Manufactured Home Dealers NAICS 459930

Jul 29, 2025 - Number of Down Payment Assistance Programs Increases

• 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 second quarter of 2025, the number of DPA programs available for manufactured homes rose 4% to 1,006 compared to Q1 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 decreased by 2.1% month-over-month in May 2025, according to the US Census Bureau. On a year-over-year basis, May’s sales were down 1.1% compared to May 2024. Manufactured housing has tended to be countercyclical during tough economic times because it is one of the lowest-cost options for housing in the US. High interest rates, a lack of affordability in the single-family housing market, and high multifamily rents could boost manufactured home demand.

• In April, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced it would extend the deadline for energy-conservation standards for new multi-section manufactured housing. Under a Biden-era DOE rulemaking, multi-section housing manufacturers were required to comply with new energy-conservation regulations by July 25, 2025. The DOE is amending that ruling to give multi-section manufacturers 180 days to comply after the publication of enforcement procedures. The compliance period for manufacturers of single-section homes remains unchanged at 60 days. A spokesperson for DOE said the agency’s move was part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to unwind cumbersome manufactured home energy-conservation regulations imposed by the previous administration.
• Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are expected to drive up costs for building materials, which could increase production costs for manufactured homes. The National Association of Home Builders estimates that tariffs could increase the costs of building a single-family home by $7,500 to $10,000. Producers of manufactured homes could face similar cost increases, some of which might be passed on to dealers and consumers.