Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/72467
Industry Production Increases for 9 ConsecutiveMonths The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) reports that ac- cording to official statistics compiled on behalf of the U.S. Department ofHousing and Urban Development (HUD), the manufactured housing industry production rebound which began during the second half of 2011 has now extended to nine consecutivemonths. Just-re- leased statistics for April 2012 indicate that HUD Code manufacturers produced 4,630 homes, an increase of 17.4% from the 3,944 HUD Code homes produced duringApril 2011. Cumulative 2012 industry production now to- tals 17,429 homes, up 27.5%from cumulative industry production of 13,667 homes during the same period in 2011. A further analysis of the official industry sta- tistics shows that the top ten shipment states for the period ofAugust 2011 toApril 2012 -- with cumulative shipment totals as indicated -- are: 1. Texas . . . . . . . . . .7,498 homes 2. Louisiana . . . . . . . .3,125 homes 3. Alabama . . . . . . . . 2,137 homes 4. North Dakota . . . . . 1,902 homes 5. North Carolina . . . . 1,871 homes 6. Florida . . . . . . . . .1,830 homes 7. Kentucky . . . . . . . .1,581 homes 8. Mississippi . . . . . . . 1,461 homes 9. Maryland . . . . . . . .1,339 homes 10. Oklahoma . . . . . .1,264 homes The sustained increase in industry produc- tion, reflecting just part of the growing demand for affordablemanufactured housing, highlights the urgent need to revive and expand the avail- ability ofmanufactured home consumer financ- ing in general and manufactured home personal property (chattel) financing – including Fed- eral Housing Administration (FHA) Title I fi- nancing -- in particular. Manufactured home financing and especially chattel financing, as MHARR has repeatedly pointed out to Con- gress, FHA, the Government Sponsored En- terprises (GSEs) and their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), providesmillions of lower andmoderate-income Americans with the lowest cost access to the American Dream of home ownership. A revitalization and expansion of the avail- ability of all types of manufactured home con- sumer financing would not only help home buyers in difficult economic times, but would also provide a welcome andmuch-needed boost for the industry – and the small businesses which comprise its traditional core -- which suffered through a devastating production decline in ex- cess of 90%between 1998 and 2011. In this re- gard, MHARR is undertaking a series of new initiatives designed to advance and expand the availability of both public and private financing formanufactured home purchases and especially chattel financing. Additional information on these initiatives will be released shortly. The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform is a Washington, D.C.- based national trade association representing the views and interests of producers of federally- regulated manufactured housing. JULY 2012 6 THE JOURNAL No. 4 on Get It Quick Page