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Real Homes, Real Property: Improving Manufactured Housing Titling Policy across the US

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 | 2:30 - 4:00 pm EDT

Since 2009, the I’M HOME Network has participated in the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) process to draft proposed state legislation to classify manufactured homes as real property—this draft Act is called the “Uniform Manufactured Housing Act.” The ULC is a nonprofit unincorporated association, comprised of state commissions, that provides states with non-partisan, well-conceived and well-drafted legislation that bring clarity and stability to critical areas of state statutory law. State manufactured housing titling statutes are often problematic: prohibiting homes on leased land from being classified as real property, requiring homes to meet onerous foundation requirements, and including procedures that are too complex for homeowners to handle on their own.

The Uniform Manufactured Housing Act resolves many of these issues and offers a relatively simple process for converting a manufactured home to real property. Adoption of this Act would improve titling policy in most states. Most importantly, in states that either don’t currently allow conversion to real property or make the process too complex for homeowners to navigate, it will give owners of manufactured homes easier access to more affordable and sustainable financing and better consumer protections through real estate mortgages.

In July, the ULC will convene for the final presentation of the Uniform Manufactured Housing Act, and commissioners will vote on whether to pass the Uniform Act based on this presentation. We invited homeowner advocates, affordable housing providers, Uniform Law Commissioners and other interested stakeholders to join us for a webinar to learn more about the details and significance of this Uniform Act, the implications of the Act for owners and buyers of manufactured homes and the potential impact on the manufactured housing industry. Presenters shared ways in which stakeholders concerned with consumer issues can inform and influence their state commissioners and ways in which commissioners can support this effort going forward. Presenters included:

• Rick Haughey, Director of Affordable Housing Initiatives at CFED (moderator)
• John Van Alst, Staff Attorney at the National Consumer Law Center
• Ann Burkhart, Curtis Bradbury Kellar Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota and Reporter for the Uniform Manufactured Housing Act
• Ignatius MacLellan, Managing Director of Homeownership at New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority

View Archived Webinar Materials

• Video Recording
• PowerPoint Presentation

About the 2012 Manufactured Housing Webinar Series
Regardless of the economic landscape, affordable housing persists as a challenge in many communities across the country. Manufactured housing is a high-quality, affordable choice for many homeowners. I’M HOME and our partners work to assure that manufactured housing becomes a part of the national affordable housing strategy, which is a task that faces a range of challenges. Overcoming these challenges requires policy, legislative, financing, market and political actions at the federal, state and local levels. This webinar series is designed to inform key stakeholders about strategies for overcoming those challenges, lift up examples of successful strategies, and enhance communication among advocates, developers, stakeholders and public officials about how to make those strategies work.

Who Should Participate?
The 2012 Manufactured Housing Webinar Series is intended for affordable housing developers and advocates, state and local public officials, federal agency officials, financial institution professionals and other stakeholders interested in promoting quality, affordable housing options in their communities.

What You Will Learn?
The 2012 Manufactured Housing Webinar Series will provide practical information on the opportunities for manufactured housing as an affordable housing strategy and will delve into issues that affect legislative, regulatory and market-based strategies for doing so. The series will focus on the intersection of building a local, federal and state policy landscape and improved financing system that supports owners of manufactured housing and will highlight case studies that have successfully leveraged strong policies to help homeowners build assets.

The 2012 Manufactured Housing Webinar Series is free of charge, thanks to the generous support of our funders, including the Ford Foundation and Fannie Mae. Space is limited so we encourage you to register early. All webinars will be archived on our website if you are not able to join us.