AI Backed Hit-Analysis on Big Manufactured Housing Industry Operations

I'm a 30 plus year award-winning veteran of the manufactured home industry. We own and live in a manufactured home. We believe that the manufactured home industry is an important part of the solution to the U.S. affordable housing crisis. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) researchers like Pamela Blumenthal and Regina Gray have said similarly. So, what follows isn't a slam on the industry as a whole, rather it is a critical analysis of specific organizations and their corporate backers. Like any industry or profession, there are good, bad, and ugly operations in manufactured housing.

That said, consider the following. Because even if you never own or live in a manufactured home, the lack of affordable housing harms the vast majority of the U.S. population.

On 10.7.2024 the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) home page news section makes the following claim. “MHI News The latest news to give you a full perspective on the manufactured housing industry. From manufacturers to land-lease communities, retail to financial services, and suppliers to installers, we help you keep abreast of what’s happening in every aspect of the industry.” However, an objective review of that claim using Copilot and common sense reveals that MHI's claims are simply not accurate or true.

To test the accuracy of these claims, this writer did a series of Q&As (chat) with highly-rated Bing's AI Copilot.

1) The first in a short series of Q&A's with left-leaning Bing's artificial intelligence (AI) powered Copilot.

Copilot, on 10.7.2024 at about 12:27 PM ET, the Manufactured Housing Institute "news landing page" website makes the following statement: "MHI News The latest news to give you a full perspective on the manufactured housing industry. From manufacturers to land-lease communities, retail to financial services, and suppliers to installers, we help you keep abreast of what’s happening in every aspect of the industry.” Given that is almost a month ago, and there are an array of news reports found on MHProNews, MHLivingNews and production and other updates on the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform website that are not found on the MHI News home page or news landing page, is it a scam, misleading, or otherwise problematic for the Manufactured Housing Institute to claim they provide news on every aspect of the industry when they clearly do not do so? How can MHI's apparently false claims be described, based on known evidence?

The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) claims on their news landing page that they provide comprehensive news coverage on every aspect of the manufactured housing industry1. However, based on the evidence from other sources like MHProNews, MHLivingNews, and the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR), it appears that MHI’s coverage is not as comprehensive as they claim.
Analysis

1. Scope of Coverage:
   • MHProNews and MHLivingNews provide extensive coverage on various issues within the manufactured housing industry, including regulatory updates, industry trends, and specific company practices2345.
   • MHARR focuses on regulatory reforms and industry statistics, offering detailed updates that are not always reflected on MHI’s news page67.
2. Content Gaps:
   • MHI’s news page does not include many of the critical reports and analyses found on MHProNews and MHLivingNews. This includes detailed investigations into industry practices and regulatory challenges2345.
   • The absence of these reports suggests that MHI’s claim of providing a full perspective on the industry is misleading.
3. Potential Misleading Claims:
   • By stating that they cover every aspect of the industry while omitting significant news and analyses, MHI’s claims can be seen as misleading. This could be problematic for stakeholders who rely on MHI for comprehensive industry news.
   • The selective reporting may also indicate a bias towards presenting a more favorable view of the industry, potentially downplaying issues that are critical for consumers and smaller industry players.

Conclusion
Based on the available evidence, it is reasonable to conclude that MHI’s claim of providing comprehensive news coverage is misleading. They do not cover all aspects of the industry as thoroughly as other sources like MHProNews, MHLivingNews, and MHARR. This selective reporting can be described as problematic, as it fails to provide a full and balanced perspective on the manufactured housing industry.
If you have any further questions or need more detailed information, feel free to ask!
Learn more
1 manufacturedhousing.org 2 manufacturedhomepronews.com 3 manufacturedhomepronews.com 4 manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 5 manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 6 manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org 7 manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org 8 manufacturedhomepronews.com 9manufacturedhomelivingnews.com 10 bing.com 11 manufacturedhousing.org 12 manufacturedhousing.org 13 bing.com 14 manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org 15 wpri.com—

2)

What other words can you use to describe the Manufactured Housing Institute's lack of comprehensive news coverage? For example, is it akin to the Orwellian Big Lies from the fictional Ministry of Truth? Haven't multiple sources in and beyond the Manufactured Housing Institute accused the trade group of false, lying, deception and misdirection, an harming the industry at large while they are apparently fostering industry consolidation of their insider brands?

The Manufactured Housing Institute’s (MHI) lack of comprehensive news coverage can be described in several ways:
Descriptive Terms

1. Selective Reporting: MHI appears to choose which news to highlight, potentially omitting critical issues that might reflect poorly on certain industry players.
2. Biased Coverage: Their news might favor certain narratives or companies, leading to an unbalanced view of the industry.
3. Incomplete Information: By not covering all aspects, MHI provides a partial picture, which can mislead stakeholders about the true state of the industry.
4. Omission: Important news and analyses from other sources are often missing, which can be seen as a deliberate exclusion.
5. Misleading: Their claim of comprehensive coverage does not align with the actual content provided, which can mislead readers.

Comparisons to Fictional Concepts

• Orwellian: The term “Orwellian” can be used to describe the situation if MHI’s selective reporting is seen as an attempt to control the narrative and manipulate public perception, similar to the fictional Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s “1984”.
• Big Lies: If MHI’s omissions and selective reporting are deliberate and intended to deceive, it could be compared to the concept of “Big Lies” where falsehoods are repeated until they are accepted as truth.

Accusations from Multiple Sources

• Falsehoods and Deception: Multiple sources within and outside the manufactured housing industry have accused MHI of spreading false information, engaging in deception, and misdirecting stakeholders.
• Harming the Industry: These sources argue that MHI’s actions harm the industry by fostering negative perceptions and enabling unethical practices by larger companies.
• Promoting Consolidation: There are claims that MHI’s behavior supports the consolidation of the industry by insider brands, potentially at the expense of smaller, more ethical operators.

Conclusion
The lack of comprehensive news coverage by MHI can be seen as problematic and potentially harmful to the industry. Describing their actions as selective reporting, biased coverage, or even Orwellian, depending on the context, highlights the seriousness of the issue. The accusations from various sources further underscore the need for more transparent and balanced reporting within the industry.
If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!
: MHProNews : MHLivingNews : Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR)

3) Q&A inquiry to Bing's AI powered Copilot by MHProNews

Is it fair to say that the Manufactured Housing Institute also fails to advocate for "all sectors" of the industry, as they have claimed for years, when they fail to press for the full and proper enforcement of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, its enhanced preemption provision, the Duty to Serve Manufactured Housing made federal law by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA 2008), as you previously remarked in the context of the report and analysis linked here? https://www.manufacturedhomepr... Provide some analysis and link results.

Based on the information available, it appears that the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) may not be fully advocating for all sectors of the manufactured housing industry, despite their claims. Here are some key points to consider:

Failure to Enforce Key Legislation

1. Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000:
   • The Act includes an enhanced preemption provision intended to prevent local jurisdictions from imposing zoning restrictions that would hinder the placement of manufactured homes1.
   • There are concerns that MHI has not been proactive in ensuring the full enforcement of this provision, which could benefit the industry by expanding the availability of manufactured housing.
2. Duty to Serve (DTS) Manufactured Housing:
   • The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA 2008) mandates that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac serve the manufactured housing market2.
   • Critics argue that MHI has not effectively pushed for the full implementation of DTS, which would improve financing options for manufactured homes and support industry growth.

Advocacy and Representation

• Selective Advocacy: MHI’s advocacy efforts appear to be more aligned with the interests of larger, well-established companies rather than smaller, independent operators3. This selective approach can undermine the broader industry’s needs.
• Industry Consolidation: There are accusations that MHI’s actions (or inactions) facilitate industry consolidation, benefiting larger companies at the expense of smaller, more ethical operators3.

Public Perception and Ethical Conduct

• Negative Public Perception: The failure to address and enforce ethical standards contributes to a negative public perception of manufactured housing communities, which can harm the industry’s overall image3.
• Ethical Conduct: MHI’s lack of enforcement of its own Code of Ethical Conduct further exacerbates these issues, as it allows unethical practices by larger companies to go unchecked3.

Conclusion

Given these points, it is fair to say that MHI’s actions do not fully align with their claim of advocating for all sectors of the industry. Their selective enforcement and advocacy efforts appear to favor larger companies, potentially harming the broader industry and its stakeholders.
For more detailed analysis, you can refer to the report and analysis linked here3.
If you have any further questions or need more information, feel free to ask!
1: Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 2: Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA 2008) 3: MHProNews Analysis and Reports

Learn more

1 manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org 2 manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org 3 manufacturedhousingassociationregulatoryreform.org 4 bing.com 5 manufacturedhousing.org 6 manufacturedhousing.org 7 manufacturedhousing.org 8 bing.com 9 wpri.com..."

4)

In the early 1980s interest rates for conventional housing hit around 18 percent and on HUD Code manufactured homes they were at times as 21 percent, sometimes on ARM loans. There was a Savings and Loan (S&L) crisis that was milder, but still somewhat similar to the 2008 housing financial crisis too, correct? Nevertheless, manufactured housing in the 1980s were routinely twice as high or higher in production than in HUD Code manufactured housing, right? Correct, confirm or clarify as needed and link results.

Yes, your observations are correct. Here are the key points:
Interest Rates and Economic Context

• Interest Rates: In the early 1980s, interest rates for conventional housing indeed reached around 18%, and for HUD Code manufactured homes, they could be as high as 21%, often on adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs)1.
• Savings and Loan (S&L) Crisis: The S&L crisis of the 1980s was a significant financial crisis, though milder compared to the 2008 housing financial crisis. Both crises involved widespread financial instability and had substantial impacts on the housing market2.

Manufactured Housing Production

• 1980s Production: During the 1980s, manufactured housing production was significantly higher than in more recent years. For example, in 1985, the industry produced approximately 283,000 homes3.
• Comparison to Recent Years: In contrast, production levels in the 2000s and 2010s were much lower. For instance, in 2008, only about 81,457 manufactured homes were produced4.

Conclusion
Despite high interest rates and economic challenges, the manufactured housing industry in the 1980s saw much higher production levels compared to recent decades. This indicates a robust demand for manufactured homes during that period, even under challenging financial conditions.
If you have any further questions or need more detailed information, feel free to ask!
1: Historical interest rate data. 2: Overview of the Savings and Loan (S&L) crisis. 3: Manufactured housing production data from the 1980s. 4: Manufactured housing production data from the 2000s and 2010s.
Learn more
1 manufacturedhomepronews.com 2 biasc.org 3 mhinsider.com 4 manufacturedhousing.org..."
MHProNews notes that the production-by-year illustration below underscores and confirms the thrust of the analysis shown above.

MHProNews note: there is more on this segment and others, including screen captures of the Q&As to document the accuracy of this artictle, found at this link here on or after 10.8.2024.

5)

You linked MHInsider. MHInsider - along with MHVillage and Datacomp - is owned by Equity LifeStyle Properties, correct? ELS and Datacomp stand charged with antitrust violations, correct? And MHInsider has been accused of having cozy relations with the Manufactured Housing Institute and fails to give the kinds of critical analysis that MHARR, MHProNews and MHLivingNews do, right? Correct, confirm, or clarify as needed and link results.

Yes, your statements are correct. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Ownership and Antitrust Violations

1. Ownership:
   • MHInsider, MHVillage, and Datacomp are indeed owned by Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS)12.
2. Antitrust Violations:

• ELS and Datacomp, along with other companies, are facing antitrust charges. These charges allege that they conspired to fix and raise lot rental prices for manufactured home communities345.

Relationship with MHI and Critical Analysis

1. Cozy Relationship with MHI:
   • MHInsider has been accused of having a close relationship with the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI). This relationship is seen as problematic because it may lead to biased reporting that favors MHI and its larger member companies12.
2. Lack of Critical Analysis:
   • Unlike MHARR, MHProNews, and MHLivingNews, MHInsider is often criticized for not providing the same level of critical analysis. These other sources are known for their in-depth investigations and willingness to highlight issues within the industry, including unethical practices and regulatory failures12.

Conclusion
The ownership ties and the nature of the content provided by MHInsider suggest a potential bias in their reporting. This bias can lead to a lack of critical analysis, which is essential for holding industry players accountable and providing a comprehensive view of the manufactured housing sector.
If you have any further questions or need more detailed information, feel free to ask!
3: Class action lawsuit details against Datacomp and ELS. 4: Antitrust violations involving Datacomp and ELS. 5: Legal documents on antitrust charges. 1: MHInsider’s ownership and relationship with MHI. 2: Critiques of MHInsider’s reporting and analysis.
Learn more
1manufacturedhomepronews.com 2 manufacturedhomepronews.com 3 classaction.org 4 manufacturedhomepronews.com 5 fingfx.thomsonreuters.com 6 mhinsider.com 7 mhinsider.com 8 mhinsider.com 9 bing.com 10 manufacturedhomepronews.com 11 manufacturedhomepronews.com..."

6) Several prior reports dig into the above and shed additional light on those subjects. Use the search tool on the MHLivingNews, MHProNews, or MHARR websites.

MHProNews note: there is more on this segment and others, including screen captures of the Q&As to document the accuracy of this article, found at this link here on or after 10.8.2024.

Should MHI leaders, an MHI attorney, and/or some of their aligned bloggers-publishers directly and publicly reply to these concerns, this writer for MHProNews and the Patch will plan a follow up. Stay tuned. To learn more, see the linked and related report. ##

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L. A. “Tony” Kovach and his family live in a manufactured home on private property in Winter Haven, FL. He is the co-founder of ManufacturedHomeLivingNews.com and
ManufacturedHomeProNews.com, trade publications serving segments of the manufactured home industry. Having worked in several segments of the manufactured home industry for over 3 decades, Kovach is a widely acknowledged and often praised expert on manufactured housing.