Just Released: Technology Roadmapping for Manufactured Housing

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This week, PD&R and PATH released a new document that
provides a roadmap for a research program that will
provide a sound foothold for improving manufactured
homes, while expanding the benefits of manufactured
housing to other housing types.

"Technology Roadmapping for Manufactured Housing" was
prepared by the Manufactured Housing Research Alliance,
who brought together an array of manufactured housing
experts to share their views and propose new directions
for MH research..

This document comes at a fortuitous time, when the
manufactured housing industry is undergoing changes:
lenders are offering less asset-backed financing,
manufacturers are altering the design of new homes to
appeal to more people, and the regulatory environment is
evincing dramatic changes in terms of standards, on-site
construction approvals, and installment procedures..

The Roadmap covers five key topic areas where research is
expected to play an outsized role in shaping the
industry's future. Within each topic area, the Roadmap
describes key challenges and offers a vision for
potential R&D focus areas. These include...

o  The Home: In producing single-family homes, the
industry can consider optimizing systems and
materials, as well as integrating energy efficiency
and indoor environmental quality.
o  The Factory: Manufacturers can improve design
flexibility, material quality, and production
efficiency.
o  The Site: The industry can ensure long-term site
performance, safe transportation of the house to the
site, and  secure installation of the home at the
site.
o  The Market: The industry can begin marketing its
product to consumers of all incomes, can increase the
stability and flexibility of financing for
manufactured homes, and adopt a proactive stance with
respect to evolving regulations.
o  The Consumer: The public will gain a new
appreciation for manufactured housing, while the
industry will be at the forefront of efforts to
improve the affordability, durability, and
maintainability of the nation's housing stock.

"Technology Roadmapping for Manufactured Housing" is
available in on the web at
https://archives.huduser.gov/portal/consumer/home.html
or in printed form for a nominal charge by calling HUD
USER at 1-800-245-2691.
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