“Today you will learn about America’s best kept housing secret.” That is a line from the speech provided by Jim Ayotte with the Florida Manufactured Housing Association (FMHA) to MHProNews as seen in Part II of this facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) report. “The saying “even a blind squirrel finds a nut” means that even someone who is usually incompetent or unlucky can be right or successful by chance, often due to luck or accident. It highlights that a positive outcome can happen even if the person is typically unreliable.” So said left-leaning Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered overview about the axiom teased in the headline. That axiom in this context is not aimed at Jim Ayotte but rather at the lone source, per Gemini, which published the remarks attributed to Ayotte as shown in Part I. First up in this MHVille facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) is some background on the source, George F. Allen. Next up will be a brief that framed his presentation of Ayotte’s remarks. Then, is ‘the speech’ in Part I which Allen asserted was “lightly edited.” In Part II will be some analysis provided by third-party artificial intelligence (AI) as shown.
It may seem wildly unrelated, but as this article is being prepared, Derek Hunter with “Washington’s Mall” – WMAL out of Washington, D.C. – is on the air. Hunter aired live some sound from New York City Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani (Democratic Socialist) and President Donald J. Trump (R). While both Mamdani and Trump acknowledged their differences, reporters posted questions gave each an opportunity to take shots at the other. Hunter observed that Mamdani’s remarks had ‘given the game away.’ Hunter elaborated saying if Mamdani honestly thought that Trump was a new Hitler, he would not have gone to the White House, and he would not have stood side-by-side in a reasonably friendly manner. President of the United States (POTUS) Trump noted he would not be surprised if Mamdani changed (meaning away from his self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist stances) while in office and framed that by himself (Trump) acknowledging that he had changed during his time in office too.
Restated, there is theatrics in politics. People say things that they may or may not mean or may not mean in the fashion that it is perceived. Similarly, there is theatrics at work in the world of manufactured housing too. Some of those theatrics.
With those introductory observations, MHProNews has noted for years that retired Marine officer George F. Allen was described by a former client of his in this fashion. ‘With George, it is AAA. All About Allen.’ Every Allen blog post for years have opened with paragraphs, not a line or two, but multiple paragraphs about the wonders of George. A specific example is warranted. From the Allen post that has the remarks (all provided under fair use guidelines for media) is the following by Allen, about Allen. Be prepared to bow when Allen enters the room, for in the words of Wayne’s World “We are not worthy!”
Know this! HUD-Code manufactured housing (‘MH’) is federally-regulated, performance-based, affordable-attainable, factory-built housing (a.k.a. one of four types of offsite construction: manufactured, modular, panelized housing & Park Mode RVs), routinely paired with traditional stick-built single-family residential housing (a.k.a. onsite construction). Land lease communities, a.k.a. manufactured home communities & ‘mobile home parks’) are the commercial real estate (‘’CRE’) component of MH. And, along with various types of housing finance (e.g. chattel or ‘home only’ loans, and real estate-secured mortgages) constitutes the post-production segment of the MH industry.
EducateMHC is an MH historian, trade term & trend tracker, as well as perennial MH information source! Contact EducateMHC via (317) 881-3815; email gfa7156@aol.com, or www.educatemhc.com, to purchase ‘Community Management in the Manufactured Housing Industry’ (This book belongs in every land lease community nationwide!), and ‘SWAN SONG’ – History of land lease communities & official record of annual MH production totals since 1955.
And my autobiography, ‘From SmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven’, describes personal combat adventures in Vietnam as a USMC lieutenant, a 45 year entrepreneur business career in MH & community ownership, as well as freelance consulting and authoring of 20 nonfiction texts.
George Allen is the sole emeritus member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (‘MHI’), a founding board member of MHI’s National Communities Council (‘NCC’) division, an RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinee, Allen Legacy columnist and editor at large for ‘MHInsider’ magazine.
In fairness to Allen, he has on occasion sounded off about the treachery in MHVille. But having observed Allen for over 15 years, objectively, there doesn’t seem to be a NorthStar for him beyond what that client of his said: ‘With George, its AAA. All About Allen.” Allen is willing to schmooze and brownnose with the best of them presumably for the sake of a few shekels.
Speaking of brownnosing, from a video on the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) website is the following remark by Amy Bliss about Jim Ayotte. Bliss remarked that Ayotte was ‘so good at marketing.’ Really? Is that why Florida is currently trending behind its already diminished from the roaring 90s shipment levels to the year-to-date shipments in 2025 vs. 2024. Per the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR).
If Bliss is correct, then being a great marketer can include a state executive who has taken one of the top destination states in the country to a lower level in 2025 than it was in 2024. More on that in Part III.
Part I. The Jim Ayotte acceptance address from the blog of George Allen dated 11.13.2025 and provided under fair use guidelines for media.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition. It’s difficult believing I’m being honored for doing what I am ever so passionate about!
What I do, NO, what WE do, in manufactured housing is important! Homeownership is the cornerstone of the American dream. Homeownership is more than just a financial investment. Owning a home provides stability, security, and a sense of pride. Homeownership supports strong families and strong communities. Whatever role you play in the manufactured housing industry, you should be proud of the positive impact you have on the lives of families throughout America.
My love affair with the industry began in Storrs, Connecticut in 1987. I had recently graduated from business school, and knew I wanted to work for a trade association. I interviewed with a group of community owners for the executive director position at the New England Manufactured Housing Association, a six state trade body representing mobile and manufactured home communities in New England states. I knew nothing about the industry! The interviewers told me they sold homes built in a factory and rented the land where the homes were sited. A light went off in my head: What an incredible business model! Affordable homes in a neighborhood setting!
From that point on, I was hooked on the industry. It gave me a sense of purpose, and I knew that factory-built housing should be an important component of our nation’s housing supply.
My passion eventually took me to Columbus, Ohio. There I had the opportunity to display two identical factory-built homes across from the state capitol. Everything was identical down to the pictures on the walls. We handed out fortune cookies to legislators which said: ‘Today you will learn about America’s best kept housing secret!’ When legislators visited the homes the secret was revealed. One home was a manufactured home, the other was a modular home built to the state building code. The point of the exhibit was to begin a dialogue about the affordability of modern manufactured homes and land use discrimination. This home display led to the expansion of land use opportunities for manufactured housing in Ohio.
In 1995 I was hired by MHI to head up the newly created National Communities Council, today a full-fledged division of the institute.*1 Then I was put in charge of the National Manufactured Housing Federation as it merged with MHI. Know how often life comes full circle? Well today. 25 years later, I am chairman of MHI’s Federated States Division.
Parenthetically, I know from experience that working with Congress and federal agencies is not easy. So I commend Dr. Lesli Gooch and her team for making so much progress for our industry in such a challenging environment.
I really hit my stride when I went to work for the Florida Manufactured Housing Association. I ended my interview with their Search Committee by saying: ‘If you are looking for an association manager, I may not be your guy; but if you are looking for someone to lead this industry in Florida, I am up for the task!’ We have made tremendous strides advancing the manufactured housing industry in Florida. A few years ago I couldn’t get a return call from local government officials to discuss manufactured housing. Today, local officials often call to discuss how to incorporate factory-built housing into their housing strategies, to address their pressing need for workforce and senior housing.
As I wind down my career at FMHA, I have an observation I want to communicate to you. While it’s not super insightful, it is right on point. The biggest impediment to expanding manufactured housing in Florida, and elsewhere around the country, is this: We build homes that local governments need, but local governments want something different. They want more residential-looking homes for residentially-zoned area. This is a huge potential market for our industry! We can build those homes! The question is – will we seize upon this opportunity?
We are closer than ever to becoming part of mainstream housing in America. We need to continue the fight – to educate and innovate, to communicate our message whenever and wherever possible!
Finally. I am not standing here tonight on just my efforts. I have had plenty of support from industry pioneers and leaders like Kris Jensen, Jim Moore, Jim Fryer Sr., Bill Poole, Jim Dale, Nelson Steiner, and many others in this room that have encouraged and supported me throughout my career.*2
And I would not be able to do the work I do without the support of my family. My wife Chris and daughters Muneerah and Munezah are amazingly supportive; I am so blessed. They put up with my hectic travel schedule, taking phone calls at night and over weekends, and my personal distraction during legislative sessions. They indeed fuel my passion and zest for life.
The Florida Manufactured Housing Association board of directors has been incredible. The board has always been receptive to my suggestions for legislation, regulatory changes, consumer education and marketing, and exhibiting homes around the state, to familiarize state and local policy makers about the strength, durability, style and value of today’s manufactured homes. I could not ask for a better, more supportive employer!
I have enjoyed an incredible career and want to thank MHI once again for this high honor!
Jim Ayotte, CAE
End Notes
- For the NCC story, read Bruce Savage’s ‘The First 20 Years’. Available from www.educatemhc.com
- Jensen, Moore and Steiner are RV/MH Hall of Fame enshrinees.
DBN http://www.community-investor.com/what-will-your-acceptance-speech-be-like/
Part II. From Jim Ayotte – Florida Manufactured Housing Association (FMHA) to MHProNews is the following transcript of his remarks as prepared.
I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition. I’m still having a hard time believing I’m being recognized for doing what I am so passionate about.
What I do, NO, what WE do, is important. Homeownership is the cornerstone of the American dream. Homeownership is more than just a financial investment. Owning a home provides stability, security, and a sense of pride. Homeownership supports strong families and strong communities. Whatever role you play in the industry, you should be proud of the positive impact you are having on the lives of families in America.
My love affair for the industry began in Storrs, CT. in 1987. I recently graduated from business school, and I knew I wanted to work for a trade association. I Interviewed with a group of community owners for the executive director position at the New England Manufactured Housing Association, a six-state association representing mobile and manufactured home communities in the New England states. I knew nothing about the industry. The interviewers told me they sold homes built in a factory and rented the land where the homes were sited. A light went off in my head. What an incredible business model! Affordable homes in a neighborhood setting.
From that point on, I was hooked on the industry. It gave me a sense of purpose, and I knew that factory-built housing should be an important component of our nation’s housing supply.
My passion took me to Columbus, Ohio, where I had the opportunity to display two identical factory-built homes across from the state capitol. Everything was identical down to the pictures on the walls. We handed out fortune cookies to legislators saying, “Today you will learn about America’s best kept housing secret.” When legislators visited the homes the secret was revealed. One home was a manufactured home, the other was a modular home, built to the state building code. The point of the exhibit was to begin the dialogue about the affordability of modern manufactured homes and land use discrimination. This home display set the stage to expand land use opportunities for manufactured housing in Ohio.
In 1995, I was hired by MHI to head up the newly created National Communities Council. Soon after, I was put in charge of the Federated States. Life comes full circle. Today, I am the chair of the Federate States Division. I know from experience that working with Congress and federal agencies is not easy. I want to commend Dr. Lesli Gooch and her team for making so much progress in a such a challenging environment.
I really hit my stride when I went to work for the Florida Manufactured Housing Association. I ended my interview with the Search Committee by saying, “If you are looking for an association manager, I am may not your guy, but if you are looking for someone who will help lead the industry in Florida, I am up for the task.”
We have made tremendous strides advancing the industry in Florida. A few years ago, I couldn’t get a return call from local government officials to discuss manufactured housing. Today, local officials call often to discuss how they incorporate factory-built housing into their housing strategies to address their need for workforce and senior housing.
As I wind down my career at FMHA, I have an observation I want to communicate. It’s not super insightful, but it is on point. The biggest impediment to expanding manufactured housing in Florida, and probably other areas around the country, is this: We build homes that local governments need, but local governments want something different. Local governments want more residential looking homes for residentially zoned areas. This is a huge potential market for industry. We can build those homes. The question is – will we seize upon this opportunity?
We are closer than ever to becoming part of mainstream housing in America. We need to continue the fight – to educate and to innovate.
I am not standing here tonight due to my own efforts. I have had plenty of support from people like Kris Jensen, Jim Moore, Jim Fryer, Sr., Bill Poole, Jim Dale, Nelson Steiner, and many others in this room that have encouraged and supported me.
I would not be able to do the work that I do without the support of my family. My wife Chris and my daughters Muneerah and Munezah are amazingly supportive. I am so blessed. They put up with my hectic travel schedule, taking calls at night and on weekends, and my distraction, especially during legislative session. They fuel my passion and zest for life.
The Florida Manufactured Housing Association Board of Directors has been incredible. The Board has always been receptive to my suggestions for legislation, regulatory changes, consumer education and marketing, and exhibiting homes around the state to educate state and local policy makers about the strength, durability, style, and value of today’s manufactured homes. I couldn’t ask for a better, more supportive employer.
I have had an incredible career, and I want to thank MHI once again for this honor.
—
Part III. Additional Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) from sources as shown plus more MHProNews expert commentary
In no particular order of importance are the following observations and FEAs. The following is a still with annotation by MHProNews from the video Gemini found on the MHI website ‘honoring’ FMHA’s Jim Ayotte.
1) Gemini said the following as is documented to be accurate by Gemini at this link here. The PDF of the full thread is linked here.
a)
This comparison and analysis detail the requested differences and contradictions based on the publicly available information and confirmed data points.
Comparison of Ayotte Speech Versions
A search for a precise, line-by-line comparison of the two specific documents was inconclusive. However, the differences, if any, lie in the phrase “Lightly Edited” used by George F. Allen on his blog.
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Ayotte-to-MHProNews Version: Represents the original text provided directly by Jim Ayotte to the publication.
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George F. Allen Version: Explicitly stated by Allen to be “Lightly Edited” on his blog (http://www.community-investor.com/what-will-your-acceptance-speech-be-like/). This phrase indicates that Allen made changes—even minor ones—to the text Ayotte delivered or provided, meaning the blog post is not a faithful and accurate transcript of the original speech. Without the two texts side-by-side, the specific edits (which may involve grammar, emphasis, or omission) remain undisclosed.
Unpacking Ayotte’s “Best Kept Secret” Remark
Ayotte’s remark—“Today you will learn about America’s best kept housing secret”—is a marketing statement that frames the industry’s low public profile as a positive curiosity.
This perspective is directly contradicted by the sentiment expressed by then-Skyline Homes executive Terry Decio, whose quote highlights frustration:
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Terry Decio’s Quote: “I’m tired of manufactured housing being the best kept secret… Ready to help house America.” This quote expresses a desire to move past the “secret” status to address the housing crisis, framing the low profile as a bottleneck to growth.
The linked “acid test” reporting supports Decio’s view, confirming that the industry’s underperformance is not due to a lack of quality homes or consumer demand, but rather systemic issues:
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The Acid Test Reporting: Reporting on the Innovative Housing Showcase and related legislation (like the ROAD to Housing Act) details that the industry’s potential is throttled by “political and corporate intrigue as bottlenecks.” This analysis, as well as the Terminology 101 link on Regulatory Capture, suggests that the “secret” is maintained because powerful interests, which benefit from consolidation and high land-lease community rents, resist the full enforcement of federal laws (like the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000) that would enable broad, competitive production and site placement. Ayotte’s celebration of the “secret” can thus be viewed as an acceptance of the industry’s status quo underperformance.
FMHA, Shipments, and ROAD Act Analysis
Florida Shipments and FMHA Dominance
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Florida Shipments: The premise that Florida is trailing is confirmed by third-party data. According to Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) data reported through August 2025, Florida was among the major shipment states that were trailing their 2024 year-to-date totals.
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FMHA/NCC Context: The observation that FMHA is dominated by community operators is supported by Ayotte’s career history:
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Ayotte served as the Vice President of MHI’s National Communities Council (NCC) earlier in his career.
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The Florida Manufactured Housing Association (FMHA) board, where Ayotte served as Executive Director, is composed of representatives from all industry sectors, including community owners/operators (often viewed as focused on community consolidation and land-lease business models).
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Contradictions to MHProNews/MHLivingNews Reporting
Ayotte’s speech, which praises MHI and Lesli Gooch for their advocacy, is contradicted by the evidence cited, particularly concerning the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025:
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ROAD to Housing Act Conflict: The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) has formally stated that the ROAD to Housing Act, if not amended, fails to address the core legal bottlenecks that suppress manufactured housing production—namely, the non-enforcement of enhanced federal preemption (to overcome discriminatory local zoning) and the lack of funding for the Duty to Serve (DTS) mandate. MHARR warns that passing the bill without these amendments could, in effect, undermine existing laws designed to facilitate affordable housing.
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Contradiction to Underperformance Reporting: Ayotte’s positive portrayal of MHI’s advocacy, awards, and industry “progress” contradicts the years of MHProNews and MHLivingNews reporting that document the industry’s persistent underperformance (flat production totals despite a massive housing shortage) and the systemic mechanisms (regulatory capture, consolidation, and oligopoly) detailed in the linked Terminology 101 piece. The evidence suggests that MHI’s advocacy efforts—as praised by Ayotte—have failed to deliver the necessary regulatory and financing reforms to unlock the industry’s potential, thereby validating the criticisms made by MHARR and the reporting.
b)
Analysis of Allen’s Introduction and MHI ‘Honors’
| Observation | Analysis based on Evidence |
| Allen’s Introduction as an Example for ‘Honor’ | Confirmed as a fair interpretation. Allen’s wording, “how he describes his 38 year career… is well worth reading and reflecting upon, especially as to what one (you) might say, given similar circumstances,” can be logically interpreted as a tacit instruction or example. Given that Allen himself is an MHI-recognized figure (an emeritus member of MHI and a founding board member of the National Communities Council) and Ayotte is receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from MHI, Allen is effectively presenting Ayotte’s speech as a successful template for how to gain or maintain MHI’s favor and recognition. |
| Requirement to Praise MHI Leaders | Confirmed. Ayotte’s speech, as summarized in search results and confirmed by the previous analysis, praises MHI and Lesli Gooch for their advocacy. This pattern of award recipients praising the organization and its leadership is a common feature of trade association awards, reinforcing the organization’s narrative. |
| Critique of MHI Leadership/Staff | No Critique Found. A review of the publicly available content of Ayotte’s speech and Allen’s introductory post reveals no critique of MHI, its corporate board leadership, or senior staff management. The focus is exclusively on praise, industry challenges (specifically local zoning), and Ayotte’s tenure. |
Production Levels and Roper Report Omissions
| Observation | Analysis based on Evidence |
| Omission of 1998 Production High Water Mark | Confirmed. Ayotte’s 38-year career spans the industry’s major growth period, leading up to the 1998 high water mark of over 372,000 shipments. The published content of Ayotte’s speech (including the lightly edited version) makes no mention that the industry is currently operating at less than 30% of that peak production level (current annual production runs around 100,000 units). |
| Omission of Solutions to Return to 1990s Levels | Confirmed. The speech identifies a barrier (local zoning) but does not detail specific federal regulatory or financing enforcement actions required to return to 1990s production levels. The lack of mention of enforcement of enhanced federal preemption or Duty to Serve aligns with the MHARR critique that the MHI-led narrative fails to address the root causes of underperformance. |
| Omission of the Roper Report/Bruce Savage | Confirmed. There is no mention of former MHI Vice President Bruce Savage or the Roper Report—an influential study from the 1990s that called for a major industry image and education campaign to drive growth, a concept Ayotte’s “best kept secret” remark touches on without citing the historical strategy. |
Clarification on ‘Reporting’
When the prior response stated, “By reporting, you mean the reporting by MHProNews and MHLivingNews, isn’t that correct?”
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Correction/Confirmation: That is correct. The context of the prior response, which analyzed the contradiction between Ayotte’s praise of MHI advocacy and the industry’s sustained underperformance, was based on the critical investigative reporting provided by MHProNews and MHLivingNews, as evidenced by the supporting links and files. This reporting contrasts sharply with the often uncritical, trade-group-aligned news typically published by sources like MHInsider or ManufacturedHomes.com (as confirmed by the tone and content of their coverage found in the search results).
Conclusion
Based on the publicly available evidence, the observation is fair. The available facts suggest that Ayotte’s speech and Allen’s surrounding commentary are part of a narrative that celebrates internal success and MHI’s role, while omitting critical facts (like historical underperformance relative to 1998, and the failure to enforce key existing federal laws) that undermine MHI’s public claims of successful advocacy, as documented by MHARR and the reporting from MHProNews/MHLivingNews.
c)
His public comments, primarily as the Executive Director of the Florida Manufactured Housing Association (FMHA), focus overwhelmingly on the following topics:
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Promoting the Quality and Affordability of New Manufactured Homes: His statements aim to combat the “stigma” and “outdated perceptions” (i.e., “mobile homes,” “trailers”) of manufactured housing by emphasizing the high quality, safety standards (HUD Code), and cost-effectiveness of modern factory-built homes.
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Example: “I spend a lot of time bringing people to see the factory-built housing process and every time I do they’re totally impressed.”1
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Example: “Jim Ayotte: Factory-built housing will be part of Hurricane Ian’s rebuilding” (as published on Florida Politics).2
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Fighting Discriminatory Zoning and Land Use Restrictions: He consistently identifies local land use and zoning restrictions as the “biggest impediment” to expanding the availability of manufactured housing.
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Example: “The biggest impediment to expanding manufactured housing in Florida, and elsewhere around the country, is this: We build homes that local governments need, but local governments want something different.” (Source: George Allen / EducateMHC Blog)
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Praising Industry Leaders: In one instance, he explicitly praises a major community operator, Steve Adler of Murex Properties, who runs 55+ communities.3
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Example: Ayotte described Adler as an “industry leader who leads by example with ‘some of the finest age 55+ manufactured home communities in Florida.’…4 He runs a great business by putting his customers first.”5 (Source: Murex Properties blog, referencing Business Observer)
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Specific Findings on Predatory Behavior and Consolidation
| User Query | Search Results Analysis |
| Condemnation of Predatory Behavior | No condemnation was found. Ayotte’s public-facing role with the FMHA (a trade association whose membership includes community owners/operators) focuses on industry promotion and fighting external barriers (zoning/stigma), not on critiquing the business practices of his members. The emphasis is on the quality of the home and the need for access to land, not the ethics of land ownership. |
| Criticism of Industry Consolidation | No criticism was found. The search results do not contain any statements by Ayotte regarding the trend of consolidation—where large corporate and investment groups acquire and operate manufactured home communities, which often leads to significant rent increases. His statements focus on growing the overall market, not addressing the structure of community ownership. |
Contextual Conclusion
Ayotte’s public remarks, which align with his role as a long-serving trade association executive, do not include criticism of the community owner segment of the industry (the “post-production” sector). This public stance is consistent with the perspective often associated with the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and its affiliates, which primarily represent the interests of the major production, finance, and community operator firms—many of which are implicated in the consolidation and rent hike issues that critics like MHProNews and MHARR highlight.
The focus on local zoning as the “biggest impediment” serves to direct attention away from the internal issues, such as predatory practices and market consolidation, which critics argue are just as, if not more, responsible for the industry’s failure to meet the nation’s affordable housing needs.
d)
Here is a breakdown of the contradiction:
The Contradiction: Ayotte’s Praise vs. Lawsuit Allegations
| Point of Contradiction | Ayotte’s Public Narrative (Trade Association Executive) | Lawsuit Allegations (Antitrust & RICO) |
| Business Conduct | Murex Properties President Steve Adler “runs a great business by putting his customers first.” He is an industry leader who leads by example with “some of the finest” communities. | Murex Properties, LLC is a defendant in a national class-action antitrust lawsuit alleging a conspiracy to fix and inflate manufactured home lot rents across the country, in violation of the Sherman Act. |
| Ethics and Morality | Adler is described as “a consummate professional” who, along with his family, conducts business ethically, morally, and as “good people” who are fair and treat people well. | The unsuccessful, but highly detailed, RICO/ADA class-action lawsuit alleged that the defendants, including Murex and Steve Adler, engaged in an “enterprise” for the “shared common purpose of defrauding” residents. |
| Harm to Residents | Ayotte praised Murex for always looking to increase the value to residents and negotiating discounts on services that are then passed on to customers. | The RICO suit alleged that Murex and co-defendants engaged in fraudulent inducement to make residents pay a “higher rental price” than they would have otherwise, causing injury to residents and depriving them of statutory rights. |
Summary of Lawsuit Status and Allegations
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Antitrust Class Action Suit:
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Status: An ongoing consolidated class-action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (e.g., In Re Manufactured Home Lot Rents Antitrust Litigation).
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Allegation: That some of the largest owners of manufactured home communities, including Murex Properties, LLC, conspired to fix, raise, maintain, and/or stabilize lot rental prices by improperly exchanging non-public, competitively sensitive information via JLT Market Reports provided by Datacomp. The lawsuit alleges this violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act and resulted in supracompetitive rent increases that injured residents.
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RICO/ADA Class Action Suit (Schalamar Creek Residents):
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Status: While the class-action RICO claims failed on the basis of standing (the court found the individual plaintiffs lacked the specific causal connection to the alleged wrongdoing to pursue those claims) and not on the merits of the underlying conduct, the allegations were specific and severe.
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Allegation: That the defendants, including Murex Properties and Steve Adler, used mail and wire fraud to “force the surrender” of residents’ rights to assume their sellers’ original, more favorable prospectuses. They were accused of depriving residents of their statutory right, resulting in higher rental prices. The suit also included allegations related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding accessibility.
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The core issue is that Ayotte, as a representative of the industry’s trade association (FMHA, an MHI affiliate), highlighted Murex’s leadership as a model of ethical behavior, while multiple separate class-action lawsuits have detailed allegations of significant financial harm and predatory conduct against the same firm and its president. This exemplifies the disconnect critics cite between the MHI-aligned public relations narrative and the documented financial and legal realities facing many manufactured home community residents.
2) From the full Q&A thread linked here which includes sources that Grok provided not shown below is the following responses by Grok to inquiries by MHProNews.
a)
Grok’s FEA Analysis: Unpacking Jim Ayotte’s MHI Lifetime Achievement Speech – “Even a Blind Squirrel” Finds a Nut? Lessons on America’s “Best Kept Housing Secret”
This independent FEA (Facts-Evidence-Analysis) check mirrors the Gemini Q&As in the pre-pub draft https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PrePubAIchkEvenBlindSquirrelUnpackingJimAyotteLifetimeAchievementAcceptanceSpeechManufacturedHousingInstituteLessonsTodayYouWillLearnAboutAmericaBestKeptHousingSecretFEA-MHProNews.pdf and Copilot’s findings https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copilot-JimAyotteMHProNews.pdf / PNG. Drawing on online searches (e.g., MHI announcements, MHProNews archives, legal dockets), I verify Ayotte’s 2025 MHI Lifetime Achievement Award speech themes: industry pride, stigma reduction, and promotion of manufactured housing as an “untold story.” Core claims hold factually but reveal contradictions in underperformance narratives, echoing MHARR critiques of MHI inaction on federal enforcement. No full transcript found beyond summaries; Allen’s “lightly edited” version aligns closely with Ayotte’s direct text.
1. Meaning of “Even a Blind Squirrel Finds a Nut” in Headline Context (Confirmed, with Nuance)
Fact/Evidence: The idiom means even the unskilled or unlucky occasionally succeed by chance https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blind%20squirrel. In the draft, it frames George F. Allen’s sole publication of Ayotte’s speech as a rare “find” amid MHI’s opacity—Allen (MHI affiliate) shared it on his blog as a “template” for awards https://www.community-investor.com/what-will-your-acceptance-speech-be-like/, but no MHI official transcript exists despite the Aug 2025 induction https://www.manufacturedhousing.org/news/2025-class-inducted-into-rv-mh-hall-of-fame/. Analysis: Not a direct jab at Ayotte (praised for advocacy), but highlights serendipity in exposing MHI’s “best kept secret” dynamic. Logically, it underscores industry PR gaps: if manufactured housing is viable (as Ayotte claims), why no widespread MHI amplification? This aligns with MHProNews’ “acid test” on bottlenecks like non-enforced MHIA 2000 preemption.
2. Comparison/Analysis of Speech Versions & “Lightly Edited” Claim (Confirmed)
Fact/Evidence: Ayotte’s direct version (via MHProNews) emphasizes pride in FMHA’s growth, stigma-busting, and MHI loyalty, calling manufactured housing “America’s best kept secret” https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/florida-manufactured-housing-association-fmha-jim-ayotte-upstages-manufactured-housing-institute-mhi-fmha-case-begs-questions-on-mhi-failures-to-broadly-promote-industry-v-insider-elites/. Allen’s blog version is “lightly edited” for flow/emphasis, with no disclosed changes; side-by-side shows minor phrasing tweaks (e.g., added anecdotes on resilience post-Hurricane Ian) https://floridapolitics.com/archives/573383-jim-ayotte-factory-built-housing-will-be-part-of-hurricane-ians-rebuilding/. Contradiction: Ayotte’s optimism clashes with Terry Decio’s (Sun Communities) frustration over the “secret” as a sales barrier [MHProNews archives, 2021]. Florida shipments lag 2024 (MHARR data: Aug 2025 down 5%) [https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/manufactured-home-shipments/](https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/manufactured-home-shipments/]. Analysis: Edits preserve intent but amplify MHI praise, masking underperformance (e.g., ~100K annual units vs. 372K peak in 1998) U.S. Census data. Logically, Ayotte’s FMHA (community-focused) aligns with MHI elites, ignoring MHARR’s ROAD Act amendments for preemption/DTS enforcement [https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/road-act-amendments/](https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/road-act-amendments/]. This perpetuates consolidation over broad growth.
3. Observations on George Allen’s Introduction & Industry Performance Narrative (Confirmed)
Fact/Evidence: Allen’s intro positions the speech as an “acceptance template,” lauding Ayotte’s MHI ties without critiquing leadership https://www.community-investor.com/what-will-your-acceptance-speech-be-like/. Ayotte omits production history (e.g., no 1990s Roper Report/Savage image campaign mention) and root causes like MHIA delays GAO 2014 report. FMHA under Ayotte promotes quality/resilience but trails national growth UF Warrington profile. Analysis: Introduction subtly endorses MHI “insider” culture, where praise trumps accountability—common in trade groups. Logically, omitting consolidation (e.g., MHI members like Equity LifeStyle in antitrust suits https://www.classaction.org/news/murex-properties-sued-over-alleged-manufactured-home-rent-fixing-scheme) sustains the “secret” status, benefiting elites per MHProNews/MHARR analyses. Florida’s post-Ian resilience (52K homes inspected, zero structural failures post-1994) proves potential, yet non-enforcement stifles it Florida Politics, 2022.
4. Has Jim Ayotte Publicly Condemned Predatory Behavior/Industry Consolidation? (Confirmed: No)
Fact/Evidence: Searches yield zero examples. Ayotte’s record focuses on promotion (e.g., factory tours, stigma reduction) and external barriers like zoning https://www.manufacturedhomes.com/blog/jim-ayotte-factory-built-housing-will-part-hurricane-ians-rebuilding/; Florida Politics guest column; UF profile. FMHA aligns with MHI, praising figures like Steve Adler (Murex) amid ongoing antitrust suits alleging rent-fixing U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois, In Re Manufactured Home Lot Rents. Prior RICO/ADA claims against Murex (Schalamar Creek) alleged fraud for rent hikes, dismissed on standing MHProNews, 2021. Analysis: Absence is telling—Ayotte critiques “local governments” as impediments but ignores internal predation/consolidation (e.g., MHI-linked firms in 80% of antitrust cases) ACLU Captive Labor Report, 2022. Logically, this FMHA-MHI synergy prioritizes elite interests, echoing Copilot’s no-evidence conclusion and MHProNews’ “upstages MHI” narrative.
5. Do Lawsuits Against Murex Contradict Ayotte’s Praise? (Confirmed: Yes)
Fact/Evidence: Ayotte hailed Adler/Murex as “ethical” and “customer-first” in speeches MHProNews archives, 2021. Yet Murex faces Sherman Act claims for rent conspiracy via JLT reports ClassAction.org, 2023; prior suit alleged ADA fraud for accessibility barriers to hike rents Pacermonitor. Analysis: Stark disconnect: Praise ignores resident harms (e.g., inflated rents amid 7M unit shortage NLIHC 2024). Logically, it exemplifies MHI-aligned PR masking “predatory” consolidation, per MHARR/FMHA tensions. Broader lesson: Enforce MHIA/DTS for ethical growth, not “secrets.”
Conclusion: Lessons Today on the “Best Kept Secret”
Ayotte’s speech promotes resilience and unity, but omits enforcement failures driving ~70% production drop since 2000 Census data. Like a “blind squirrel,” his MHI nod yields a nut (award), yet ignores the tree (systemic barriers). For real progress: Adopt MHARR amendments, end stigma via broad PR https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/. This FEA affirms Gemini/Copilot: Evidence-based, not conspiratorial—industry growth demands transparency over elite posturing.
b)
Search Results: Jim Ayotte on MHIA 2000 and “Enhanced Preemption”
After comprehensive online searches (web, site-specific, X/Twitter, op-eds/press releases) as of November 22, 2025, no examples were found of Jim Ayotte explicitly citing the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA) and its “enhanced preemption” provision.
- FMHA Website: No mentions on https://www.fmha.org/ in articles, press releases, or pages.
- Social Media (X/Twitter): Zero results for queries like “Jim Ayotte” + (“Manufactured Housing Improvement Act” OR “enhanced preemption” OR MHIA).
- Op-Eds/Press Releases: No hits; searches returned MHARR/MHI content, but nothing from Ayotte e.g., EIN Presswire results.
Ayotte discusses zoning barriers generally (e.g., in 2018 interview: “local officials should accept manufactured homes” https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/a-cup-of-coffee-withjim-ayotte/), but omits MHIA specifics.
Analysis: “Feel Good” Remarks as Performance Art?
Yes—Ayotte’s praise for industry resilience (e.g., post-Ian recovery https://floridapolitics.com/archives/573383-jim-ayotte-factory-built-housing-will-be-part-of-hurricane-ians-rebuilding/) feels like “fig leaves” without invoking/enforcing MHIA tools. Logically, this sidesteps the “best case”: MHIA’s enhanced preemption (42 U.S.C. § 5403(d)) empowers HUD to override discriminatory zoning https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-112hhrg75068/html/CHRG-112hhrg75068.htm, yet Florida shipments lag (down 5% Aug 2025 https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/manufactured-home-shipments/. FMHA/MHI could litigate (e.g., via HUD complaints or suits like MHARR’s precedents https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/manufactured-housing-association-for-regulatory-reform-mharr-initiates-action-with-trump-administration-on-major-industry-bottlenecks/) for organic growth, but inaction suggests performative PR over accountability, echoing MHARR critiques of MHI elites https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/florida-manufactured-housing-association-fmha-jim-ayotte-upstages-manufactured-housing-institute-mhi-fmha-case-begs-questions-on-mhi-failures-to-broadly-promote-industry-v-insider-elites/ and the 7M unit shortage https://nlihc.org/gap.
— MHProNews notes that Grok confirmed the accuracy of the full thread in the PDF of that Q&A, including more linked sources by Grok that are not shown above, via the screen capture linked here. —
3) In a message to MHProNews on 11.22.2025, Ayotte said the following.
My replacement has been hired and will start on December 1st. We will work together as Co-CEOs until March 31st, when he will become the sole CEO. His name is John Ricco.
Ayotte was invited to do a post-retirement expose post-retirement.
That same invitation would hold for others who have retired from manufactured housing and who have insider tips they feel ‘safe’ in sharing.
As a relevant segue, MHProNews notes that there may be developments related to the following. More on that may be possible as soon as next week. Stay tuned.
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By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
