This past week, there were calls to MHLivingNews from residents that had concerns about the management at the properties’ where they lived. The callers were each from different parts of the country. But their issues were similar.
Also, this past week, there were more mainstream media reports about manufactured housing. Those reports, viewed through expert eyes, had several obvious oversights and problematic elements to them. More on those two topics further below.
Additionally, there was the latest data about HUD Code manufactured housing production and trends. That report, among numerous others, are among the articles for the week in review.
The trends in our industry, compared to mainstream housing – which are also revealed among this week’s headlines – frankly could be much better.
Those brief teasers for what follow may seem to be largely unrelated, other than the point that each involved affordable manufactured homes directly or obliquely.
But the reality is this. No matter what hoopla or promises some make, the manufactured home industry will continue to underperform until specific changes occur. Those changes could commence whenever one or more savvy and long-term minded doers decide to profitably and honorably turn lemons into lemonade.
Problems are opportunities in disguise.
MHI’s prior president and CEO said that the manufactured home industry could be doing 500,000 new homes annually instead of the under 100,000 that will occur once more in 2020. If so, his claim would represent a 500 percent upside potential. Candidly, that now departed MHI staffer’s observation was a low estimate. That is based upon the need for affordable housing in the U.S. and the amazing value proposition possible with mainstream entry-level to residential style HUD Code manufactured homes.
Even well-informed industry pros with decades of experience can benefit from stepping back and taking a fresh, candid look at issues and the opportunities in disguise. Or as business guru Jim Collins has said, pros and investors must seek and examine the cold, hard, and sometimes brutal facts.
That may dispassionate examination of reality may be an uncomfortable process for some, but nothing else will do.
In a free enterprise economy, problems have historically been opportunities in disguise. Once the problems are understood objectively, then discerning how to tap into that profitably with high consumer satisfaction should be the aim. But by definition, that means challenging the prevailing thoughts of many.
Every report that follows is directly or indirectly related to our industry, it’s obstacles, and possible opportunities.
Don’t miss the postscript following the headlines for the week which are linked below.
With no further adieu, let us dive into the headlines for the week that was, 11.29 to 12.6.2020.
What’s New on MHLivingNews
What’s New from Washington, D.C. from MHARR
The Latest on the Masthead
What’s New this Week on the Daily Business News on MHProNews
Saturday 12.5.2020.
Friday 12.4.2020
NAHB Quarterly “Eye On Housing” Data Spotlights Several Manufactured Housing Industry Opportunities
Thursday 12.3.2020
Wednesday 12.2.2020
Tuesday 12.1.2020
Monday 11.30.2020
Sunday 11.29.2020
Postscript
The case can be made that good reporting stands the test of time. The better a report reflects reality, the more useful it will prove to be. Like a good wine, good reporting may even get better over time.
Some subjects – properly understood – need no hype or sensationalism. An informative topic often generates its own drama.
When a subject is nuanced, it becomes more difficult to synthesize down to an artificially short length which still does justice to the issues. That said, the solution to creating shorter content which is still accurate often depends upon linking to a longer and informative treatment of an issue.
Among the challenges found in modern America that have had enduring persistence as an unresolved problem, affordable housing is certainly among them. As an important subset of affordable housing, manufactured homes is a proven solution that has nevertheless defied its potential.
That begs the question, why – given literarily decades of evidence in favor of modern HUD Code manufactured homes – are they still so misunderstood and even denigrated?
That is both the challenge and the key to unlocking opportunities in disguise.
At a minimum, the status quo suggests that the current approaches are not working as their proponents claim.
Beyond that, the persistence of issues when corporate interests with deep pockets are involved that arguably have the resources resolve the challenges suggests they powers that be like the status quo, no matter what they might claim publicly.
That dynamic might mean that new players, or existing ones willing to do something in a different fashion, could step in, step up, and position themselves to overtake existing corporate forces. Should that occur with a win-win-win mindset, it could lead to a renaissance in affordable manufactured housing.
Until that happens, when nothing is changed, more of the same is to be expected. That will suit some just fine, others not. But mere moaning vs. actual problem solving have never been the same thing.
Our thanks to you, our sources, and sponsors 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, further below. 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
Related References:
The text/image boxes below are linked to other reports, which can be accessed by clicking on them.
“Mob Rules” – 2020 and Manufactured Housing Updates; plus, Sunday Weekly Headlines in Review
