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During a well documented affordable housing crisis, the manufactured home industry is demonstrably underperforming as measured by historic and U.S. population growth standards. There are several possible explanations. Among them? There are sadly tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of thousands of residents in older mobile home parks or newer manufactured home communities that are living in a property operated by what has been called by residents and consumer advocates alike as a “predatory” land-lease community operator. While that still is a minority of properties, those numbers are significant and arguably growing. As this site and our MHProNews sister-site reported, in 2023, multiple national class action antitrust lawsuits were launched on behalf of residents as but one response to that troubling concern. There are also those who may be thirsting for affordable housing, manufactured homes or otherwise, but due to zoning, financing, or other artificial barriers are not able to properly access the affordable housing they desire. Given the array of mainstream media, public official (elected or appointed), legal and other resources, how is that possible? Those are fair questions and concerns. They merit an intelligent and evidence-based response.
With that and other topics in mind, MHLivingNews and our MHProNews sister-site have in the past two plus years have been testing a new form of “hybrid” journalism. To frame what follows, it is useful to define hybrid journalism. Here is what Bing’s critically praised and well ranked artificial intelligence (AI) powered Copilot said on this date as a useful explanation and definition. The request is by MHLivingNews, the response is by Copilot, which is provided after their logo to clarify the dialogue.
Okay, give me a useful definition to be used on MHLivingNews for hybrid journalism that will introduce and “hook” others that read it on the meaning and value of the concept.
Certainly, L. A. “Tony”! Here’s a definition crafted to resonate with the MHLivingNews audience and hook readers by immediately framing the concept in terms of value, clarity, and trust:
Hybrid journalism is a fact-driven, source-cited form of reporting that blends traditional investigative principles with modern digital tools—like artificial intelligence, public records access, and data visualization—to expose truths that others may obscure. It prioritizes evidence over narrative spin and empowers readers by connecting them directly to the sources, laws, and expert insights behind the headlines. In a landscape crowded with soundbites and corporate gloss, hybrid journalism offers something rare: clarity you can verify, and solutions you can act on.
Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for use as a pull quote, headline tag, or infographic element. We can also tailor it for first-time visitors versus long-time readers.
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The screen capture that verifies the accuracy of the Q&A above is posted below and is found at the link here.
Regrettably, there is an array of agenda-driven ‘news’ or ‘views’ which can obscure rather than reveal the causes and cures to various problems. To be clear, simply using AI is NOT in and of itself an automatically ‘better’ way to provide journalism. An article published on MHProNews earlier today shows an example – and links another – of how AI was used by a different platform (not this one or MHProNews) in a way that arguably failed to properly inform readers. That article happens to be about an apparently predatory and problematic land-lease manufactured home community (MHC) operator that received arguably undeserved attention and favorable coverage.
With that brief backdrop, the following Q&A with Copilot is designed as an introduction to the importance of some basic concepts that lay out the challenges and begin to point to a methodology to move from understanding the problems to actually solving them, based on years of evidence, experience, reporting, common-sense, and research.
Hey, Copilot. Following up on the prior thread. ‘Never Give Up the Con’ ‘Rigged System’ ‘Special Interests’ Defining-Understand U.S. Affordable Housing Crisis and Manufactured Housing Industry Underperformance in 21st Century; MHVille FEA on MHProNews was published less than an hour ago on MHProNews at this link here: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/never-give-up-the-con-rigged-system-special-interests-defining-understand-u-s-affordable-housing-crisis-and-manufactured-housing-industry-underpe/ A layered request. First, is that faithful and accurate to our draft and subsequent discussion as well as to the cited sources? Next, starting with an explanation for the value of hybrid journalism and source-evidence-rich articles like that, create an article for MHLivingNews. Have it provide definitions for affordable housing, definitions for the distinction between mobile homes, manufactured homes, ‘stick built housing,’ and what the HUD definition for ‘affordable housing’ is. That article should also be a useful introduction that links sources in the text that explains that what Schmitz and his colleagues have called obscured sabotage monopoly tactics, the need for millions of more affordable HUD Code manufactured homes, and why as well meaning as rent control may be, that the history of rent control reveals that MHI insiders brands and companies like Havenpark, RHP Properties, Flagship, Sun, ELS, Yes! Communities, or Frank Rolfe linked locations have been hit by fines and/or lawsuits while public officials discuss rent control measures that have been repeatedly proven not to work as advertised or hoped. Then, using and linking that article on MHProNews (or others as warranted on MHProNews/MHLivingNews, MHARR, the Patch, etc.) why logically fastest solution is a combination of enforcing existing laws like Antitrust, RICO, Hobbs Act, etc. as well as supply-increasing laws like the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 and its enhanced preemption provision plus single-family home finance-supporting federal support. Makes sure that terms like paltering, posturing, deception and misdirection are addressed. In short, make this a good starting point for a truth-seeker to find information that can help them save potentially years of headaches and heartaches. Make sense? If you find that MHProNews/MHLivingNews have been publications that have been driven by facts-evidence-expert analysis that accurately cites sources while making the case for solutions that work, explain that and link results.
Absolutely, L.—this makes perfect sense, and your layered request is right in the wheelhouse of principled, evidence-based journalism. Based on the MHProNews article you linked, the published version of “Never Give Up the Con” appears to faithfully reflect the themes, structure, and source citations we discussed. It weaves together the systemic framing of the affordable housing crisis, the role of special interests, and the underperformance of manufactured housing in a way that aligns with your draft and our prior conversations. The article also integrates references to Schmitz et al., MHARR, and other credible sources, while highlighting the disconnect between public policy goals and industry behavior.
Now, here’s a draft article for MHLivingNews that builds on that foundation and serves as a gateway for truth-seekers:
Affordable Housing, Manufactured Homes, and the Rigged System: What Every American Should Know
Why Hybrid Journalism Matters
In an era of clickbait headlines and corporate media consolidation, hybrid journalism—fact-rich, source-cited, and solution-oriented—has become essential. Publications like MHProNews and MHLivingNews have carved out a unique space by blending investigative reporting with expert analysis, offering readers not just information, but insight. This approach empowers consumers, advocates, and policymakers to cut through the noise and understand the root causes of America’s affordable housing crisis.
Defining the Basics
Affordable Housing: According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), housing is considered affordable when a household spends no more than 30% of its gross income on housing costs, including utilities.
Manufactured Homes vs. Mobile Homes vs. Site-Built Housing:
- Mobile Homes refer to factory-built homes produced before June 15, 1976, prior to the implementation of the federal HUD Code.
- Manufactured Homes are built to the HUD Code established by the Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, with updates under the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. These homes are federally regulated, energy-efficient, and often indistinguishable from site-built homes.
- Site-Built (Stick-Built) Homes are constructed entirely on-site using traditional building methods and are regulated by local and state building codes.
The Hidden Forces Behind the Crisis
Economist James A. Schmitz Jr. and his colleagues have documented what they call “sabotage monopoly” tactics—deliberate efforts by entrenched interests to undermine manufactured housing through zoning barriers, financing restrictions, and regulatory manipulation. These tactics have obscured the potential of HUD Code homes to solve the affordable housing shortage.
Despite the need for millions of new affordable homes, production of manufactured housing remains far below historic norms. Why? Because special interests—including some of the largest Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) member brands—have benefited from consolidation, limited competition, and rising site rents.
Rent Control: A Symptom, Not a Cure
While rent control is often proposed as a solution to rising housing costs, history shows it frequently fails to deliver long-term affordability. In fact, companies like Havenpark Capital, RHP Properties, Flagship Communities, Sun Communities, Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), Yes! Communities, and locations linked to Frank Rolfe have faced lawsuits, regulatory fines, or public backlash over aggressive rent hikes and questionable practices.
Rather than addressing the root causes, rent control can mask the effects of market manipulation and regulatory failure. As MHProNews has documented, these firms often posture as affordable housing providers while engaging in practices that contradict that narrative.
The Fastest Path Forward: Enforce and Expand
The most logical and lawful path to resolving the crisis includes:
- Enforcing existing laws: Antitrust statutes, RICO, and the Hobbs Act can be used to challenge collusion, market manipulation, and deceptive practices.
- Implementing the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000: Especially its enhanced preemption provision, which was designed to override local zoning barriers that unfairly target manufactured homes.
- Expanding access to financing: Federal support for single-family home loans should include manufactured homes, leveling the playing field for millions of would-be homeowners.
Cutting Through the Fog: Paltering, Posturing, and Misdirection
Too often, industry insiders and their allies engage in paltering—the use of technically true statements to mislead. They posture as reformers while resisting meaningful change. And they deploy misdirection to shift blame away from systemic failures. Recognizing these tactics is the first step toward reform.
A Resource for Truth-Seekers
For those seeking clarity, MHProNews and MHLivingNews offer a rare combination of investigative depth and factual rigor. Articles like “Never Give Up the Con” expose the mechanics of the rigged system while pointing toward actionable solutions. Other resources worth exploring include:
- MHARR’s policy briefs and analysis
- The Patch’s local reporting on zoning and housing
- Schmitz et al.’s research on sabotage monopolies
Let me know if you’d like this formatted for publication or expanded into a series. We can also build a companion infographic or timeline to visualize the key events and players. Ready when you are.
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MHLivingNews accepted Copilots offer to create an illustration. It was tweaked by this writer for MHLivingNews to be more factually accurate and is posted below.
A related Q&A follows. Some related articles are linked below.
A much more detailed look at “Never Give up the Con” is linked below.
A specific and fresh look at one of several possible “predatory” operators is linked below.
Mobile Home and Manufactured Home Living News explores the good, bad, and ugly realities that keep the most proven form of affordable home ownership under-appreciated and misunderstood. MHLivingNews provides third-party research and other resource collections and reports not found on other sites. We also provide thought provoking analysis that are designed to open minds and hearts. This is the widely acknowledged best source for authentic news on mobile and manufactured home living, as well as the policies that impact this segment of housing that provides 22 million Americans with good, surprisingly appealing living.
On our MHProNews sister-site and here on MHLivingNews, we lay out the facts and insights that others can’t or won’t do. That’s what makes our sister site and this location the runaway leaders for authentic information about affordable housing in general, the politics behind the problems, and manufactured homes specifically.
That’s a wrap on this installment of “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 MHLivingNews.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
Recent and Related Reports:
The text/image boxes below are linked to other reports, which can be accessed by clicking on them.
