Manufactured Home Dealers NAICS 459930

Dec 2, 2025 - Federal Rule Change Could Make Manufactured Homes More Affordable

• A proposed federal rule change in the bipartisan Road to Housing Act would make manufactured homes more affordable, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. The rule would allow the removal of the steel chassis from manufactured homes, potentially cutting costs by up to 9% and expanding their use in cities and suburbs. Since only 5% to 7% of manufactured homes are ever moved after installation, experts say the requirement has outlived its purpose and now adds about $10,000 to average manufactured home prices. Eliminating the chassis could reduce installation costs and enable design flexibility, making manufactured housing more viable in urban markets. However, industry observers note that additional updates to zoning and titling laws are necessary to expand mortgage access and ensure that manufactured homes are treated equally to traditional single-family housing. The Road to Housing Act was passed by the Senate in October and moved to the House.
• The number of down payment assistance programs (DPA) supporting manufactured housing purchases is increasing, according to a new report by homebuyer assistance data firm Down Payment Resource. In the third quarter of 2025, the number of DPA programs available for manufactured homes rose 5% to 1,052 compared to 1,006 in Q3 2025. DPA programs help lenders reduce a homebuyer’s loan-to-value ratio, which enables more potential buyers to qualify for loans. Some DPA programs can help with closing costs, mortgage rate buy-downs, and prepaid expenses.

• US shipments of manufactured homes were flat month-over-month in September 2025, according to the US Census Bureau. On a year-over-year basis, September's sales were down 1.1% compared to September 2024. Manufactured housing has tended to be countercyclical during economic downturns because it is one of the lowest-cost housing options in the US. High interest rates, a lack of affordability in the single-family housing market, and high multifamily rents could increase demand for manufactured homes.
• Lot rental charged by manufactured home parks is rising rapidly in some regions, pricing some manufactured homeowners out of the market, according to National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Over the past 10 years, median lot rents have risen 45%, according to the US Census Bureau. In some parts of the US, lot rents are growing faster than rents for single-family homes. Some industry watchers suggest that consolidation of manufactured home park ownership, often led by private-equity investors, is contributing to the trend of lot rent growth. A manufactured housing community trade association statement noted that park owners also face higher costs, including property taxes, insurance, and utilities. In some states, those higher costs can be passed on to tenants.