Bonamici, García Introduce Legislation to Restore Protections for Manufactured Homebuyers Against Predatory Practices

WASHINGTON, DC [04/07/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL) introduced legislation to protect purchasers of manufactured homes from predatory practices.

Manufactured housing is a more affordable option for many individuals and families. But these homebuyers often face barriers to obtaining financing and they lack safeguards provided to traditional housing consumers. The Fair Manufactured Housing Lending Act will help level the playing field for manufactured homebuyers by protecting them from predatory practices of retailers who often divert borrowers to more expensive, affiliated lenders.

"People who purchase manufactured homes should have the same consumer protections as any other homebuyer," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "At a time when the high price of housing is putting homeownership out of reach for many in our country, the Fair Manufactured Housing Lending Act will protect buyers of manufactured housing from predatory practices by giving them the consumer protections they deserve.”

“Homeownership can be an important investment in financial security, and buyers of manufactured housing deserve the same consumer protections as everyone else,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García. “I’m proud to join Congresswoman Bonamici in reintroducing this bill, which would close the current loophole that leaves buyers of manufactured housing more vulnerable to predatory lending.”

The Fair Manufactured Housing Lending Act is endorsed by: National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Prosperity Now, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, Public Citizen, Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, National Association of Consumer Advocates, Center for Responsible Lending, National Manufactured Home Owners Association, Consumer Action, CASA of Oregon, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing, All Parks Alliance for Change (APAC), Manufactured Home Federation of MA. Inc (MFM), Manufactured Home Owners’ Association of NJ, Inc. (MHOA-NJ), Manufactured Housing/Oregon State Tenants Association - MH/OSTA, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing, and Nevada Association of Manufactured Home Owners, Inc.

“Manufactured housing is increasingly recognized for its unique role in providing affordable, high-quality housing in communities across the country, said Bill VanVliet, Executive Director of the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing. “Factory-built housing offers a solution to our nation’s shortage of affordable housing and presents opportunities to many who have been priced out of homeownership. The Fair Manufactured Housing Lending Act will help ensure purchasers of manufactured housing have many of the same rights and protections consumers of site-built homes are entitled to.”

A fact sheet about the Fair Manufactured Housing Lending Act can be found here. A copy of the legislation can be found here. 

In addition to Bonamici and García, the legislation is supported by Representatives Blumenauer (D-OR), Casar (D-TX), Grijalva (D-AZ), Huffman (D-CA), Lee (D-CA), Norton (D-DC), Salinas (D-OR), and Tlaib (D-MI).

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