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The Department of Energy (DOE) has released its final rule for manufactured housing energy efficiency standards, the details of which MHI continues to review. The final rule is still not cost-effective and will hurt the affordability of today’s manufactured homes. Because it does not take into consideration current manufactured home construction methods and transportation requirements, as well as potential testing and compliance costs, the final rule continues to underestimate price increases and annual mortgage cost increases, as well as the number of potential manufactured homebuyers who will no longer qualify for a mortgage. MHI CEO Lesli Gooch issued the following [...]

In response to MHI’s ongoing advocacy efforts and our comment letter which stressed specific things that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be doing to support manufactured housing, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has included exploring opportunities to “further increase manufactured housing” in its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan in order to “facilitate greater availability of affordable housing supply including affordable rental housing.” This action follows previous statements by FHFA Acting Director Sandra Thompson where she has continued to express her support for manufactured housing. Click here to read FHFA’s Strategic Plan and click here to read MHI’s letter. Additionally, HUD has [...]

The housing market continues to be good so why should you worry about getting your name out in front of more consumers? Join us for a FREE retail sales webinar, Importance of a Full Sales Funnel and learn how keeping your sales funnel full in the good times will equal opportunities in the lean times. Also learn what the core marketing components are and how investing money in them now will save you money later. You won't want to miss this FREE webinar with presenter Scott Stroud with MhCRM.com You heard that right, FREE as a thanks for being a WHA member!  Register by May [...]

Are you new to the industry or need to brush up on the basics for community management? Do you manage communities in multiple states? Then register for the 2022 Back to Basics Managing Wisconsin Communities on Wednesday, May 11th to make sure you are following Wisconsin specific landlord/tenant law! Topics will include screening applicants, security deposits, understanding leasing concepts, evictions, and much more. This basic level seminar is geared toward those who are new to the community management in Wisconsin or to relearn the basics and best practices of community management. SAVE $40 WITH EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT BY MAY 2ND! [...]

Help For Factory-Built Home Owners The Dept. of Administration, Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources (DEHCR) ​is administering the Wisconsin Help for Homeowners program, with funding from the Homeowners Assistance Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.​ Wisconsin Help for Homeowners (WHH) is a new statewide program that can help with overdue bills like mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, and more. The program is open to individuals and families who live in Wisconsin with overdue housing-related bills, both with and without mortgage, who meet income and other eligibility requirements, and have experienced a qualified economic hardship [...]

In a productive meeting with Sandra Thompson, the Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently, MHI discussed its recommendations to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) increase their level of support for manufactured housing. In addition to suggesting improvements to the Enterprises’ Duty to Serve Plans, which FHFA has rejected, MHI also discussed the importance of helping to overcome local zoning and land use barriers to the placement of manufactured homes. Speaking at a meeting of the Women in Housing and Finance Association last week, Thompson acknowledged one of the reasons the Enterprises were [...]

The Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program (WERA) provides up to 18 months of assistance with current or overdue bills to help households that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic avoid eviction. More than 25,000 Wisconsinites have already received help with rent and utilities statewide. Help is still available for eligible households through WISCAP agencies and Energy Services. The program is funded by the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration. Additional information about the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program is available here: https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/WERA.aspx

The homestead credit program is designed to soften the impact of property taxes and rent on persons with lower incomes. Manufactured homeowners who are claiming this credit on their 2021 WI taxes will need a rent certificate from their landlord. The 2021 Rent Certificate needs to be filled out and signed by the landlord. Rent includes the rent for the lot, home, and other fees such as pet fees, garbage fees, utilities or any other fee associated with the occupancy of the residence. DO NOT include late fees, security deposits, payments made directly from government agencies, or Wisconsin Rental Assistance [...]

We are back in-person in 2022 with the Home Installation and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier Seminar on March 9th at the Best Western Premier in Oshkosh, WI. This seminar is approved for 6 hours of continuing education for the following licenses: Manufactured Home Installer, Dwelling Contractor Qualifier, and Home Inspectors (UDC Construction Inspector). Sessions Include: Good Foundations & Installation Leads to Happy Homeowners - Harold Mouser, PFS-TECO Home Installation Safety - George Gruetzmacher - WisCon Key Elements to Home Installation - Cecil Ayllon, Sedco Piers Inc. Proper Manufactured Home Inspections - Jack Wotruba, Dept of Safety and Professional Service Innovations in [...]

The Office of Manufactured Housing Programs (OMHP) has issued extensions for two industry-wide Alternative Construction (AC) letters for exterior doors (21-1W1-AC) and 25-Amp circuit breakers (20-1W2-AC) through June 30, 2022. MHI has been working with OMHP to get these AC letters extended in light of the supply chain challenges. These industry-wide AC letters allows manufacturers that need the flexibility to continue production of affordable housing and does not require individual manufacturers to request approval, saving time, burdens, and costs that would otherwise be incurred with a typical AC letter. Click here and here to read the letters.