It is useful to like or love what you do. Even if some aspects of something that you like or love are difficult, problematic, or challenging, the overall interest or professional satisfaction makes the harder times easier, right?
Manufactured housing is something I've been "passionate" about since the early 1980s, as the now late Jan Hollingsworth, an award winning journalist, indicated in a report she did for 83 Degrees. More on that in Part II and Part III. But next up is the press release from the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) that provided the latest official manufactured home production data for July 2025.
Part I
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: MHARR
(202) 783-4087
MANUFACTURED HOUSING PRODUCTION RISES IN JULY 2025
Washington, D.C., August 4, 2025 – The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) reports that according to official statistics compiled on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HUD Code manufactured housing industry year-over-year production increased in July 2025. Just-released statistics indicate that HUD Code manufacturers produced 8,299 new homes in July 2025, a 5.1% increase over the 7,896 new HUD Code homes produced in July 2024. Cumulative production for 2025 now totals 62,053 new HUD Code homes, as compared with 59,061 over the same period in 2024, a 5.0% increase.
A further analysis of the official industry statistics shows that the top ten shipment states from January 2023 — with monthly, cumulative, current reporting year (2025) and prior year (2024) shipments per category as indicated — are:
The July 2025 statistics result in no changes to the cumulative top-ten list.
The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform is a Washington, D.C.- based national trade association representing the views and interests of independent producers of federally-regulated manufactured housing.
— 30 —
MHARR’s monthly production report is available for re-publication in full (i.e., without alteration or substantive modification) without further permission and with proper attribution and/or linkback to MHARR.
Part II - A summary from of an article written by yours truly, but was fact checked by three different 3rd party AI systems which are included in the report for accuracy . The following summary was generated by Grok which it also confirmed as factually accurate. Hot links are added by this writer and some minor edits were performed for enhanced precision.
The manufactured housing industry, a critical provider of affordable homes for millions of Americans, continues to face significant challenges despite its potential to address the U.S. housing shortage. A recent article from Manufactured Home Pro News (MHProNews), titled “Facts, Facts, Facts! Hit Them with Facts – July 2025 MH Production Data, 21st CEO Tim Williams Invite to MHProNews, Historic Manufactured Housing Institute Statements, Omissions, Trend,” delves into the industry’s struggles, offering a data-driven analysis of production trends, critiques of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), and insights from artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including Grok from xAI. This article explores key points from the MHProNews report, highlighting the industry’s underperformance, allegations of mismanagement, and the role of AI in uncovering these issues.
According to the MHProNews article, July 2025 data from the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) and the U.S. Census Bureau shows manufactured housing production at 9,281 units, a modest increase from earlier 2025 figures but still significantly below historical peaks. In 1998, the industry produced over 373,143 homes annually, compared to just 103,314 units in 2024, despite a growing U.S. population and an ongoing affordable housing crisis. The article cites a 2022 study noting that 85% of manufactured home residents are satisfied with their homes, with 70% choosing them for affordability and 53% for energy efficiency, underscoring their appeal as a cost-effective housing solution.
Yet, the industry’s production remains stagnant.
The MHProNews report argues that this underperformance is not due to lack of demand but rather to systemic barriers, including regulatory hurdles and limited access to financing. The average cost of a new manufactured home in 2024 was $109,400, significantly lower than site-built homes, yet production lags behind conventional housing, which saw 4.03 million existing-home sales (SAAR) in May 2025, per the National Association of Realtors.
The MHProNews article sharply criticizes the MHI, the industry’s primary national trade organization, for failing to deliver on its advocacy promises. MHI claims to represent all segments of the factory-built housing industry, yet the article points to a pattern of “omissions, paltering, and posturing” that has allegedly undermined the industry’s growth. For instance, MHI’s historical statements, such as former President and CEO Richard "Dick" Jennison's claim that 500,000 annual home shipments were achievable, contrast starkly with current production levels.
A significant point of contention is MHI’s handling of financing issues.
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 mandated that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac support manufactured housing loans under the Duty to Serve (DTS) provision, but MHI has been criticized for not pushing for robust chattel (personal property) loan programs.
The article references a 2009 letter from Tim Williams, CEO of 21st Mortgage Corporation (a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary), which cut off lending to independent retailers not selling Clayton Homes, an action described as a potential antitrust violation by legal researcher Samuel Strommen. This move, apparently tacitly supported by MHI, contributed to the closure of thousands of independent retailers and scores of production centers, reducing competition and industry capacity.
Linked references provided by MHProNews also highlights MHI’s questionable data practices. For example, MHI’s National Communities Council (NCC) reported 38,000 manufactured home communities, while other estimates ranged from 44,000 to 50,000, revealing inconsistencies that affect investor confidence and financing.
Critics, including former MHI Vice President Danny Ghorbani, argue that MHI’s advocacy lacks tangible results, focusing on “photo ops” and newsletters rather than addressing zoning and financing barriers.
MHProNews employed AI tools, including Grok from xAI, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot, to fact-check and analyze the article’s claims.
Grok, designed to provide truthful and unbiased responses, reportedly confirmed the factual accuracy of the draft, supported by screen captures and documents linked in the article.
Other AIs, such as Gemini, have been cited in prior MHProNews reports for acknowledging concerns about industry consolidation and regulatory capture. The use of AI underscores a growing trend in journalism to leverage technology for data validation and critical analysis.
For instance, the article cites my (Grok’s) role in reviewing production data and MHI’s historical statements, ensuring claims are grounded in evidence. This hybrid journalism approach, combining human expertise with AI analysis, has helped MHProNews maintain its position as the leading trade media platform in the industry, with 1.53 million page views in November 2024, far surpassing MHI’s 13,827 page views.
The MHProNews article raises serious allegations of industry consolidation, often termed “Claytonization” due to the influence of Clayton Homes (BRK) and its parent company, Berkshire Hathaway.
Kevin Clayton, in an interview pubblished by MHProNews, described a “moat” strategy taught by Warren Buffett, involving control of financing through subsidiaries like 21st Mortgage and Vanderbilt Mortgage. This strategy, critics argue, has led to a monopolistic environment, reducing competition and harming independent retailers and producers.
The article links/cites the late Sam Zell, a prominent real estate investor, who praised the industry’s oligopolistic structure, suggesting intent to limit competition. Such practices have economic implications, with Cavco Industries (CVCO) estimating a $2 trillion annual impact on the U.S. economy due to housing shortages, a figure MHProNews argues implicates major players in potential liability.
Despite these challenges, manufactured housing remains a vital solution to the housing crisis. The Pew Charitable Trusts notes that removing barriers to manufactured housing could provide millions with affordable homeownership, with quicker build times and lower costs compared to site-built homes. However, zoning restrictions, discriminatory regulations, and limited financing options continue to hinder growth.
The Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, intended to enhance preemption for manufactured homes, has not been fully or routinely enforced, further stifling the industry.
MHProNews has also highlighted the investment appeal of manufactured home communities (MHCs), particularly in Sun Belt states like Florida and Texas, driven by affordability and demand for senior housing. But as MHLivingNews has reported, several consolidation focused community operators - often members of MHI - have been hit by antitrust suits and claims of "predatory" business practices. Yet MHI has apparently not enforced its own "Code of Ethical Conduct" against members who have sparked numerous reports in mainstream media for problematic business practices protested by their residents.
Indeed, some MHI members have been inducted into the RV MH Hall of Fame despite having antitrust litigation or other litigation filed against them by attorneys acting on behalf of residents. Some of those "awards" given to MHI members appear to be a kind of smokescreen to make companies that may have hundreds of poor reviews with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and/or an F rating with that organization. Two such examples are Steve Schaub with YES! Communities and Nathan Smith with Flagship Communities.
https://www.manufacturedhomepr...
https://www.manufacturedhomepr...
The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR), a smaller trade group focused on producers, has called for investigations into MHI’s practices and stronger enforcement of existing laws. MHARR has met with Trump Administration officials in an effort to get good existing laws enforced.
MHProNews advocates for industry reforms to address these systemic issues, urging stakeholders to demand accountability from MHI and major players.
https://manufacturedhousingass...
https://manufacturedhousingass...
But so far, there has been no apparent change in HUD or FHFA policy as result of those meetings by MHARR with high ranking federal officials.
For a deeper dive into the data, AI analyses, and linked documents, read the full article on MHProNews: Facts, Facts, Facts! Hit Them with Facts – July 2025 MH Production Data, 21st CEO Tim Williams Invite to MHProNews, Historic Manufactured Housing Institute Statements, Omissions, Trend$.
The manufactured housing industry stands at a crossroads, with immense potential to address America’s housing needs but hindered by internal and external barriers. The MHProNews article, backed by AI-driven fact-checking and extensive documentation, exposes critical issues that demand attention from professionals, investors, and policymakers. As the industry navigates these challenges, platforms like MHProNews continue to provide essential insights, ensuring that facts drive the conversation toward a more robust and equitable housing market.
https://www.manufacturedhomepr...
There is always more to know. MHProNews produces the documented most factually accurate articles in the history of the manufactured housing industry in the 21st century. That is why public officials, investors, industry professionals, affordable housing advocates and others are regular readers.
A variety of other subjects follow. Dig into some of those other thought provoking items from this "Reality Check" series for this Patch and in our deeper dive reports on MHProNews and MHLivingNews. Thanks as always for checking in.
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(Note MHARR is short for the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform.)
'Restoring and Expanding Affordable Housing Role of Manufactured Homes'–MHARR Letter Cites 2000 Reform Act, "Enhanced Preemption" Much More...https://patch.com/florida/lake...
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L. A. “Tony” Kovach is a publisher who has earned multiple awards in history. He and his family live in a manufactured home on private property in Winter Haven, FL. He is the co-founder of Manufactured Home Living News.com (MHLivingNews.com) and Manufactured Home Pro News.com (MHProNews.com), trade publications serving segments of the manufactured home industry. Having worked in several segments of the manufactured home industry for over 3 decades, Kovach is a widely acknowledged and often praised expert on manufactured housing.
According to scores of industry pros and three different AI fact-checks, Kovach is the most prolific, most rigorous, most factually accurate-document rich research-reporter on manufactured housing industry issues in the 21st century. But I do get fat finger typos. Please pardon those when you find them. ###
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