In the near future, PBS News will be featuring video interviews on a broadcast and posted on their website that will focus on manufactured housing lending. Our sources tell MHProNews that PBS will have “both sides” of the issue represented in their report. We’re also told by pro-industry voices that PBS assigned a journalist known to be balanced to do their piece.
We will soon see.
Dr. Lesli Gooch at the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has penned what we believe is her first significant article on the topic of manufactured home lending as it relates to the Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act in Roll Call. The feedback has been generally favorable among MH Industry members. How will it play in DC?
We will soon see.
The FHFA/GSE’s could soon be releasing a modified position on the so-called Duty to Serve (DTS) underserved markets, including manufactured housing chattel (home only, personal property) lending, mandated by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA 2008). The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) took a bold step a couple of years ago in meeting and allying with Ishbel Dickens led National Manufactured Home Owners Association (NMHOA). While we critiqued that move on MHProNews for a variety of reasons at that time, will the MHARR gambit – on a topic that MHI also supports – pay off for the MH Industry?
We will soon see.
Inside and out, the MH Industry is complex. We meet and speak with individuals, even some with significant experience, who don’t know the ins and outs of their own industry. The less informed tend to be those who aren’t deeply engaged in reading from this source for MH Industry News Tips and Views Pros Can Use. The issues are complex.
We’ve heard comments from others beyond MHI on topics that informed readers have questioned. What that means is that ours is far from a monolithic industry. We’ve heard our industry’s ranks being described as so independent, that it is like hearding cats to get something done.
What must be noted is that MHI, MHARR and a number of state associations have in difficult times slowly moved their respective balls ahead, often in the face of tough opposition. Even when we see a topic diffidently than an official position or how it is presented, that is not a reason to be disengaged. Quite the opposite in fact.
That said, there is push back on these issues, from within and without the ranks of MH Pros. In some cases, there are quiet or open feuds at work between an association and certain MH Professionals. Those feuds, unquelled or if they worsen, have the ability to tip things in undesired directions. There are troubling factors in that regard, which we won’t dive into today.
All that said, for those who want to see more lending, for those who want to protect the values of individual MH homeowners. there is no better time to get informed and get engaged.
Lead your colleagues and respective team mates in the priceless effort to get and stay informed. Then, get and stay involved in your industry’s politics. Griping may be a start, but moaning alone is of little practical value.
Each of us are either part of the solution, or part of the problem. We strive daily to practice what we preach. Please; don’t just preach…practice the actions needed to match your best intentions and desires for Manufactured Housing and our 20-22 million MH residents. ##
