{"id":50283,"date":"2026-05-15T10:20:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T07:20:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/opinion-this-time-its-different-u-s-of-ameregcorp-aarp-ummc-mhi-mharr-congress-and-manufactured-homes\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T10:20:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T07:20:38","slug":"opinion-this-time-its-different-u-s-of-ameregcorp-aarp-ummc-mhi-mharr-congress-and-manufactured-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/en\/opinion-this-time-its-different-u-s-of-ameregcorp-aarp-ummc-mhi-mharr-congress-and-manufactured-homes\/","title":{"rendered":"Opinion: \u2018This time it\u2019s different.\u2019 U.S. of AmeRegCorp. AARP. UMMC. MHI. MHARR. Congress and manufactured homes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Per the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) website<\/a>: \u201cMBA issued a Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA) Call to Action urging members to contact their U.S. Representative to ensure\u2026troubling provisions within the Senate-passed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act are fixed as the House prepares its response.\u201d A survey of quotes from various sources revealed tensions among various interest groups with the emerging bill. The National Association of Home Builders<\/a> (NAHB) and the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform<\/a> (MHARR) are among those pushing changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the core of the issues for several groups is the question: Would the legislation deliver on its promise of increasing production of affordable housing<\/a>?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The iron triangle and perverse incentives<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the backdrop is this: researchers<\/a> have explored \u2018perverse incentives<\/a>\u2019 leading organizations or politicians to prioritize maintenance<\/em> of a problem over the solution<\/em>. <\/p>\n

While that iron triangle of perverse incentives operates under numerous terms, per Gemini: \u201cAmeRegCorp (n.):<\/strong> The symbiotic consolidation of American regulatory agencies and dominant corporate entities, resulting in a market structure that favors established players while suppressing independent competition through legislative and financial bottlenecks<\/em>.\u201d <\/p>\n

Some supporters claiming solutions from the emerging bill may have \u2018perverse incentives\u2019 for maintaining the status quo while posturing as the \u2018champions of change.\u2019<\/p>\n

Recall HUD\u2019s Pamela Blumenthal and Regina Gray<\/a> said: \u201cWithout significant new supply, cost burdens are likely to increase as current home prices reach all-time highs\u2026\u201d and \u201cThe regulatory environment \u2014 federal, state, and local \u2014 that contributes to the extensive mismatch between supply and need has worsened over time. Federally sponsored commissions, task forces, and councils under both Democratic and Republican administrations have examined the effects of land use regulations on affordable housing for more than 50 years<\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Perverse incentives<\/a> and the fingerprints of the Iron Triangle or AmeRegCorp <\/strong>are in evidence.<\/p>\n

Key takeaways and ideas on affordable housing solutions<\/h2>\n

Without millions more inherently affordable homes<\/a>, there is no solution to the affordable housing<\/a> crisis.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuild, Baby, Build.\u201d Millions of new homes are needed. Conventional site-built, multi-family housing, tiny houses, modular, prefab and the most proven affordable housing in U.S. history, HUD Code manufactured homes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

HUD\u2019s Regina Gray<\/a>: \u201cOperation Breakthrough\u2019s biggest accomplishment\u2026was the adoption of the HUD Code, which introduced the industry and the world to manufactured housing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Per the National Association of Realtors<\/a> (NAR), LendingTree<\/a>, Urban Institute<\/a>, FHFA<\/a> and HUD<\/a>, manufactured housing is appreciating at a similar or faster pace than conventional site-built housing.<\/p>\n

Scholastica \u201cGay\u201d Cororaton in \u201cThe Market for Manufactured Homes\u201d via \u201cThe Journal for the Center of Real Estate Studies\u201d (starting at page 48) included g<\/span>raphics showing\u00a0that manufactured homes<\/a>\u00a0have similar or lower payments than renting single-family or multi-family housing.<\/p>\n

Example 1 of legislative disconnects: Patrice Onwuka<\/h2>\n

Patrice Onwuka<\/strong> shared her ideas in the Washington Examiner op-ed titled \u201cReclaiming affordability: A housing agenda that will move women forward<\/a>.\u201d Here are takeaways from her article:<\/p>\n

\u201cAll issues are women\u2019s issues, but no issue is more important today to the largest voting bloc <\/a>than housing. Women want affordable housing..<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen today feel deep pessimism about their financial future. According to a New York Times poll in early 2026, shelter costs ranked as most concerning for women, followed by healthcare. Nearly six out of 10 women characterized the cost of housing as completely unaffordable, outpacing men by a 10-point margin.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did we get here? Housing unaffordability is driven by an inadequate supply<\/a> to meet growing demand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt every level of government, restrictive zoning and land-use laws<\/a>, opaque and arbitrary (even biased) permitting processes, and environmental laws and mandates pose major impediments to building more homes in America.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s well supported. Onwuka\u2019s disconnect?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ROAD to Housing Act<\/a>, passed by the U.S. Senate last week, and the House\u2019s version, are just the kind of packaged reforms that can spur the development of single-family and multi-family homes.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s Onwuka\u2019s \u2018non sequitur<\/strong>.\u2019 Myth #5 from the Senate brief stated the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will not preempt local zoning<\/a>. Onwuka and others made the case for change<\/em> but missed the key: failure to preempt local zoning.<\/p>\n

Example 2 of legislative disconnects: Shelterforce<\/h2>\n

Shelterforce <\/strong><\/a>spotlighted members of the Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition<\/a> (UMMC). Recall the UMMC addressed<\/a> Biden-Harris (D) era FHFA Acting Director Sandra Thompson:<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026we believe these three-year plans do not fully articulate a strategic vision for meeting the spirit or the letter of the Duty to Serve Regulation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026they [GSEs] inappropriately\u2026drop highly touted and much needed programs such as purchasing manufactured housing loans titled as personal property without explanation\u2026and\u2026propose to reduce loan purchase targets for all three target areas\u2014manufactured housing, affordable housing preservation, and rural housing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Steve Dubb\u2019s article for Shelterforce proclaimed: \u201cThe Federal Housing Bill: \u2018A Bunch of Tweaks, But Good Ones<\/a>.\u201d But weeks later, per Shelterforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can housing advocates and leaders hold the feet of Freddie and Fannie to the fire, and what can policymakers do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe federal government didn\u2019t want to give Fannie Mae<\/a> monopoly power in that realm, and so they created Freddie Mac,<\/a> basically, as competition\u2014[or] at least the illusion of competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other thing I would say is there was another question about what happens if the GSE<\/a>s come out of conservatorship. I think that would only make home loans more expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a mystery to me, especially given that the duty-to-serve requirements require that they actually serve the manufactured housing space.\u201d<\/p>\n

For discussion, accepting at face value statements from \u201cthree expert panelists. George McCarthy, CEO of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Sara Morgan, president of Fahe, community development financial institution. Tony Pickett, CEO of Grounded Solutions Network, a national group\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Without fixing finance and zoning, these are disconnects. UMMC should support MHARR\u2019s proposed amendments<\/span> if they want authentic change.<\/p>\n

Example 3 of legislative disconnects: MHI, AARP and others<\/h2>\n

The Manufactured Housing Institute<\/a>, AARP<\/a> or others supporting proposed legislation without the MHARR amendments on zoning and finance are making similar mistakes.<\/p>\n

Comparison of Housing Legislation Approaches<\/strong><\/p>\n

Feature<\/strong>Pending \u201cROAD\u201d Act (Unamended)<\/strong>MHARR Proposed Amendments<\/strong>Zoning<\/strong>Defers to local authorityEnforce Federal Enhanced Preemption under the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000<\/strong>Financing<\/strong>\u201cTweaks\u201d to existing programsMandatory Chattel Lending<\/strong> under the Duty to Serve (DTS) enacted by HERA 2008Market Impact<\/strong>Incremental \u201ctweaks\u201dStructural supply-side expansion is the only proven solution that supplies millions of federally regulated, safety-energy-affordability-structural standards \u2013 inherently affordable manufactured homesFocus<\/strong>Posturing\/Status QuoResolution of production barriers<\/p>\n

Per Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cAmericans\u2026demanded a solution to the affordable housing crisis\u2026What is government going to do about it? My view is simple. Government is not capable of solving this problem and history proves it.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2026Unfortunately, manufactured housing, commonly referred to as mobile homes, has been stigmatized for decades. Local governments across the country have\u2026regulated them out of existence, based on outdated perceptions\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s manufactured homes are built to dramatically higher standards\u2026They are safer, more energy-efficient, more storm-resistant, and far more attractive than older models. They\u2026remain one of the only truly affordable paths to <\/em>homeownership<\/em><\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Time for action: Enforcing existing housing laws<\/h2>\n

On paper, Shelterforce, UMMC, MHI, AARP, Onwuka, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHFA, and HUD tipped their hats in favor of more manufactured homes<\/a> as a key part of the solution to the affordable housing crisis. Our industry-leading platforms have been \u2018fisking\u2019 or doing fact-evidence-analysis (FEA) checks for years, before and since the rise of artificial intelligence (AI<\/a>). More on these organizations, people and topics are documented there.<\/p>\n

These examples beg the question. Why hasn\u2019t Congress or the White House mandated enforcement of existing laws that have been ignored or twisted?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s make this bill different. Lawmakers, fix the affordable housing production problem.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0L. A. \u201cTony\u201d Kovach<\/em><\/a> is the co-founder and publisher of ManufacturedHomeProNews.com and ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of HousingWire\u2019s editorial department and its owners. To contact the editor responsible for this piece: zeb@hwmedia.com.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Per the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) website: \u201cMBA issued a Mortgage Action Alliance (MAA) Call to Action urging members to contact their U.S. Representative to ensure\u2026troubling provisions within the Senate-passed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act are fixed as the House prepares its response.\u201d A survey of quotes from various sources revealed tensions among various…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50283"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50283"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50283\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mk.gen.tr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}