It is useful to provide the views of both national trade associations engaged in the manufactured housing industry. MHProNews has been doing this from the early days of our publication, which is now over 14 years since our launch. For several years, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) each provided their information directly to MHProNews for publication. One fine day, MHI decided that they no longer wanted us to carry their news. Why? After a period of what might be described as proverbial arm wrestling, MHProNews resumed publishing those MHI items, which for some time had to be obtained from their parties. Restated, MHI would prefer that we don’t publish their ‘news and updates,’ but they have essentially acquiesced to the fact that we obtain them and publish them. In what ought to be a cautionary flag, MHI, as has been repeatedly noted, does not routinely publish their own emailed news updates on their own website. Why not?

Whatever the motivation may be for MHI’s leadership for not publishing their own emailed ‘news’ content on their own website, what that means in practical terms is this.

When MHProNews reproduces much (usually not all, because they are routinely plugging MHI’s own events, and we don’t normally advertise gratis for them or anyone else) of MHI’s ‘news and updates’ or ‘housing alerts,’ we are likely to be the only source online that has their material.

That MHI behavior is a stark contrast to MHARR, or what the National Association of Realtors (NAR), or National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Those others routinely want their news to be shared.

To illustrate that point, in the following MHARR news item (Part II), it ends with a line that we don’t normally publish but will this time right here. Per MHARR: “The “MHARR Washington Update” is available for re-publication in whole or in part without further permission and with proper attribution to MHARR.” So, MHI doesn’t have their own news published (why not?) while MHARR specifically encourages the republication of their emailed news items. Which is obviously more transparent?

Against that backdrop, Part I of today’s report is MHI’s 10.25.2023 email to their readers/members. Notice that we have included one section that is a pitch for their meeting. The reason why much of that meeting pitch is being provided will be unpacked in Part III below. Note that publishing MHI’s material is not to be construed as an endorsement of the organization or their leadership. To do the most valid fact check of MHI, or anyone else, it is only fair to quote them verbatim and in context. Note their illustrations are omitted, but the MHI text is as shown.

Part II is the information from MHARR. Compare and contrast the two sources.

Part III is additional information with more MHProNews analysis and commentary.

Part IV is our Daily Business News on MHProNews macro-markets and manufactured housing industry connected equities. Part of that report is our mainstream headline news recap from CNN Business (left) and Newsmax (right).

…

MHProNews editor’s notice: as was disclosed in the preface of this article, MHARR routinely offers their content for others to republish so long as their words are not altered. MHProNews has long published MHARR’s news items, as it has MHIs.

Part II –

Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) October 26, 2023 Washington, D.C. Industry Updates – an Exclusive Report and Analysis

IN THIS REPORT:                                                                                           OCTOBER 26, 2023

• MHARR ADDRESSES DRIVERS OF INDUSTRY DECLINE
• HOUSING LEGISLATION IGNORES MAJOR CAUSE OF CRISIS
• MHARR EXPANDS IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENT WITH STATE ASSOCIATIONS

MHARR ADDRESSES STATE ASSOCIATIONS ON INDUSTRY DECLINE

At a recent meeting of manufactured housing industry state association executives, MHARR addressed developing industry issues in Washington, D.C., as well as the major causes suppressing long-term industry growth and underlying the double-digit manufactured housing production decline of the past year. These issues, which were explained both verbally and in greater detail in a written report, are summarized below.

• CHASSIS REMOVAL/DUTY TO SERVE

Removal of the “permanent chassis” requirement from federal manufactured housing law has been an issue since MHARR was formed in 1985. At that time, MHARR supported a legislative effort and court action to delete the “permanent chassis” language from the statutory definition of manufactured housing. While those efforts did not produce a change (following the withdrawal of Manufactured Housing Institute – MHI – support), the matter has lingered since then, with the removal issue surfacing from time to time. Now, a bill is pending in the House of Representatives (H.R. 5198) to drop the permanent chassis provision and the ROAD to Housing draft bill in the Senate (proposed by Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.)) would similarly delete that clause, among other things.

On September 7, 2023, MHARR published a comprehensive White Paper dealing with this issue  from a historical, legislative and regulatory perspective, addressing the current bill and “draft” legislation. (See, copy attached). The essence of the White Paper is straightforward. Quite simply, MHARR has supported removal of the permanent chassis clause before, and could do so again. The key is to ensure – and obtain guarantees – that the permanent chassis language will be “surgically removed” from the statute, with nothing else being changed once the legislative process (and related regulatory process) begins. It is important to recognize that the housing market and especially the competition facing manufactured housing within the affordable segment of the single-family housing market, have changed substantially since the 1980s and 90s. As a result, a change of this sort could expose the industry to significant jeopardy if the removal is not handled correctly. Guarantees from legislative sponsors (and HUD) that other changes to federal manufactured housing law (and regulations) would be opposed and prevented are essential, but MHARR (nor other stakeholders, based on input) have seen anything indicating that any such guarantees (or assurances) have been made.

Even if such a surgical removal with appropriate guarantees could be accomplished, however, it must be noted that the regulatory and technical processes involved in chassis removal/elimination could substantially increase the current cost of mainstream manufactured homes, as illustrated by increasing concerns recently voiced by members of the industry’s post-production sector and especially land-lease communities. Estimated cost impacts of this type should be determined and published in advance of any such statutory/regulatory change.

In summary, there has been nothing from MHI (which has publicly endorsed and supported this effort) – or anyone else – in writing, publicly explaining how this potential statutory and regulatory minefield could/would be navigated. Nor has MHI presented or offered a cost-benefit analysis of such a change or an analysis of the factory and post-factory costs (as explained above) that would be entailed by such a change. MHARR’s White Paper analysis explains some of the questions and issues that could arise, but by no means all, given the unpredictable nature of the legislative, regulatory and later technical and marketing processes.

Aside from the chassis removal issue, the Senate discussion draft includes two finance-related provisions affecting “small dollar” mortgages under $70,000. Why these provisions have been included at this time is unclear, but given changes in the manufactured housing consumer finance market in recent years, MHARR believes it would be much more beneficial to use this legislative vehicle to put increased pressure on the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, under the Duty to Serve mandate, to actually begin serving the bulk of the manufactured housing market financed via personal property loans. That could be accomplished through the simple expedient of changing the word “may” consider chattel loans, as contained in the DTS statute, to state “shall include” chattel loans (now that MHI has publicly exposed this matter in public comments at a July 18, 2023 FHFA “listening session.”) Use of the mandatory term “shall” would stop the Enterprises from continuing to treat DTS support for the vast bulk of the manufactured housing market as somehow being optional or discretionary – which it is not.

• EXCLUSIONARY ZONING

Exclusionary zoning mandates around the country (in addition to the ongoing failure to fully implement the Duty to Serve mandate) continue to suppress the utilization of affordable manufactured homes at a time when housing costs and monthly mortgage payments are at an all-time high. In short, at a time when affordable manufactured housing should be leading the broader housing market based on affordability, manufactured home production is declining at a double-digit pace. The enhanced federal preemption provision of the 2000 Reform Law gave HUD the authority to federally preempt any state or local “requirement” that impairs the utilization of federally-regulated manufactured housing. Key congressional proponents of the 2000 Reform Law wrote HUD in 2003 to leave no doubt that the “combined changes [to the law] have given HUD the legal authority to preempt local requirements or restrictions which discriminate against the siting of manufactured homes … simply because they are HUD Code homes.” HUD, however, has been stalling on this key issue for nearly a quarter-century. Accordingly, the industry should press HUD to take a blatant case of discrimination against HUD Code homes to court and seek a broad preemption ruling. Absent action by HUD, the industry should aggressively target HUD’s failure to fully implement the enhanced preemption of the 2000 Reform Law.

• DOE ENERGY STANDARDS

As MHARR anticipated (see e.g., August 2022 MHARR Issues and Perspectives), MHI court action against the Department of Energy has forced the DOE to acknowledge the obvious – that it had not properly calculated or considered the full costs (and, therefore, the full cost-benefit) of its May 31, 2022 manufactured housing energy standards rule as affirmatively required by law. As a result, DOE delayed the enforcement dates for its Tier I and Tier II rules, with the ultimate disposition of those rules currently in limbo. While such litigation should have been filed immediately upon promulgation of the DOE rule, as recommended repeatedly by MHARR, the primary questions now, are:

(1) what type of inspection and enforcement mechanism will DOE select or develop?

(2) how, whether and to what extent that mechanism will overlap the existing HUD system?

(3) what the likely costs of that mechanism will be for both industry members and consumers of mainstream manufactured housing? and

(4) whether DOE will develop and publish, via rulemaking, a new or revised cost-benefit analysis incorporating those new cost elements.

Not surprisingly, DOE, on September 26, 2023, filed a motion to dismiss the pending case. Disingenuously trying to take advantage of its own brazen failure to follow the law with respect to the full consideration of all costs and benefits in the publication of its May 31, 2022 final rule, it now claims that an action to overturn that rule is “not ripe.” Regardless of the disposition of this motion, it is essential to maintain consistent litigation pressure against DOE with respect to any iteration of its manufactured housing energy standards as those standards are inherently arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion (as well as extremely and unnecessarily costly) in violation of applicable law.

MHARR, for its part, will continue to aggressively address each of these issues with both HUD and Congress, as appropriate, and will examine each in greater detail at its upcoming Board of Directors meeting.

PROPOSED LEGISLATION IGNORES MAIN CAUSES OF HOUSING CRISIS

A proposed bill, ostensibly designed to help first-time homebuyers access affordable housing, would not have that effect according to housing experts at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

In a recent article, AEI critiqued the legislation titled the “Homes for every Local Protector, Educator and Responder Act of 2023” (HELPER) as being “part of the problem, not the solution.” In so doing, AEI helps to expose and emphasize the continuing baseless exclusion of genuinely affordable manufactured housing from federal affordable housing programs and the corresponding highly negative impacts of that exclusion on lower and moderate-income Americans. In this regard, the AEI study fully confirms the analysis and conclusions of MHARR’s July 2022 White Paper entitled “The Exploitation of Federal Housing Finance and Mortgage Funding Assistance Programs and Potential Solutions.” (See, copy attached).

According to the AEI analysis, the bill would exempt some 400,000 to one million current and prospective teachers, law enforcement officers and other first responders from having to make any downpayment or purchase mortgage insurance in connection with the purchase of a first-time new home. The bill would also allow up to a 6% seller assistance allowance for closing costs.

In an environment that is characterized by a significant housing (and particularly affordable housing) shortage, however, the authors contend that increasing the number of potential purchasers, by easing qualification requirements  – without concurrently increasing housing supply – will lead, as a matter of basic economics, to even higher housing prices than the record levels already affecting the market. The study thus states: “When the inventory of homes for sale is tight, credit easing cannot bring in many new buyers since there are already too many buyers chasing too few homes. However, credit easing will cause the surplus of buyers to use their newly minted buying power to bid up the price of houses.”

In short, “credit easing” de facto subsidies, like subprime mortgages, will do more to harm the housing market and homebuyers as a whole, than the better approach of ensuring the availability and production of truly affordable homes, including mainstream HUD Code manufactured homes.  And how could the availability and production of manufactured homes be increased? Among other things, by ending discriminatory zoning exclusion and thereby increasing the number of jurisdictions, communities and areas where affordable mainstream manufactured homes could be used and placed. The availability of mainstream manufactured housing could also be expanded by fully implementing DTS in a market-significant manner and ending the financing discrimination that is currently practiced against manufactured home purchasers.

Both such actions – which would be well within the power and authority of the federal government based on existing law – would expand the availability of affordable mainstream manufactured housing well beyond the anemic production levels that have characterized most of the current century and, in so doing, would help to reduce the overall cost of single-family housing and homeownership across the board.

Rather than fine-tuning statutory definitions or engaging in other efforts that simply “tinker around the edges,” the industry should press for both the federal preemption of the discriminatory zoning exclusion of manufactured homes as well as the full, market-significant implementation of the Duty to Serve with respect to all types of manufactured housing consumer loans. As MHARR has emphasized for over a decade, however, all of the negative issues affecting the industry’s post-production sector could have been effectively addressed – and potentially resolved by now – if the post-production sector had established an independent, national post-production representation. As it stands today, though, none of these issues are being effectively addressed in the nation’s capital.  

MHARR PROVIDES STRAIGHT TALK AT STATE ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

In its ongoing effort to engage with individual industry state associations, MHARR participated in the 2023 annual meeting of the Manufactured Housing Association of Maine (MHAM) on October 18, 2023.

Interactions such as these are crucial because they provide an opportunity for MHARR to directly inform members of the industry’s post-production sector (e.g., retailers, communities, installers, developers, insurers and financing providers) of the intricacies of national issues that will have (or are having) significant long-term effects and impacts on all segments of the industry. Such interactions are also important because they provide valuable state-level input to MHARR in addressing those (and other) industry issues in Washington, D.C., particularly given the absence of an independent national post-production association in the nation’s capital.

As part of its presentations to individual state associations, MHARR has explained, in greater detail, its view of the major drivers of industry market under-achievement, including discriminatory zoning exclusion and HUD’s corresponding failure to utilize the enhanced federal preemption of the 2000 Reform Law to eliminate such exclusion; the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to implement the Duty to Serve Underserved markets (DTS) with respect to the vast bulk of the mainstream manufactured housing consumer financing market represented by chattel loans; and impending discriminatory, high-cost energy regulation by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), among other things.

In addition to such personal interactions, MHARR – as it has since its inception in 1985 — routinely provides industry state associations with all of its issue-related publications and information, and maintains an open website where additional materials and content can be accessed.

MHARR is currently scheduled to address other state associations during the remainder of 2023 and looks forward to visiting with even more such individual groups in 2024.

MHARR is a Washington, D.C.-based national trade association representing the views and interests of independent producers of federally-regulated manufactured housing.

Part III – Additional Information with more MHProNews Analysis and Commentary

 The reason to include the MHI-NCC events information from their recent emailed ‘news’ item is to illustrate the following.

MHI has demonstrably proven that they have access to top officials.  Let’s review their list of speakers in their emailed pitch above.

• Julia R. Gordon, Assistant Secretary for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Alanna McCargo, President of Ginnie Mae will join Cody Pearce, President & Co-Founder, Cascade Financial Services to discuss “How FHA and Ginnie Mae Are Leaning in on Manufactured Housing.”
• Sandra L. Thompson, Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) will discuss manufactured housing from the point of view of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s Regulator with Dr. Lesli Gooch, CEO, MHI.
• Douglas G. Duncan, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Fannie Mae will provide his forecast for interest rates, the economy, housing and mortgage markets at the event.

This is hardly the first time this year that MHI leaders have had opportunities with top Biden era or other officials that could be useful for potentially advancing issues that MHI, at least on paper, often claims to hold a similar position to what MHARR does. But what have they actually done with those face-to-face opportunities?

MHI CEO Lesli Gooch provided one answer.

When Gooch was given the opportunity to speak to FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac leadership in the July 18, 2023 listening session, instead of pushing a strong argument in favor of fully and properly implementing the Duty to Serve (DTS) for manufactured housing in the chattel lending arena, Gooch contradicted years of MHI’s own claims that they want to see DTS for chattel lending enforced.

Quoting Gooch’s prepared address, here are some key and relevant pull quotes.

Personal Property Loans

The one area that there is universal agreement on that Fannie and Freddie have failed in Manufactured Housing Duty to Serve is personal property – sometimes referred to as chattel – loans.

The Duty to Serve statute does not require Fannie and Freddie to purchase personal property loans – but does say explicitly that they QUOTE – “may consider” such loans.

Fannie and Freddie cannot be considered to be fulfilling their Duty to Serve Manufactured Housing statutory responsibility without purchasing such loans since personal property loans constitute the vast majority of all new manufactured homes.”

In a mindbogglingly problematic remark for those who want to see lower cost manufactured home lending for consumers that don’t require loans to be kept in portfolio, Gooch said that the “Duty to Serve does not require Fannie and Freddie to purchase personal property loans” and then in the next sentence says that “Fannie and Freddie cannot be considered to be fulfilling their Duty to Serve Manufactured Housing statutory responsibility without purchasing such loans…” Which is it, oh all wise Dr. Gooch?

That set of remarks demonstrated years of concerns raised by MHARR, MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.

But not only did Ms. Gooch, MHI CEO, ‘almost’ a Woman of Influence and Doctor of Political Science extraordinaire, apparently contradict herself, she ‘commended’ the leaders of FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that she was addressing.  Quoting: “I also want to commend both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for the work they have done with respect to the MH Advantage and Choice home programs for Cross Mod homes.” Yet, based on known data, there has been fewer than 100 financed CrossMods in the years since the program was announced.  MHI itself admitted that the program was essentially failing, as their admitted that developers were moving away from the program. Given those facts, what then precisely was she commending?

It is so obviously outrageous for those who understanding the business and what her remarks mean, it would be difficult to make her remarks up. Why would she hand an excuse to Fannie, Freddie, or the FHFA if MHI has sincerely been seeking to implement chattel lending for manufactured homes via DTS? Doug Ryan, with CFED which later rebranded as Prosperity Now, provided an insight on that topic. “This [capital access advantage held by Clayton Homes] is likely why it and the Manufactured Housing Institute – the industry’s trade association – have been unwilling to criticize the exclusion of chattel loans from the rule, even though such loans could bolster manufactured home sales by attracting new lenders.”

Despite the point that Gooch publicly denied Ryan’s allegation, nevertheless, there they are at MHI in all of their glory (or lack thereof) for all the world to see.  Instead of forcefully pressing the issue, Gooch gave Fannie, Freddie, and the FHFA an excuse they could use. MHARR quickly protested.

But as if to add insult to injury, MHI’s board leaders continue to heap generous pay, apparent bonuses (yes, bonuses) to a woman (i.e.: CEO Gooch) who has been documented by several sources as apparently having significant conflicts of interest.

And, others in what passes as manufactured housing trade media ignore such facts, evidence, and examples? Is it perhaps the money that they get and the ‘awards’ and ‘endorsements’ for carrying the MHI party line?

There are several key issues that are ‘holding manufactured housing back,’ as attorney and housing policy analyst Andrew Justus said earlier this year (2023).

Andrew Justus, J.D., Niskanen Center Housing Policy Analyst, Hill Op-Ed Asks and Answers – ‘What’s Holding Back Manufactured Homes?’ Sunday Weekly MHVille Headlines in Review

MHI advocacy has apparently been so weak that law professor Daniel R. Mandelker, J.D. – who is considered an expert on zoning issues and wants to see more manufactured housing in the marketplace – advocated for the industry to form a nonprofit group for legal, advocacy, and legislative support. Ouch for MHI, but there it is.

Two of those issues Justus identified are competitive financing and zoning.

But as the illustrations and linked items above exemplify, and as Mark Weiss, J.D. President and CEO of the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) has noted, Ms. Gooch and MHI have been enabling the status quo on those issues.

Yet, MHI postures one thing, and does another. Per Weiss, Gooch’s words last summer were ‘inexcusable and a major problem.’ Previous to that, Weiss said that the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has been engaged in a “shell game” and the “Illusion of Motion” to lull trusting industry members and others into a false sense of complacency.

There are also negative perception (image) issues and the Department of Energy (DOE) energy rules that manufactured housing has been battling in much of the 21st century.  With that in mind, MHProNews asked Bing AI search the following.

> “When has the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) raised the negative image and perception issues connected to modern manufactured housing?”

Note that the first result linked above is on the MHARR website and is a report and analysis from MHARR dated yesterday, 10.26.2023.  But MHProNews notes from experience that a possible pivot by Bing AI may be underway. For example. In prior tests using the Bing AI system, those three bullets in its response above would have been hot linked.

So, this follow up was asked, using the more precise setting for Bing’s AI.

> “Bing please provide the hot links for these three prior responses you provided regarding the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform The Exploitation of Federal Housing Finance and Mortgage Funding Assistance Programs and Potential Solutions (July 2022) HUD’s Failure on Zoning Equity Hurts Manufactured Housing Industry and Consumers (June 2023) Industry Updates – an Exclusive Report and Analysis (October 2023)”

Using the ‘more balanced’ setting in a follow up, Bing AI was asked the following about the image and perception issues.

> “What has Kevin Clayton said in a video interview about how the manufactured home industry will deal with the industry’s image issues? And what is the history of the Manufactured Housing Institute on the Roper report or other 21st century efforts by that association to deal with the manufactured housing industry’s image and perception issues?”

Learn more:

1. manufacturedhomepronews.com 2. manufacturedhomepronews.com 3. manufacturedhomepronews.com 4. manufacturedhomepronews.com 5. manufacturedhomepronews.com 6. einpresswire.com 7. manufacturedhomepronews.com 8. manufacturedhomepronews.com 9. manufacturedhomepronews.com“

 

To the above, this follow up inquiry was asked.

>> “Helpful, but Bing, didn’t Kevin Clayton say in that video interview that manufactured housing had already addressed the quality issue and that using research by J.D. Power had demonstrated modern manufactured home quality?”

You are correct! In the video interview, Kevin Clayton mentions that the manufactured home industry has already addressed the quality issue and that using research by J.D. Power has demonstrated modern manufactured home quality¹. I apologize for the confusion in my previous response.

As for your second question, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has been involved in several efforts to improve the image and perception of the manufactured housing industry. One such effort was a study conducted by Roper/NOP World in 2004 to better understand consumer perceptions about the image of manufactured homes. The results were reported to the industry at MHI’s Winter Meeting in Memphis in January 2005². The study recommended increased attention to customer service and building a stronger resale market for pre-owned homes that helps enhance the appreciation and investment potential of manufactured homes².

In addition, MHI has been working on expanding demand for manufactured homes and improving the overall operating environment for the industry. However, some critics have raised concerns about MHI’s effectiveness in addressing key issues facing the industry²³.

I hope this information helps!

Learn more:

1. manufacturedhomepronews.com 2. manufacturedhomepronews.com 3. manufacturedhomepronews.com 4. einpresswire.com 5. manufacturedhomepronews.com 6. manufacturedhomepronews.com 7. manufacturedhomepronews.com 8. manufacturedhomepronews.com 9. manufacturedhomepronews.com“

So, since at least 2004, MHI has claimed to be dealing with the manufactured housing industry image/education issue, starting with the Roper Report. It is MHProNews that provided that information, per Bing AI.

Kevin Clayton said in 2011 that the manufactured housing industry – sometimes an alternative way of MHI members describing MHI – was ready to promote the industry using a GoRVing style image and educational campaign.

> “Pardon me, but in 2004, the industry produced a total of 130,748 homes, according to the data linked here: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/the-rise-and-fall-of-hud-code-manufactured-housing-a-history-of-u-s-manufactured-home-production-by-year-1995-2022-and-2023-year-to-date-data-plus-mhville-markets-update/ correct? And if the Manufactured Housing Institute had launched an image and education campaign similar to the RV industry’s GoRVing campaign launched, then wouldn’t it be easy to find online? Isn’t it evident that no such campaign has been launched, and that declining production is evidence for that fact?”

You are correct. According to the data linked here ¹, the industry produced a total of 130,748 homes in 2004, which is lower than the number I provided earlier. I apologize for the error.

As for your question about the image and education campaign, it’s unclear whether such a campaign was ever launched or if it was, what its impact was. I wasn’t able to find any information on this topic during my search.

It’s worth noting that the manufactured housing industry has faced several challenges over the years, including zoning restrictions and financing issues, which have contributed to declining production levels ¹. However, there are also efforts underway to address these issues and promote the benefits of manufactured homes as a viable option for affordable housing ².

I hope this information helps!

Learn more:

1. manufacturedhomepronews.com 2. cnbc.com 3. manufacturedhomepronews.com 4. manufacturedhomepronews.com 5. manufacturedhomelivingnews.com“

In essence, what those responses from Bing AI reveal is a kind of third-party – AI – look at what is occurring in the manufactured housing industry.

While Bing AI was frankly a bit more stubborn in some test questions asked yesterday and this morning, providing answers that appeared to contradict those provided earlier this week, in the series of inquiries the following follow up inquiries were asked and answered as shown.

> “Pardon me, but the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform, the Texas Manufactured Housing Association’s Will Earle, and the Manufactured Housing Institute began to collaborate late in the 20th century in an effort to address zoning and placement barriers for the manufactured housing industry, isn’t that correct? What resulted was the enactment of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. Part of a key provision of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act was known as “enhanced preemption” because the act made the preemption from the 1974 act stronger, correct? And if those are so, then how is it that post-production and umbrella (“all segments” of the manufactured housing industry) Manufactured Housing Institute has not yet been able to get enhanced preemption consistently enforced? Didn’t Bill Boor, speaking to Congress on July 14, 2023 essentially ask again to get Congress to get HUD to make strong federal preemption to battle zoning barriers a reality?”

You are correct that the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR), the Texas Manufactured Housing Association’s Will Earle, and the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) began to collaborate late in the 20th century in an effort to address zoning and placement barriers for the manufactured housing industry. This collaboration led to the enactment of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, which included a key provision known as “enhanced preemption” that made preemption from the 1974 act stronger ¹².

However, it’s worth noting that post-production and umbrella (“all segments” of the manufactured housing industry) MHI has faced challenges in getting enhanced preemption consistently enforced. Critics have raised concerns about MHI’s effectiveness in addressing key issues facing the industry ¹³.

In July 2023, Bill Boor, President and CEO of Cavco Industries, spoke to Congress about the need for strong federal preemption to battle zoning barriers. He emphasized that zoning restrictions have been a major obstacle to the growth of the manufactured housing industry and that strong federal preemption is necessary to ensure that manufactured homes are treated equally with other forms of housing ⁴.

I hope this information helps!

Learn more:

1. manufacturedhomepronews.com 2. manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org 3. manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org 4. manufacturedhomepronews.com 5. manufacturedhomepronews.com“

Each of those points confirm previous remarks by MHARR and/or MHProNews. Note that MHI, nor MHI’s apparent trade surrogates, have given any substantive defense of their failure to perform.

To illustrate, consider this follow up to Bing AI.

> “Let me see if I have this correctly. The Manufactured Housing Institute and MHARR teamed up in the late 1990s to get enhanced preemption as part of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, right? But the Manufactured Housing Institute has faced challenges getting it enforced, right? You mention that critics of the Manufactured Housing Institute have raised concerns about that association’s effectiveness, right? Then what specifically has the Manufactured Housing Institute and/or that trade association affiliates, bloggers, or trade publishers said in defense of MHI’s failure to get existing law enforced? Why, for example, didn’t the Manufactured Housing Institute sue to get “enhanced preemption” enforced instead of merely asking for help from regulators year after year without results?”

You are correct that the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and MHARR teamed up in the late 1990s to get enhanced preemption as part of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. However, it’s worth noting that MHI has faced challenges in getting enhanced preemption consistently enforced ¹². Critics have raised concerns about MHI’s effectiveness in addressing key issues facing the industry ¹³.

I wasn’t able to find any information on what MHI or its affiliates have said in defense of its failure to get existing law enforced. However, it’s worth noting that MHI has been working on expanding demand for manufactured homes and improving the overall operating environment for the industry .

As for your question about why MHI didn’t sue to get enhanced preemption enforced, I don’t have information on that topic. However, it’s worth noting that there are several factors that could have contributed to this decision, including legal costs and potential risks associated with litigation.

I hope this information helps!

Learn more:

1. manufacturedhomepronews.com 2. manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 3. manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org“

To sum up, MHARR’s contentions and those concerns raised by MHProNews/MHLivingNews stand essentially unrefuted. Per Bing AI: “I wasn’t able to find any information on what MHI or its affiliates have said in defense of its failure to get existing law enforced.” When Bing AI said that ” MHI has been working on expanding demand for manufactured homes and improving the overall operating environment for the industry” it is merely repeating what MHI says on the home page of its website.

 

 

MHARR’s senior advisor and founding president and CEO, Danny Ghorbani, said: “to overcome the industry’s zoning and commercial financing woes, this so-called post production representation [by the Manufactured Housing Institute] needs to do more than hold meetings, issue talking points, engage in “photo ops,” or publish newsletters full of braggadocio and boasts, but bereft of any tangible results.”

After a lengthy series of Q&As with Bing, found at this link here, are considered, the chat session with Bing AI ended with the following.

> “Pardon me, but you’ve missed some logical point in this chat thread in your last response. If zoning and financing restictions are the issue, Warren Buffett told Kevin Clayton he could access plenty of capital for Clayton’s needs, correct? And the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 has an enhanced preemption provision that if enforced could cause zoning restriction to be removed, correct? Couldn’t litigation also be used to get the Duty to Serve manufactured housing enforced so that lower cost financing was available for manufactured home lenders? And since companies like 21st Mortgage Corporation, Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Oxford Bank, Triad Financial, Cascade, or Credit Human can successfully do manufactured home lending and servicing, isn’t it obvious that mortgage giants Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac could do so too? One takeaway is that for every possible excuse that the Manufactured Housing Institute or its defenders might offer, there is a logical and evidence-based examples of why those excuses are falacious, right?”

You raise valid points. Warren Buffett did tell Kevin Clayton that he could access plenty of capital for Clayton’s needs ¹. The Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 has an enhanced preemption provision that, if enforced, could cause zoning restrictions to be removed ². Litigation could also be used to get the Duty to Serve manufactured housing enforced so that lower cost financing is available for manufactured home lenders ³. Companies like 21st Mortgage Corporation, Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Oxford Bank, Triad Financial, Cascade, or Credit Human can successfully do manufactured home lending and servicing, which suggests that mortgage giants Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac could do so too ⁴⁵.

It’s worth noting that the manufactured housing industry has faced several challenges over the years, including zoning restrictions and financing issues. However, it’s also worth noting that there are several factors that could be contributing to these challenges.

I hope this information helps!

Learn more:

1. manufacturedhomepronews.com 2. therealdeal.com 3. valuewalk.com 4. manufacturedhomepronews.com 5. manufacturedhomepronews.com 6. jandmhomes.com 7. consumeraffairs.com 8. manufacturedhomes.com 9. triadfs.com 10. fhfa.gov 11. fhfa.gov 12. usatoday.com 13. thebalancemoney.com 14. themortgagereports.com 15. hud.gov 16. who13.com 17. manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org 18. manufacturedhomepronews.com 19. manufacturedhomepronews.com 20. manufacturedhomepronews.com“

Concerns raised by MHARR, MHProNews, and MHLivingNews are based on evidence, facts, and a broad knowledge of the manufactured housing landscape. Applying those facts, evidence, legal points, etc. results in a scenario where remarks by the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) are difficult to defend based on the elements.

While it has taken years to assemble the evidence to back up the concerns noted herein for a lack of the obvious action by MHI.  Several of the steps taken by MHI are apparently self-contradictory. Or worse, MHI’s behavior may in some cases have fostered the industry’s current woes as exemplified by historically low production when comparing 2oth century vs. 21st century results.

In a follow up by MHProNews to MHARR’s senior advisor, Danny Ghorbani, he sent the following points via email.

 

“The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) is the one who made this disastrous energy rule possible by going along to get along with DOE and its supporters in the early stages of the rulemaking process. Thus, MHI has a duty and obligation to correct its own mistakes by getting rid of it through all possible means: i.e., legal challenges, legislatively, or administratively by lobbying. Whatever it takes, because they helped make the current dilemmas with the DOE energy rule for manufactured housing possible.

Danny Ghorbani”

Summary and Conclusion 

By careful gathering of evidence and then unpacking it, increasingly it has become clear that MHARR, and other critics of MHI, are standing on solid ground in their respective stated concerns.

By contrast, MHI and its defenders don’t normally defend MHI as much as they ignore or attack those who question MHI.

As Bing’s AI indicated, there is no known written defense of MHI’s posturing and apparent paltering based on facts or evidence rather than what some might call a ‘razzle dazzle’ or sleight of hand or “illusion,” as MHARR’s Mark Weiss has previously said.

Meanwhile, as the years go by, more and more of the industry is being consolidated by MHI’s dominating brands. While any good attorney or debater might offer some excuses for MHI, it is difficult – as the exchange shown herein with Bing AI has underscored – to see a valid defense that would hold up to scrutiny under the pressures of the legal system.

The ramifications of these facts, evidence, and history are many.

Among the ramifications is the sad reality that access to more affordable housing is being denied to potentially tens of millions of Americans.

Another ramification is that shareholders in companies may have claims against firms with ties to MHI. Why? Because some of those firms may be guilty of market manipulation in conjunction with MHI.  That is part of the allegations made by the heavily footnoted thesis of Samuel “Sam” Strommen, now J.D., but then with Knudson Law.  The litigation launched in the land lease community sectors are additional evidence that such market manipulation in violation of state and federal laws is supported by evidence.

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below the graphic below or click the image and follow the prompts.

Class Action Case #1:23-cv-14565 Sailer et al v. Datacomp, Equity LifeStyle, Sun, RHP, Yes! Communities et al, MSJ Files 3rd Manufactured Home Communities Case, Others Set for Trial; plus MHMarkets

While state AGs have probed certain manufactured housing industry issues, there is arguably a need for both state and federal prosecutors to formally probe the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and some of its dominating members to see if antitrust, RICO, and other violations have occurred. Congress and other public agencies could play a role in that process, as could state lawmakers who say that they want to see more affordable housing for their citizens. Mainstream media has reported on certain issues, but not yet on the controversies regarding MHI and their dominating brands. To learn more, see the linked and related reports. ##

Update on 10.27.2023 at 10:34 AM – per a source with information from the MHI camp, MHI has issued an emailed update on the DOE energy regulations topic. At this point, it frankly changes NOTHING, but if it were to work as claimed, it would be progress. Ghorbani’s words above are relevant. “The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) is the one who made this disastrous energy rule possible by going along to get along with DOE and its supporters in the early stages of the rulemaking process. Thus, MHI has a duty and obligation to correct its own mistakes by getting rid of it through all possible means: i.e., legal challenges, legislatively, or administratively by lobbying. Whatever it takes, because they helped make the current dilemmas with the DOE energy rule for manufactured housing possible.

Danny Ghorbani”

Shock! Manufactured Housing Institute Says Rep Ralph Norman Amendment Could Stop Spending Package for Dept of Energy (H.R. 4394) Standards for Manufactured Homes-Backstory; plus MHVille Markets

Part III – is our Daily Business News on MHProNews stock market recap which features our business-daily at-a-glance update of over 2 dozen manufactured housing industry stocks.

This segment of the Daily Business News on MHProNews is the recap of yesterday evening’s market report, so that investors can see at glance the type of topics may have influenced other investors. Thus, our format includes our signature left (CNN Business) and right (Newsmax) ‘market moving’ headlines.

The macro market move graphics below provide context and comparisons for those invested in or tracking manufactured housing connected equities. Meaning, you can see ‘at a glance’ how manufactured housing connected firms do compared to other segments of the broader equities market.

In minutes a day readers can get a good sense of significant or major events while keeping up with the trends that are impacting manufactured housing connected investing.

Reminder: several of the graphics on MHProNews can be opened into a larger size. For instance: click the image and follow the prompts in your browser or device to OPEN In a New Window. Then, in several browsers/devices you can click the image and increase the size. Use the ‘x out’ (close window) escape or back key to return.

Headlines from left-of-center CNN Business – from the evening of 10.26.2023

• ‘It will change my life drastically’: What’s next for the auto strikes
• Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, arrives at court as lawyers push to persuade the judge overseeing his fraud case not to jail him ahead of trial, at a courthouse in New York, U.S., August 11, 2023.
• LIVE UPDATES
• Sam Bankman-Fried takes the stand in his fraud trial — but without jurors
• The Telegram icon is seen displayed on a phone screen.
• Messaging app Telegram restricts access to some Hamas-run channels
• A “Sale Pending” sign outside a house in Morgan Hill, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022.
• Pending home sales rose in September, despite high mortgage rates
• Sam Bankman-Fried takes the stand — without the jury
• A shopper peruses cheese offerings at a Target store Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Sheridan, Colo. On Thursday, the Labor Department issues its report on inflation at the consumer level.
• The US economy grew at a blistering rate despite high interest rates
• A person pushes a child in a stroller in a new housing development in Fairfax, Virginia, on August 22, 2023.
• Mortgage rates climb higher, edging closer to 8%
• The Internal Revenue Service headquarters building is seen in Washington, DC on January 10, 2023. – In one of its first legislative moves, House Republicans voted on January 9, 2023 to rescind some $70 billion in funding for the IRS.
• US lawmakers question tax prep companies on sharing of taxpayer data with Big Tech platforms
• LL Bean in Freeport, ME, pictured on March 18, 2020.
• L. Bean closes headquarters, stores and factories in Maine after mass shooting
• Maine mass shooting prompts news organizations to rapidly shift from the war abroad to the war at home
• S&P 500 and Nasdaq fall into correction territory
• The New York Times walks back flawed Gaza hospital coverage, but other media outlets remain silent
• An Al Jazeera journalist learned his family had been killed while on the air. It offered the world a glimpse of the horrors in Gaza
• Russian journalist who protested war on live TV says Moscow stripped her of custody of daughter
• ECB pauses rate hike campaign as recession in Europe looms
• UPS earnings fall as company warns of economic headwinds ahead
• A time-honored investing strategy is under pressure. But don’t panic
• ‘Divorce is not an option’ for US and China, Newsom says after Xi meeting
• How Country Garden became the new face of China’s spiraling property crisis
• Stellantis is teaming up with a Chinese startup to sell electric vehicles globally
• United Auto Workers union and Ford reach tentative labor agreement
• Meta doubled profits in September quarter as turnaround effort continues
• Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor is considering selling some of its assets

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below the graphic below or click the image and follow the prompts.

Headlines from right-of-center Newsmax 10.26.2023

• Elder Fraud Rises by 84% in Latest FBI Report
• Police Hunt for Maine Mass Shooter Who Killed 18, Injured 13
• Maine state police said Thursday an arrest warrant has been issued for Robert Card, the mass shooting suspect who remains on the loose, for eight counts of murder. Card stands accused of shooting and killing at least 18 people and injuring 13 others in Maine and then fleeing, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents stayed locked in their homes Thursday under a shelter-in-place advisory.
• Related Stories
• Cops Took Maine Suspect for Evaluation After Erratic Behavior
• President Biden Urges Residents to Heed Police Warnings
• Maine Suspect Is Army Reserve Petroleum Supply Specialist
• House GOP Speaker: Prayer an Appropriate Response
• What We Know About Mass Shooting in Maine So Far
• Pentagon Sending 900 Troops to Mideast
• Harvard ‘Doxxing Truck’ Targets Student Leaders’ Homes
• Qatar to Revisit Ties to Hamas Amid Gaza Hostage Crisis
• Israeli Envoy Plays Hamas Attack Video at UN Podium
• Iran Warns US Will ‘Not Be Spared’ If War Continues
• Israel Aid Worker: Hamas Attack Worse Than Holocaust | video
• Hamas Claims 50 Hostages Killed in Israeli Strikes
• Watchdog: Rep. Tlaib Has ‘Extensive’ Donor Ties to Hamas
• Russian Foreign Ministry Hosting Hamas Delegation
• ‘They’re Shooting at People’: Hamas Blocks Evacuation
• Turkey’s Erdogan to Pope: Gaza Silence ‘Embarrassing’
• Israeli Troops Ground-Raid Gaza Before Full Incursion
• Newsmax TV
• Tuberville: Focus on Wars, Not Military Holds
• Huckabee: Mike Johnson ‘Person of Faith’ | video
• IDF Col.: Hamas Rocket Attacks on Israel ‘Ongoing’ | video
• Israel Aid Worker: Hamas Attack Worse Than Holocaust | video
• Nikki Haley: US ‘Weakest’ Ever Because of Biden | video
• Nehls: Bowman Should Have Pleaded Insanity | video
• James Comer: More to Come on Biden Money Trail | video
• ADL’s Greenblatt: Antisemitism Has Been ‘Normalized’ | video
• Newsfront
• Iran at UN: US Will ‘Not Be Spared’ If War on Hamas Continues
• Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned on Thursday that if Israel’s retaliation against Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip doesn’t end, the United States will “not be spared from this fire.” “I say frankly to the American statesmen…… [Full Story]
• Related Stories
• US Braces Against New Iran-Backed Militia Threat
• Hamas Fighters Trained in Iran Before Oct. 7 Attack
• Nikki Haley to Newsmax: US ‘Weakest’ Ever Because of Biden
• Hezbollah, Jihad Leaders Meet, Seek ‘Real Victory’ Over Israel
• Pentagon Sending 900 US Troops to Middle East
• Pentagon says 900 troops are deploying or have deployed to the Middle [Full Story]
• Man Wanted for US Judge’s Murder Found Dead
• A man wanted for the murder of a Maryland judge who ruled against him [Full Story]
• GOP Speaker Johnson at White House Meetings
• The White House invited the newly elected speaker of the U.S. House [Full Story]
• N.Y. Gov. Hochul Dodges Paying for Israel Trip
• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is refusing to disclose who paid for her [Full Story]
• Trump Slams NY Civil Trial Judge, AG Letitia James
• Former President Donald Trump on Thursday lashed out at the judge [Full Story]
• Related
• Judge Will Reconsider Trump’s $10K Gag Order Fine
• Federal Prosecutors Seek to Reinstate Trump Gag Order
• Trump: Meadows ‘Weak,’ ‘Coward’ If He Took Plea Deal
• ACLU Backs Trump’s Free Speech on Judge’s Gag Order
• Biden, Netanyahu Tensions Hover Over Gaza Debate
• Although the Biden administration appears to be sending mixed [Full Story] | Platinum Article
• Related
• Israeli Troops Ground-Raid Gaza Ahead of Full Incursion
• Netanyahu Says Israel Is Preparing Ground Invasion of Gaza
• Sharla McBride Named ‘Wake Up America’ Co-host
• Newsmax today announced that Sharla McBride has been named co-host of [Full Story]
• DeSantis Calls for Debates in Iowa, New Hampshire
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling for the Republican National [Full Story]
• Related
• DeSantis Ups Ante in GOP Primary With Weapons to Israel
• Nikki Haley to Newsmax: US ‘Weakest’ Ever Because of Biden |video
• Biden a No-Show on NH Primary Ballot. What’s Next?
• Treasury Designates Hamas but US Support Intact
• Treasury Department officials sanctioned several Hamas members last [Full Story] | Platinum Article
• Ford Workers Set to Return to Work
• Ford autoworkers were set to begin heading back to work after the [Full Story]
• Schmitt Believes China Sabotaged Pipeline
• It’s hard to believe damage to a Baltic Sea gas pipeline earlier this [Full Story]
• Only 7 Percent of Adults Have Gotten New COVID Shots
• A month after federal officials recommended new versions of COVID-19 [Full Story]
• Dem Rep. Bowman Just Fined for Pulling Fire Alarm
• Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., a member of “The Squad,” pleaded [Full Story]
• Related
• Nehls to Newsmax: Bowman Should Have Pleaded Insanity |video
• US Braces Against New Threat by Iran-Backed Militia
• The State Department issued a worldwide advisory for U.S. citizens [Full Story] | video
• Judge Says Georgia’s Political Maps Must Be Redrawn
• A federal judge on Thursday said Georgia’s congressional and state [Full Story]
• US, SKorea, Japan Blast NKorea Arming Russia
• South Korea, the U.S. and Japan strongly condemned what they call [Full Story]
• Related
• Russian Foreign Ministry Hosting Hamas Delegation
• Ukraine: New House Speaker Won’t Impact Future Aid
• Putin-Friendly Orban Heads Into EU Summit on Ukraine
• China, US Appear to Restart Military Talks
• China and the United States appear to be restarting dialogue between [Full Story]
• Related
• Taiwan Monitors Chinese Carrier Group in Pacific
• Taiwan: Chinese Air Force Jets in Air Defense Zone
• Israel Praises Taiwan, Slams China’s Response to Hamas Attack
• China Tells Newsom It Will Cooperate on Climate
• China Accuses US of Disrupting Peace
• President Xi: China Willing to Cooperate With US
• Police Hunt for Maine Shooter Who Killed at Least 18
• Authorities carried out a massive search Thursday for a man who they [Full Story]
• Bankman-Fried Kicks off Fraud Trial Defense Case
• Lawyers for FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried kicked off their case at [Full Story]
• Republican Senators Propose Stand-Alone Israel Aid Bill
• A small group of Republican senators has introduced a bill that seeks [Full Story]
• COVID, Flu Shot Given Together Linked to Stroke Risk
• A new study warns that getting the vaccine for COVID-19 at the same [Full Story]
• 5 Hurricane Otis Kills 27 in Mexico
• At least 27 people died due to Hurricane Otis and four others were [Full Story]
• Texas Poll: Trump Up 8 on Biden, 49 on DeSantis
• Former President Donald Trump is leading President Joe Biden in a [Full Story]
• Watchdog: Rep. Tlaib Has ‘Extensive’ Hamas Donor Ties
• Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., has “extensive fundraising ties to Hamas [Full Story]
• US Q3 Economic Growth Accelerates to 4.9 Percent
• The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly two years in the [Full Story]
• Ford, UAW Reach Tentative Deal to End Strike
• The United Auto Workers union said Wednesday it has reached a [Full Story]
• At Least 16 Dead, Dozens Wounded, in Maine Mass Shooting
• At least 16 people were killed and 50 to 60 wounded on Wednesday in [Full Story] | video
• Netanyahu Says Israel Is Preparing Ground Invasion of Gaza
• Israel is preparing a ground invasion of Gaza, Prime Minister [Full Story]
• Senate GOP Fails to Pass Anti-Shutdown Amendment
• Senate Republicans failed to push through an amendment to its latest [Full Story]
• Internet Flooded With AI Fake Child Abuse
• Thousands of images created with artificial intelligence showing [Full Story]
• Finance
• Buffett Joins Oil-Buying Frenzy With Occidental
• Investor Warren Buffett joined the recent oil-buying spree in the market this week by resuming Berkshire Hathaway’s purchases of Occidental Petroleum stock for the first time in four months…. [Full Story]
• Kids Attend Pro-Palestine Protests on Roblox
• Harvard ‘Doxxing Truck’ Targets Student Leaders’ Homes
• Central Banks Hold More Gold Than Ever, But Is It Enough?
• Pending Home Sales Rise Unexpectedly
• More Finance
• Health
• Even a Little Exercise Can Offset a Day of Sitting
• Even a little exercise can counter the harms of sitting all day, a new study suggests. Prolonged sitting raises your odds for an early death, but just 20 to 25 minutes of physical activity a day may offset that risk, researchers found. “If people, for any reason, are… [Full Story]
• CDC Panel Recommends Mpox Shot for At-Risk Adults
• Childhood Trauma Raises Risk for Adult Headaches
• High Triglycerides Could Help Ward Off Dementia
• Flu-COVID Shot Generates Strong Immune Response

 

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below the graphic below or click the image and follow the prompts.

APO = Apolo Global Management – bought Inspire Communities

BAM = Brookfield Asset Management – owns and invests in manufactured home communities (MHCs).

BLK = BlackRock – conglomerate has investments in firms and operations involved in manufactured housing.

BRK-A = Berkshire Hathaway – includes outright ownership of Clayton Homes, 21st Mortgage Corp, Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, other manufactured home industry linked firms (MHC brokerage, suppliers, etc.).

BX = Blackstone – Blackstone Group LP has made its first big bet on manufactured housing by buying a portfolio of communities sold by Tricon Capital Group Inc.

CDPYF = Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust – also has manufactured home communities (MHCs).

CIGI = Colliers International Group Inc. – The Manufactured Housing and RV Group “We Assist Owners and Investors with Disposition, Acquisition, and Financing for Manufactured Housing Communities and RV Parks.”

CG = The Carlyle Group – has manufactured home communities investments.

CSGP = CoStar Group – is commercial real estate’s leading provider of information, analytics and online marketplaces. They acquired listing service Homes.com.

CVCO = Cavco Industries – manufactured home and other factory-built housing production, retail, finance, insurance.

ECNCF = ECN Capital Group – includes manufactured home lender Triad Financial Services.

ELS = Equity LifeStyle Properties – includes land lease manufactured home communities (MHCs), but also RV and marine slips holdings. Also has captive manufactured home retail operations, and parent to Datacomp/MHVillage.

FGF = FG Financial Group – FG Communities “Owns and Operates Growing Portfolio of Manufactured Housing Communities.”

KMMPF = Killam Apartment REITs- (includes manufactured home communities (MHCs).

LCII = LCI Industries – components for the manufactured home industry and others (RVs, housing, etc.).

LEGH = Legacy Housing – produces manufactured homes, tiny houses, retail, and captive finance operations.

LPX = Louisiana Pacific Corporation – components for the manufactured home industry and others (housing, etc.).

MHC-UN.TO = Flagship Communities Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).

MHPC = Manufactured Housing Properties – land lease manufactured home communities (MHCs).

MMI = Marcus and Millichap – commercial real estate brokerage services that include land lease manufactured home communities (MHCs).

NOBH = Nobility Homes – produces and offers captive retail, financing, and insurance services for HUD Code manufactured homes and modular homes.

PATK = Patrick Industries – components for the manufactured home industry and others (RVs, housing, etc.).

SKY = Skyline Champion – produces and offers captive retail, financing, and insurance for HUD Code manufactured homes and modular homes.

SUI = Sun Communities – includes land lease manufactured home communities (MHCs), but also RV and marine slips holdings. Also has captive manufactured home retail operations.

UMH = UMH Properties – includes land lease manufactured home communities and captive manufactured home retail, leasing, and financing operations.

UFPI = UFP Industries – components for the manufactured home industry and others (housing, etc.).

 

• • • NOTE 1: Chart above of manufactured housing connected equities includes the Canadian stock, ECN, which purchased Triad Financial Services, a manufactured home industry finance lender.
    • NOTE 2: Drew changed its name and trading symbol at the end of 2016 to Lippert (LCII).
    • NOTE 3: Deer Valley was largely taken private, say company insiders in a message to MHProNews on 12.15.2020, but there are still some outstanding shares of the stock from the days when it was a publicly traded firm.  Thus, there is still periodic activity on DVLY.
    • Note 4: some recent or related reports to the REITs, stocks, and other equities named above follow in the reports linked below.

GuruFocus Sounds Alarm – ‘The Sun Communities (SUI) Dilemma – Understanding the Risks of a Possible Value Trap’ ‘Altman-Z’ Eval Suggests Risks of Potential Bankruptcy on Horizon? Facts and Analysis

Skyline Champion Acquisition of Regional Homes Closed, ‘Heath Jenkins Unwavering Commitment to Customer First’ – Stock Slips, More Details Beyond SKY Press Release; plus MHVille Markets Update

2023 …Berkshire Hathaway is the parent company to Clayton Homes, 21^st Mortgage, Vanderbilt Mortgage and other factory-built housing industry suppliers.
· LCI Industries, Patrick, UFPI, and LP each are suppliers to the manufactured housing industry, among others.
· AMG, CG, and TAVFX have investments in manufactured housing related businesses. For insights from third-parties and clients about our publisher, click here.

 

2022 was a tough year for many stocks. Unfortunately, that pattern held true for manufactured home industry (MHVille) connected stocks too. See the facts, linked above.

====================================

Disclosure. MHProNews holds no positions in the stocks in this report.

· For expert manufactured housing business development or other manufactured housing professional services, click here.
· To sign up in seconds for our industry leading emailed headline news updates, click here.

• Note 1: MHVille means manufactured housing industry, MHVille also means artificially smaller manufactured housing (MH) industry,
• Note 2: Manufactured housing, building, factories, retail, dealers, manufactured home, communities, passive mobile home park investing, suppliers, brokers, finance, financial services, macro-markets, manufactured housing stocks, Manufactured Home Communities Real Estate Investment Trusts, MHC REITs.
• Note 3:
  

  APO, Apolo Global Management, BAM, Brookfield Asset Management, BLK, BlackRock, BRK-A, Berkshire Hathaway, BX, Blackstone, CDPYF, Canadian Apartment Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, CIGI, Colliers International Group Inc, CG, The Carlyle Group, CSGP, CoStar Group, CVCO, Cavco Industries, ECNCF, ECN Capital Group, ELS, Equity LifeStyle Properties, FGF, FG Financial Group, FG Communities, KMMPF, Killam Apartment REITs, LCII, LCI Industries, LEGH, Legacy Housing, LPX, Louisiana Pacific Corporation, MHC-UN.TO, Flagship Communities Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), MHPC, Manufactured Housing Properties, MMI, Marcus and Millichap, NOBH, Nobility Homes, PATK, Patrick Industries, SKY, Skyline Champion, SUI, Sun Communities, UMH, UMH Properties, UFPI, UFP Industries.

That’s a wrap on this installment of “News Through the Lens of Manufactured Homes and Factory-Built Housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, stock, investing, data, metrics, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) (See Related Reports, further below. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)

By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship along with numerous awards in history. There have been several awards, honors and numerous public recognitions for his achievements in manufactured housing. For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. Kovach is a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com, which is ranked as the runaway most read trade media in modern manufactured housing history. This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s editorial views and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.