March 5, 2021
A Message from THA
"Quality means doing it right
when no one is looking."
- Henry Ford -

A TN State of Emergency related to the ongoing pandemic, currently extends to
11:59 pm, CST, April 28, 2021. (Executive Order 77)
Tennessee State Legislative Update

The legislature reconvened this week to continue hearing proposed department budget presentations.

Over 20 proposed budgets were presented, in addition to several presentations on Tennessee exclusive initiatives, including a presentation from Tennessee medical professionals on the health of Tennesseans and the impact of COVID-19 on the state’s healthcare industry.

Another noteworthy special presentation came on Monday, when the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) and the Department of Economic and Community Development provided an overview of the state’s current broadband accessibility posture to the House Appropriations Subcommittee, and highlighted how the Governor’s proposed $200 million broadband initiative could aid in bridging the disparity of connectivity between rural and urban communities.

Department budget presentations are expected to maintain pace with over a dozen slated to be heard and considered next week. Additionally, the legislature is expected to hit full stride next week as many bills have now navigated through committees and will be considered by the full bodies of each respective chamber. 
THA UPDATE - While the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) portal went live on Monday, Tennessee is delayed in processing Emergency Rental Assistance funds to manufactured housing residents and/or community landlords, relative to lot rental payments. Please do not be discouraged as THA is actively engaged with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (overseer of the funds disbursement), to correct this delay.

Many states have just begun processing funds to manufactured housing tenants and landlords, so Tennessee will not be left out, it is just a matter of correction.
MHI UPDATE -
At the urging of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and its coalition of national housing industry partners, the Treasury Department has issued revised FAQs as guidance regarding the requirements of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program. While MHI and its coalition partners were pleased to see that some of our concerns such as allowing residents to self-certify that they meet eligibility criteria to participate in the program were addressed, there are still several outstanding issues that need clarification. Treasury has acknowledged that these revised FAQs do not address all the concerns raised by the national housing coalition and will be updating the FAQs on a frequent basis. MHI, along with its housing coalition partners, has submitted a follow-up letter to Treasury outlining those recommendations and revisions to that FAQs that are still needed. 
 
Click here to view the coalition letter.
Click here to view the ERA FAQs issued on Feb 21st.
Emergency Rental Assistance

administered by:
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA)

(615/815-2200)
Under guidance from the US Treasury, funds designated as part of the COVID-19 Rent Relief Act of 2020, will support renters who are or have been struggling to pay rent, utilities, or other home energy costs due to loss of wages/income as a result of the pandemic.

You may visit COVID-19 Rent Relief program web page for answers to general questions, eligibility and application information, as well as payment and processing questions.
 
Special Note:
Tenants in Davidson, Knox, Rutherford, and Shelby County/Memphis will NOT BE ELIGIBLE for THDA funds and will need to contact their local government for more information on local rent relief programs.

DISCLAIMER:
Any suspected fraud in connection with COVID-19 Rent Relief Program should be reported to THDA for immediate review. THDA reserves the right to decline funding or participation if it is determined that fraud has occurred.
Skyline Champion Announces Acquisition of ScotBilt Homes
On March 1, 2021, Champion Home Builders, a subsidiary of Skyline Champion Corporation, announced their acquisition of ScotBilt Homes, LLC.

In 2020, ScotBilt shipped over 1,600 homes from its two manufacturing facilities in Georgia, providing affordable housing throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

MH Advantage Program - Tools For Retailers
ManufacturedHomes.com has created resources to help retailers understand MH Advantage financing, how it works, what homes qualify, and the solution it provides for your customers.
Access helpful tools, educational videos, and important information to learn more about the program.
THA Annual Member's Event Postponed
Now Scheduled for June 26 - 28, 2022
At the February 2021 Board of Directors' meeting, it was determined, after much discussion and consideration, continued preparations for an in-person June 2021 Annual Member's Meeting would not be financially prudent at this time. The Board considered the current landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic; continued limitations on the size of gatherings; the growing list of event cancellations throughout the state; and the speed at which vaccinations are currently being disseminated.

First, and foremost, is the safety of our member's, their families, and those vendors needed to conduct a successful event. At this time, many of our members still remain on travel restrictions within their own companies, and final commitments of support and attendance could not be achieved in the preparation time that is remaining. Please continue to visit the THA Annual Meeting webpage, as we populate plans and confirmations for the June 26 - 28, 2022 event.

In light of the postponement, THA Members will be receiving a Zoom invitation to attend an online presentation of the Annual THA Association 'State of Affairs', along with participation in the election of new THA Board of Directors and Officers. The date for the online event will be June 28th, 2021, to coincide with a meeting of the THA Board of Directors. Stay tuned for more information to follow.
President Biden Extends Federal Forbearance and Foreclosure Protections

President Biden extended the federal forbearance and foreclosure protections for homeowners with federal mortgages (FHA, VA, and USDA). It provides relief from foreclosure through June 30, 2021 and provides up to six months of additional mortgage payment forbearance, in three-month increments, for borrowers who entered forbearance on or before June 30, 2020. Last week, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the independent agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, extended forbearance by three months for borrowers coming to the end of their forbearance period.
Manufactured Housing Economic News


In January 2021, 8,479 new manufactured homes were shipped, an increase of 847 homes or 11.1 percent compared to December 2020, and a decrease of 238 homes or 2.7% compared to January 2020. Compared with the same month last year, shipments of single-section homes were down 7.5%, while shipments of multi-section homes were up by 1.3 %. Total floors shipped in January 2021 were 13,321, a decrease of 1.4 % compared with January 2020. None of the shipments in January 2021 were designated as FEMA units, which is the same as January 2020.
 
The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of shipments was 106,995 in January 2021, up by 6.5% compared to the adjusted rate of 100,487 in December 2020. The SAAR corrects for normal seasonal variations and projects annual shipments based on the current monthly total.
 
In January 2021, 8,476 new manufactured homes were produced, an increase of 843 homes or 11.0% compared to December 2020, and a decrease of 257 homes or 2.9% compared to January 2020.
 
The number of plants reporting production in January 2021 was 135 and the number of active corporations was 34, the same number of plants and corporations as in the prior two months.

MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE (MHI)
MHI In Action
MHI's 2021 Winter Leadership Roundtable - Roundup
MHI’s 2021 Winter Leadership Roundtable brought together industry experts and members over the course of three days, to discuss the latest issues impacting the manufactured housing industry such as zoning, financing, and the HUD Code, to name a few. Taking the place of MHI’s Winter Meeting, the event kicked off with MHI’s CEO Lesli Gooch and President Mark Bowersox sharing with attendees the top priority issues and objectives for growing the market in 2021, by telling our story, engaging our members, and developing our team. MHI’s key federal priorities for 2021, include improving the availability of financing, ensuring HUD Code reforms support innovation, protecting preemption and combatting adverse zoning, and advocating across the federal government to ensure the interests of manufactured housing are considered. Click here to learn more about these priorities and for brief summaries of the sessions. 
MHI Calls on FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Prioritize Manufactured Housing

In two separate comment letters to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), MHI emphasized the need for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) to meet their statutory duty to serve manufactured housing and urged FHFA to continue to hold the Enterprises’ responsible for meeting these obligations.
 
MHI’s first comment letter focused on potential changes to the regulation establishing housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. MHI stressed the importance of housing goals to manufactured housing because manufactured home loans are “goal-rich.” MHI emphasized that Duty to Serve continues to be critical in ensuring that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are adequately supporting financing for manufactured housing.
 
MHI’s second comment letter focused on the Enterprises’ appraisal-related policies, practices and processes, specifically as it relates to Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s new programs – MH Advantage and CHOICEHome, respectively – that provide conventional financing for manufactured homes that are titled as real estate and have certain site-built features known as CrossMod homes. MHI expressed concerns that appraisers are not aware of CrossMod and that it is a distinct type of HUD Code manufactured home and are by default using manufactured homes as comparables, instead of site-built comparables, when appraising a CrossMod home.
MHI is following the progress of this legislation.


House Passes COVID-19 Relief Package - Senate in Review

The House passed President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package sending the measure on to the Senate. The House package includes a provision to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025, but the Senate is expected to strip out this provision after the Senate parliamentarian ruled against including it under the procedure known as reconciliation. Senate Democrats are using the same mechanism to pass the bill with a simple majority vote.

Some of the major provisions included in the House-passed bill include:
 
  • Rental Aid. $25 billion for emergency rental aid of which $19 billion is allocated for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
  • Homeowner assistance. $10 billion for homeowner assistance efforts, including direct relief with mortgage payments, small 1-4 rental unit properties, property tax payments and utility costs.
  • Recovery rebates up to $1,400 per taxpayer. Single taxpayers earning up to $75,000 and married couples earning up to $150,000 will be eligible for the full amount. The rebates will be phased out for singles earning more than $100,000 and married couples earning more than $200,000.
  • Child Tax Credit expansion. For 2021, the Child Tax Credit will be fully refundable, and the credit will be increased to $3,000 per eligible child, or $3,600 for children under the age of six. In addition, for 2021, 17-year-old children would be eligible.
  • Paid medical and sick leave credits. Employers offering their employees COVID-related paid medical and sick leave would be eligible for an expanded tax credit through Sept. 30.
  • Employee Retention Tax Credit. Eligible employers would be able to claim this credit through the end of 2021.
  • Additional aid for small businesses. The legislation provides an additional $7.25 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
  • Extension of unemployment benefits. Federal unemployment benefits would be extended through Aug. 29. This extension also applies to the self-employed and individual contractors. Supplemental weekly benefits for all individuals claiming unemployment would be extended through Aug. 29 and increase from $300 to $400. 
Help Support the New Manufactured Housing Museum
The RV/MH Hall of Fame is currently pursuing a $1.7 million capital fundraising campaign to build the new, state-of-the-art 20,000 sq. ft. Manufactured Housing (MH) Museum announced in December.

The new museum will be dedicated to showcasing the manufactured housing industry and will include exciting exhibits, interactive displays, historical artifacts, and generational manufactured houses for the public to view and tour.

To become a part of history, and support the manufactured housing industry’s presence at the RV/MH Hall of Fame, click here to learn more and to make a donation. 
The THA 2021
Political Action Committee (PAC) Campaign


In 2021, please support the THA-PAC, to assist THA's continuance of educating key lawmakers on the importance of our industry, while also providing general counsel in ways of promoting manufactured homes as a viable option for addressing the affordable housing crisis.
Thank you Iron Horse Belleglade, LLC, for kicking off the 2021 PAC Campaign
with your January 7th donation of $500.
2021 Webinar Series: Shoot for the Moon
Free Webinars
Powered/Sponsored by: ManufacturedHomes.com and
LearnMH.com
Upcoming Free Webinar
Thursday, March 11, 2021, 2 PM ET

1st Quarter Check-In with
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Ben Navarro - Fannie Mae; and
Dennis Smith - Freddie Mac
SAVE THE DATE



Thursday, March 25, 2021, 2 PM ET
Innovation & Design in Manufactured Housing
Chris Nicely - Lane Associates, LLC

Available Daily
Licensing Education - Online Access

Initial Licensing - Jan thru Nov
Continuing Education - Jan thru Early Dec

MARCH SHOW - CANCELLED
THA Board of Directors - Zoom Call
April 8, 2021; 9:00 AM CST / 10:00 EST
Important Links/Downloads
for your Information & Research
Newly Revised and Available Now
Professional Housing Consultant (PHC®) Designation Program
This PHC course is a comprehensive retail course.

Chapter 1, Part 1 - History and Construction
Chapter 1, Part 2 - Retailer Responsibilities
Chapter 1, Part 3 - Placement Options
Chapter 1, Part 4A - Fair Housing
Chapter 1, Part 4B - Finance Overview

Chapter 2, Land-Home Financing

Chapter 3, Part A - Personal Property Finance
Chapter 3, Part B - Completing the Credit Application

Chapter 4, Part 1 - Selling Skills
Chapter 4, Part 2A - Selling Skills
Chapter 4, Part 2B - Selling Skills
Chapter 4, Part 3 - Selling Skills

Registration Fee is $199 (Completion time is ~6 hours.)
MH Regulatory Resources
(Key Links)
Visit the TN Department of Health and Tennessee's Unified Command Group website for continued statewide COVID-19 data.
VACCINE LOCATIONS
A vaccine locations map is now available at https://COVID19.TN.gov. This tool allows eligible Tennesseans to search nearby pharmacies and clinics that are currently administering COVID-19 vaccines.

Tennessee Updates COVID-19 Vaccination Plan
The Tennessee Department of Health has updated Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan as the state continues to prioritize Tennesseans most at risk of illness and death from COVID-19. 

Tennessee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Reporting dashboard is available online here. This dashboard will be updated Monday – Friday each week.
MAKE A FAMILY EMERGENCY PLAN!
ALWAYS BE PREPARED!