Recognizing the Importance of Manufactured and Modular Housing

Floor Speech

* Mr. ADERHOLT. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Gentleman from Indiana for introducing H. Res. 584, "Recognizing the importance of manufactured and modular housing in the United States.''

* Manufactured and modular housing play an important role in meeting the housing needs of the people of my home state of Alabama and the United States of America.

* Over the past two decades, the quality of manufactured housing has become essentially equivalent to that of conventional housing and manufactured housing has grown in popularity as an affordable alternative to conventional site-built housing.

* A Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies reported that manufactured housing has no impact on the appreciation rates of surrounding properties, putting an end to the myth of negative property value impacts.

* It is also good to know that the manufactured and modular housing industry continues to be an important part of our nation's economy. Manufactured and modular housing has produced approximately $6 billion annually in sales and employs approximately 70,000 people in factories and retail centers alone.

* These factories are an important contributor to the economy in the district I represent, as there are more than ten manufacturers in the 4th Congressional District of Alabama.

* During a recession, I would encourage any Americans to consider a manufactured or modular house as an option. According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, construction costs per square foot for a new manufactured home average anywhere from 10 to 35 percent less than a comparable site-built home, excluding the cost of land, depending on the region of the country.

* Home ownership is part of the American Dream and I am pleased to encourage affordable home ownership opportunities through manufactured and modular housing for so many Americans who can benefit from this type of home ownership.

Source