WOW! Fireworks! MHVille Traffic Surges! What’s Hot and What’s Not in Manufactured Housing Industry January 2024 – Snapshots, Facts and MH Industry Insider Analysis; plus MHVille Markets Update
Inquiring minds want to know, or so the saying goes. If website traffic is any indication, the month-over-month and year-over-year surges in traffic reported by Webalizer 2.23 for Manufactured Home Pro News (MHProNews) tell us all that this is apparently the place to be for those seeking more knowledge about the strangely diminished place affectionately known as MHVille. The USA was once home to a proud and robust mobile home industry which was legally transformed through evolution into the manufactured home industry on 6.15.1976. Manufactured housing used to be a sizable and often growing percentage of single-family housing starts. Then Manufactured Housing Institute Vice President Danny Ghorbani reminded MHLivingNews and its readers that the Louisville Show of yesteryear used to attract mainstream media as well as guests from across the U.S. and even from foreign countries.
Decades later – now – the manufactured home industry and that Louisville Manufactured Housing trade show – have become a rump of its former self. Instead of an international event, it is a regional event. Instead of hundreds of homes, the exhibit is down to a few dozen. Instead of attracting national mainstream media – such as a car, RV, or boat show have done – the Louisville MH Show is down to a mere shadow of its former glory.
Intelligent and growth-oriented professionals, advocates, and investors of all ages ought to know ‘why.’
The job of media is to explore the who, what, when, where, why and how of a story. Media is supposed to follow the facts, evidence, and money trail.
Professionals of all kinds, affordable housing seekers and advocates, public officials and others should lean in and press for the who, what, when, where, why and how that sheds light on that dramatic rise and tragic fall of modern manufactured homes.
The top articles linked below are akin to a ‘readers choice’ award for late January 2024. The visits from people like you and others are recorded by Webalizer 2.23 and statistics are generated each morning. What follows is as of “29-Jan-2024 06:08 CST.”
Out of over 30,000 referrer pages month-to-date, the top 30 articles on our MHProNews site as of that date and time for the month as shown below.
The featured image and notes are added by MHProNews. The links to the articles by rank were generated by Webalizer 2.23. The home page, specialized, proprietary pages or category pages are not shown in this ranking. More information will follow this listing from #1 to #30 of the articles that professionals – often people like you – made the most popular.
The top 30 out of over 30,000 is the “0.001” of the total. According to known information, and no one in MHVille has been known to contradict this claim, any one of these may have more engagement for the month than another MHVille trade sites entire ‘news’ section or news blog on a competitor’s site for an entire week. That’s called dominance in MHVille trade media.
Curious minds want to know. Here’s what’s the hottest of the hot.
Part I
Ranking is based on data generated from visitors – who in many cases are individuals like you.
MHProNews notes. Date uploaded: June 1, 2023. MHProNews articles often link back to prior reports. That said, the reasons why an article surges in engagement in MHVille are not always clear. That said, the above is another topic (see another linked on this same issue, linked below) that our platform reported on, but others ignored. Professionals and other people want to know.
MHProNews notes. Date uploaded: September 16, 2023. There have been on occasion remarks that were less than glowing about Warren Buffett or Clayton Homes on other trade platforms other than MHProNews/MHLivingNews. That said, the common response by industry trade publishers is to bow at the altar of Berkshire Hathaway, Clayton Homes and their lending affiliates. People who want something more than a glowing press release read industry leading MHProNews to dig deeper and see what is behind the curtain.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 23, 2024. This $325 million dollar deal by Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) as of the date of our report was unreported by anyone else in MHVille, per Bing Copilot. While information from The Real Deal (TRD) was useful, MHProNews dug deeper and provided more. Inquiring minds want to know. Your peers in the industry are obviously keen on this topic. See that linked above.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 17, 2024. On the surface, it may seem to be past bizarre that others in manufactured housing trade publishing fail to provide the data that the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) provides monthly and with certain stipulations on credit, link-back and not changing their report/data is willing to allow others to republish free of charge. There are times when another source may mention some data points. But the kinds of reports like the one above are only found on MHARR and on our platforms. While those in the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) orbit want to posture that everything is fine, the data reveals something quite different. Inquiring minds want to know what reality is, not what the official spin is.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 16, 2024. This article begins with a case that is not manufactured housing specific, but the topic applies to manufactured housing. Then it includes information on “mobile home installer” licensing by state that per a Copilot search at that time was not found anywhere else online in MHVille. It would not be a surprise if the report linked above becomes one of those magnets that keep attracting readers months or years later. Time will tell. But facts matter and many people prefer facts to spin, fluff, or propaganda.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 17, 2024. This topic is not directly related to manufactured housing, but it is about an issue that certainly impacts our profession, the nation, and (not to be dramatic) the contemporary world. MHProNews is willing to publish reports on serious looks at such issues. Our audience often rewards us with their time, eyes, and when there is video involved, ears too.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 3, 2024. This report is similar but different than #6 above. This does not have state by state data but has other information. They are not identical reports. With years of experience, we’ve learned to do at least two reports a month that are production and shipment data focused. By contrast, other than MHARR, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) only provides such data to members and via a member-only login. That should speak volumes. See that report and #6 to see why that point matters.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: June 1, 2018. For those who need inspiration, this article may be for you. It is routinely in the top 250, often in the top 100, and sometimes in the top 30 (like now). Apparently, this is an item that gets and keeps people coming to MHProNews.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: October 4, 2021. Perhaps because of the death that led the month (see #1 above), this article surged. If you haven’t already done so, read all three because your peers in MHVille have been.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 14, 2024. The above is a mix of inspiration, historic, and insightful to America past and present. Apparently, our audience agreed. Keep in mind that there are thousands of reports on MHProNews, and there are billions of searches daily (8.5 billion daily on Google, per SEO.ai in January 2024). While some of the 2 million plus visits in 2023 would be outsiders looking into MHVille view a search, even if the majority are going to be people involved in manufactured housing in some more direct form or fashion. That means that a topic like Dr. King on his federal holiday is buried deeply online. Meaning, this is likely our core audience responding to that report.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 14, 2024. Instead of giving the industry a proven path for industry growth, or sharing data accurately with the entire industry and anyone else who is interested, of launching litigation to cause good existing laws to overcome zoning barriers and increase single-family manufactured home financing, what does MHI do? They issue emailed ‘news updates’ that they dubbed a “housing alert” about a Congressional hearing where manufactured housing was occasionally mentioned. After reviewing the information, Bing’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered Copilot deemed their report fit the definition of “lie” “false” or “misleading.” MHI and their outside media contact have refused comment. Want to know more? See the report that is so popular with our audience that that one report may well equal the readership of three of our competitors entire content output for a week or more. Inquiring minds clearly want to understand why manufactured housing is underperforming.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: November 15, 2021. Why this specific report has surged is a good question. But it’s popularity reveals that Legacy Housing is being searched and is thus on reader’s minds. People are reading about Legacy Housing (LEGH) on MHProNews.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: December 21, 2022. Legacy Communities and Legacy Housing are two separate entities with no known direct relationship, other than their names and that both are involved in aspects of manufactured housing. This is a topic that has drawn attention in mainstream media, so its surge on MHProNews is not a surprise. MHProNews may revisit this subject in the light of more recent developments. Stay tuned. But for now, see the above to learn why others have found it of interest.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: December 30, 2023. This report was published near the end of December 2023. But it obviously is still very much of interest to industry professionals, tens of thousands of whom are working in states that are impacted by this blatant effort of censorship. Others in MHVille ignored this issue, but not MHProNews. While we have had some that scolded us privately or publicly for covering ‘political’ issues like this one, our readers vote with their browsers and handheld devices. Readers like you tell us through traffic data that they (and you) want to know about such issues, or they wouldn’t make it one of the top fraction of a single percent of the most read reports on our website.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 14, 2024. Political facts and figures mixed in with more Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. insights and what that means for manufactured housing’s operating environment and advocacy.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: November 16, 2023. We reached out to MHI leadership – staff and corporate, including an outside MHI attorney – to give them an opportunity to respond to the issues and concerns raised in the report linked above. Silence. Their silence, under our system of constitutional law, does not mean that they are necessarily guilty as charged. But that silence does leave inquiring minds to wonder, why have professionals who previously praised this platform now failed to answer some basic questions that the industry’s professionals and others should be told the answers?
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: April 18, 2022. After a few years of publishing an annual report, Berkshire Hathaway owned Clayton Homes finally suspended their publication. When asked why, they would not respond. Could it be because of the annual fact check of their claims by MHProNews – like the report linked above – ranked high online and proved to be embarrassing for their firm? For whatever reasons, this report surged this month into the top .001 of the pages on MHProNews. ICYMI, see why.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: July 23, 2020. This report was a hit when it was first posted and it periodically surges, as it did this month. MHProNews has often done deeper dives in recent years, pulling together an array of facts from cited sources and then connects the dots. Because MHProNews’ leadership are willing to be contrarian and do what media is supposed to do readers like you and others have flocked to articles like this. ICYMI, see what others found when they did. See what has made and kept us the runaway #1 trade media in MHVille, per Bing AI and others.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 25, 2024. Uploaded just 4 days ago, and this report surged to the top .001 percent of all pages. It is worth noting that Harvard examined the very question that MHLivingNews and MHProNews routinely ask: why is manufactured housing underperforming during an affordable housing crisis? Many in the mix that reportedly responded to Harvard’s researchers into that question are connected to MHI. See what our report and analysis spotlighted. Others like you apparently found things that they thought worthy of sharing with their circle of contacts. Maybe you’ll see things of keen interest too?
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: January 1, 2024. Chris Plante is a former award-winning CNN reporter who left that big news organization to become an award-winning pundit on “Washington’s Mall” WMAL, with a nationally syndicated show. Plante says the mainstream media’s biggest power is the power to ignore. Former CBS reporter Kristina Borjesson said in the documentary in that report that there are “black holes” in journalism. Reporters are often kept from writing reports, not because they aren’t true. But because the topics are apparently too hot and embarrassing for some powerful people or organizations. When someone in the trenches of manufactured housing wonders why millions of Americans misunderstand the industry in an “information age” are ignorant or misinformed about key issues, this well documented and award-winning full-length version of the acclaimed Shadows of Liberty video with an exclusive annotated transcript can shed light on how mainstream media actually operates. Media pros are telling their compelling stories. Curious minds want to know. When published, not only was this the first of its kind report in MHVille, it remains so, per Bing Copilot. It isn’t short. For those who want to understand the media and our nation from within, it is worth it.
MHProNews notes. Uploaded on: October 18, 2023. Facts and evidence matters. There is no other known source in manufactured housing trade media that carefully unpacks the information provided by trade associations and/or publicly traded firms. The latter source is often of keen interest and insight, because public companies are not supposed to publish information that isn’t true. Indeed, even if there are material omissions – as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called it – that can be punishable under federal law. As this report’s date reflects, it was over 90 days ago that this report was first published. People like you are still accessing and reading it. In an industry that is increasingly consolidated, the facts and evidence matters. Expert analysis is apparently appreciated by our readers too.
Part II – Additional Information with More MHProNews Analysis and Commentary
Every item we publish on MHProNews is on a curated topic that we believe to be of interest or importance to the manufactured housing industry. In a sense, these articles don’t compete with each other. Rather, these ‘most read’ articles for the month complement each other. They tell us something about our readers. That means these most read articles also tell YOU something about what others in manufactured housing want to know more about.
Several – perhaps all – of the above also tell us – and thinking souls you – something about others who report or blog on manufactured housing. Let’s take a manufactured housing specific example, our #5 for the month. Per Bing’s AI powered Copilot: “I searched the web for more information on the topic of Brookfield Asset Management’s sale of 19 manufactured housing communities for $325 million, excluding the sites you mentioned. However, I could not find any recent or relevant results from the manufactured housing industry.” The site mentioned was MHProNews, which means that no one else that Copilot could find has mentioned this issue. Why not? Our report muses on a related point, which is the #2 topic for the month on MHProNews.
With respect to our report on Shadows, not only do people want to know why the world works as it does, people NEED to know how the world works as it does during an election year. For those who happen to be on the political left, Shadows is almost exclusively interviews with people from the left. That doesn’t mean that those on the center or right shouldn’t watch it. The case can be made that every U.S. adult should watch that video and read that report, even though it is shared on a manufactured housing industry trade site. In our view, Bing is correct when it said that this is “must see” viewing.
In recent years, when surveyed, some 70 percent of Americans think that “the system is rigged.”
For years, people think the system is rigged to favor the powerful, connected, and wealthy. Editorially, we are not against people who earned money honestly. We do, however, think that if the ‘system has been rigged’ to favor a few over the vast majority of the population, then it should be apparent that there are laws that prohibit certain behaviors. Those laws should be vigorously enforced. See the new report on Oxfam’s findings and our analysis.
Regardless of politics, most American adults know that Bidenomics has not worked as advertised. There are persistent rumors that Joe Biden will be replaced at or before the Democratic Convention this summer by someone else, perhaps Michelle Obama. While interest rates have eased somewhat since the report linked below was published, the underlying fact remains the same. Most young people, households, and families can’t afford a new site-built home. But millions of them could afford a new manufactured home.
That brings us back to the point that we repeatedly make on MHLivingNews and MHProNews. Manufactured housing’s self-proclaimed leaders at MHI – corporate and staff – are arguably failing at their self-proclaimed jobs. Once more, at the time this report is being written (1.30.2024 at about 3:46 AM ET), the MHI home page says this:
The Manufactured Housing Institute is the only national trade organization representing all segments of the factory-built housing industry. We are your trusted partner, advocate and industry leader.”
But if that were true then why doesn’t MHI smoke us in visitor engagement? Why do people – even loyal MHI members – flock to MHProNews for reports and analysis that are often critical of MHI? Isn’t it obvious that if MHI truly had “the tools, platform and information you need” to “Grow your business” that the manufactured housing industry would be GROWING?! But manufactured housing production (meaning sales) is shrinking instead!
Here are those pesky (for MHI leaders and their cheerleaders) facts.
Note: depending on your browser or device, many images in this report and others on MHProNews can be clicked to expand. Click the image and follow the prompts. For example, in some browsers/devices you click the image and select ‘open in a new window.’ After clicking that selection you click the image in the open window to expand the image to a larger size. To return to this page, use your back key, escape or follow the prompts.
MHProNews has been blessed over the years with numerous tips. Among those are some of the most read articles on our site. We get tips on a routine basis from some sources, but we frankly hope that readers that have knowledge of purportedly corrupt practices at predatory brands in the industry will sound off with their own tips.
As #17 above revealed, Copilot deemed that specific MHI report fit the definition of “lie” “false” or “misleading.” That is the opposite of MHI’s bold claim of being a “trusted” source, isn’t it? That’s from artificial intelligenceexamining MHI’s claims.
MHProNews has reported in recent years that trust in various ‘authorities’ in the U.S. is falling, per surveys cited.
No polling service that we know of has surveyed manufactured housing professionals to see if MHI is trusted or not. Oh, there are people that put someone on the spot on a video camera to ask them about MHI. They will smile and mouth some nice words. But when no one will know who is reading MHProNews (unless they self-identify), and several of those reports on our site reveal that MHI leaders are failing at times in purportedly bold “lies” “false” or “misleading” claims, it means that MHI isn’t trusted by those who know.
Think about this. Other than consolidators, what are the compelling reasons to truly trust MHI?
Some people may not always like the truth. Some certainly do not want the truth, or at least do not want the truth to be widely known. But the truth is necessary for people to be able to make informed decisions.
There is no known trade media in manufactured housing that provides more vetted information, more original source material, more facts, more evidence, and more clearly stated analysis than MHProNews. Perhaps someone has launched a new website among the billions of online sites that will try to compete with us on those scores. But among the known trade media sites in MHVille, they routinely have an agenda. That agenda is routinely connected to the agenda of MHI’s insiders. That is why MHI gives them awards or endorsements. It is arguably laughable if it would not be so tragic.
Ancient Scriptural wisdom says that only ‘the truth can set us free.’ Ponder that for a moment. If someone believes in something that is demonstrably a lie, that lie is often limiting. Even though most people believe in God, even non-believers can see the wisdom in the statement: only ‘the truth can set us free.’
Why is MHProNews popular (thank you, our ranks of loyal readers, and our sponsors and God for making that so)? Why is traffic surging in January 2024, even though new manufactured housing production has been falling for over a year? We think it is due in part because people want to KNOW. It is also due in part to the meaty content we provide our readers.
Per PSB: “Matthew Kelly is an internationally-acclaimed speaker and bestselling author. He is also the founder and president of Floyd Consulting, a firm based on the belief that your organization can only become the-best-version-of itself if the people in your organization are striving to become the-best-version-of themselves.” Tip: those tempted to skim a report are more likely to miss insightful facts and details that could be useful to your career, business, life or investment decisions. https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/every-journey-to-something-is-a-journey-away-from-something-more-energy-needed-for-mediocrity-than-pursuing-excellence-shrewd-matthew-kelly-quotes/“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Even a superficial look at history reveals that no social advance rolls in on the wheels inevitability. Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr quotable quote on MHProNews.
Let’s be candid. Yes, life can be great. But Life can also be or get tough. Life can be a struggle. Happy talk only goes so far. We believe in inspiration.
But at MHProNews we also believe in the potentially liberating power of the truth.
When we report the evidence that manufactured housing is being limited by people on the inside, not just those on the outside, that’s not a fun remark to share. As the co-founder of this platform, I never dreamed 14+ years ago that I would have to say or write such a thing. But today, I can’t imagine not saying it, because all of the evidence points to a combination of internal and external forces that have limited our industry to a mere ‘shadow’ of what it once was in the mid-to-late 1990s.
“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Even a superficial look at history reveals that no social advance rolls in on the wheels inevitability. Every step towards the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
For those who want to restore the American Dream, understanding is needed. We aren’t trying to herd sheep. We are feeding potential lions and swift leopards who hunger and thirst for positive change.
Programming note: new data on the total of all HUD Code manufactured housing sales will be in hand next week. Watch for our 2023 manufactured housing data totals and analysis. Watch too for a planned report on a key regulatory topic. Last teaser for now, watch for a mammoth report that will pull together information from a range of sources on Clayton Homes and their lending. That deep dive report with analysis is underway, but is not yet complete. It will cite the facts, evidence, and sources. Don’t be surprised if it ends up like some of the articles above, meaning, it will be hot when published and will likely stay hot for months or even years to come later. MHProNews will provide, readers like you will decide. ###
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 fromleft-of-center CNN Business – from 1.29.2024
Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes’ ‘SmartLess’ podcast is going to SiriusXM for $100 million
August 09, 2023. Locked up to prevent theft, household items at CVS Pharmacy, Queens, New York.
Everybody hates locked-up products. This company says it has a solution
What is catfishing and what can you do if you are catfished?
In this photo illustration, flames burn on a natural gas-burning stove on January 12, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Consumers and politicians have voiced concern after the commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently suggested that gas stoves were a health hazard, leading people to believe that they would be banned.
Joe Biden is not coming for your gas stove
The rising sun illuminates the Allegiant Stadium, where Super Bowl LVIII will take place, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., January 24, 2024.
This year’s Super Bowl tickets are the most expensive ever
Bill Ackman accuses Harvard of ‘election interference’ and Mark Zuckerberg wades into board battle
Roomba robot vacuums made by iRobot are displayed on a shelf at a Bed Bath and Beyond store on August 05, 2022 in Larkspur, California.
Amazon and iRobot nix deal, Roomba maker lays off a third of its staff
Detail of the Amazon Prime streaming app on the screen of an Apple iPad Mini, taken on October 6, 2021.
Why Amazon Prime video suddenly has a different look
Preparing your taxes will be less stressful if you collect all the documents you’ll need first, including the tax reporting forms sent to you electronically.
Tax season has started: 8 things to do before you file
Regulators are stepping up pressure on the use of artificial intelligence in robocalls.
House Democrats propose crackdown on fake, AI-generated robocalls
House GOP threatens Harvard with subpoena, considers expanding antisemitism investigation to Cornell and Columbia
Pro-Trump network OAN execs may have ‘engaged in criminal activities’ while promoting 2020 election lies, Smartmatic alleges
The WWE knew Vince McMahon was a liability. So why did it bring him back after his scandalous departure?
Ryanair CEO has ‘a lot of confidence’ in Boeing chief David Calhoun
Airlines add Super Bowl flights with a nod to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
The US is pulling ahead in the economic race with China
Evergrande, symbol of China’s property crisis, heads to liquidation
Toyota halts shipment of 10 models over diesel engine testing issues
Boomers are not moving out of their big homes. Here’s why
Elizabeth Warren rips Fed for fueling affordability crisis in housing, calls for rate cuts
Russia boasts it is beating sanctions, but its longer-term prospects are bleak
China limits short-selling in latest effort to stem a stock market rout
Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque makes public comments after WWE employee’s sex trafficking accusations against Vince McMahon
In instances such as Apollo, Berkshire Hathaway, Blackstone or others, manufactured housing may only be part of their corporate interests. Note: depending on your browser or device, many images in this report and others on MHProNews can be clicked to expand. Click the image and follow the prompts. For example, in some browsers/devices you click the image and select ‘open in a new window.’ After clicking that selection you click the image in the open window to expand the image to a larger size. To return to this page, use your back key, escape or 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 an outreach on Dec 7, 2o23.
