“Shams and delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while reality is fabulous.” is a quotation by noted author and thinker Henry David Thoreau, according to the quotable quote source GoodReads. Quizlet explains that Thoreau meant by that expression: “people should focus on reality rather than their dreams.” In an article for English majors practicing criticism entitled “Thoreau Makes Us Think” it says this: “Henry David Thoreau is a very well known author and philosopher with many different works familiar to people around the world. One of his works, Walden, tells of his experiences when moving to and living in a house/cabin by Walden Pond. Throughout this book, he discusses various different things that make us as readers stop to theorize about what he is saying and how it can be applied to us.” Mark Weiss, J.D., is the president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Washington, D.C. based Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR). In his May 2024 “Issues and Perspectives” Weiss opens with a citation from Walden that uses in its opening the words “shams and delusions are esteemed for [the] soundest truths, while reality is fabulous.” It is fair to presume that by citing that passage from Thoreau and his famous book Walden, Weiss is aiming to make professionals in or beyond manufactured housing to think and to do so critically.

Zack Engle in his column “Thoreau Makes Us Think” quoting Walden wrote: “Shams and delusions are esteemed for soundest truths, while reality is fabulous. If men would steadily observe realities only, and not allow themselves to be deluded, life, to compare it with such things as we know, would be like a fairy tale and the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments. If we respected only what is inevitable and has a right to be, music and poetry would resound along the streets.”

Basically, Thoreau is stating that we as people focus too much on superficial and unimportant things, and that it severely limits us.”

Authors: M. NEIL BROWNE, KARI E. FREEMAN and CARRIE L. WILLIAMSON in “The IMPORTANCE OF CRITICAL THINKING…” explained to university-level students that “Critical thinking is the systematic evaluation of the arguments of others (Browne and Keeley, 1998). In a world where arguments and counterarguments flourish with respect to almost all social questions, students have a fundamental need for the development of attitudes and skills that permit them to negotiate the inescapable dissensus that surrounds them.”

The Graduate School at Nichols College on that same topic of critical thinking skills stated the following. The bold emphasis above and below are added by MHProNews to the original and otherwise unchanged text.

“Critical thinking is a cognitive skill with the power to unlock the full potential of your mind. In today’s rapidly evolving society, where information is abundant but discerning its validity is becoming increasingly challenging, the art of critical thinking has never been more crucial.

At Nichols College, we believe that cultivating strong critical thinking abilities is not just a pursuit for the academically inclined, but a fundamental necessity for individuals across all walks of life. Join us as we explore the significance of critical thinking and the remarkable impact it can have on your decision-making, problem-solving, and overall cognitive prowess.” The title of that post is aptly: “Critical Thinking & Why It’s So Important.”

So, in all walks of life, critical thinking skills are important.

Attorneys, which is the legal profession that MHARR’s Weiss was educated to pursue, are taught to be critical thinkers. In the legal world, for every argument, there are one or more counter-arguments. Depending on the venue or context, attorneys are often supposed to forge the best possible argument useful for the advancement of their client’s best interests.

In an era when manufactured housing is suffering from a sustained depression-level shift downward in industry production since the late 1990s, it is remarkable that relatively limited numbers of individuals in the profession are willing to publicly question the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI or in MHVille industry circles, sometimes “the Institute”) at their own statements and behaviors.

To be sure, there are numerous souls who have been involved in manufactured housing for over a quarter of a century that have use of their memories and reasoning abilities that something has gone wrong. Some have expressed concerns, ranging from muted to robust, about MHI’s self-proclaimed mantle of representing “all segments” of the industry.

A close reading of MHI’s history of statements compared to some of their own members statements sheds more light on reality vs. mere fanciful dreams, be those fantasies waking or sleeping. One possible take from the quote by Thoreau that Weiss uses in the opening of his May 2024 Issues and Perspective is the obvious question. Is what MHI is pitching to the industry mere “Shams and delusions” when professionals should be focused on reality?

Following close on the heels of two other MHARR posts, Weiss’ Issues and Perspectives article is shown in Part I. In Part II is additional information with more MHProNews analysis and commentary. Part II will further explore the value of critical thinking as well as the specific topic that Weiss chose to focus on.

‘Reality Versus Empty Posturing’ – Manufactured Housing Association Releases Volley Against Changing from Potent to Tepid Public Pitch for Manufactured Homes

Part I

MHARR – ISSUES AND PERSPECTIVES
By Mark Weiss
MAY 2024

“REALITY VERSUS EMPTY POSTURING”

Henry David Thoreau, in the classic, “Walden,” lamented that “shams and delusions are esteemed for [the] soundest truths, while reality is fabulous.” He observed that if “men would steadily observe realities only” and “not allow themselves to be deluded,” life would be far better. Although those words were penned nearly two centuries ago, they remain as poignant, relevant and accurate today (if not more so) as when they were first written. And one area where they should be applied – carefully and thoughtfully – in the context of federally-regulated manufactured housing, is with respect to the way that the industry itself refers to and promotes mainstream HUD Code manufactured housing, and presents manufactured housing, both as a product and as an industry, to the homebuying public and government decision-makers including, most especially, those at the federal level, where manufactured housing is comprehensively regulated and controlled.

In this regard, it is beyond any reasonable debate that “affordability” has always been the fundamental defining characteristic – and market-based driver – of the availability, acceptance and utilization of mainstream HUD Code manufactured homes. Indeed, “affordability,” in both absolute and relative terms, is so central to the consumer market for federally-regulated manufactured homes, that the term “affordability” was inserted into federal manufactured housing law by Congress when it adopted the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (2000 Reform Law).

In that watershed law, which marked the emergence of today’s modern, high-quality, energy-efficient, mainstream manufactured housing, the term “affordable” or “affordability” is expressly used at least four times, while there are at least two parallel (and effectively synonymous) references to “cost-effectiveness.” Indeed, the very first legislative purpose of the 2000 Reform Law, as enumerated by Congress, is to “protect the quality, durability, safety and affordability of manufactured homes.” (Emphasis added). The point made abundantly clear by Congress, accordingly, as a matter of law, is that cost-effective “affordability” lies at the heart of the construction, use and regulation of manufactured housing, and that elemental affordability is not to be undermined or subverted by other factors or considerations outside of imperative life-safety. As such, affordability is the fundamental lynchpin of the three main pillars of federal manufactured housing law, as federal preemption, uniform federal standards and uniform federal regulation work in unison to yield inherently affordable manufactured housing and distinguish manufactured housing from all other types of factory-built housing.

Nor has the concept and primary importance of affordability in relation to housing,  homeownership and the manufactured housing market, somehow gone out of style over the 24 years that have elapsed since the enactment of the 2000 Reform Law. If anything, the need for affordable housing and homeownership – at a time when housing affordability in the United States is at an all-time low – has never been greater. As a result, federal government policies to promote the availability of “affordable” housing have never had a higher priority.

How do we know this? For one thing, the Biden Administration is earmarking billions of dollars in federal spending on supposedly “affordable” housing. It also stresses (or at least pays lip service) to the need for “affordable” homeownership in its policy pronouncements. In an April 2024 document, “Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050 – A Blueprint for the Buildings Sector,” for example, the Administration states: “Any pathway to decarbonization of the buildings sector must be centered in the cross-cutting goals of equity [and] affordability….” (Emphasis added). Nor is housing “affordability” some abstract, amorphous or metaphysical construct that has no specific or well-understood meaning. As HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) noted in an August 2017 article, “Defining Housing Affordability,” “Housing programs in the United States have long measured housing affordability in terms of percentage of income. *** Over time, [a] 30 percent threshold … became the standard for owner-occupied housing, and it remains the indicator of affordability for housing in the United States.” (Emphasis added). By contrast, “households [that] spend more than 30 percent of income on housing costs [are] housing cost burdened.”

Measured against this standard, mainstream HUD Code manufactured housing has always been inherently affordable. In 2022, the last full year for which census data is available, the average sales price of all new manufactured homes was $127,300.00. This compares to a $430,808.00 “average” for a site-built home, excluding the cost of land. That same year, again according to U.S. Census Bureau data, real median household income in the United States was $74,580.00. At the census average price, a 20-year loan on a manufactured home with a 5% downpayment, would cost the borrower less than $1,000.00 per month, or slightly more than 16% of average gross income. By contrast, a mortgage on the “average” site-built home, exclusive of land, would cost approximately $2,300.00 per month over a 30-year loan period at 7.0% interest, requiring 37% or more of the buyer’s gross income, a proportion that would be significantly larger based on net income following the deduction of income and other applicable taxes. And, when the site-built information is brought forward to 2024, the current median monthly home mortgage payment in the United States is $2,775.00 a month, “the most expensive ever” according to media reports.

Against this backdrop of all-too-real disappearing affordability within the broader housing market, it is mystifying and frankly astounding that some within the HUD Code industry would so readily surrender, dispense with and, effectively walk away from the language, concept and reality of “affordability” in relation to mainstream HUD Code manufactured homes, and instead embrace the meaningless linguistic blather of “attainable” housing (much like substituting the recently-invented term of “off-site”-built housing for the traditionally-known term “factory-built” housing). With this term appearing more frequently in both industry trade publications and broader media from manufactured housing producers – among others — the industry would do well to consider the dangers and pitfalls of abandoning the well-known, well-defined and well-appreciated concept, terminology and reality of “affordability.”

So where has this abandonment of “affordability” manifested itself within the industry and – more importantly – why has it been advanced and promoted by some? The answers are fairly easy to find with a bit of research.  The “where” question is perhaps easiest. News releases published in recent years by Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. subsidiary Clayton Homes, Inc. (Clayton) tout “net zero energy” manufactured homes that – wait for it – are “attainable.” In an April 29, 2022 news release announcing a “net zero energy” home displayed at the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting, Clayton noted that it was committed to build “attainable” homes. Subsequently, in a July 10, 2023 news release announcing the debut of manufactured homes “built to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) “Zero Energy Ready Home” specifications,” Clayton characterized those homes as a response to “rising home energy costs that threaten attainable homeownership.” (Emphasis added). And now – in a step that will come as a surprise to exactly no one – the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has followed the lead of its largest manufacturer member, to embrace the term “attainable” manufactured housing in its messaging.

So, what is an “attainable” manufactured home? What does that term mean? And why the retreat from “affordable” to “attainable?” Again, the answers are fairly straightforward.  Depending on who you believe, a Clayton “net zero electricity home,” in 2022, cost just under $230,000” before the cost of land and solar panels (per a Clayton news release), or “just under $250,000 “with solar before land costs” (according to a media report). So, in short, a net-zero manufactured home, in 2022, carried a price tag that was nearly double the 2022 cost of an “average” mainstream manufactured home according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s easy to see, then, why these homes are characterized with the meaningless word “attainable.” It is because they are not particularly “affordable” when compared with the average modern, energy-efficient mainstream manufactured home and could easily (with both solar panel and land costs) exceed the “affordability” benchmark of 30% of a borrower’s income for the lower and moderate-income Americans who currently – and historically – have constituted the core of the industry’s consumer base.

And what causes these particular “factory-built” homes to be less than “affordable” for many? Because they seek to attain the climate-activist (and DOE) holy grail of net zero energy consumption. And in doing so – as MHARR has argued from day-one against the extremist DOE manufactured housing energy standards – they will exclude huge numbers of Americans from the manufactured housing market, precisely because they will not be truly “attainable” or affordable for many, if not most, of the industry’s historical market demographic.

According to a Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) report issued in May 2021, the median income of a manufactured home purchaser (for both mortgage and chattel financing) was between $52,000 and $53,000 per year. According to online resources, a person with an annual income of $52,000 could “comfortably” afford a home costing $158,624, with a 5% downpayment and a monthly payment of $1,300 per month (an estimated home only payment that does not include variables like site fees, utilities, taxes, insurance, or escrows). As noted above, this would cover the cost of the “average” modern-day, new, energy-efficient mainstream, HUD Code manufactured home. But it does not cover – or even come close to covering – the cost of a $250,000(+) supposedly “attainable” net zero manufactured home, plus the cost of land and other essentials needed for net zero living.

So, not only does “attainable” – as contrasted with “affordable” – mean absolutely nothing in relation to manufactured housing, its use demonstrates, once again, that all of the supposed “life-cycle” energy savings on the face of the planet will not benefit, in any conceivable way, the vast majority of current manufactured homebuyers, who would effectively be excluded from the housing market altogether by the additional cost of the measures needed to meet net zero energy criteria. Put differently, it confirms that there is no “life-cycle” – and, therefore, no life-cycle “savings” — for those who do not have a home to begin with, because they cannot afford the home’s purchase price.

This dichotomy once again proves and underscores the essential thrust of MHARR’s longstanding and aggressive opposition to DOE’s horrific manufactured housing “energy” standards. What it does not answer, is why – other than for purposes of posturing, grandstanding (or possibly glomming “energy” tax credits) – anyone in the manufactured housing industry would seek to economically disenfranchise nearly all of its current consumers and market. Unlike the term “attainable,” “economic suicide” does have a specific meaning. And inviting it is not smart.

Mark Weiss

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

“MHARR-Issues and Perspectives” is available for re-publication in full (i.e., without alteration or substantive modification) without further permission and with proper attribution and/or link back to MHARR. ##

Part II – Additional Information with More MHProNews Analysis and Commentary

1) On the date and time shown, MHARR has 3 new relevant items so far in May 2024. By contrast, MHI has nothing new under their home page news segment month-to-date. MHI is far larger in both staff and budget. MHI has a supposedly professional public relations person they have contracted. Molly Boyle with “FPMGI” has yet to respond to an MHProNews inquiry, even though the MHI website states on this date: “There’s a lot to know about today’s manufactured homes. Contact our media relations team to learn more.” If there is so much to know, then why doesn’t MHI share it with the industry and the public at large, as MHARR does? As recently as yesterday or in several reports last week, MHI has taken odd or self-contradictory stances that left-leaning Bing’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered Copilot has described as in need of critical evaluation. Copilot has effectively lauded MHARR for consistency in their messaging and advocacy, while lamenting that MHI has said one thing in emails and then failed to post it on their own website. Copilot has noted the range of criticism about MHI and its methods.

2) This screen capture below is how the 2H 2023 refreshed MHI website home page looked on 5.8.2024 at about 4:18 AM ET. As Mark Weiss, J.D., President and CEO of MHAR has noted in a new “Issues and Perspectives” MHI has oddly shifted to using the phrase “attainable” instead of the traditional and arguably clearer and more appealing/approachable phrasing of “affordable” that MHVille advocates have long used. As Mark Weiss, J.D., President and CEO of MHARR has noted in a new “Issues and Perspectives” provided in Part I above, MHI has oddly shifted to using the phrase “attainable” instead of the traditional and arguably clearer and more appealing/approachable phrasing of “affordable” that MHVille advocates have long used.

Note: to expand this image below to a larger or full size, see the instructions

Note: to expand this image below to a larger or full size, see the instructions

3) “A “bait and switch” takes place when a seller creates an appealing but ingenuine offer to sell a product or service, which the seller does not actually intend to sell.” That’s per Cornell law school’s widely referenced Legal Information Institute (LII).

4) According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): “The FTC has issued a Notice that it has determined that bait and switch sales practices are unfair or deceptive trade practices, and violate the FTC Act.”

5) The following Q&A occurred with Bing’s Copilot on 5.8.2024.

What does this expression mean: “Grow your business – Get the tools, platform and information you need”

Certainly! The expression “Grow your business – Get the tools, platform, and information you need” emphasizes the importance of equipping your business with the necessary resources to achieve growth. Let’s break it down:

1. Grow Your Business: This part encourages business owners to focus on expansion and development. It implies that growth is a deliberate process that requires effort, strategy, and action.
2. Get the Tools: Refers to using specific tools and technologies that can enhance efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness. These tools can range from software applications to marketing platforms, analytics solutions, and more.
3. Platform: A platform provides a foundation for your business operations. It could be a website, an e-commerce platform, a social media channel, or any other digital space where you interact with customers, sell products, or promote your brand.
4. Information You Need: Access to relevant information is crucial for making informed decisions. This includes market research, customer insights, industry trends, financial data, and more. Having the right information empowers you to navigate challenges and seize opportunities.

In summary, the expression encourages businesses to proactively seek out the necessary tools, technology, and knowledge to foster growth and success. Whether you’re a startup, a small business, or a large corporation, investing in these resources can significantly impact your trajectory¹. Additionally, if you’re interested in exploring specific tools for business growth, there are various online resources available, such as the 117 Best Online Business Tools and the 30 Best Startup Tools & Resources²³. These lists cover a wide range of tools and platforms to help businesses thrive. 🌱🚀 …”

6)

Okay, on the Manufactured Housing Institute home page https://www.manufacturedhousing.org/ on this date (5.8.2024) that expression is found, quoting: “Grow your business Get the tools, platform and information you need” – so, what does that mean to someone in manufactured housing? What is the pitch that the Manufactured Housing Institute seems to be making with that choice of words?

• Weiss might emphasize the need for practical solutions rather than empty promises.
• Weiss likely calls for a reality check among industry stakeholders.
• Instead of relying solely on grand statements, he advocates for concrete actions that benefit consumers and professionals in the manufactured housing sector.

9)

Okay, in prior Q&As with you Copilot, we have noted that there are critics of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) who are or where members of that trade group. Frank Rolfe in a recent interview explored in depth by Manufactured Home Pro News noted that Rolfe said he blamed the Manufactured Housing Institute for emphasizing their more costly CrossMod homes rather than work with prior HUD Secretary Ben Carson who was offering to and actually helped promote inherently affordable mainstream manufactured housing. Neal Haney led two state associations out of affiliate membership in MHI because they were failing to advance the industry’s agenda. Longtime MHI member Marty Lavin, J.D., faulted MHI with these words: “So the association [MHI] is not there for the Industry, unless the interests of the Big Boys join the industry‘s.” Bob Crawford while president and CEO for Dick Moore housing called for a new trade group to supplant MHI because their advocacy was so ineffective that he gave it a 5 out of 10, which would be an F or failing grade. Doug Ryan at CFED (since rebranded as Prosperity Now) is pro-manufactured housing, but is a critic of MHI saying that they were deferring to Clayton Homes so that their affiliated lending could further monopolize the industry because MHI was failing to press the Duty to Serve issue with the FHFA. Last Year, Mark Weiss told MHLivingNews that https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/inexcusable-and-major-problem-exclusive-mhlivingnews-question-and-answer-qa-with-mark-weiss-j-d-president-and-ceo-of-manufactured-housing-association-for-regulatory-reform-mharr/ remarks by MHI Ceo Lesli Gooch were inexcusable and a major problem. Samuel Strommen has accused MHI of acting on behalf of their larger members in a manner that fosters consolidation and provided over 130 footnotes and some 17 pages of research to support his allegations. Those are just some of the critics of MHI on key issues. Which begs the question. Given that the industry today is operating less than 25 percent of its prior last high water mark in 1998, is it fair to question the sincerity of MHI when they say “grow your business” or similar remarks?  Hypothetically speaking, isn’t it at least plausible, as some critics have argued, that what is growing at MHI are the portfolios of consolidators, and that getting new members may create new opportunities for consolidators to consolidate smaller member firms? And if so, is that arguably a kind of bait and switch tactic by MHI to claim something that it has no apparent intention of fulfilling under its current leadership? After all, former MHI President and CEO Chris Stinebert said in 2004 that the industry was ready for a recovery back to the levels of the 1990s. Yet, the industry’s national production today is lower than it was in 2004, and much lower than it was in 1998.

> Useful, thanks. Okay, what about the fear factor? It has been widely reported by sources in mainstream media that several manufactured home community residents are afraid of retaliation from their community operators who are accused of predatory behavior, correct? It is also open to question how many employees and managers in Manufactured Housing Institute linked brands are fearful of playing the role of whistleblower, given how pervasive the purported culture of consolidation seems to be at MHI and several MHI linked state associations too. Hypothetically, what sort of steps should or could residents, employees, or managers who are aware of the problems but may be hesitant to speak up, what could they do given the current dynamics? Link your results.

Fear of retaliation is a significant concern in various contexts, including manufactured home communities and industry organizations. Let’s explore this issue and consider potential steps for residents, employees, and managers who are aware of problems but hesitant to speak up:

1. Fear of Retaliation in Manufactured Home Communities:
   • Residents: Many manufactured home community residents fear retaliation from community operators. These fears stem from concerns about eviction, rent increases, or other negative consequences if they complain about poor conditions, discrimination, or mistreatment.
   • Employees and Managers: Similarly, employees and managers within the industry may hesitate to blow the whistle due to concerns about job security, professional relationships, and potential backlash.
2. Steps for Residents:
   • Know Your Rights: Residents should educate themselves about their rights under fair housing laws and community regulations. Understanding what protections exist can empower them.
   • Document Everything: Keep records of any issues, complaints, or incidents. Document dates, times, and details. This documentation can be crucial if retaliation occurs.
   • Seek Legal Advice: Consult with an attorney or a local legal aid organization. They can provide guidance on how to address problems while minimizing risks.
   • Collective Action: Consider joining or forming a residents’ association. Collective action can provide strength and support when addressing community issues.
3. Steps for Employees and Managers:
   • Know Whistleblower Protections: Understand the legal protections available to whistleblowers. Federal and state laws often shield employees from retaliation when reporting wrongdoing.
   • Anonymous Reporting: If possible, use anonymous channels to report concerns. Some organizations have hotlines or online reporting systems that protect the whistleblower’s identity.
   • Document Concerns: Like residents, employees and managers should document any issues they observe. This documentation can serve as evidence if retaliation occurs.
   • Seek Legal Advice: Consult with an employment attorney to understand your rights and options. They can guide you on the best course of action.
   • Collective Action: Consider connecting with other employees who share similar concerns. Collective action may provide more leverage and protection.
4. Industry-Wide Considerations:
   • Culture Shift: Industry organizations, including the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), should foster a culture that encourages transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior. This shift requires leadership commitment.
   • Whistleblower Policies: Organizations should establish clear whistleblower policies that protect employees and managers who report wrongdoing. These policies should outline reporting channels and safeguards against retaliation.
   • Education and Training: Provide education and training on fair housing laws, ethical conduct, and the importance of reporting concerns. This helps create a supportive environment for whistleblowers.

In summary, addressing fear of retaliation requires a multifaceted approach. Residents, employees, and managers must be informed, empowered, and supported. Industry organizations should prioritize ethical behavior and create mechanisms for reporting without fear of reprisal¹²³⁴. 🏠⚖️

Learn more

1 theconsumervoice.org 2 medicalxpress.com 3 iadvanceseniorcare.com 4 today.uconn.edu 5 mhco.org 6 marshallforman.com 7 fairhousinginstitute.com 8 tinyurl.com 9 nursinghome411.org 10projects.propublica.org 11psycnet.apa.org…”

 

14)

It seems to me that there is plenty of evidence and information that reflects the concerns that this Q&A (chat) thread has covered. One might think that public officials should be probing the companies and organizations that seem to be preying on smaller businesses and consumer groups. While there are obvious exceptions, it seems that generally what legislators and others in state, local, or federal government tend to do is treat symptoms instead of taking steps that address core issues. What common sense legal and investigative steps might public officials take to expose these concerns and concerns with the authentic goal of bringing such predatory and harmful practices to an end? After all, it has been documented that without millions of more manufactured homes, the affordable housing crisis can’t be solved with conventional housing alone, correct? Link results.

You raise an important point. Addressing predatory practices in the housing industry requires proactive steps from public officials. Let’s explore some common-sense legal and investigative measures they can take to expose and combat these concerns:

1. Strengthen Regulatory Oversight:
   • Audit and Inspect: Regularly audit and inspect housing providers, lenders, and industry organizations. Investigate complaints thoroughly.
   • Enforce Existing Laws: Ensure that existing fair housing laws are enforced rigorously. Investigate any violations promptly.
   • Whistleblower Protections: Strengthen protections for whistleblowers who report industry misconduct. Encourage employees and residents to come forward without fear of retaliation.
2. Transparency and Reporting:
   • Public Reporting: Publish data on housing providers’ practices, complaints, and enforcement actions. Transparency helps identify patterns and hold violators accountable.
   • Consumer Complaint Portals: Create user-friendly online portals where residents and employees can report concerns anonymously. Make these portals accessible and widely known.
3. Collaborate with Advocacy Groups:
   • Work with Advocates: Collaborate with nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and community leaders. They often have firsthand knowledge of industry issues.
   • Joint Investigations: Conduct joint investigations with advocacy groups to uncover predatory practices. Pool resources and expertise.
4. Enhance Preemption Enforcement:
   • Manufactured Housing Improvement Act (MHIA): Strengthen enforcement of enhanced preemption provisions under MHIA. Ensure that state and local regulations do not hinder manufactured housing affordability.
   • Federal Agencies: Coordinate with federal agencies (e.g., HUD) to ensure consistent enforcement.
5. Antitrust and RICO Investigations:
   • Antitrust Enforcement: Investigate potential anticompetitive behavior by industry players. Address monopolistic practices that harm consumers.
   • Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO): If evidence suggests organized wrongdoing, consider RICO investigations. This can expose systemic issues.
6. Public Hearings and Testimony:
   • Legislative Hearings: Hold public hearings where residents, employees, and experts can testify about industry practices. Gather firsthand accounts.
   • Legislation Based on Testimony: Use testimony to inform new legislation or regulatory reforms.
7. Data Collection and Analysis:
   • Comprehensive Data: Collect comprehensive data on housing affordability, predatory practices, and industry dynamics. Analyze trends and identify areas for intervention.
   • Research Partnerships: Collaborate with research institutions to conduct independent studies on industry practices.
8. Promote Affordable Housing Alternatives:
   • Manufactured Homes: Encourage the development of more manufactured homes. Address zoning restrictions and promote innovative financing options.
   • Mixed-Use Communities: Explore mixed-use developments that integrate affordable housing with other amenities.
9. Educate Consumers and Industry Professionals:
   • Consumer Awareness Campaigns: Educate consumers about their rights, fair housing laws, and how to report violations.
   • Industry Training: Provide training to industry professionals on ethical practices, fair housing, and compliance.
10. Public-Private Partnerships:
    • Collaborate with Industry: Engage with responsible industry players who prioritize consumer welfare. Encourage self-regulation and best practices.
    • Incentives for Compliance: Offer incentives (e.g., tax breaks) to companies that adhere to fair practices.

In summary, public officials must take a multifaceted approach, combining legal enforcement, transparency, collaboration, and education. By addressing core issues, we can move toward a housing industry that serves all Americans, especially those affected by the affordable housing crisis¹²³. 🏠⚖️

Learn more

1 journals.law.harvard.edu 2 propublica.org 3 jstor.org 4 theconsumervoice.org 5 medicalxpress.com 6 iadvanceseniorcare.com 7 today.uconn.edu 8 mhco.org 9 marshallforman.com 10 fairhousinginstitute.com 11 tinyurl.com 12 nursinghome411.org13 projects.propublica.org 14 psycnet.apa.org…”

15)

Summarize key notions, evidence, and possible action steps covered in this thread.

Certainly! Let’s summarize the key points, evidence, and potential action steps discussed in this conversation:

1. Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) Concerns:
   • Critics have raised concerns about MHI’s actions, favoritism toward larger players, and failure to promote industry growth.
   • Evidence suggests a disconnect between MHI’s claims and actual outcomes.
   • Legal risks for MHI board members include breach of fiduciary duty, false advertising, and negligence.
2. MHAction and Funding:
   • MHAction, funded in part by Warren Buffett, focuses on documenting harms to manufactured home community residents.
   • Questions arise about MHAction’s sincerity and alignment with industry players.
   • Legal risks for MHAction include breach of duty, misrepresentation, and lack of transparency.
3. Fear of Retaliation:
   • Residents fear retaliation from community operators.
   • Employees and managers may hesitate to blow the whistle due to job security concerns.
   • Steps include knowing rights, documenting issues, seeking legal advice, and collective action.
4. Public Officials’ Role:
   • Public officials should:
     • Strengthen regulatory oversight.
     • Enhance preemption enforcement.
     • Investigate antitrust violations.
     • Promote affordable housing alternatives.
     • Educate consumers and industry professionals.
     • Collaborate with advocacy groups.
5. Addressing Core Issues:
   • Addressing predatory practices requires a multifaceted approach.
   • Transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior are essential.
   • Industry growth, affordability, and consumer welfare should be prioritized.

In summary, addressing industry challenges involves legal action, transparency, education, and collaboration. By focusing on core issues, we can work toward a more equitable and thriving housing industry. 🏠⚖️ …”

 

16) After years of carefully documenting evidence from a range of sources, MHLivingNews and/or MHProNews have developed what appears to be the largest and most popular collections of research, facts, data, and evidence that reflects why manufactured housing has been underperforming during an affordable housing crisis.  Complementing those efforts and leading the charge from the nonprofit side is MHARR.

As MHARR’s Weiss has argued, what is needed isn’t “Shams and delusions” no matter how appealing they may seem to be. What is needed instead is to deal with reality and for those in a position to act to do so authentically, instead of in some “sham” fashion.

See the linked reports that follow to see more evidence of the concerns and to learn more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: to expand this image below to a larger or full size, see the instructions

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

 

 

Mark Weiss and MHARR continue to do yeoman’s work in systematically documenting the problematic patterns that often involve their larger trade group rival. Not only is MHARR dealing with public officials, but they also have apparently felt compelled to deal with issues related to the industry historic underperformance.  Numerous questions about conflicts of interest and seemingly deceptive tactics at MHI exist, as the Q&A with Copilot only begins to skim the surface.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• FTC – Bait and Switch Case Document
• FTC document on ‘Competition Counts’ and Antitrust Law

“Antitrust laws…are the Magna Carta of free
enterprise. They are as important to the
preservation of economic freedom and our
free-enterprise system as the Bill of Rights is
to the protection of our fundamental personal
freedoms.”

• U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall
  United States v. Topco Associates, Inc.,
  405 U.S. 596, 610 (1972)

 

Department of Justice (DoJ) – “Price fixing, bid rigging, and other forms of collusion are illegal and are subject to criminal prosecution by the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice.”

• “Most criminal antitrust prosecutions involve price fixing, bid rigging, or market division or allocation schemes. Each of these forms of collusion may be prosecuted criminally if they occurred, at least in part, within the past five years. Proving such a crime does not require us to show that the conspirators entered into a formal written or express agreement. Price fixing, bid rigging, and other collusive agreements can be established either by direct evidence, such as the testimony of a participant, or by circumstantial evidence, such as suspicious bid patterns, travel and expense reports, telephone records, and business diary entries.” (Emphasis added by MHProNews).
• “Market division or allocation schemes are agreements in which competitors divide markets among themselves.”

 

Part III – 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 moves 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 may be impacting manufactured housing connected investing.

Headlines from left-of-center CNN Business – 5.7.2024

• Slaughterhouse cleaning company fined $649,000 for child workers
• Demonstrators are seen at the pro-Palestinian encampment at the Columbia University in New York on Sunday.
• Trump-appointed judges say they’ll boycott Columbia grads over university’s handling of protests
• TikTok sues to block prospective US app ban
• Panera is dropping Charged Lemonade, the subject of multiple wrongful death lawsuits
• New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft at AT&T Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.
• ‘Draw a line in the sand, but don’t draw a swastika,’ Kraft foundation tells campus protesters
• Columbia’s student journalists produced New York magazine’s cover story. Here’s how they did it
• People walk by an Apple store in Glendale, California, on December 26.
• Apple unveils new iPad Pro with ‘outrageously powerful’ AI-powered chip
• The new Swiss Army Knife will be missing a key feature
• In an aerial view, cars travel along Interstate 80 on January 16, 2024 in Berkeley, California.
• Fender benders mean serious high-tech repairs now
• A woman casts her ballot in the 2020 general election inside the Basset Place Mall in El Paso, Texas on November 3, 2020.
• It’s a presidential election year. Here’s what that could mean for your 401(k)
• The alleged architect of a multibillion-dollar fraud that shook Wall Street heads to trial
• Europe risks losing its biggest oil companies to America
• Americans have spent their savings. Economists worry about what comes next
• UBS makes first profit since Credit Suisse rescue
• Elizabeth Holmes shaves more time off her sentence
• Nintendo says Switch successor will be unveiled by March 2025
• Kremlin critic Kara-Murza wins Pulitzer Prize for columns written from prison cell
• FAA opens new probe into Boeing, this time involving 787 Dreamliner inspections
• When grief and AI collide: These people are communicating with the dead
• Warren Buffett compares AI to nuclear weapons in stark warning
• Howard Schultz wants Starbucks to fix its American business
• Trump Media fires accounting firm after old one accused of being a ‘sham audit mill’
• Three things investors probably don’t know, but should

 

Note: to expand this image below to a larger or full size, see the instructions

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

 

Headlines from right-of-center Newsmax – 5.7.2024

• Some Colleges, Initially Permissive of Pro-Palestinian Protests, Get Tough
• A pro-Palestinian protester rests her head on her clasped hands while she stands before University of Chicago police officers on Tuesday. This, as officers kept protesters from the university’s quad while the student encampment was dismantled Tuesday. (AP)
• Some colleges have cracked down immediately on protests against the Israel-Hamas war. Among those that have tolerated the tent encampments, some have begun to lose patience and call in police over concerns about disruptions to campus life, safety and the involvement of nonstudents. [Full Story]
• Israel at War
• Hawley Demands DOJ Probe Anti-Israel ‘Dark Money’
• C. Awaits WH Report on Israeli Weapons Use
• Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Recoup UNRWA Funds
• Soldiers Raise Israeli Flag at Gaza Side of Rafah Crossing | video
• Israeli Coalition Members Rally Around Rafah Op
• Israeli Diplomatic Source: Biden Could Betray Israel
• Hezbollah Credits Its Drone Hitting Israeli Town, Killing 2 Soldiers
• Biden Condemnomg Antisemitism in Speech Amid Gaza Protests
• US Believes Rafah Strikes Not a Major Military Op
• Israel Striking in Rafah as Hostage Talks Go On
• Newsmax TV
• Burlison: College Officials Surrendering to Protesters
• Burgum: Trump VP Rumors ‘Not Relevant’
• Noem: Memoir ‘Not a Typical Political Book’ | video
• Rob Schmitt Investigates: Secret Billionaires Target Trump | video
• Friedman: Biden Has ‘Micromanaged’ War | video
• Graham: World ‘Hatred’ Greater Than Ever | video
• Comer: Why Is D.C. Encampment Uncleared? | video
• Newsfront
• Rob Schmitt Investigates: Secret Billionaires Out to Stop Trump
• In a Newsmax special presentation, “Rob Schmitt Tonight” turned the spotlight on the network of billionaires and their radical-left causes that are funding everything from the anti-Israel protests on college campuses to making sure Donald Trump never sees a second term… [Full Story] | video
• Tlaib to ICC: Arrest Netanyahu for Genocide
• Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., called for the International Criminal [Full Story]
• Hawley: DOJ Must Probe Anti-Israel ‘Dark Money’
• Josh Hawley, R-Mo., called on the Department of Justice to [Full Story]
• Some Colleges, at First Permissive of Pro-Palestinian Protests, Get Tough
• Police cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at the University of [Full Story]
• Campaign: Trump Didn’t Violate Gag Order
• Donald Trump’s campaign said the former president did not violate a [Full Story]
• Related
• Trump: ‘Constitution Much More Important Than Jail’
• Judge Denies Mistrial Request Over Stormy Daniels Testimony
• Stormy Daniels Testifies at Trump’s N.Y. Trial
• RNC Fighting Efforts in Pennsylvania to Bypass Voter Law
• The Republican National Committee (RNC) has made good on its promise [Full Story] | video
• Banned Chinese Cotton Found in US Merchandise
• Traces of banned Chinese cotton were found in 19% of a sample of [Full Story]
• Heritage Foundation: Biden Admin Colluded With Dem Groups to Sway Vote
• A new report by the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project indicates [Full Story] | Platinum Article
• RFK Jr. Calls on Trump to Debate at Libertarian Convention
• Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday [Full Story] | video
• Related
• Biden’s Media Aversion ‘Unlikely to Bolster’ Reelection Odds |Platinum Article
• Gallup Poll: Confidence in Biden Low on Economy
• Trump Looks to Throttle RFK Jr.’s Campaign
• Kevin Spacey Endorses RFK Jr. for President
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance in Florida (Check Zip Code)
• Otto Quotes
• Russia to Ukraine: F-16s Present Nuclear Threat
• Russia’s Defense Ministry warned Ukraine that its new fleet of [Full Story]
• Related
• Ukraine Catches Russian Agents Plotting Zelenskyy Assassination
• Ukraine’s Artillery Pinned Down by Russian Drones
• Russia’s Putin: Dialog With West Possible Only on Equal Terms
• Russia, Ukraine Trade Allegations of Chemical Weapons Use
• Putin Begins 5th Term as President With Tighter Hold on Russia
• Jordan Questions Trump Classified Documents Probe
• Following revelations that the boxes of files recovered from Donald [Full Story]
• Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance in Florida (Check Zip Code)
• Otto Quotes
• Don Bacon Files Resolution to Censure Rep. Omar
• Don Bacon, R-Neb., on Tuesday introduced a resolution to censure [Full Story]
• Diabetes is Not from Sweets! Meet the Main Enemy of Diabetes
• Health-Review24
• Report: Weinstein Back to Rikers After VIP Treatment
• Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced former movie mogul, was moved to [Full Story]
• Trump Mediating Speaker Johnson, Rep. Greene Rift
• Former President Donald Trump is not only making public statements in [Full Story]
• Trump: Vice President Picks Don’t Sway Elections
• Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Tuesday [Full Story]
• Philly Clearing Homeless Encampment, ‘Drug Market’
• Philadelphia will clear a homeless encampment Wednesday out of an [Full Story]
• Biden Condemns Antisemitism at Holocaust Remembrance
• President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that the threat of antisemitism [Full Story]
• Rubio: ‘Must Outlaw’ TSA’s Pro-illegals Flight Policy
• Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said Republicans must lead the way in [Full Story] | video
• Cotton: US, Israel Need Trump
• The Gaza war and the anti-Israel demonstrations at U.S. college [Full Story]
• TikTok Sues to Block US Law Demanding Sale or Ban
• TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance said Tuesday they [Full Story]
• States Work to Stop Squatters Exploiting Legal Loopholes
• Legislators are working to fix loopholes that protected squatters at [Full Story]
• Speaker Johnson: ‘I Intend to Lead This Conference’
• House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. said he is not going anywhere. Amid [Full Story]
• N.Y. Bill Would Bar Pistols That Fire Like Machine Guns
• A New York bill would block the sale of pistols that could be [Full Story]
• New Ad Targets Trump Family Separation Policy
• The Biden campaign on Tuesday will launch a digital ad to remind [Full Story]
• Japan Fires Back at Biden Slandering It for ‘Xenophobia’
• Japan has described as “regrettable” President Joe Biden’s comment [Full Story]
• Russia Detains 2 US Nationals, Including a Soldier
• Russian authorities have detained two U.S. nationals, including a [Full Story]
• Greene Signals Possible Resolution With Speaker
• Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., appears to be cooling on an [Full Story]
• Rep. Tim Kennedy Sworn In, Narrowing GOP Majority
• Tim Kennedy, D-N.Y., took his oath on the House floor Monday, [Full Story]
• Mass Arrests as Cops, 1,000 Protesters Clash at MOMA
• New York police reportedly made at least two dozen arrests Monday [Full Story]
• Ivanka Reportedly ‘Warming’ to Idea of WH Role If Father Wins
• Ivanka Trump is “warming” to the idea of taking on a role in the [Full Story] | video
• Trump: ‘Constitution Much More Important Than Jail’
• Former President Donald Trump brushed aside a New York judge’s [Full Story]
• More Newsfront
• Finance
• TikTok Sues to Block US Law Demanding Sale or Ban
• TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance said Tuesday they filed suit in U.S. federal court seeking to block a law signed by President Joe Biden that would force the divestiture of the short video app used by 170 million Americans or ban its use… [Full Story]
• Foundation Hopes to Stop Funding ESG Agenda With Pension Money
• Going Nuclear on Fossil Fuels Makes Little Sense
• US Power Use Forecast to Reach Records in 2024, 2025
• Complete Rundown on the 2024 Chevy Traverse Z71 & RS
• More Finance
• Health
• Poll: Seniors’ Top Health-Related Concern Is Money
• Worries over health-related costs are plaguing the minds of older Americans of all backgrounds, a new poll suggests… [Full Story]
• Planters Peanut Products Recalled Due to Listeria
• Nearly All Counterfeit Oxycontin Contains Fentanyl
• 5 Signs That Your Gut Is Healthy
• That ‘New Car Smell’ Could Be Toxic Carcinogens

 

Note: to expand this image below to a larger or full size, see the instructions
below the graphic below or click the image and follow the prompts.

Notice: MHProNews invites the firms named in these reports to respond to any concerns about possibly inaccurate information via email that identifies the concern and offers evidence that sheds a different light on the topic discussed. That said, neither MHI nor MHI publicly traded ‘insider brands’ have done so. They’ve been repeatedly invited to do so, including but not limited to an outreach on Dec 7, 2o23 and Feb 25, 2024.

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.” KEY = KeyCorp – manufactured home community financing and manufactured home single-family mortgage financing.

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.
    • Note 5: Gifts of Sight and Insights, What’s in Store for 2024? Including 2023 Year End Reflections, manufactured homes, manufactured housing, mobile homes, MHVille, USA Snapshots, Manufactured housing industry year in review 2023.

 

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, Apollo 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,  KEY, KeyCorp, 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 linked herein. 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 MHLivingNews.com and MHProNews. MHProNews is ranked as the runaway most read trade media in modern manufactured housing history. Manufactured Home Pro News (MHProNews) is the documented #1 largest and most read source for manufactured housing industry News Tips and Views Pros Can Use, per Webalizer 2.23 and known data. MHProNews gets millions of visits a year and has significantly more pageviews per visit than CNN or Fox per SimilarWeb’s stats for those two sites (but those sites get more much more total traffic). Statistics Data Infographics Research Facts Evidence and manufactured housing industry expert analysis make us the runaway most read in MHVille trade media. 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.