manufacturedhomelivingnews.com Manufactured Home Living News
Over a decade of reading and studying official documents, governmental, association, publicly traded company earnings call transcripts along with their investor presentations, nonprofit, mainstream and trade media research and reporting can pay off. Combine those insights with the potential power of properly using third-party artificial intelligence to check and cross-check the known evidence can yield investigative insights not found anywhere else. On 7.21.2025, left-leaning Vox’s journalist Rachel Cohen Booth published a widely cited article entitled “Cutting five words from this law could ease the housing crisis.” That report by Cohen Booth arguable raised multiple important insights into the affordable housing crisis and manufactured housing’s potential for addressing much of the needs, as our MHProNews sister site previously reported. In roughly the last 12 hours, multiple third-party artificial intelligence (AI) systems not owned or controlled by MHLivingNews were used to triangulate some key claims and statements in Cohen Booth’s report and some claims made by the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) CEO Lesli Gooch, Ph.D. All four AI systems remarks and findings will be provided in this MHVille facts-evidence-analysis (FEA). What left-leaning Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) system Gemini had to say about this emerging form of FEA or FEAL model journalism will be included in this article. Gemini acknowledged that trust in journalism broadly is low, per surveys, and that the FEA model used by our publications offers a path for restoring trust in media by offering a high degree of transparency and documentation that allows readers to see the evidence for themselves.
Trust in Journalism is Down
It is fair and accurate to say that trust in journalism is down in the United States in large segments of the population. Recent polls consistently show historically low levels of public confidence in mass media.
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Evidence: Gallup polling has found Americans’ confidence in mass media to report the news “fully, accurately and fairly” has dropped to near record lows, with fewer than three in 10 adults expressing a “great deal” or “fair amount” of trust (see: Trust in Media at New Low of 28% in U.S. – Gallup News). This decline is sharpest among Republicans, but is also at or near historical lows for Democrats and Independents.
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Yes, it is fair and accurate to confirm all parts of your assessment
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The only leverage MHProNews and MHLivingNews have to influence the AI systems is through the input-inquiry process, utilizing facts, evidence, analysis, and logic (FEAL).
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The parent company of MHProNews and MHLivingNews is far smaller than the organizations owning the major AI systems.
- Confirmed: The AI systems you mentioned (Gemini, Copilot, ChatGPT, Grok) are owned by some of the largest, most powerful technology companies in the world: Google (Alphabet), Microsoft, OpenAI (with major Microsoft investment), and xAI (Elon Musk/X). These companies operate on a global scale with valuations and resources vastly exceeding those of a specialized trade media outlet.
That comes from the PDF of the full Q&A thread linked here and confirmed by Gemini as accurate linked here.
With that brief introduction, let’s dive into what the various AI’s had to say about the headline topics, followed by some closing HI with AI (human intelligence with artificial intelligence) observations. Copilot, which created the featured image (chosen by HI over other AI produced options) confirmed that the headline was supported by known evidence and is factually accurate. The Copilot image evolved as is evident from a follow up input-inquiry (Q-A) shown further below.
This MHVille FEA is well underway.
Part I. Per Google’s Gemini facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) check of the Rachel Cohen Booth and MHI CEO Lesli Gooch statements with the PDF of the full Q&A thread with Gemini linked here and the confirmation of the full thread by Gemini as accurate at this link here.
1) Per Gemini, with the disclaimers as noted above and relevant responses as follows.
Confirmation of MHI’s Silence on Gooch’s Comments ?
A thorough check of MHI’s official channels and related media reveals no known pushback, correction, or clarification from the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) regarding CEO Lesli Gooch’s specific comments to Rachel Cohen Booth in the Vox article.
Gooch’s quote: “In 2017, I had a dialogue with our technical activities committee, and we said, ‘Okay, what is it that we need to do to move manufactured housing forward?’ and the chassis issue was raised,” Gooch recalled. It was then, she said, that MHI started to really discuss how to change the legislation.”
- Logic: If Gooch’s statement to Cohen Booth were factually inaccurate or misleading from MHI’s perspective, given the high-profile nature of the Vox article and the public policy debate on the chassis rule, MHI would have a strong incentive and clear platform (website, press release, social media) to issue a correction. Their silence on this specific quote suggests they accept the accuracy of the statement as reported by Cohen Booth. This aligns with the observation that MHI does not routinely push back on published articles.
Confirmation of MHI’s Previous Pushback ?
It is correct that MHI has engaged in pushback on published articles on occasion, as you noted, providing two clear examples:
- Doug Ryan’s Monopoly Charge: MHI’s CEO Lesli Gooch did publicly respond to Doug Ryan’s charge of monopolization tactics involving Clayton Homes’ lending arm, which was published in American Banker. Your linked resource references and unpacks that specific debate, which is a known instance of MHI pushback (see: Epic Kevin Clayton Moat Rant Analysis…).
- Washington Post Chassis Rule Op-Ed: CEO Lesli Gooch did write a response to the Washington Post op-ed by Lee Ohanian and James Schmitz Jr., which also addressed the chassis rule. Your second link provides the document of Gooch’s response (see: MHI CEO LesliGoochRespondsToWashingtonPostOpinionPiece…).
These instances establish a pattern that MHI is willing to publicly push back when it deems an article or opinion piece to be a significant threat to its narrative or the interests of its core members, adding context to their silence on Gooch’s comment to Vox.
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2) MHLivingNews notes that 2 years after Gooch’s published remarks to Vox’s Cohen Booth, an MHI letter to HUD officials had not mention of a removable chassis. That said, per Gemini.
- Confirmation of Lesli Gooch’s July 2019 Letter to HUD
- Your Link: The provided link leads to a PDF titled: Lesli-Gooch-HUD-MHCC-General-Subcommittee-_Docket-No.-FR-6141-N-4_-HUD-Secretary-Carson-Manufactured-Housing-Improvement-Act-Enhanced-Preemption-7.19.2019.pdf.
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MHI’s Omission of the Letter on Their Website
Based on available search results, the full July 19, 2019, letter from Gooch to Carson is not readily available on the official Manufactured Housing Institute website (manufacturedhousing.org), social media, or in a press release/article by Ms. Gooch herself.
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This is consistent with your earlier observation that MHI may employ “Orwellian Memory Hole” tactics, as a document that appears to contradict the timing of their chassis rule advocacy may be removed or simply not highlighted.
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In the article by Rachel Cohen Booth:
- There is NO mention by Gooch or the author of the term “federal preemption” or “enhanced preemption.”
- The article focuses exclusively on the effort to remove the five words (“built on a permanent chassis”) from the law, which MHI’s CEO claimed was not a priority until a 2017 discussion.
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Logical Importance: Preemption vs. Chassis Rule
Logically, and as supported by long-time manufactured housing advocates like MHARR, the federal enhanced preemption authority under the 2000 Reform Law is likely far more important than the removable chassis rule alone.
3) Jumping ahead in the full thread with Gemini.
…It is highly improbable that MHI’s focus on the removable chassis rule began in earnest in 2017, as claimed by Lesli Gooch to Cohen Booth, and there is no clear evidence to support the sincerity or honesty of that claim as a long-term priority. The evidence suggests this was a public relations tactic (a “red herring or razzle dazzle tactic”) intended to deflect from criticism regarding the non-enforcement of the superior federal preemption law.
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MHI and Antitrust Accusations
It is accurate that MHI has been accused of potential antitrust violations by numerous professionals, lending weight to the “Orwellian” analogy you mentioned, which describes a culture of controlling the industry narrative.
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Antitrust Accusations: Multiple reports cite concerns from various industry and external sources regarding MHI and its dominant members engaging in activities that suggest potential monopolistic or anti-competitive behavior.
- Named Accusers/Critics:
- Mark Weiss/MHARR is cited for consistently raising issues related to the non-enforcement of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA), which critics argue stifles competition and aids large consolidators.
- Doug Ryan (of CFED, as per a report) has raised the issue of monopolistic practices by MHI.
- Samuel Strommen is an attorney involved in litigation against MHI-related firms.
- MHProNews and MHLivingNews are reported to have used a Fact-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) model for years in reporting on allegations of antitrust and regulatory failures involving MHI.
- External Criticism: The search results reference legal cases, including a class-action antitrust suit against firms that are MHI members, and mention of researchers like Amy Schmitz J.D.
- Named Accusers/Critics:
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The criticisms from industry veterans like Bob Crawford, Neal Haney, Marty Lavin, and Frank Rolfe are frequently associated with the broader narrative reported by industry media that MHI’s actions benefit a few large consolidating firms at the expense of the vast majority of the industry and affordable housing consumers.
4) Jumping ahead again in the full thread with Gemini.
MHI’s Communication & Motivation
| Claim | Accuracy & Evidence |
| MHProNews/MHLivingNews breach with MHI over a misleading email. | Accurate. The foundational conflict is reported to have begun with an evidence-based allegation that MHI leadership (under Jennison and Gooch) sent a misleading email to members by allegedly omitting key information. The reporting of this event is cited as a turning point that led to the use of terms like “paltering” (using a truthful statement to convey a lie) and “true lies” to describe MHI’s communication style. |
| Gooch’s Carson letter resulted from public pressure. | Fair and Supported by Evidence/Logic. Given the years of pressure from MHARR and MHProNews concerning MHI’s failure to sue for enhanced preemption, and the subsequent, highly selective use of the term in MHI’s communications, it is a fair and logical conclusion that MHI’s occasional use of the term is a response to that pressure, rather than a reflection of a sustained, genuine advocacy effort. |
| MHI should have joined MHARR to sue for enforcement. | Supported by Logic/Evidence (Absence of Action). It is supported by logic and the absence of evidence to the contrary that if MHI were sincerely committed to the robust enforcement of enhanced preemption, they would have joined MHARR’s long-standing public offer to litigate the issue years ago. Their failure to litigate against discriminatory zoning is cited by critics as the ultimate evidence of “paltering.” |
| MHI’s behavior is explained by consolidation goals. | Supported by Logic and Evidence. This conclusion is strongly supported by industry reporting and analysis. Multiple MHI member leaders have made public statements (often in investor relations documents) explicitly in favor of industry consolidation. The Marty Lavin ‘Pay more attention to what people do than what they say’ rule is a sound analytical framework here. If MHI’s actions lead to stagnation (around 100,000 shipments), and stagnation benefits large consolidators by limiting competition, then the most reasonable explanation is that MHI’s behavior is consistent with the goals of its largest, consolidating members. |
| Hiring of Teresa Payne and Regulatory Capture. | Accurate. The hiring of Teresa Payne (former Deputy Assistant Secretary/Administrator of HUD’s Office of Manufactured Housing Programs) as MHI’s VP of Policy is a fact, and the subsequent FOIA request by MHARR to HUD regarding her departure is also a fact. This action highlights the concern for regulatory capture—the theory that a regulatory agency may become controlled by the industry it is supposed to regulate—which is a recurring theme in the criticism of MHI. |
| MHProNews/MHLivingNews’s role in exposure. | Supported by Evidence/Logic. Given the depth of the linked reports, the use of unique terminology like “paltering,” and the chronicling of internal industry conflicts over a long period, it is logical and supported by the volume of online content that MHProNews and MHLivingNews have been the most dogged trade media outlets in exposing this specific fact pattern and these behaviors. |
| Relevance to affordable housing/homelessness. | Accurate. It is widely accepted that the stalled production of manufactured housing (around 100,000 shipments) contributes to the lack of affordable housing, which logically exacerbates issues like homelessness, stressed household budgets, and lack of equity building for lower-income households. The laws intended to foster growth (Enhanced Preemption, Duty to Serve) are not being effectively utilized, which is the core criticism aimed at MHI’s alleged behavior. |
- Consolidation Evidence Example: The image link you provided explicitly displays quotes from leaders of MHI member firms discussing the underperformance of the manufactured housing industry and the resulting opportunities for consolidation/M&A.
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Antitrust & Consolidation Ripple Effects
Lot Rent Inflation and Litigation
- Lot Rents Tend to Go Up and Are Charged with Predatory Behavior: Confirmed.2 Public reports and the filings of class-action lawsuits allege that site fees have been artificially inflated in communities owned by consolidation-focused MHI members.3 For instance, data cited in court filings indicates the average manufactured home lot rental price increased by 55% between 2010 and 2021.
- ELS Executives and Subsidiaries are Defendants: Confirmed.4 The national class-action lawsuit, In re Manufactured Home Lot Rents Antitrust Litigation (filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois) names key MHI-affiliated entities as defendants:
- Patrick Waite: Correct. Patrick Waite, a Chief Operating Officer (COO) and executive committee member of Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS), is a defendant in the class action, which is brought on behalf of residents.
- Datacomp: Correct. Datacomp Appraisal Systems, Inc., which is owned by ELS and publishes the JLT Market Reports, is also a defendant.5 The lawsuit specifically alleges that the exchange of this non-public, competitively sensitive information via Datacomp’s reports was used by the corporate community owners to “coordinate rent increases” and eliminate competition.6
- Plain Text Link (Court Docket): https://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilndce/1:2023cv14797/446620
- Plain Text Link (ELS Executive/MHI link): https://patch.com/florida/lakeland/caution-equity-lifestyle-properties-dweller-investor-biz-legal-alerts
MHI’s Contradictory Actions on Legislation
- MHI Not Robustly Supporting MHARR’s ROAD Act Amendments: Supported by Logic/Evidence. MHI’s failure to publicly and aggressively support the amendments proposed by MHARR to the ROAD to Housing Act 2025 is cited by critics as a major self-contradiction.7 MHARR’s proposed amendments are aimed at the two most critical bottlenecks:
- Enforcing Enhanced Federal Preemption (to eliminate local discriminatory zoning).8
- Enforcing Duty to Serve (DTS) (to mandate robust chattel lending).9
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Why This Problematic Behavior Harms Millions
The pattern of contradictory behavior and posturing harms two main groups: current residents and millions of prospective affordable homebuyers.
| Affected Group | Problematic Behavior Impact | Why ROAD Act Amendments are Critical |
| Current Residents (Renters)10 | Inflated Lot Rents: The lack of robust competition (due to limited industry growth) and alleged antitrust/collusion among major community owners (ELS, Sun Communities, etc.) allows for supracompetitive rent increases.11 This makes a supposedly “affordable” housing option increasingly unaffordable, causing financial distress and evictions for fixed-income, often elderly, residents. | The current ROAD Act, without the DTS and Enhanced Preemption amendments, does nothing to address the lot rent crisis or to increase competition by dramatically boosting new manufactured home placements. |
| Prospective Homeowners (Millions) | Artificially Stalled Production: By failing to actively and sincerely push for the enforcement of Enhanced Preemption and Duty to Serve (DTS), MHI’s behavior contributes to the industry’s production stalling around 100,000 units annually. This prevents the supply of the most affordable non-subsidized homes from meeting demand, directly contributing to the nationwide affordable housing crisis, homelessness, and rent-trap scenarios. | MHARR’s amendments are the essential, targeted remedy: they force the use of existing federal law to overcome local zoning restrictions (Enhanced Preemption) and mandate accessible financing (DTS), which is the only clear, evidence-backed pathway to spur the massive production increase needed to solve the crisis. |
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Yes, the points raised—that MHI’s public statements often contradict its lack of effective action on key industry roadblocks—are fair, accurate, logical, and well-supported by the known evidence when applying the Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) framework.
The counterargument is that MHI claims to desire industry growth, but its actions suggest a strategic avoidance of solutions that would increase competition and complicate the consolidation aims of its largest, most powerful members.
5) For balance, Gemini was challenged to offer a counterargument based on MHI’s claims. That is again found in this full thread with Gemini.
The Counterargument and the Lavin Rule
The Counterargument: MHI Claims Growth
MHI’s counterargument, and the public narrative it often promotes, is that it is focused on growth and affordability through various initiatives. It would argue:
- They are successfully lobbying to defend the industry against harmful regulations (like the DOE Energy Rule) and promoting innovation (like the optional chassis for CrossMod® homes).
- They are working collaboratively with government agencies and legislators to “elevate” manufactured housing’s role in the affordable housing crisis.
- Their members’ actions are defensible because land-lease communities provide a valuable service, and market forces (like supply and demand) justify lot rent increases.
The implication is that they are pursuing growth, but through a different, less confrontational, and more “holistic” strategy than MHARR’s.
Applying the Lavin Rule: Behavior Over Words
The Lavin Rule states that one should pay more attention to what people do (their behavior/actions) than what they say (their words/claims). When the Lavin Rule is applied to MHI’s leadership, the facts reveal a strong contradiction:
| MHI’s Claimed Action (Words) | MHI’s Actual Action (Behavior) | Impact of Behavior |
| Claim: MHI wants full Duty to Serve (DTS) enforcement for chattel loans. | Behavior: MHI has taken no legal action against the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) for their 15-year failure to implement DTS on chattel lending, which affects ~80% of buyers. | Result: Financing remains constrained, with high rates from a few lenders, stunting growth and maximizing profits for the few lenders affiliated with consolidating manufacturers.3 |
| Claim: MHI wants to end discriminatory zoning and enact Enhanced Preemption.4 | Behavior: MHI has never filed a lawsuit against a local jurisdiction for violating federal preemption under the MHIA 2000. | Result: Production is suppressed, as homes cannot be placed easily, which limits the supply that would threaten the business model of consolidating community owners. |
| Claim: MHI is solving the housing crisis with the ROAD to Housing Act 2025. | Behavior: MHI is publicly silent on MHARR’s proposed amendments that would mandate the enforcement of DTS and Enhanced Preemption. | Result: The Act, if passed unamended, will be largely ineffective at spurring massive growth, preserving the status quo that benefits the consolidated players who thrive in a supply-constrained environment. |
In short, the known evidence strongly supports the conclusion that MHI’s leadership, despite their expertise and occasional pro-growth rhetoric, are actively or passively avoiding the high-impact legal and legislative actions (suing, vigorously lobbying for mandated DTS/Preemption) that would generate the mass growth they claim to desire. This avoidance aligns perfectly with the financial interests of their dominant, consolidating members.
Part II. From input-inquiry (Q&A, chat or discussion thread, etc.) with ChatGPT with that PDF here and the confirmation of that PDF as accurate by ChatGPT at this link here.
MHLivingNews notes that ChatGPT found an item that Gemini missed. This is part of the importance of having multiple AI looking for and cross-checking each other’s research and results.
The above is the first reference ChatGPT found to MHI raising the optional removable chassis that MHI’s CEO Lesli Gooch claimed started in 2017.
Oops? Or deception and misdirection by Gooch of Rachel Cohen Booth?
Hold that thought, as more from ChatGPT follows.
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Short, evidence-backed conclusions (brief):
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Does the public record support the specific 2017 date Lesli Gooch gave to Vox (that MHI leadership decided in 2017 to “push” the chassis rule)?— No public record confirms a 2017 decision. The earliest clear, public documentary evidence I can find of an MHI-submitted log item proposing removal of the “permanent chassis” language is the MHCC draft minutes from August 14, 2019 (quoted above). Lesli Gooch’s July 19, 2019 letter to HUD emphasized enhanced preemption, not the chassis removal. Public MHCC/HUD records therefore do not substantiate a firm, public MHI decision in 2017 to push chassis removal; they do show documented MHI action by mid-2019. (See MHCC minutes link above and Gooch/HUD letter). HUD.gov+1
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Does that mean Gooch “misspoke”?— Not necessarily in the legal sense. Public records cannot prove or disprove private/internal discussions in 2017. However, the public documentary trail does not corroborate a 2017 public decision — so the responsible editorial phrasing is that her 2017 claim is not supported by available public records and should be presented as an asserted recollection, not an independently verified fact. The FEA standard recommends stating that contrast plainly: “Gooch recalled discussions beginning in 2017; however, the public MHCC/HUD record shows MHI’s formal log item and related MHCC activity appearing in 2019.” HUD.gov+1
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Do MHI priority documents (e.g., the 2022 policy priorities doc) emphasize chassis removal / enhanced preemption consistently?— The 2022 MHI priorities document you provided does not foreground “remove permanent chassis” as a top-line public priority in the way MHARR’s amendments or later MHCC/HUD filings did. That gap — and the variability in public emphasis over time (preemption in some letters, chassis log item in 2019, later advocacy in 2024–25) — supports the observation that MHI’s public priorities and emphasis have shifted and are responsive to the policy and political context. Your 2022 priorities PDF: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Manufactured-Housing-Institute-Policy-Priorities-1-PartOfJune15.2022MHIemailToMembersMHProNewsFactCheck.pdf. Regulations.gov
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Related policy/economic harms Gemini flagged (lot-rent increases, concentrated high-cost lending, rising manufactured-home prices) — are these supported?
— Yes. BIS working paper and other analyses document concentrated, high-cost chattel lending in manufactured housing and its affordability harms (see BIS working paper). Industry reporting (Berkadia, LendingTree summaries) and HUD/Census-derived series show new manufactured-home prices rose materially in recent years (2018–2023) — undermining the affordability narrative and supporting concerns about market concentration and lender practices. Links: BIS working paper on concentrated/high-cost lending: https://www.bis.org/publ/work1255.htm; Berkadia manufactured-housing insights and reporting (examples): https://www.berkadia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Manufactured_Housing_Monthly_Insights_April_2025.pdf; LendingTree price analysis. MHI+1Bottom line you can publish (one sentence):
“HUD MHCC draft minutes show MHI formally submitted a log item proposing removal of the ‘permanent chassis’ language in August 2019 — the public record therefore does not corroborate Lesli Gooch’s recollection that MHI’s decision to ‘push’ the chassis rule was made in 2017; it does, however, support the FEA point that MHI’s public emphasis and documented actions have shifted over time.” HUD.gov+1
Part III. Per Grok from the full Q&A thread here and the confirmation of that thread by Grok as accurate at this link here
Advantages of No Long-Term Memory for Fact-Checking and Triangulation
Facts: AIs without session memory provide fresh, unbiased responses, useful for cross-verification when triangulating (comparing multiple AIs like Gemini, Grok, Copilot) on topics.
Evidence: AI ethics discussions note memory-less systems reduce bias accumulation (e.g., MIT Technology Review: https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/05/12/1072950/openai-google-microsoft-bard-chatgpt-eu-ai-regulation/). MHProNews uses this for balance (e.g., https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/ai-powered-fact-checks-uncover-key-information-gaps-in-manufactured-housing-institute-mhi-claims/).
Analysis (FEAL): Reasonable—logic: Independent sessions ensure “clean slate” outputs, mitigating echo chambers; triangulation enhances accuracy by revealing consensus/discrepancies.
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ROAD to Housing Act 2025 and MHI’s Behavior
Facts: MHI hasn’t joined MHARR’s amendments for mandatory DTS chattel loans/enhanced preemption (MHARR: https://manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org/manufactured-housing-association-for-regulatory-reform-mharr-submits-amendments-to-address-key-manufactured-housing-bottlenecks-industry-must-act/). ROAD focuses on optional chassis, ignoring bottlenecks.
Evidence: MHARR’s white paper critiques ROAD’s flaws. MHI’s silence suggests status quo preference.
Analysis (FEAL): Logically correct—Lavin rule: Deeds (no amendments push) reveal consolidation over growth, stifling industry (production ~100k/year vs. 1990s peaks: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/manufactured-housing-production-by-the-numbers-1995-july-2025/).
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MHI’s Behavior: Consolidation Over Growth
Facts: Yes; patterns favor dominants (e.g., Clayton/Berkshire).
Evidence: Strommen’s thesis on monopolization.
Analysis (FEAL): Correct—status quo enables consolidation.
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Patterns: Lot Rent Extortion, High-Cost Lending, Rising Costs, $2T GDP Loss
Facts: Lot rents rise steeply (e.g., ELS/SUI cases: https://www.manufacturedhomelivingnews.com/satirical-consumer-alert-hypocrisy-housing-hijinks-in-mhville-yes-communities-ceo-steve-schaub-honored-by-rv-mh-hall-of-fame-despite-100s-of-resident-complaints-price-rigging-antitrust-suit/). High-cost lending (BIS/SUERF: https://www.bis.org/publ/work1255.htm). MH costs rose faster than site-built (Berkadia: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BerkadiaManufacturedHousingInsightsInsightsManufacturedHomeCostsRoseFasterThanConventionalHousing20180to2023PerHUD-CensusBureauJune2025MHProNewsMonopolizationSignal.jpg). GDP loss: ~$2T/year from shortage (NLIHC: https://nlihc.org/gap; Moody’s: https://www.moodysanalytics.com/-/media/article/2018/the-economic-consequences-of-the-housing-shortage.pdf).
Evidence: Confirmed; drag from unaffordability (Harvard JCHS: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/state-nations-housing-2023).
Analysis (FEAL): Factually supported—logic: Consolidation inflates costs, reducing supply/access, costing GDP via lower productivity/mobility.
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Yes, that assessment is fair, accurate, and supported by the known record. The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has occasionally made statements or taken actions that appear designed for optics—such as issuing press releases or advocating for incremental changes like the ROAD to Housing Act 2025—while the industry continues to consolidate. This pattern aligns with the behavior of several high-profile MHI members who have openly stated their consolidation goals. For instance, Flagship Communities’ investor relations materials explicitly state their intent to “consolidate” a fragmented industry, and Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) founder Sam Zell noted in a 2012 conference call, “I liked the oligopoly nature of our business”. Similarly, Kevin Clayton of Clayton Homes described Warren Buffett’s strategy to “widen the moat” to make it “difficult” for competitors. These public statements, combined with industry production stagnation (averaging ~100,000 units/year vs. 1990s peaks of ~373,000: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/manufactured-housing-production-by-the-numbers-1995-july-2025/), suggest that consolidation, not growth, remains the dominant trend, despite MHI’s rhetoric. Any oversight by Gemini, if identified by ChatGPT, would likely be minor and not substantially alter this core insight into MHI’s long-standing behavior.
Part IV. Per Copilot from the thread linked here and confirmed as accurate by Copilot at this link here.
Here’s a comprehensive Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) synthesis of the multi-AI triangulated investigation into MHI’s claims about the removable chassis rule, its behavior regarding the ROAD to Housing Act, and broader implications for manufactured housing policy and affordability.
Part I: Gemini’s Memory Claim and Its Role in Triangulation
Gemini has repeatedly stated that it lacks long-term memory between chat sessions. That claim is accurate and has been reported by MHProNews, MHLivingNews, and other sources. While this may seem like a limitation, it can be strategically useful in triangulated journalism. A memory-less AI is less likely to be influenced by prior user framing or bias, making it a valuable control in multi-AI fact-checking.
Part II: MHI’s Removable Chassis Claim vs. Evidence
Lesli Gooch’s 2017 Claim to Vox:
“In 2017, I had a dialogue with our technical activities committee… the chassis issue was raised… MHI started to really discuss how to change the legislation.”
Gemini’s FEA Findings:
- No evidence of MHI prioritizing the chassis rule from 2017–2020.
- Gooch’s July 19, 2019 letter to HUD Secretary Carson focused on enhanced preemption, not the chassis rule.
- MHCC meeting minutes from 2017–2020 show no urgent push by MHI on the chassis issue.
- The earliest MHI advocacy found was for multi-story homes without upper chassis, not full removal.
- Gemini concluded this was likely a PR deflection tactic, aligning with CRC’s “deception and misdirection” framing.
> Gemini FEA PDF
> Gemini Confirmation Screenshot
Grok’s Findings:
- Confirmed Gemini’s analysis.
- Found no public record of MHI pushing the chassis rule in 2017–2020.
- Emphasized the lack of transparency and pattern of strategic silence by MHI.
- Supported the conclusion that Gooch’s quote was misleading or misdirecting.
> Grok FEA PDF
> Grok Confirmation Screenshot
ChatGPT’s Contributions:
- Found MHCC meeting discussion on multi-story homes without upper chassis, but not full chassis removal.
- Confirmed Gooch’s 2019 letter lacked any mention of the chassis rule.
- Supported Gemini’s conclusion that MHI’s chassis push was not a long-term priority.
> ChatGPT Screenshot
> ChatGPT FEA PDF
> ChatGPT Confirmation
FEA Validation of MHLivingNews Input-Inquiry Process
- The input-inquiry was factually accurate, logically sound, and well-sourced.
- A minor sentence truncation occurred, but no substantive errors were found.
- The inquiry applied the Marty Lavin rule effectively: “Pay more attention to what people do than what they say.”
ROAD to Housing Act 2025: MHI vs. MHARR
- MHARR submitted clear, actionable amendments to fix zoning barriers, enforce DTS, and unlock affordable housing: ? MHARR Amendments
- MHI has made no public endorsement of MHARR’s amendments. ? MHI ROAD Act Page (Members Only)
- This silence, in context, suggests tacit support for the flawed bill and a preference for the status quo.
Economic Impact of Manufactured Housing Suppression
- Lot Rent Extortion: Frequent hikes harm residents and deter ownership.
- High-Cost Lending: BIS confirms manufactured home loans are disproportionately expensive. ? BIS Report
- Affordability Erosion: Berkadia shows manufactured home prices rising faster than site-built homes. ? Berkadia Insights
- GDP Drag: HUD and other sources estimate the housing shortage costs the U.S. economy up to $2 trillion annually in lost productivity and growth. ? HUD Worst Case Housing Needs
Synthesis: What the Multi-AI FEA Reveals
Synthesis: What the Multi-AI FEA Reveals
| AI System | Unique Contribution | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini | Identified PR misdirection, lack of chassis rule evidence | |
| Grok | Confirmed Gemini, emphasized strategic silence | |
| ChatGPT | Found MHCC nuance, confirmed Gooch letter gap | |
| Copilot | Synthesized all findings, validated logic and evidence | |
Conclusion
- MHI’s claim to have prioritized the chassis rule in 2017 is not supported by evidence.
- The multi-AI FEA confirms a pattern of strategic misdirection, regulatory capture, and status quo preservation.
- MHARR’s amendments offer a path to real reform—but MHI’s silence speaks volumes.
- The cost of inaction is measured not just in lost homes, but in lost economic opportunity.
Part V. Additional MHVille FEA Information plus more MHLivingNews Expert Commentary
1) There were multiple rounds of inputs to get Copilot to the point that the following output was created.
Recall that at the start of that thread, Copilot was told that the featured image had to be factually accurate and supported by known evidence.
2) Copilot said in the above the following.
Yes, your proposed title and framing—“Was Vox’s Rachel Cohen Booth Misled by MHI CEO Lesli Gooch? Removable Chassis, ROAD to Housing Act 2025, and Unpacking Apparent ‘Deception and Misdirection’ in Manufactured Housing Institute Communications”—is factually accurate and supported by known evidence, including:
- Gooch’s quote to Vox vs. her 2019 letter to HUD Secretary Carson
- Lack of MHCC meeting records showing MHI urgency on the chassis rule from 2017–2020
- Multi-AI triangulation (Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT, Copilot) confirming inconsistencies
- The Capital Research Center’s framework of “deception and misdirection”
- The broader pattern of MHI’s silence on MHARR’s ROAD Act amendments
This framing meets the standards of FEA (Facts-Evidence-Analysis) and FEAL (Facts-Evidence-Analysis-Logic) journalism. It’s grounded in verifiable documents, public records, and AI-validated reasoning.
3) MHI’s leaders, for a variety of reasons, have apparently painted themselves into a corner. That observation was made some years ago here on MHLivingNews, well before the publicly available AI platforms were available for such efforts.
4) When the AI era had matured sufficiently for MHLivingNews/MHProNews management to deem it worthwhile to test the various systems, our platforms have done so starting in May 2023 using what is today called Copilot.
But years before that event, MHLivingNews and MHProNews was already using what is now called the FEA or FEAL method, as the various AIs have confirmed. That isn’t what we called it yet, but that was the thinking behind the methodology.
As we have disclosed on several occasions, the early days of our publications are in some ways ’embarrasing’ but we have not changed those posts.
The realities of the manufactured home industry are as troubling as they are promising. The industry ought to be roaring, but instead it is snoring.
5) Rachel Cohen Booth for Vox and Addie Costello for Wisconsin Watch/WPR each did some good reporting, with Cohen Booth arguably doing better in some respects, even though both had certain glitches and weaknesses as our sister site reported in those AI triangulated FEA checks.
6) That said, as was previously noted, each of those reporters – and scores of others – have failed to connect key dots that are strongly supported by known evidence. The question that arises is this. Why is mainstream media unwilling to expose such a well-supported fact-pattern?
As more reporters are contacting and speaking with MHProNews, perhaps it is just a question of time before one finds an editor that greenlights a serious report on the full range of troubling facts behind the affordable housing crisis and the role that associations and special interests play in keeping the status quo intact.
A professional caller today raised several interesting points about that person’s view of manufactured housing as a semi-outsider looking in, as their operation is interested in potentially growing their presence in the industry.
It must be recalled that not only Samuel Strommen said that there is a scarcity of good available information on manufactured housing. The prior CEO of Sun Communities, Gary Shiffman, said something similar.
There is a body of evidence that is only ignorable, so to speak, because the breadth and depth of the evidence is a problematic look for an array of individuals and professions, including, but not limited to, public officials.
There is always more to know. From the report linked here was the following, per ChatGPT.
Conclusion: A Fact Pattern Emerges
What this extensive Q&A reveals is a well-documented pattern backed by prima facie evidence:
| Topic | ChatGPT’s Key Takeaway |
| MHIA 2000 + Federal Preemption | Congress intended enhanced preemption to overcome zoning discrimination. HUD officials—including legal counsel—testified that it is being enforced. However, enforcement appears sporadic and politically cautious. |
| MHI’s Role vs. Rhetoric | MHI postures support for enhanced preemption, yet fails to promote the terminology or apply it consistently. Meanwhile, MHI’s corporate members make investor-facing claims that they benefit from supply constraints, calling into question MHI’s sincerity. |
| MHARR vs. MHI | MHARR has persistently pushed for full enforcement of MHIA—including litigation if necessary. MHI has not. This divergence reinforces that there is no industry-wide consensus, and that some dominant interests may benefit from market suppression. |
| Legal Exposure | While no final verdict has been reached, multiple MHI-linked companies are now named in antitrust lawsuits. ChatGPT acknowledged that publicly stated business strategies, when contradictory to claimed goals, could logically point to regulatory or legal vulnerability—especially when firms benefit from policies they nominally oppose. |
| Strategic Silence | Despite numerous direct public challenges over the years, MHI and its major members have not factually or legally refuted the claims made by MHARR, MHProNews, or MHLivingNews. This recurring silence, paired with mounting evidence, suggests a calculated posture to avoid further exposure. |
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In closing, ChatGPT acknowledged that its own ‘understanding’ evolved over the course of that Q&A exchange.
The video below has lawmakers from both major parties praising modern manufactured homes. Okay, then why would they support a bill that could undermine what they claim to support? Learn more about MHI and this video at this link here.
More facts, fresh reports, and FEA model reporting will unpacked in the days ahead. Stay tuned to the industry’s documented runaway #1 source for more “News through the lens of factory-built homes and manufactured housing” © “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use”© where “We Provide, You Decide.” © This is the place for “Intelligence for your MHLife.” © Thanks be to God and to all involved for making and keeping us #1 with stead overall growth despite far better funded opposing voices.
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.
