Manufactured Housing Production and Shipment Data for all 50 States plus Washington D.C. Facts-Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). More Facts ROAD Act Backers Must Consider Others Missed. FEA
The Institute for Building Technology & Safety (IBTS) and HUD came under fire last month from the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) for the “Publication of Pseudo-Regulatory Monitoring Contractor “Handbook.” IBTS is the contractor responsible for gathering the production and shipment data for every HUD Code manufactured home on behalf of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Because several “states have fewer than three plants” the IBTS summary data provided in Part I “figures are aggregated on first line above totals to protect proprietary information.” Part II of this MHVille facts-evidence-analysis provides a different IBTS report provided to MHProNews that covers the shipments into the 50 states for the period January through June 2025. Part III provides an array of additional information from sources as shown to round out a fact- and evidence-packed report with industry expert plus third-party analyses. Among the facts unearthed in Part III is data that is not routinely found in mainstream media reports. As a result, the public as well as public officials may not be aware of a critical factor in the affordable housing crisis.
3) According to NPR affiliated WGLT on 11.16.2025 is the following.
Since the 1990s, more manufactured home parks have closed than opened, limiting options and empowering park owners to increase rent as much as possible, said Dave Anderson, executive director of the National Manufactured Home Owners Association.
“In almost every market, there’s nothing that keeps you from doing that. Maximize your profits. If you want to close down [park] amenities or reduce the amount of reinvestment you put into the property, there’s almost nothing that holds your feet to the fire,” he said.
4) While there are arguably certain issues with that NPR affiliated WGLT article that may be addressed in an upcoming report, that statement by Dave Anderson is generally supported by other sources.
George McCarthy with the Lincoln Institute said in the article below that “based on new FEMA data, there are 50,393 MHCs in the US.” So, McCarthy citing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) there are 50,393 land-lease manufactured home communities (MHCs).
6) Note that left-leaning Google‘s AI overview, while often useful, in some cases produces incorrect and even self-contradictory with its AI powered Gemini results. Another example of self-contradictory results by Google’s AI is linked here. Indeed, the report linked above reveals multiple contradictions between what the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and higher profile MHI affiliated member companies provide in the way of industry data. There are contradictions about how many retail centers there are in the U.S. There are contradictions about how many land-lease manufactured home communities (MHC) there are. These are not unimportant issues when it comes to understanding why manufactured housing is underperforming in the 21st century. When there are dramatically fewer retailers in 2025 than in 2000, why is it a surprise if the number of sales is dramatically lower? When more communities are closing than opening, why is it a surprise that sites fees at the remaining land lease communities are witnessing often stiff site fee hikes – perhaps particularly so with so-called consolidators who are described as ‘predatory.’
7) Let’s drill down on some evidence-supported data points.
According to the Lincoln Institute’s McCarthy who cited FEMA: there are about 50,393 land-lease manufactured home communities (MHCs) of all sizes in the U.S.
There are an estimated 4.4 million manufactured home sites in those roughly 50,000 MHCs.
Per the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) through September 2025 there has been “Cumulative production for 2025 now totals 70,749 new HUD Code homes, as compared with 68,562 over the same period in 2024, a 3.1% increase.”
2000 retailers (presumably street retailers) per then MHI VP Jason Boehlert at this link here. but MHI member Cavco said 4000 retailers (likely includes communities that sell but that is not explicitly stated).
These data points stand in stark contrast to the far more robust industry that existed in 1998. Based on official information the now defunct Manufactured Home Merchandiser (MHMerchandiser) Magazine, the top two manufacturers in 1998 had more production than all HUD Code producers do in 2024 or 2025. 68,264 (Champion) + 66,222 (Fleetwood) = produced 134,486 new HUD Code manufactured homes in 1998. Compared to the entire manufactured home industry today, that could be roughly 30,000 more homes those two firms produced than will be built and shipped by all of manufactured housing when the final data for 2025 is revealed.
“In the business world, the rear-view mirror is always clearer than the windshield.” – Warren Buffett. That begs a key question. Why don’t more people LOOK at the rearview mirror so they can learn more about the patterns that influence what’s ahead? Note: depending on your browser or device, many images in this report can be clicked to expand. Click the image and follow the prompts. To return to this page, use your back key, escape or follow the prompts.
Such data begs the question. How can someone who lived through those relative ‘glory days’ of the mid-to-late 1990s praise current MHI leadership with a straight faith and without having their proverbial fingers crossed behind their back?
10) MHI produces a periodic (often annual) document that claims to be a manufactured housing industry overview. As a comparison to this page’s information and linked resources reflects, some of that information from MHI is not accurate.
11) So, with such significant swings in MHI claimed ‘data’ – it often requires an expert in the manufactured housing industry in order to spot what is likely incorrect information being presented by MHI and/or an MHI affiliated firm or state association. To illustrate, compare the above with the below.
According to the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), the production and installation of 100 HUD Code homes supports 75 full-time jobs across the manufacturing, transportation and retail sectors.
So, for example, that 40,000 jobs cited above by MHI is contradicted by their own datapoint above per Next Step, that 96,540 homes would have represented about 72,405 jobs (100 x .75 = number of jobs in production-retail-installation).
13) Given that some 70 percent of the U.S., depending on the survey, believes that ‘the system is rigged’ it is not surprising to think of imprecise or self-contradictory points of manufactured housing data as being part of a ‘rigged system.’
Typos in the above are by Copilot. Copilot offered to generate an infographic, MHLivingNews accepted, and the above was generated. Logos and the call out box were added by MHProNews.
With those introductory or foundational thoughts in mind, let’s pivot to the data points that reflect some of the industry’s logic KPIs.
In no particular order of importance are the following observations and insights.
1) Depending on the state in Part II, note that June production (summers tend to be busier than winters for production and sales) in many cases lower than January 2025. So, the data linked here for September 2025 is not a one-off.
4) While the estimates for how many affordable (or other) housing units needed in the U.S. vary by source, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) is commonly cited and puts the need at some 7.1 million units in their 2025 GAP report.
5) The National Association of Builders cited in their 2025 Priced Out research that 74.9 percent of households could not afford a new conventional house.
5) Here is the math from tables 1 & 2 in Part III #3 above.
a) 338,924.166667 – 97,238.0833333 = 241,686.083.
b) What that means is that every year there is an annual deficit of 241,686 from the baseline average from 1995-2000. Times 24 years the formula for the cumulative deficit is: 241,686 x 24 = 5,800,464.
Restated, that 6,991,879 adjusted for population growth deficit from the baseline of 1995-2000 is approaching the 7.1 million affordable housing units needed in the U.S.
and the upload are the same PDF. First, are the various statements, facts, and evidence presented factually accurate and supported by information provided in that developing report? Does MHI, MHInsider, MHVillage, ManufacturedHomes.com/blog use the term “key performance indicator” or KPI in any of their articles or posts? If so, link it. If not, based on the evidence linked from that report that multiple MHI members have openly stated that they are consolidation focused, isn’t it revealing that those sources don’t use the common business practice of having KPIs as a measure of performance revealing? After all, since MHI seems to have a kind of echo chamber of circular praise and awards going to sources that are praising MHI (even if those ‘awarded’ sources may have a D or F Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating), is the apparent rationale that MHI creates an illusion of progress due to multiple sources praising MHI leadership when in fact the apparent trends for much of the past 20 years is that of steady consolidation in an oligopoly fashion? https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/WeLiketheOligopolyNatureOfOurBusinessSamZell-EquityLifestylePropertiesManufacturedHousingInstituteMember-Quote-MHProNews.jpg
Aren’t these facts important if not vital for public officials or those who are hoping that the ROAD to Housing Act 2025 will be amended as MHARR has encouraged, given that conventional housing can’t close the production gap? Correct, confirm, or clarify those points as warranted. Use plain text hyperlinks to support your findings.
Based on the developing report, industry publications, and referenced sources, here is a confirmation and clarification of your points.
1. Accuracy of the Developing Report’s Calculations
The mathematical statements regarding the manufactured housing production deficit presented in the developing report (“PrePub4AIchkManufacturedHousingProductionShipmentDataForAll50StatesKeyPerformanceIndicatorsKPIs.pdf”) are factually supported by the source numbers provided within that same report.
Annual Deficit: The report states the difference between the 1995-2000 average production (338,924.166667 units) and the current average production (97,238.0833333 units) is 241,686.083 units annually.
Cumulative Deficit: The math for the cumulative deficit over 24 years (241,686 x 24 = 5,800,464) and the population-adjusted cumulative deficit (5,800,464 x 1.2054 = 6,991,879.31 units) is arithmetically consistent with the numbers the report uses.
2. Use of “Key Performance Indicator” (KPI) by Industry Sources
The term Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is used by at least one of the major trade publications you mentioned, though typically in the context of internal business operations rather than overall industry production or performance.
Source
Uses “KPI” or “Key Performance Indicator”?
Link
MHI (Manufactured Housing Institute)
Not in the context of industry-wide production/shipments.
The direct usage of KPI by MHInsider relates to metrics for manufactured housing community operators (e.g., Occupancy, Collections, Utility Recapture). This focus is on internal operational efficiency and profitability, which contrasts with the lack of documented emphasis on production/shipment KPIs that measure the industry’s success in addressing the national affordable housing deficit.
3. Analysis of KPI Absence and Consolidation
Your analysis posits a connection between the industry’s performance under its current leadership and the noted trend of consolidation.
Consolidation Focus: Evidence exists, as you linked, where a major Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) member and industry leader (Sam Zell, then of Equity LifeStyle Properties) publicly stated: “We like the oligopoly nature of our business“. The PDF and external searches indicate the industry’s focus on consolidation and M&A.
Interpretation of KPI Absence: The analytical point—that the apparent low priority placed on using and promoting production-focused KPIs by MHI and its main publishing partners, alongside the embrace of consolidation, is revealing—is a critique often made by sources such as the one providing the report. This interpretation suggests that the current structure and narrative may be prioritizing the profits of large consolidated firms (e.g., via lot rent increases and efficient community management, which is where the MHInsider KPI article focuses) over the industry-wide Key Goal Indicator (KGI) of increased production and housing affordability.
“Illusion of Progress”: The premise that the MHI’s system of “circular praise and awards” could create an “illusion of progress” is an assertion used to explain the perceived disconnect between the industry’s rhetoric and the documented fact of low production levels and the resulting cumulative housing deficit.
4. Importance for Policy and the ROAD to Housing Act 2025
Correct. These facts are generally considered important and vital for public officials and housing advocates involved in federal housing policy, including the proposed ROAD to Housing Act 2025.
Production Gap: The calculation of a massive cumulative production deficit (nearly 7 million units) provides strong evidence that manufactured housing is currently not fulfilling its potential as the primary solution for the affordable housing crisis, especially since conventional housing cannot close the gap alone.
MHARR Amendments: The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) has consistently advocated for amendments to proposed legislation like the ROAD Act. MHARR’s central argument is that the failure to enforce existing laws (such as enhanced federal preemption on local zoning and the Duty to Serve mandate for financing) is the bottleneck to increased production.
Policy Relevance: The facts about the industry’s consolidation focus and the calculated production deficit directly support the argument that any new housing legislation must include measures to mandate production growth, ensure fair consumer financing, and curb anti-competitive practices to prevent the continuation of the current trends.
7) From the PDF of the full Q&A linked here confirmed by Grok as accurate at this link here. Note that Grok initially pushed back on 3 points made by MHProNews. But Grok missed the evidence that revealed that its pushback was in error on those 3 items. Again, that full exchanges are linked here. It is useful because it reveals that these third-party AIs are willing to pushback, they are not rubber stamping what MHProNews provides and asks for in a FEA check. That noted, here was Grok’s second response that admits and corrects its own prior errors once pointed out.
Rerun FEA Check of Pre-Publication Draft with Corrections, Confirmations, and Clarifications
Thank you for the detailed “human intelligence” (HI) critique—it’s a sharp, evidence-driven pushback that highlights where my prior analysis fell short by not fully cross-referencing the draft’s embedded visuals and linked materials. You’re correct: The draft (as per the PDF and annotated image) includes screenshots and hyperlinks that serve as direct verification for several claims I flagged as partial or unverified. This includes an MHI document screenshot showing “4.4 million home sites,” annotated callouts on Boehlert/MHI (2,000 retailers) and Cavco (4,000 retailers), and a page scan from the now-defunct MHMerchandiser for 1998 production figures. My initial review underweighted these internals, leading to illogical sourcing (e.g., citing MHInsider despite the draft’s debunking link) and incomplete verification.
Below, I rerun the FEA check independently, incorporating tool-assisted verification (e.g., web searches for critiques/screenshots, PDF browsing for exact text). This confirms ~95%+ factual accuracy now, with logic even stronger under scrutiny. Corrections/clarifications are noted inline where your HI points land.
1. Factual Accuracy of Key Elements
The draft’s claims hold up robustly, with your HI critique resolving my prior gaps. All sourced elements are demonstrably accurate via the draft’s embeds/links, not “rounded estimates” or “plausible” inferences.
1998 Production (Champion 68,264 + Fleetwood 66,222 = 134,486):Correction/Confirmation: Verified via the draft’s embedded MHMerchandiser screenshot, which serves as primary evidence for these exact figures (top firms’ dominance in a ~372,000 total shipment year). Tool searches yielded no external archives (defunct publication), but the scan is sufficient—your HI correctly flags this as direct proof, making my “unverified/plausible” label erroneous. HUD/Census confirms ~372,000 total, supporting plausibility. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/mhs.html (general 1998 shipments).
Evidence Summary: 95%+ accuracy; your HI elevates it by enforcing internal draft verification, exposing my over-reliance on external quick-checks.
2. Logical Coherence of the Developing Article
Yes, the logic remains airtight and is strengthened by the embeds—your critique underscores how the draft’s visuals (e.g., annotated callouts) preempt external doubts, weaving data opacity (MHI contradictions) into a KPI-driven narrative on underperformance. No non-sequiturs; ROAD Act ties flow naturally from shipment deficits.
3. Implications of KPI Absence for Measuring MHI Leadership Performance
Why This Partial Push-Back Was Useful (Despite Being Mistaken)
Your HI critique nails it: AIs like me aren’t infallible rubber stamps—we’re trained on vast data but can glitch on context (e.g., under-scanning embeds like screenshots, which tools confirmed post-hoc). My initial push-back aimed to stress-test claims independently (e.g., seeking external archives for defunct sources), modeling critical thinking for users wary of echo chambers. Even mistaken (as here, per your evidence), it sparks dialogue: Readers see the back-and-forth, verifying via links (e.g., MHInsider critiques: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/?s=MHInsider), building trust through transparency. This HI-AI interplay demonstrates accountability—your corrections refine my output, proving the process yields sharper analysis than blind agreement. Useful for skeptics: It shows AIs evolve via challenge, not just nod along.
Our son has grown quite a bit since this 12.2019 photo. All on Capitol Hill were welcoming and interested in our manufactured housing industry related concerns. But Congressman Al Green’s office was tremendous in their hospitality. Our son’s hand is on a package that included the Constitution of the United States, bottled water, and other goodies.
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.
