This isn’t an April Fool’s joke.
If it is funny in any sense to anyone, it’s only so for those in the industry who may see a perverted value to themselves in the troubling declines in new home shipments and sales in numbers of states across the country.
This data further below is from the Midwest Manufactured Housing States (MMHF). The MMHF are the parent body for the Louisville Manufactured Housing Show. Recall that the Daily Business News on MHProNews exclusive fact-checks once more revealed arguably false – or at best – misleading claims in recent ‘reporting’ by MHInsider about January’s 2019 Louisville Show.
Fact Check, Darren Krolewski, MHInsider Claim on 2019 Louisville Show Attendance
Even though the number of displayed models, and other exhibitors declined, MHInsider had the audacity to claim that the number of attendees was a 60-year record. That misstatement was debunked at the report linked above.
New HUD Code Manufactured Home Shipment Data
Not long after the first of every month, the new HUD Code manufactured home shipment data is compiled and released by IBTS for HUD. The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) and the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) each do monthly summaries based upon that IBTS data.
While MHARR has been sounding the alarm for months, MHI’s missives largely ignore or downplay the troubling trends. Given that MHI claims to be representing ‘all segments of factory built housing,’ how is it that they show so little published concern over the matter? Doesn’t that in itself play into the controversy that the Arlington, VA based MHI are okay with historically low production, so that consolidators can continue to acquire other firms or locations at discounted prices from their intrinsic value?
Check out the latest data from the MMHF, per OMHA and MHI.
Per the data above, those 5 MMHF states collectively have witnessed an overall decline in new HUD Code sales.
Year – Total Shipments – MMHF States
2017 – 12,548.
2018 – 12,210.
As the graphic below reminds readers, these are not the only states that have marked declines.
While MHARR has raised this issue in recent months, MHProNews has periodically published reports for some years that have aimed at raising awareness on this apparently growing problem. ICYMI, one of several such reports is shown below, that one, from 2017. Curious minds must ask, how is this even possible during a blossoming affordable housing crisis?
While Manufactured Housing Overall Rises, Some Slip Sliding Away
Other than MHARR, MHProNews, or MHLivingNews, no one else to date has bothered to seriously look under the hood to see what the causes of this issue might be. George F. (F?) Allen, for example, has mentioned it. But when Allen asked industry leaders for explanations, he took at face value the explanations of Kevin Clayton (Clayton Homes) and Joe Stegmayer (Cavco Industries). No follow up questions by Allen were made in a truly journalistic fashion to help explain the obviously contradictory claims made by the leaders of two of the three top producers of manufactured housing.
“A competitor in trade media told me in Tunica last week – with others present – that they don’t publish news, they publish what he himself called ‘fluff,’ said MHProNews publisher, L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach. “Hey, we’ve done cheer leading at times too, but never based on mere nonsense or wishful thinking. It isn’t fun to publish unpleasant facts, but if the industry is to solve its internal challenges, it must begin with solid facts. Thus the value of fact-checks. Head in the sand, or see – hear – and speak no evil, doesn’t cut it for true professionals and smart investors.”
The new IBTS data should be out this week. Check back to get those facts, from your most-trusted source for independent manufactured home industry trade news, analysis, and commentary. It is all right here on MHProNews. “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (News, analysis, and commentary.)
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For the examples of our kudos linked above…plus well over 1,000 positive, public comments, we say – “Thank You for your vote of confidence.”
“We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (News, analysis and commentary.)
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Submitted by Soheyla Kovach to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.com.
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