This Week In Manufactured Housing News: November 12th-19th
It’s been a big week for Baby Boomers in the news—most notably, about where they’re planning to live out their Golden Years. And while some might be headed towards a Jimmy Buffett-backed Margaritaville-themed community, manufactured housing is a trend that extends far beyond those looking to embrace the Parrothead lifestyle. Read up on that, and more, below.
“Investing in this industry is a no-brainer.” A glowing new article from MarketWatch sings the praises of manufactured housing for Baby Boomers—both as an investment strategy and a place to live. “It’s not a fluke that manufactured home sales started rising in 2013. That’s the first year boomers started to retire. The trend is undeniable.”
Retiring in Style. In even more Baby Boomer-related, prefab housing news from MarketWatch, Walker & Dunlop is providing a $74 million loan for the refinancing of a five-star, 55-and-over community in Orlando, Florida. The amenities include “an 18-hole golf course, three clubhouses, multiple pools and Jacuzzis, tennis and basketball courts, an exercise room, and a library.”
Freddie Goes Green. Freddie Mac has launched a new “green” mortgage program as part of its Duty to Serve plan, which “focuses on supporting underserved markets by financing more rural and manufactured housing.”
Affordable Housing Bill Watch: Washington State. A number of new bills have been introduced in Washington aimed at tackling the state’s affordable housing crisis, including several that would make buying and locating manufactured housing significantly easier.
High-Fashion Homes. And if you’re in search of some serious architectural eye candy, look no further than acclaimed Swiss designer Yves Béhar’s new line of ultra-chic prefab homes. “These [houses] can be used anywhere in the country, but it’s California that the company intends to target,” Architectural Digest notes, “as it’s the state with the greatest need for affordable, sustainable housing.”
