Yes, these
units should be counted as affordable housing, but first we ought to stop
calling them “mobile homes” as they are rarely moved. The more appropriate term
is “manufactured” homes. A 2011 Vermont survey showed the average length of
residence in a manufactured home park in that state was 11 years. Clearly, the
18 to 20 million people nationwide living in manufactured homes are using them
as affordable, permanent residences.
They cost
hundreds of thousands of dollars less than traditional site-built homes, yet
they share many important attributes with them. They can qualify for Federal
Housing Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs financing. If they
are permanently affixed to the land and the land is owned, they qualify as
“real” property and can be financed with a mortgage. And if used as the owners’
primary residence, a Declaration of Homestead can be filed with the Register of
Deeds to protect against unsecured creditor claims.
Since
they are built in factories and then shipped to the home site, the construction
of manufactured homes is more efficient. The manufacturer and buyer benefit
from economies of scale, and there is no lost construction time for weather.
The net result is comfortable, safe, quality housing at affordable prices, the
exact reason the state’s Chapter 40B Affordable Housing law exists!
A 2012
insurance industry survey of over 10,000 manufactured home owners showed that
55 percent reported an income of less than $30,000, 40 percent didn’t
anticipate ever selling or moving from their home, only 9 percent have a 4-year
or advanced degree, 23 percent were under 30 years old, and nearly 20 percent
were age 60 and above. These are all demographic segments that benefit
tremendously from affordable housing.
Manufactured
homes are the best means for many people to overcome exorbitant housing costs
while fulfilling the American Dream of homeownership. Allowing communities to
count them toward their affordable housing stock, which would be allowed under
legislation now on Beacon Hill, not only makes sense but will also allow the
Commonwealth to better gauge the true inventory of affordable housing for
planning purposes. Count manufactured homes in the numbers!
