Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/231807
Q15. What do you mean by "partners?" A. Well, with no independent national post-production representation in Washington, D.C., it might be necessary to work directly with finance companies whose voices are largely left out by the current system, for the reasons I've already explained. Q16. Are you saying that MHARR might be considering membership for finance companies in the Association? A. Many suggestions have been made in this regard, and we are currently evaluating the possibility of recommending to the MHARR Board of Directors that a new category of membership be established for such companies. Expanding the availability of consumer financing is something that the industry has to fight for, not just for itself, but for millions of potential homebuyers. Q17. Since you just mentioned homeowners, it's also been widely reported that MHARR has engaged with national representatives of manufactured homeowners. Can you elaborate on this? A. The philosophy and vision of MHARR's founders from day-one was a balance between regulation and consumer protection, while maintaining the affordability of manufactured homes. Thus, they made it a point to work with homeowners as partners in advancing policies 11 \ JANUARY 2014 14 THE JOURNAL consistent with this vision. 18 million happy and satisfied homeowners (and growing), are the best national "advertising" and goodwill ambassadors that the industry can ever have. Therefore, while MHARR has no control over and cannot address existing homeowners' concerns related to post-production matters, it can and will work with homeowners and their national representatives on issues of mutual agreement that fall within MHARR's realm of activity in representing HUD Code manufacturers. Q18. And what specifically are those issues at the present time? A. Currently, we are focusing on two. First, homeowners collectively are in full agreement that the federal manufactured housing program is absolutely necessary in order to provide American homebuyers with the most affordable nonsubsidized homeownership. Second, homeowners are in full agreement that the current status of manufactured home consumer finance is unacceptable and needs improvement, and that the sources of manufactured home consumer financing must be expanded to provide American homebuyers with competition and options to purchase their home on whatever basis the buyer wishes to pursue. MHARR will continue to work closely with the National Manufactured Home Owners Association (NMHOA) No. 8 on Get It Quick Page -- the homeowners' national association -- to advance these two issues. Q19. Where do you see the industry going in 2014 and beyond? A. It's very difficult to predict as it appears now – without some last minute relief – that the industry will have to deal, in some fashion, with the new rules that will be taking effect in January under the Dodd-Frank law. The fallout from that will be significant, but it will only enhance the challenge that the industry faces, to revise and restructure the laws, regulations and policies on home financing to clearly, definitively and mandatorily include manufactured home loans of all types. The need for affordable homeownership in the United States will only continue to expand. The challenge for us, as an industry, will be to find ways to satisfy that demand in a changing and more difficult regulatory landscape as pertains to financing. Happy New Year!