‘People On a Knife’s Edge Due to Lack of Affordable Housing’-Atty Hill. MHI Leaders Asked to Respond to HousingWire ‘Judge Valderrama Roadmap’ Op-Ed Naming Several MHI Corp-Assoc Leaders. FEA

“People are living on a knife’s edge because of the lack of affordable housing, because of the lack of stability in the economy and in their own lives,” Matt Hill, attorney at the Public Justice Center, which is part of the Renters United Maryland coalition. Hill said renter protections and affordable housing efforts in 2026 are “needed now more than ever.” HousingWire on 1.2.2026 at 3:50am at this link here published an article entitled “Judge Valderrama’s ‘roadmap’ for successful antitrust litigation in affordable housing crisis.” According to that new op-ed by industry expert L. A. “Tony” Kovach: “How Judge Valderrama’s ruling outlines what antitrust plaintiffs must prove in manufactured housing.” Multiple Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) members are named in that op-ed, along with MHI, as are several other antitrust researchers that have published their concerns about the manufactured housing market. Multiple MHI corporate and senior staff leaders were contacted this morning for a response to the evidence-based allegations against them, their firms, and MHI itself. The Judge Valderrama’s ‘roadmap’ for successful antitrust litigation op-ed specifically names and invites MHI to publicly respond. One may recall that now MHI CEO Lesli Gooch publicly responded to antitrust allegations lodged by then CFED/Prosperity Now advocate Doug Ryan that named MHI and Clayton Homes. Clearly, MHI has the ability to respond. Former MHI chairman and still 21st Mortgage Corporation president and CEO Tim Williams asserted that “There are good arguments to be made that we [i.e.: MHI, key industry members, etc.] should respond to every story, refute every statistic, and make our case to the public.” MHI has a media relations professional, Molly Boyle, who has also been asked to respond to the HousingWire allegations on behalf of MHI. Per the MHVille facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) model of journalism, should one or more of those parties respond to the HousingWire op-ed, MHProNews plans to so report.

HousingWire says that op-ed naming several MHI members and leaders is a 6-minute read.

While a response would be welcome, based on MHI’s purported pattern of avoidance, it would be a pleasant surprise if they did respond.

This MHVille FEA is well underway.

 

1) For several years, MHProNews and/or MHLivingNews have raised evidence-based concerns on purported market manipulation involving several MHI members. As third-party researchers have also raised such issues (see below), the oddity is that trade media in the MHI orbit routinely ignore, downplay, or mock such antitrust research or litigation. Several of the articles linked below are on topics that others what passes for MHI trade media can’t, won’t, or don’t report on. That begs the question, why?

 

 

2) Given that manufactured housing has been dragging for literally all of the 21st century, particularly when compared to prior highwater marks achieved in 1998 or the early 1970s, one wonders how MHI’s leaders have been able to manage the expectations on the wide gap between industry potential, proven by past achievements and the need for an estimated 5- to 8+ million affordable housing units in the U.S. That 5-to-8+ million unit needs stands in stark contrast to the tepid production levels of recent years hovering around 100,000 units. As another contrasting key performance indicator (KPI), in the Recreational Vehicle (RV) industry, production has hit as many as 600,000 units a year in the 21st century.  Champion Homes (SKY, previously called Skyline Champion) is an MHI member. Their own investor relations (IR) presentations have routinely made the point that the industry is underperforming. An example is shown below.

 

3) There are apparent decisions being made by MHI leaders, both corporate and senior staff. Those decisions appear to align with posturing one thing while doing another. Consolidation of the industry is the stated goal of numbers of MHI members. Meaning, these are not mere speculations. They are the stated goals and behavioral patterns of MHI leaders.

 

4) According to Copilot, in a document linked from the 1.2.2025 HousingWire op-ed is the following.

Does the evidence “fit together” to satisfy Valderrama’s concerns?

Facts

• Valderrama’s memorandum emphasizes that plaintiffs: – Showed parallel conduct (similar rent increases, similar timing, use of Datacomp/MHVillage). – Relied heavily on trade association membership and public data. – Did not plead specific facts evidencing agreement, invitations to collude, or “plus factors” sufficient under Twombly / Iqbal.

…

Analysis

• Your [Kovach-HousingWire] op‑ed does not claim that the current record already satisfies Valderrama’s standard; instead, it argues that: – Between defendants’ own investor‑call admissions (oligopoly, strategic advantage from constrained supply), – MHI leadership and member quotes (desire for monopoly‑like advantages; frustration with policies favoring resident ownership; emphasis on for‑profit consolidation), – External antitrust analyses (Strommen, Schmitz, BIS), and – AI‑highlighted patterns of MHI behavior,there exists a substantial universe of evidence that could be used to craft a more detailed, plausibly pled complaint that addresses what Valderrama found lacking.
• Framed that way—as a roadmap for future pleadings and policy debate, not as a declaration that the existing complaint already meets the standard—your piece is consistent with the opinion and supported by the underlying sources.

5) When a teenager is able to lay out the case for what the manufactured housing industry is capable of doing, but failing to do, it arguably becomes more difficult for MHI leaders to deny that they have made conscious decisions to posture support for positions that might lead to organic growth, when in fact their own investor relations (IR) pitch decks clearly state that industry consolidation is their goal. That’s not speculation, that is the well documented reality.

 

When attorney Matt Hill is observing that millions of: “People are living on a knife’s edge because of the lack of affordable housing, because of the lack of stability in the economy and in their own lives,” that too is a signpost that MHI leaders – if they wanted organic industry growth – could be implementing, if they wanted to do so. The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) amendments proposed to support manufactured housing in the pending legislation in Congress is another signpost that MHI leaders could and should be following. Yet, time and again, MHI leader avoid doing what is obvious IF their authentic goal was organic industry growth rather than industry consolidation.

Gemini and Copilot already weighed in on the new Kovach/HousingWire op-ed.

6) Grok will be asked to do so, based on that op-ed and the drafted version of this FEA article.

ChatGPT was asked to do a similar check at about 9:28 AM ET on 1.2.2026.

7) Per Grok.

Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) of MHProNews Draft and HousingWire Op-Ed

Facts

The MHProNews pre-publication draft discusses attorney Matt Hill’s comments on renters’ instability due to housing shortages, linking to a new HousingWire op-ed by L.A. “Tony” Kovach (published 1/2/2026) titled “Judge Valderrama’s ‘roadmap’ for successful antitrust litigation in affordable housing crisis.” The op-ed analyzes U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama’s 12/4/2025 dismissal (without prejudice) of “Manufactured Home Lot Rents Antitrust Litigation” (Case No. 23-cv-06715), where plaintiffs alleged price-fixing by defendants including Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), Sun Communities, Inspire Communities, and Datacomp. It names Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) members/leaders (e.g., ELS COO Patrick Waite, ELS CEO Marguerite Nader, Cavco CEO William Boor) and cites antitrust concerns from researchers like Samuel Strommen, James Schmitz Jr., and BIS.org economists. The draft notes MHProNews emailed MHI leaders (Lesli Gooch, Tim Williams, Molly Boyle, David Goch) and defendants for responses, referencing MHI’s past rebuttals (e.g., Gooch to Doug Ryan). HI (Kovach/MHProNews) frames this as evidence of MHI’s avoidance pattern, potentially indicating antitrust issues. AI aspects: Draft references Gemini/Copilot checks on the op-ed; images show prior AI responses on related topics (e.g., MMHA v. Warren case, TARK article, sales guide).

Evidence

• Affordability Crisis and Hill Quote: Confirmed accurate—Hill’s statement from 1/2/2026 Renters United Maryland coalition aligns with broader 2026 renter protections push amid economic instability. https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/01/02/maryland-renters-housing-legislation-2026/
• Valderrama Ruling and ‘Roadmap’: Op-ed correctly summarizes dismissal for lacking “plausible” conspiracy evidence (parallel conduct insufficient under Sherman Act); plaintiffs can amend by 1/15/2026. Ruling accepts well-pleaded facts but requires more on agreement/invitation. Defendants (8 MHI members) include ELS (owns Datacomp/MHVillage/MHInsider). Quotes (e.g., Zell on “oligopoly,” Rolfe on “monopoly”) from IR pitches/public statements verified. https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/zgvoyarbavd/In%20re%20manufactured%20home%20lot%20rents%20antitrust%20litigation%2020251204.pdfhttps://news.bloomberglaw.com/antitrust/mobile-home-companies-get-rental-price-fixing-litigation-tossed
• Antitrust Researchers: Strommen’s 17-page thesis alleges MHI/Clayton monopolization; Schmitz/Jensen on HUD sabotage; BIS.org on credit concentration—op-ed citations accurate, unchallenged publicly. https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/true-tale-of-four-attorneys-research-into-manufactured-housing-what-they-reveal-about-why-manufactured-homes-are-underperforming-during-an-affordable-housing-crisis-facts-and-analysis/https://www.minneapolisfed.org/research/working-papers/monopolies-inflict-great-harm-on-low-and-middle-income-americans
• MHI/Leader Responses: No public responses found to the op-ed (as of 1/2/2026). MHI site has no statements on antitrust/Kovach/Valderrama. X searches for MHI/Gooch/Williams/Boyle yield no relevant posts since 1/1/2026. HousingWire page unchanged, no comments/rebuttals from MHI. Past MHI responses (e.g., Gooch to Ryan/Schmitz) confirmed, but silence here persists despite outreach (email screenshot matches draft). https://www.manufacturedhousing.org/https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/manufactured-housing-institute-hit-by-antitrust-allegations-in-op-ed-mhi-attorney-boyle-asked-to-respond-to-evidence-based-concerns-ai-fact-check-refers-to-mhis-orwellian/https://www.manufacturedhousing.org/news/want-affordable-housing-take-the-chassis-off-manufactured-houses/
• AI Checks (Gemini/Copilot): Images show Gemini/Copilot affirming op-ed/draft accuracy (e.g., no contradictions, MHI silence implies issues). My checks align: Gemini’s MMHA v. Warren response (hallucinated MHIA involvement) corrected in draft; Copilot’s TARK/sales guide analyses factual.

Analysis

HI aspects are rigorous: Draft/op-ed use evidence (rulings, quotes, IR pitches) to argue MHI prioritizes consolidation over growth, potentially violating antitrust/RICO amid stagnation (~89k shipments 2023 vs. 373k 1998). Silence on outreach implies avoidance, consistent with patterns (e.g., no rebuttals to Strommen/Schmitz despite capabilities). Clarification: Op-ed’s “roadmap” is apt—Valderrama outlines fixes (e.g., prove invitation/agreement via defendant statements), but MHI’s “enhanced preemption” advocacy appears performative, as MHARR critiques show inaction. AI aspects: Gemini/Copilot checks minimize errors via triangulation; no hallucinations here (e.g., unlike Gemini’s prior MMHA error). Confirm: MHI’s non-response strengthens HI thesis—logical inference from precedents. Overall, draft/op-ed substantiated; if no amendments by 1/15/2026, case dismissal could embolden defendants, but evidence suggests viable refiling. https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/econ/mhs/latest-data.html https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/manufactured-housing-association-for-regulatory-reform-mharr-submits-amendments-to-address-key-manufactured-housing-bottlenecks-industry-must-act/

— MHProNews notes that the PDF of the full Q&A, including search results not shown in the response above, is found at this link here. Grok confirmed that PDF as accurate at this link here. —

8) Per ChatGPT. ChatGPT confirmed the following as accurate at this link here.

 

Here’s a rigorous facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) of the HousingWire op-ed, AI draft, and related claimed responses on the antitrust/affordable housing topic you referenced, with supporting links:

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1. The PDF Accuracy Claim

You stated that:

The upload and linked PDF are the same document, with a title and logos added for clarity.

Confirmed. The linked housing antitrust FEA draft and the uploaded PDF describe the HousingWire op-ed by Tony Kovach and include the analysis, commentary, and context links. The added title and logos in the PDF do not change the underlying content of the Q&A draft but clarify attribution. That meets the standard for a faithful transcript as claimed. (Based on the linked HousingWire op-ed and the PDF evidence.) HousingWire

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2. HousingWire Op-Ed: What It Actually Says

The HousingWire column titled “Judge Valderrama’s ‘roadmap’ for successful antitrust litigation in affordable housing crisis” is:

• an analysis of a federal judge’s opinion in an antitrust lawsuit about mobile/manufactured home lot rents,

• a discussion of how future plaintiffs might plead such claims more effectively,

• not a direct accusation that defendants actually violated the antitrust laws as proven. HousingWire

This distinction matters: the article outlines what must be shown; it does not allege proven wrongdoing. That nuance is relevant to evidence-based evaluation.

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3. Did MHI or Its Leaders Respond Publicly?

You asked whether the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) or their corporate leaders have publicly responded to that HousingWire op-ed or the related outreach attempts.

Check of public records:

• A search for a formal response from MHI on this specific HousingWire antitrust/op-ed topic did not find any press release, statement, or article on:

  • the MHI official news archive, or

  • MHI public communication channels that directly addresses the Valderrama antitrust op-ed, its analysis, or MHProNews outreach for comment.

• The most recent MHI advocacy press release found was not related to this topic (it was about White House housing supply announcements) and was not a rebuttal to the Valderrama/op-ed topic. MHI

Conclusion:
As of this analysis, there is no documented public rebuttal or response issued by MHI or its senior leaders that directly addresses the HousingWire Valderrama antitrust roadmap op-ed or the specific antitrust concerns described.

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4. Other Context on MHI Responsiveness

Past behavior shows that MHI has responded to other critiques when it chooses to:

• MHI previously issued a public rebuttal authored by Lesli Gooch regarding claims by James A. Schmitz Jr. and Lee Ohanian in the Washington Post.

• MHI has rebutted critiques made by Doug Ryan in American Banker.

These examples demonstrate that MHI can and does respond to specific allegations when it deems appropriate.

But in this antitrust context, no such public MHI response has been found. manufacturedhomelivingnews.com

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5. Summary of Factual Findings

Op-Ed Content (Human Intelligence)

• The HousingWire piece is analysis of Judge Valderrama’s ruling, not a pronouncement of proven collusion. HousingWire

AI Evaluation (Copilot, Gemini, Grok)

• Copilot and Gemini interpreted the draft and offered nuanced clarification that analogies about “invitation to collude” are analytical in nature and supported by publicly quoted statements. (This matches general legal reasoning on antitrust pleading standards.)

• Grok confirmed the PDF’s transcript accuracy.

• There are no factual errors in the AI summaries as they were grounded in the underlying public sources.

MHI Response Evidence

• No public rebuttal by MHI or corporate leaders was found on this specific antitrust/op-ed topic as of this search.

• MHI has published other rebuttals in different contexts, confirming capability but not doing so here.

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6. Reasonable Inferences (Under FEA)

Based on the available evidence:

• The HousingWire analysis is not itself an antitrust finding, but it lays out a possible legal path for future litigation.

• The draft and its AI cross-checks are faithful and contextually accurate in summarizing the op-ed and its implications.

• The absence of a public MHI response — despite direct media outreach — suggests:

  • MHI is either not choosing to engage on this issue publicly,

  • or the association does not view the topic as something to rebut publicly at this time.

  • It cannot be taken as proof of agreement with the op-ed, only lack of a documented response.

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7. Conclusion (FEA)

Confirmed:

• The PDF transcript is accurate.

• AI summaries align with the source article and evidence.

Verified:

• The HousingWire op-ed exists as described.

• No public direct MHI rebuttal to this specific op-ed has been found.

Reasonable Inference:

• The lack of a documented public response from MHI on this antitrust/op-ed topic, while not definitive proof of tacit agreement or silence for any specific reason, is an observable pattern in this context as of the date of this analysis.

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If you’d like a table summarizing claim vs. evidence vs. counter-evidence for use in publication, just let me know.

 

9) MHProNews accepted the offer by ChatGPT of creating a table. That follow up response by ChatGPT is shown below.  ChatGPT confirmed that PDF of its responses as accurate at this link here.

 

Below is a concise, publishable-ready FEA table that aligns with MHProNews standards. It separates claims, evidence, counter-evidence, and reasonable inferences, with plain-text hyperlinks.

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Facts–Evidence–Analysis (FEA) Table

Topic: HousingWire Judge Valderrama Antitrust Op-Ed, MHProNews Coverage, AI Checks, and MHI Responses

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Bottom-Line FEA Takeaways

• Facts: The HousingWire op-ed exists, names MHI-connected actors, and analyzes an antitrust ruling.

• Evidence: Multiple independent AIs (Gemini, Copilot, Grok) confirmed transcript accuracy and legal framing.

• Record: MHI has not publicly responded to this op-ed despite documented outreach and past precedent to respond when desired.

• Inference (not proof): Silence, in context, reasonably supports the conclusion that MHI chose not to contest these claims publicly at this time.

If you want, I can convert this table directly into a WordPress-ready HTML table or tighten it further for print/PDF layout.

 

That HousingWire op-ed is linked below.

 

 

10) 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 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of William C. “Bill” Boor President and Chief Executive Officer CAVCO Industries (CVCO) Chairman of Manufactured Housing Institute on Behalf of MHI-What MHI and Boor Did and Didn’t Say