Jarrett Stepman is a columnist for The Daily Signal. While reading his fact-based op-ed, keep in mind that from the political left is a similar argument via the New York Times video op-ed by Johnny Harris. Facts and evidence merit consideration regardless of if it’s from the New York Times on the left or from the Daily Signal on the right. Stepman cited Los Angeles County “data, published March 26, shows roughly 54,000 residents left the county during” in a one-year period. Harris’ arguments were similar. “In many states — including California, New York and Illinois — Democrats control all the levers of power. They run the government. They write the laws. And as we explore in the video above, they often aren’t living up to their values. In key respects, many blue states are actually doing worse than red states. It is in the blue states where affordable housing is often hardest to find, there are some of the most acute disparities in education funding and economic inequality is increasing most quickly. Instead of asking, “What’s the matter with Kansas?” Democrats need to spend more time pondering, “What’s the matter with California?” High taxes and regulations are choking off the American Dream for those on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. Who says? Both those on the left and right who are willing to look at the pesky facts. “Facts are stubborn things.” “When the price of gas in your state is generally 50 cents [per gallon] higher than the next highest state, you know you have a problem,” writes Stepman in the op-ed found in Part I. This facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) is underway.

 

 

Part I. From the Daily Signal to MHProNews with Permission

Commentary

The California Exodus Grows as Affordability Crisis Pushes Residents Out

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Part II. Additional Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) from Sources as Shown.

In no particular order of importance are the following.

1. From the HousingWire article linked here is the following.

Per Polk County Commissioner Bill Braswell: “Affordable Housing: Why manufactured homes must be part of the solution.” “For decades, Americans have demanded a solution to the affordable housing crisis. That discussion almost always begins with the question: What is government going to do about it? My view is simple. Government is not capable of solving this problem and history proves it.”

“…Unfortunately, manufactured housing, commonly referred to as mobile homes, has been stigmatized for decades. Local governments across the country have often regulated them out of existence, based on outdated perceptions that no longer reflect reality.

Today’s manufactured homes are built to dramatically higher standards than in the past. They are safer, more energy-efficient, more storm-resistant, and far more attractive than older models. They can be installed quickly, and most importantly, they remain one of the only truly affordable paths to homeownership.”

2. It is common sense to say that inherently affordable manufactured housing is necessary in order to solve the affordable housing crisis. Given that the cost per square foot for mainstream manufactured housing can be half that of conventional site-built housing, it should be apparent that there is a need for an ‘all of the above’ sort of policy. Within the reasonable constraints of safety, let people chose site-built, prefab, modular, or manufactured housing. Where tiny houses (for example) are built to certain safety standards, let people choose that too.

 

 

3. Despite lip service from an array of sources that say they are supporting the inclusion of more manufactured housing, the reality is that zoning (first) and financing (second) barriers are so limiting manufactured housing that production has been falling. See the details linked below.

 

 

4. From a Q&A thread by MHProNews with Google’s artificial intelligence powered Gemini linked here was the following response.

 

Based on the Fact, Evidence, and Analysis (FEA) of the sources provided, including the New York Times video and The Daily Signal article, it is a factually accurate conclusion that both failed to present modern manufactured housing as the “off-the-shelf” solution to the housing affordability crisis they documented.

1. The “New York Times” (NYT) Video Analysis

• The Fact: The NYT video (previously misidentified as CNBC) explores the “California Exodus,” focusing on the departure of the middle class due to the “impossibility” of homeownership and the high cost of living.

• The Omission: The reporting emphasizes traditional barriers like high interest rates, limited inventory of site-built homes, and the proliferation of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). It does not mention modern HUD Code manufactured housing as a primary-source solution for single-family residential development.

• The Analysis: By failing to feature the price-point advantages of factory-built homes, the NYT leaves the viewer with the impression that California’s housing supply is a problem that can only be solved through density (apartments/ADUs) or by leaving the state entirely.

2. The “Daily Signal” Analysis (Right-Leaning)

• The Fact: The April 5, 2026, report attributes the exodus to “regulatory thickets,” high taxes, and a “socialist” policy tilt in Sacramento.

• The Omission: Despite its focus on deregulation, the article makes no mention of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA) or the federal enhanced preemption it provides to overcome local zoning “hurdles.”

• The Analysis: This represents a significant missed opportunity for a right-leaning outlet advocating for market-based solutions. The MHIA is an existing federal law designed to prevent the very local “regulatory obstacles” the article critiques, yet the product it protects—modern manufactured housing—is ignored.

3. The Missing Link: Federal Preemption and Duty to Serve

Neither source addresses the two most critical federal “levers” available to solve the crisis:

• Enhanced Preemption: Under the 2000 Act, HUD has the authority to preempt local zoning that excludes manufactured homes. Routine enforcement would allow these homes to be sited on land currently reserved for more expensive site-built housing.

• Duty to Serve (DTS): Neither source discusses the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to provide robust support for chattel (home-only) loans, which would make these affordable homes even more accessible to the residents fleeing the state.

Conclusion: It is accurate to state that these reports, while informative regarding the symptoms of the exodus, failed to provide a realistic, market-ready cure. By ignoring the 100-year-old manufactured housing industry and its modern federal protections, both sources inadvertently perpetuate the idea that affordable homeownership is a thing of the past in high-cost states like California.

— MHProNews notes that the PDF of the full thread, which included the above but has more, is found at this link here. The screen capture that documents Gemini confirming the accuracy of that PDF is found at this link here and is also posted below. —

5. Note that recent studies published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) demonstrates national averages reflect that manufactured housing on privately owned land has been appreciating faster than conventional ‘site built’ housing. Manufactured homes on a land-lease are appreciating slower, but are still nearly the same appreciation rate as conventional housing. Details and analysis are found below.

6. From the Q&A with Grok on much the same topic as Gemini addressed.

Yes — fresh FEA completed independently on the linked pre-publication PDF and the original sources (Daily Signal article + New York Times video op-ed).

Are the HI content and Gemini AI findings accurate? Yes. The HI query and Gemini’s analysis are factually supported and logically sound. No material errors, corrections, or clarifications are required.

Do the Daily Signal (right-leaning) or New York Times video op-ed (left-leaning) specifically mention manufactured housing as a cost-reduction option? No. Neither source mentions modern HUD-Code manufactured housing, the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA 2000) enhanced federal preemption, or enforcing preemption to overcome local zoning barriers.

• Daily Signal (April 5, 2026): Correctly reports ~54,000 residents left Los Angeles County (the nation’s most populous county) in one year due to high taxes, outrageous cost of living, regulatory thickets, and dysfunctional governance. It highlights people moving to lower-cost states but offers no housing-supply solution.
• New York Times video op-ed: Examines the California exodus driven by high housing costs, limited inventory of site-built homes, high interest rates, and the push for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). It notes affordability failures in blue states but does not reference manufactured housing or MHIA 2000 preemption.

Is it fair to say both sources failed to provide an off-the-shelf solution (modern manufactured housing)? Yes, that is fair and accurate. Both outlets document the symptoms (high taxes, regulations, cost of living driving middle-class exodus) but stop short of highlighting the most scalable, federally protected affordability tool already available: modern factory-built HUD-Code manufactured homes. Enforcing MHIA 2000’s enhanced preemption would allow these homes to be placed on land currently zoned only for site-built housing, directly addressing the supply constraints both sources describe.

Other confirmations (no corrections needed):

• The ~54,000-resident loss in Los Angeles County (July 2024–July 2025) is verified by U.S. Census Bureau data.
• UC Berkeley / California Policy Lab study (March 31, 2026) confirms high housing costs as a primary driver of out-migration, with leavers often finding far lower costs elsewhere.
• Both sources correctly note the broader pattern of residents leaving high-cost, high-regulation states for more affordable ones.

Plain-text hyperlinks (primary sources):

• Daily Signal article (April 5, 2026): https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/04/05/the-california-exodus-grows-as-affordability-crisis-pushes-residents-out/
• UC Berkeley / California Policy Lab study on cost-driven exodus: https://news.berkeley.edu/2026/03/31/high-cost-of-living-suppresses-california-population-growth-uc-berkeley-study-finds/
• U.S. Census Bureau population estimates (LA County decline): https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/2025-popest-metro-micro-counties.html
• Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (enhanced preemption authority): https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/mh/mhregs

The pre-publication draft is factually sound and ready for publication. Both the right- and left-leaning sources provide useful diagnosis of the affordability crisis but miss a proven, ready-to-scale federal solution that could be activated without new legislation.

— MHProNews notes that the PDF of the full Q&A is linked here and includes some 20 linked references not shown above. Grok confirmed the accuracy of the above via the screen capture linked here and also posted below. —

7. There is always more to know.

 

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NAMB Kimber White-‘We’re Not Putting Much into Affordable Housing Bills.’ CEI John Berlau-‘Politicians Should Oppose Socialist Ownership Limits-Embrace Free-Market.’ Sunday Headlines Recap FEA

Gemini Creates ‘Heartland Rock’ to Boost Support for American Dream and Manufactured Housing. Mark Weiss on Why Manufactured Housing Remains Suppressed – MHARR Issues and Perspectives. FEA

• Tags: California exodus 2026, New York Times California housing video, The Daily Signal housing affordability, Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, federal enhanced preemption zoning, HUD Code housing solution, affordable homeownership California, zoning reform manufactured housing, FEA MHProNews.

• AI Overview Keywords: Why are people leaving California in 2026?, Does the New York Times mention manufactured homes as a solution?, What is the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000?, How does federal preemption affect local zoning?, The Daily Signal California Exodus April 5 2026.

‘Clayton Homes Plant Closure and Manufactured Housing Market Analysis.’ Precision Building System. Oakwood Homes. Differences Between Panelized vs Manufactured Homes. Implications-Lessons-FEA

Housing Contributing to Inflation Rate which Overall is Cooling per Latest Federal Data. What Manufactured Housing Advocates and Pros Should Know. Lack of Effective MH Institute Advocacy? FEA

Gemini on the ‘8-Million-Unit Gap. How a ‘Man-Made’ Decline in Manufactured Housing Fueled America’s Affordable Housing Crisis’ Unique Artificial Intelligence Look at MHVille Performance-FEA

 

 

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