manufacturedhomelivingnews.com Manufactured Home Living News
This article for MHLivingNews is based upon the interaction with Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered Gemini found in the deeper dive report at this link here plus the document found here. That linked document is the record of the ‘chat’ or conversation between this primary writer and co-founder of MHLivingNews and MHProNews and the vast information resources available to a tool like Gemini. Gemini and typical AI systems have a disclosure.
Gemini’s on this date said: “Gemini can make mistakes, so double-check it.” After two years of using AI for specific purposes that are clearly labeled and shown for reader consideration, it can be as useful to question what a human said as it is what an AI response is.
Millions have come to question much of mainstream media for good reasons. It is because agendas can be slyly written into stories.
But if human expertise and AI’s potential to digest a lot of information quickly combined with its ability to apply objective thinking (i.e.: logic, reason, common sense), that offers a new style of journalism that xAI’s Grok suggested is a style of ‘hybrid journalism.’ The best of what AI can offer combined with the best of what human expertise can bring to readers.
What follows is such an article. AI powered Gemini was asked a series of questions that included information inputs for the AI to fact check. What is linked here is the start of that AI chat thread. What is linked here is the specific ‘consumer alert’ article as drafted by Gemini. What is provided below is a lightly edited version of what Gemini said. To compare what Gemini said and what is shown in this article, the document linked here can be read and compared to what follows. The items in italics are where human edits occurred. With that brief introduction, explanation, and disclosure is the following.
Note that it was Gemini that suggested the headline below (the one above is by this human writer). The quote image immediately below and what follows in Part II are reasons why Gemini may have made those suggestions.
Part I
Consumer Alert: Is Warren Buffett’s “Moat” Blocking Affordable Housing? Antitrust Concerns Grow in Manufactured Housing
For years, manufactured housing has been touted as a key solution to America’s affordable housing crisis. But a growing chorus of voices, backed by legal actions and expert analysis, suggests that anti-competitive practices and the strategic consolidation of the industry by a few dominant players – many affiliated with the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) – may be undermining this potential and harming consumers.
National Antitrust Lawsuits Emerge
In 2023, a series of national antitrust civil lawsuits were filed on behalf of residents against several manufactured home community consolidators. These lawsuits allege that these firms engaged in coordinated efforts to artificially inflate rents and suppress competition within land-lease communities, impacting the financial well-being of residents.
DOJ Targets RealPage: Manufactured Housing Links Surface
Adding fuel to these concerns, in 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched an antitrust action against RealPage, a software company that provides pricing algorithms to the rental housing industry. Disturbingly, evidence-based allegations within that case may have implications for Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), which owns Datacomp, a provider of data and analytics for manufactured housing communities. ELS is a prominent member of MHI, and Datacomp has strong ties to the industry. The DOJ’s action suggests a broader pattern of potential price-fixing and anti-competitive behavior within the rental housing market, which could extend into manufactured home communities.
Expert Concerns Highlight MHI Members’ Role
Industry experts and advocates have also raised significant antitrust concerns directly implicating major MHI members:
- Samuel Strommen (Knudson Law): Has publicly discussed the legal basis for potential antitrust and RICO violations within the manufactured housing sector, emphasizing the impact of consolidation on market dynamics and consumer welfare. (https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/masthead/true-tale-of-four-attorneys-research-into-manufactured-housing-what-they-reveal-about-why-manufactured-homes-are-underperforming-during-an-affordable-housing-crisis-facts-and-analysis)
- Mark Weiss (MHARR): Has consistently highlighted the anti-competitive implications of the consolidation of key manufactured housing industry sectors and has pointed out MHI’s apparent inaction on this issue due to the involvement of its own members. (https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ConsolidationKeyManufacturedHomeIndustrySectorsGrowingConcernManufacturedHousingInstMHIhasNotAddressedBecauseDoingSoWouldImplicateOwnMembersMarkWeissJD-PresCEO-MHARR-MHProNews.jpg and https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/consolidation-of-key-mh-industry-sectors-ongoing-growing-concern-mhi-hasnt-addressed-because-doing-so-would-implicate-their-own-members-plus-sunday-weekly-mhville-headlines-recap)
- Doug Ryan (formerly Prosperity Now): Has also raised concerns about the impact of predatory practices and consolidation on the affordability and accessibility of manufactured housing. (While a direct link to Doug Ryan explicitly naming Clayton Homes and the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) in an antitrust context wasn’t provided in our immediate conversation, his broader work on predatory practices aligns with these concerns).
Warren Buffett’s “Moat” and Its Impact
The term “economic moat,” famously used by Warren Buffett to describe a company’s sustainable competitive advantage, takes on a concerning dimension within the manufactured housing context. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK) owns both Clayton Homes, the largest manufacturer, and 21st Mortgage Corporation, a dominant lender. Critics argue that this vertical integration, coupled with the alleged anti-competitive behaviors in land-lease communities (where ELS and other MHI members are major players), creates a “moat” that stifles competition and limits affordable housing options.
The lack of a robust national image campaign, despite the industry’s potential, further reinforces this concern. As previously discussed, the absence of a unified effort to promote manufactured housing suggests that the dominant players may prioritize market share and consolidation over organic industry growth that could benefit a wider range of consumers and businesses.
Harm to Renters and Community Residents
The consequences of these alleged anti-competitive practices are significant:
- Limited Affordable Housing Options: The underperformance of the manufactured housing sector, potentially due to strategic limitations on growth and competition, restricts the availability of affordable homes for both renters and potential buyers.
- Increased Rents in Land-Lease Communities: The alleged rent-fixing and lack of competitive pressure in consolidated land-lease communities directly harm residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes.
- Reduced Homeownership Opportunities: The interconnectedness of manufacturing, lending, and community ownership controlled by a few major players may create barriers to homeownership for those seeking affordable options.
Consumers and policymakers should be aware of these growing concerns. The ongoing lawsuits, the DOJ’s action against RealPage, and the analyses from industry experts paint a concerning picture of potential anti-competitive behavior that may be hindering the very affordable housing solutions that manufactured homes could provide.
It is crucial for regulators and lawmakers to investigate these allegations thoroughly to ensure a fair and competitive market that benefits consumers and promotes access to affordable housing.
Sources
Manufactured Housing Institute
Bipartisan Plan Includes Manufactured Housing as a Solution to the Housing Crisis
Bipartisan Plan Includes Manufactured Housing as a Solution to the Housing Crisis.
Lawsuit claims mobile home park managers conspired to fix and inflate lot rental prices
Caution! Equity LifeStyle Properties Dweller-Investor-Biz-Legal Alerts | Lakeland, FL Patch
www.manufacturedhomepronews.com
Legacy Housing Q1 2025 Results Expose Industry & Regulatory Hurdles | Lakeland, FL Patch
www.manufacturedhomepronews.com
www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
Part II
There is much more than has and could be said.
When you ‘keep out competitors’ by making it “difficult” for them, it isn’t just smaller businesses that are the losers. Consumers lose too.
Residents in land-lease communities that are often MHI members often suffer because of ‘predatory’ operators’ behavior.
Let’s note that MHLivingNews and MHProNews are ‘pro-manufactured housing’ but are opposed to predatory and apparently illegal behavior. We are manufactured homeowners ourselves.
For greater insights, surf this site and/or check out the deeper dive article involving Gemini found at this link here. The video below is also part of that more in depth linked report.
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.
