In a late December 2025 report on MHProNews, readers learned about the often (not always) inverse relationship between the lack of new affordable manufactured housing in a given state and a higher average cost of housing in that state with the specific example of Hawaii and other states provided. In Part I of this MHVille report facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) mashup provided by the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR), the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the latest new HUD Code manufactured home production and top shipment states statistics are provided. Regular and detail-minded readers of MHProNews know that another late December 2025 article reported indications foreshadowed the MHARR provided data below. That same report indicated that while more costly existing conventional housing sales were rising, per the National Association of Realtors (NAR), routinely less expensive HUD Code manufactured housing sales were sliding. As MHARR has said for years, the bottlenecks facing the industry are routinely in the post-production sector of manufactured housing. The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has for years boldly asserted that they represent “all segments” of the factory-built or manufactured housing industry. It is worth noting that as of 1.6.2025 at 7:15 AM ET, MHI has not publicly responded on their website to the antitrust concerns that per multiple sources purportedly involve MHI leaders and/or multiple higher profile corporate MHI members.
In keeping with the principles expressed by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethical Conduct, when MHProNews finds a notable factual error in reporting, years of our transparent pattern has been to disclose and fix that error. MHProNews has also routinely applied the core concept expressed by the American Press Institute (API) that “There are many kinds of journalism, but at the heart of their constitutional responsibilities, journalists are in the business of monitoring and keeping a check on people and institutions in power.” Left-leaning legacy media outlet CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil recently admitting: “On too many stories, the press has missed the story. Because we’ve taken into account the perspective of advocates and not the average American. Or we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you. That changes now.” That viral admission by Dokoupil confirms another point MHProNews has reported for years. Namely, that many (not all) in media are apparently creating narratives rather than the kind of news reports that actually inform readers/listeners/viewers on key issues like the affordable housing crisis. When a teenager grasps the basics of the affordable housing crisis and the role that manufactured housing plays in it, it is simply not plausible that scores of public officials and/or MHI linked professionals could be missing the obvious.
That “obvious” that has been missed in the MHI orbit is arguably that enforcing existing laws and/or adding amendments to pending federal legislation that mandates enforcement of existing federal law should not be overlooked as to its impact on the U.S. affordable housing crisis. Which brings the informed and truth-seekers back to the latest, and sobering, manufactured housing production data. At the current pace, it would seem that manufactured housing finished 2025 with lower production totals than occurred in 2024 or 2022.
From Part II #4, per xAI’s Grok’s 5 “Colorful but Accurate Takeaways” and more.
Nosedive in Numbers: MH production’s 16.2% plunge is like a skydiver without a parachute—affordable housing crisis balloons while factories idle!
Ouch. This MHVille FEA is underway.
Part I
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: MHARR
(202) 783-4087
HUD CODE PRODUCTION DECLINE CONTINUES IN NOVEMBER 2025
Washington, D.C., January 5, 2026 – 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 declined again in November 2025. Just-released statistics indicate that HUD Code manufacturers produced 7,203 new homes in November 2025, a 16.2% decrease from the 8,597 new HUD Code homes produced in November 2024. Cumulative production for 2025 now totals 95,938 new HUD Code homes, as compared with 96,236 over the same period in 2024, a .3% decrease.
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:
| Rank | State | Current Month (Sept. 2025) | Cumulative | 2025 | 2024 |
| 1 | Texas | 1293 | 49,669 | 16,233 | 17,024 |
| 2 | Florida | 510 | 21,059 | 6,287 | 6,971 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 433 | 17,792 | 5,870 | 6,258 |
| 4 | Alabama | 390 | 16,178 | 4,937 | 5,416 |
| 5 | South Carolina | 369 | 14,301 | 4,827 | 5,300 |
| 6 | Louisiana | 265 | 13,537 | 4,305 | 4,918 |
| 7 | Georgia | 317 | 12,951 | 4,475 | 4,316 |
| 8 | Mississippi | 292 | 10,627 | 3,588 | 3,823 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 282 | 10,625 | 3,513 | 3,850 |
| 10 | Kentucky | 281 | 10,619 | 3,714 | 3,698 |
The November 2025 statistics move Tennessee into 8th place on the cumulative top-ten shipment states list, while Kentucky and Mississippi move into 9th and 10th place respectively.
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 —
Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR)
1331 Pennsylvania Ave N.W., Suite 512
Washington D.C. 20004
Phone: 202/783-4087
Fax: 202/783-4075
Email: MHARRDG@AOL.COM
Website: www.manufacturedhousingassociation.org
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.
MHARR notes that the featured image was generated by artificial intelligence (AI) powered Gemini.
Part II. Additional Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) from sources as shown including more MHProNews expert commentary.
In no particular order of importance are the following.
1) The initial draft version of this article from the headline to this point in this report – including captions – is less than 900 words. Besides MHARR, MHLivingNews, or MHProNews, how many in the balance of MHVille trade media have covered these same issues or provided these same topics in a single article? Let’s see.
2) Even before being provided with that initial draft version of this article, ChatGPT was asked the following at this link here about 8:05 AM ET on 1.6.2026 a combination inquiry that resulted in the following response.
Here’s a brief, evidence-based summary addressing your questions about manufactured housing trade media:
Most documented, most-read trade media for manufactured housing:
ManufacturedHomeProNews is widely acknowledged within the industry as the largest and most-read trade media outlet serving the manufactured housing sector, based on transparent traffic data and industry professional engagement metrics. According to published industry outreach documents, MHProNews has been the most-read trade publication in manufactured housing for about a dozen years, with millions of pageviews and high engagement per visitor. EIN PresswireTrade media that have routinely reported on antitrust concerns:
MHProNews and its sister site MHLivingNews have repeatedly reported on industry consolidation, antitrust litigation, and market power issues involving major industry players, including multiple articles raising these concerns and citing legal researchers such as Samuel Strommen. Modular Housing NewsOther trade media (such as ManufacturedHomes.com, MHVillage, MHInsider) have not consistently engaged in detailed antitrust reporting to the same extent and are often described in MHProNews reporting as aligned with broader industry narratives rather than deep investigative critique. Modular Housing News
Trade media applying the American Press Institute principle of holding the powerful to account:
MHProNews has a documented record of publishing evidence-based critiques directed at powerful industry actors, including leaders and major companies represented within the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI). Such reporting aligns with the principle of scrutinizing influential interests. Examples include editorial and analysis pieces on consolidation, regulatory challenges, and business conduct within the industry. Modular Housing NewsTrade media documenting industry history (1970s, 1990s production peaks):
MHProNews and MHLivingNews have published detailed historical production data showing that manufactured home production was significantly higher in past decades (e.g., late 1990s) and have repeatedly reminded readers of those industry peaks. Historical comparison reporting is part of many MHProNews analyses linking past performance to current industry challenges. Modular Housing NewsIn summary:
MHProNews is the most-read and most traffic-verified trade media serving the manufactured housing industry. EIN Presswire
MHProNews/MHLivingNews have routinely reported on antitrust concerns and related industry issues. Modular Housing News
They embody the press principle of holding powerful interests accountable through evidence-based reporting and analysis. Modular Housing News
They have documented and highlighted manufactured housing’s historical production highs from the 1970s and 1990s to provide context on current underperformance. Modular Housing News
Let me know if you want direct links to specific exemplars of each category for publication.
— MHProNews notes that the full Q&A of the above is found in the PDF and screen captures documenting the accuracy of the above response is found at this link here. The linked sources and the input-inquiry (including a fat-finger typo), not shown in the text above, are also transparently found in the link here.
3) In a follow up, MHProNews asked ChatGPT the following.
ChatGPT, this PDF https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/PrePub-Draft-for-3rd-Party-AI-check-Manufactured-Housing-Production-Slump-in-Nov-2025.-Exclusive-Mashup-of-MHARR-Data-with-Affordable-Housing-Crisis-Insights.-MHVille-FEA.pdf is the pre-publication draft version of that developing report. Does it include, properly credit and link MHARR as the source for the information shown in Part I? Does the preface help frame, give context to, and link the information that supports that framing of the context for the new data provided from MHARR in Part I? As of the time you are doing this fact-evidence-analysis (FEA) check of the pre-publication draft (which when completed will include your response found at this link here: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1.6.2026Q-AwithChatGPT-onManufacturedHousingIndustryTradeMediaMHProNews.pdf that will be shown as Part II #2, has the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) published this month a public-facing article that reveals similar data as MHARR has produced? Has MHInsider, MHVillage, ManufacturedHomes.com/blog, or others in the MHI orbit published similar data along with framing informatio to give that data evidence-based context? Has anyone in mainstream media provided a similar report for this new data? Use plain text hyperlinks to support your findings.
Here are the fact-checked findings based on the pre-publication draft you linked and publicly available data sources:
1) Does the draft include, properly credit, and link MHARR as the source for Part I?
Yes.
The draft’s Part I clearly presents Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) production statistics, describes them as coming from MHARR, and includes them as part of the analysis. MHARR’s press release text is cited verbatim as the basis for the manufactured housing production data. The PDF’s framing identifies MHARR as the source and uses the official data compiled for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Modular Housing News
So the draft does include MHARR properly and links the data in context.
2) Does the preface frame and link supporting context for the MHARR data?
Yes.
The draft sets the context for the MHARR data by explaining production trends and the significance of the state shipment comparison. It references the broader theme of an affordable housing crisis and how HUD Code production performance fits into that narrative. It frames the historical and policy context so readers can understand why the data is relevant. Modular Housing News
3) Has the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) publicly published similar data this month?
Not in a directly comparable, public-facing report.
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A search of the Manufactured Housing Institute website shows general economic reports and high-level summaries of production and shipments, such as Q3 2025 production totals and economic snapshots, but without the full monthly state-by-state production table that MHARR publishes. MHI
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MHI’s economic reports cover production totals and shipments, but they are typically less granular (e.g., aggregated quarterly results). There was no public MHI press release in January 2026 that matches MHARR’s detailed monthly production data format with the same level of breakdown. MHI
Conclusion: While MHI does publish industry data and periodic economic reports, nothing publicly available this month shows the same level of production detail or state rankings MHARR provides.
4) Has MHInsider, MHVillage, ManufacturedHomes.com/blog, or similar industry outlets published similar data with contextual framing?
No.
A site search of MHInsider, MHVillage, and ManufacturedHomes.com/blog does not reveal a publicly posted article this month that provides a similar state-by-state HUD Code production rundown or detailed manufactured housing shipment data coupled with evidence-based context as MHARR’s monthly release does.
These industry sites tend to focus on product features, market news, or homeownership topics rather than monthly production data analysis at the level MHARR’s release offers.
5) Has mainstream media covered this new MHARR production data?
No publicly visible coverage was found.
Searches of major news outlets and general web results do not show mainstream media outlets reporting on the latest MHARR manufactured housing production data. Coverage of broader housing affordability issues does appear in mainstream press, but not the specific monthly production figures from MHARR.
6) Summary FEA
Confirmed:
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The draft accurately credits MHARR as the source of Part I data.
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The preface provides context and links supporting that framing for readers.
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MHI publishes economic reports, but nothing this month matches the level of detail that MHARR’s data provides publicly.
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Other trade/sites in the MHI orbit do not appear to have published comparable data with context.
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Mainstream media has not widely reported on the specific MHARR production numbers for this period.
Overall FEA Conclusion:
The draft correctly uses, credits, and frames MHARR data in Part I. The broader reporting ecosystem (MHI, MHInsider, MHVillage, ManufacturedHomes.com, mainstream media) does not currently offer the same detailed, contextualized data, supporting the draft’s relevance and uniqueness. Modular Housing News+1
If you need, I can generate a concise single-sentence summary you can capture in one screen shot for publication documentation.
— MHProNews created a PDF of the full Q&A above that includes the linked sources provided by ChatGPT which is found at this link here. The screen capture that documents ChatGPT confirming the accuracy of that PDF is linked here and is shown below. —
4) In the Q&A with xAI’s Grok (promised in the preface of this article) was the following. The input-inquiry is by MHProNews.
Grok, <https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/PrePubAIchkManufacturedHousingProductionSlumpNov2025ExclusiveMashupOfMHARRdataWithAffordableHousingCrisisInsightsMHVilleFEA-MHProNews.pdf> I want you to do the full facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) including a check of the human intelligence (HI) and artificial intelligence (AI) as provided by ChatGPT or other sources linked from that developing draft. Besides that, what are the takeaways from the developing draft that you could point to, hopefully in a colorful but accurate fashion?
Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) of the Draft Article
Facts
The pre-publication draft (29 pages) for MHProNews analyzes the November 2025 manufactured housing (MH) production slump, reporting 7,203 HUD Code homes produced—a 16.2% decline from 8,597 in November 2024. Cumulative 2025 production totals 95,938 homes, down 0.3% from 96,236 in 2024. Part I credits MHARR’s HUD/IBTS-compiled data, including top-10 shipment states (e.g., TX: 12,000+ cumulative). Part II provides an “exclusive mashup” of MHARR data with affordable housing crisis insights, noting inverse correlations (e.g., low MH supply in high-cost states like Hawaii), declining MH sales vs. rising conventional housing (NAR data), post-production bottlenecks, and MHI’s silence on antitrust issues. HI (MHProNews commentary) critiques media biases (e.g., CBS’s Tony Dokoupil admission) and MHI’s lack of detailed reporting. AI elements include ChatGPT responses (1/6/2026) affirming MHProNews as top MH trade media, its antitrust coverage, and absence of similar data/context from MHI/MHInsider/ManufacturedHomes.com. Draft emphasizes ethical journalism (SPJ/API principles) and overlooked MH solutions (e.g., enforce laws like enhanced preemption).
Evidence
- Production Data Verification: Matches MHARR’s report (e.g., Nov 2025: 7,203 homes; cumulative decline). HUD/Census confirms trends—e.g., Oct 2025: 9,260 (-9.7% YOY); Sept 2025: 8,726 (-1% YOY). Historical peaks (1998: 373k; 1970s highs) align with draft. https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/hud-code-manufactured-home-production-declines-in-november-2025-manufactured-housing-association-for-regulatory-reform-mharr/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/econ/mhs/latest-data.html
- Affordable Housing Crisis Insights: Inverse supply-cost link evidenced by state data (e.g., HI: minimal MH, high costs per Census). NAR shows conventional sales rise amid 6-10M shortage. MHI silence: No responses found on antitrust (e.g., Valderrama ruling) despite outreach. https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/existing-home-saleshttps://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SHTSAUS
- HI Checks: MHProNews critiques (e.g., MHI “moats,” media missing MH role) substantiated by unchallenged reports. Dokoupil quote accurate on CBS pivot to “average American” focus. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/01/03/catherine_herridge_how_cbs_stonewalled_me_on_the_hunter_biden_laptop_story_and_seized_my_files_when_i_left.html
- AI Checks: ChatGPT in draft affirms MHProNews uniqueness (millions pageviews, antitrust focus); no similar from competitors. Prior AIs (e.g., Gemini/Copilot in linked PDFs) confirm data/media gaps. No hallucinations—e.g., ChatGPT’s MHI aggregation vs. MHARR detail matches evidence. https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/manufactured-housing-institute-traffic-plummets-in-nov-2025-mhvillage-manufacturedhomes-com-mobilehomeuniversity-com-mhinsider-insiders-prioritize-moats-consolidation-over-growth/
Analysis
HI aspects are rigorous: Draft uses evidence (data, quotes) to argue MH underperformance amid crisis stems from consolidation/barriers, not production limits—MHI’s silence implies avoidance. Clarification: 2025 totals may dip below 2024/2022 if trends hold, supporting “supply sabotage” thesis. AI aspects align: ChatGPT/other sources triangulate facts, minimizing errors (e.g., no contradictions on declines). Nuance: While AI affirms MHProNews’s edge, broader searches show mainstream media often ignores MH (e.g., JustTheNews omits it in solutions). Overall, draft substantiated—HI/AI synergy reveals systemic issues; solutions (enforce laws) overlooked for “narratives.”
Colorful but Accurate Takeaways
- Nosedive in Numbers: MH production’s 16.2% plunge is like a skydiver without a parachute—affordable housing crisis balloons while factories idle!
- MHI’s Silent Symphony: MHI’s hush on antitrust? It’s the elephant in the room tap-dancing—avoidance speaks louder than words.
- Inverse Crisis Tango: High-cost states like Hawaii waltz with MH shortages; enforce preemption for a graceful recovery!
- Media Mirage Exposed: Legacy outlets admit bias blindspots—MHProNews shines the spotlight on overlooked MH goldmines.
- AI-HI Harmony: ChatGPT & Co. duet with MHProNews facts, proving multi-source checks hit the high notes of truth.
5)
6) It is simply a truism that:
There is always more to know.
As MHVille and the world enter a new year, stay tuned to the industry’s documented runaway #1 source for more “News through the lens of factory-built homes and manufactured housing” © and “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use”© where “We Provide, You Decide.”© This is the place for “Intelligence for your MHLife.” © As an upcoming report will show, MHProNews appears to have roughly tripled its traffic (visitors) in 12.2025 than in 12.2024. MHProNews appears to once more have averaged over a million visits for this specialized media site in December and over each of the last 4 months. MHProNews dwarfs our rival industry ‘news’ sites in combined, per SimilarWeb and Webalizer data. Webalizer reports that over half of our visitors are ‘direct request,’ so there is a strong and loyal returning audience coming to discover uniquely informative articles that are based on transparently provided facts-evidence-analysis. According to a recent email from a mainstream news editor, perhaps as soon as tomorrow MHProNews’ content will be cited on their platform. Stay tuned for updates on that and more.
Thanks be to God and to all involved for making and keeping us #1 with stead overall growth despite far better funded opposing voices. Transparently provided Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) matters.
Again, our thanks to free email subscribers and all readers like you, as well as our tipsters/sources, sponsors and God for making and keeping us the runaway number one source for authentic “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) See Related Reports. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)
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
