In an effort to answer the waning supply of homes around the country, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Tuesday, June 4 that it will offer FHA-insured financing to purchase, refinance and revitalize manufactured homes. The announcement was unveiled Tuesday by HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman on the National Mall where several manufactured homes are on display as part of the 2024 Innovative Housing Showcase Friday through Sunday.
“One of the things that we’re doing is increasing supply,” said Todman. “If there’s more cars on the car lot, more computers in the store, it becomes more competitive in terms of what the price point is. This country has been in a housing deficit for 15 years because we have not built to the need and demand on the rental and owner side. This fantastic showcase of how modern homes are being built and can be built using new materials, and different ways to construct our homes from tiny homes all the way to homes for larger families.”
The fourth annual Innovative Housing Showcase is a large-scale open house offering policymakers, builders and National Mall visitors a hands-on opportunity to tour high-quality, low-cost manufactured and tiny homes, and learn about innovations in home building including 3-D printed properties–efforts to increase housing supply, create resilient communities and decrease construction costs.
“Vulnerable communities are having the land stolen from them and they’re having to disrupt where they live,” said Todman. “We have a tool for that and we’re creating it starting today so folks are able to stabilize their community and keep their communities affordable. Make no mistake, manufactured homes have a place in the future of housing.”
The new Manufactured Home Community loan product will provide an FHA-insured financing option for manufactured home communities in an effort to stabilize and revitalize affordable housing, according to HUD. Those who can take advantage of the new loan product include resident-owned manufactured home communities, cooperatives, non-profit entities and consortia, state and local governments, community development financing institutions, and Indian tribes. The new financing tool complements HUD’s Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) program, which offers competitive grant opportunities for investments in affordable manufactured home communities.
Due to high mortgages, increasing interest rates and an increase in building costs, Prince George’s County’s housing inventory is 13% lower this year than it was last spring, making pickings slim for first-time or returning homebuyers.
Washington, D.C.’s housing inventory includes scores of condos, but they price out the average first-time homebuyer. While it may not be a first-time homebuyer’s first thought, manufactured home communities are an affordable alternative, especially as a starter home.
While Washington, D.C. does not have many vacant lots or open space for manufactured home communities, Todman did say there is opportunity for the District to jump on this affordable housing option.
“I could see, assuming that D.C.’s very robust participatory process will allow for it – and I say that with love in my heart–that this is a product that can be used,” she said. “Ward 7 there is a lot of land, Ward 5, I know there is a lot of land where a product like this would be welcome for families who want something affordable and [want to] jump into homeownership.”
The Innovative Housing Showcase is open to the public at the following times Friday, June 7 am-5 pm; Saturday, June 8: 10 am-4 pm; and Sunday, June 9:10 am-4 pm.
The main entrance to the showcase is located at 12th Street SW and Jefferson Drive, SW near the Smithsonian Metro station entrance.
For more information, go to huduser.gov.