5 Opportunities to Increase Access to Manufactured Housing
State lawmakers pass legislation seeking to expand manufactured housing
Stable housing is essential for improving economic mobility, strengthening credit ratings and cultivating asset building.Yet for millions of households, securing an affordable home is an elusive goal.
Due to their low building cost, year-round construction and relative price points, manufactured housing has emerged as a strategy for growing the number of properties and increasing homeownership among low-and moderate-income households
State lawmakers seeking to expand use of manufactured housing for renters and potential homebuyers will will need to address limited financing options, restrictive zoning and, in many communities, public opinion. The following are examples of state legislation to address those issues.
5 Opportunities to Increase Access to Manufactured Housing
- Support construction of manufactured homes to improve the supply of lower-priced housing options.
- Colorado HB 1304 (2023) created a concessionary debt program that provides debt financing for modular and manufactured homes.
- Virginia SB 1327 (2021) requires localities to include in their comprehensive plans to promote manufactured homes as affordable housing, the law also bolsters protections for tenants renting the lot on which their manufactured home sits.
- Allow manufactured homes to be titled as real property and improve protections for owners who are unable to title as real property.
- Illinois SB1779 (2021) creates disclosure requirements for lenders offering personal property loans on manufactured homes that are not titled as real property.The statute requires a lender to inform a buyer if the loan is ineligible for refinancing and provide information regarding when a manufactured home may qualify as real property.
- Increase financing options for consumers purchasing manufactured homes.
- New York SB 7541 (2023) enables the state of New York Mortgage Agency to purchase loans on manufactured homes by including personal property loans for manufactured homes in the state’s definition of mortgages.
- Florida SB 102 (2023) created the Florida Hometown Hero Program to provide financial assistance to those eligible. The program helps residents purchase homes by providing loans to reduce down payments and closing costs. Manufactured homes are eligible for the program.
- Addressing zoning regulations that prevent manufactured housing from being situated within existing neighborhoods.
- Georgia SB 213 (2023) prohibits local government from preventing the continuance of lawful nonconforming use of property when preexisting manufactured home or mobile home is replaced with another.
- Oregon HB4064 (2022) requires local governments to allow manufactured housing and other types of prefabricated homes anywhere zoned for single family housing.
- Improve eviction protections for people living in manufactured homes to reduce displacement and increase household stability.
- Arizona HB 2381 (2023) prohibits a landlord of manufactured housing from terminating a home lease or land lease without good cause, such as non-compliance with lease or change in land use.
- Iowa HF 2562 (2022) requires at least 90 days’ notice for non-renewal of a lease, if a mobile home park is sold, the purchaser must adhere to all legal obligations, including rental agreements. In addition, at least 90 days’ notice of rent increases is required.
Source: NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures)
