maintenance, or exit.
See the related reports below. There could be a special report soon on a related issue, that once more shows MHI’s failure to act in their self-proclaimed role of representing all segments of the factory built housing industry.
Marty Lavin, Frank Rolfe, Kenny Lipschutz, and others within or tied to MHI have been proven right. The motivations for state associations to break from MHI are becoming more clear.
It’s game on.
One side, there are those that posture or claim to be working on behalf of the industry, but the are either fumbling or failing repeatedly. Why?
Then on the other side, are others who want to see the industry grow, but are running into headwinds that the post-production side of the industry is supposed to be fighting.
Back stabbing by MHI, anyone? Or is it a front stab? The featured photo lets you imagine it either way.
Meanwhile, pro-MHI sycophants are silent. Or amen-corner writers churn out their mealy-mouthed nonsense. Is it the Omaha-Knoxville-Arlington axis coming more visibly into focus?
It will be fascinating to see what Warren Buffett has to say. We’ll know soon enough.
That’s this evening’s “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (News, analysis, and commentary.)
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Related Reports:
You can click on the image/text boxes to learn more about that topic.
Manufactured Housing Institute February 2019 Monthly Economic Report, with 2018 Revelations
Clayton Retail GM Earns Big Bucks, Insider Insights for Manufactured Housing
Warren Buffett “Oracle of Omaha” HBO Documentary Berkshire Hathaway #Advexon Video
Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) Shifts on DOE Regulatory Rule, Report, Analysis
“Waste, Fraud, and Abuse” – FHFA, GSE Federal Oversight Announcement
“What Are We, Chopped Liver?” MHI Member December 2018 Reactions
