“Perverse”–Warren Buffett-Dodd-Frank, CFPB, Manufactured Housing, Loans, Independent Businesses Fact Check$

PerverseWarrenBuffettDodd-FrankCFPBManufacturedHousingInstituteManufacturedHomeLoansClayton21stVanderbiltDailyBusinessNewsMHProNewsThere seems to be some perverse human characteristic that likes to make easy things difficult.”

– Warren Buffett,
Berkshire Hathaway (BH) Chairman, parent to Clayton Homes, Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance (VMF) & 21st Mortgage Corp, other industry suppliers, et al, cited per BrainyQuote.

 

The essence of simplicity for business professionals is the would-have-been campaign platform teased by star performer and manufactured home owner, Kid Rock.

 

KidRockSenateDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews

MHLivingNews and MHProNews highlighted Kid Rock periodically for months. Among the reasons are the simple points he made. Whatever his intent, Kid Rock told the story of the MH Industry’s home owners and independent business people’s struggles in compelling ways.

“Born Free,” “Po-Dunk” Manufactured Homeowner Kid Rock Updates Senate Race Status

Perhaps in the era of President Barack Hussein Obama, the realistic fix for Dodd-Frank’s harm was the long sought Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act.

But is Preserving Access still the best option in this new era of Regulatory Rollback, under President Donald J. Trump?

IWillLowerTaxesEliminateUnnecesaryRegulationUnleashAmercianEnergyPlacingAMericanBusienssandWorkersFirst-DOnalTrumpNationViewsMHProNews
President Trump and VP Mike Pence have both said they will be in the promise keeping business.  As the Daily Business News has tracked for the MH Industry’s professionals and enthusiasts, the economy is advancing with those regulatory roll-backs, see link here. http://www.mhpronews.com/blogs/daily-business-news/profitable-insight-potu-trump-effect-on-mh-stock-at-1-year-part-4/

When the president and much of the GOP are pursuing eliminating or severely curtailing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that Dodd-Frank spawned, why tweak a law, when you can kill it or take control over it?  And based on the regulatory rollbacks to date, isn’t it obvious that the president will replace Cordray with someone more business friendly?

Obtained Email Details Richard Cordray Resigning Soon, Cong. Hensarling Reacts

Kid Rock, Donald Trump and millions of others have advocated for something simple.  Cut regulations, cut taxes, let the genius of American business professionals create jobs, and through business growth, create more prosperity for millions of Americans.

Facts Are, Facts Matter

What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history.”

– Warren Buffett,
Berkshire Hathaway (BH) Chairman, parent to Clayton Homes, Vanderbilt & 21st Mortgage, per GoodReads.

As GovTrack and the Daily Business News on MHProNews have reported for months, the odds of passing the Financial Choice Act are far better than is the passage of Preserving Access.  While the odds for both have risen since the report below, that link is but one of several examples of reported news that MHI could have pro-actively responded to by pivoting from their long-held Preserving Access position.

Financial Choice Act, with MHI Bill, Heading to Floor Vote, Outlook, Analysis

Given that Nathan Smith – former MHI Chair, prominent Democratic Party activist, and partner in SSK Communities – said that it was his goal to cause the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) to stop being a reactive association, and to start being a pro-active one.  If so, why is MHI still so reactively focused on the Preserving Access issue in the Age of Trump?

 

 

Superficiality is the curse of the modern world.” – Matthew Kelly

Support for Preserving Access, For the Record

It is a matter of record that MHLivingNews and MHProNews actively supported Preserving Access in word and deed for years. Time, talent, and treasure were expended to create articles and videos that documented why the CFPB’s implementation of Dodd Frank were harming the industry’s consumers and businesses alike. To this moment, this publication is okay with the goal, but what we’ve spotlighted is that a far better goal for the MH Industry is now possible.

That original full-length Nathan Smith video and article were but one of dozens of examples of active support by this trade publisher of the MHI sponsored bill.  That video, or dozens of articles, lobbying, etc. cost MHI not one dime.

This trade media – in association with those industry companies that we work with – paid for that video, and so much more, in time, talent, and treasure.  MHI can’t legitimately claim otherwise.

MHI has allowed millions of dollars of the association’s member’s dues money to be gobbled up in this Preserving Access effort, plus the MHI PAC money in addition to the association costs.

Where are the MHI results?

PEPProtectEducatePromoteUnlockingMindsKeyToAdvancementMHProNews
http://www.mhpronews.com/industry-news/industry-in-focus/a-executive-summary-400-words-manufactured-housing-industry-obstacles-and-billions-in-opportunities
Barney_Frank wikipediaPostedDailyBgusinesNewsMHProNews
Barney Frank, official photo, credit Wikipedia.

Perhaps the better question is, who benefited by NOT passing Preserving Access?

Barney Frank Letter De-Bunked a Key Dodd-Frank Claim…

It should also be noted that it was an MHProNews reader who supplied this potent letter that was first published here, and was later used by MHI.  This letter – linked below – was read into the Congressional record, in support of Preserving Access.

Barney Frank Letter link.

It was also MHLivingNews and MHProNews that discovered and broke the story that CFED – since renamed, Prosperity Now – was receiving CFPB funding.

CFED and CFPB – Confused, Conflicted “Friends” of Manufactured Home Owners and Prospective Buyers? – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com

Doug Ryan, Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) in apparent conflict of interest, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), manufactured home loans.

Of course, CFED backed the CFPB — they were being paid by them.

Follow the Money?

Among the articles that MHI President Richard “Dick” Jennison asked MHProNews to publish was this one by Jason Boehlert.

Industry Voices

In a communiqué to MHProNews, MHI’s Vice President of Regularly Affairs, Jason Boehlert shared the following report to Industry members

Shortly after it was published, Jennison contacted MHProNews in what could be described as a panic.

Jennison’s urgent request? That MHProNews unpublish the article that they had previously asked just days before that we publish for them.  Please note the footnote under the article, linked above.

Per Jennison’s call – and what other MHI sources later revealed to MHProNews – it seems that Jennison, Boehlert, and MHI had failed to check with the consumer groups before announcing their “victory.”  As MH industry history tells us, their was no victory to announce.

LATonyKovachMHProNewsMHLivingNewsMHINoJournalistPhotoNCCPostedDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews
At the recent San Antonio MHI meeting, Dick Jennison and Lesli Gooch repeatedly made thinly veiled statements, aimed at MHProNews. But when these signs were first introduced, top MHI staff claimed it was aimed at ‘outside’ media, not ‘industry media.’ What caused that change by Jennison and his allies toward a dues paying MHI association member? What message does it send to others in the association? What message does it send to the industry at large? Is MHI trying to create a de facto industry trade media monopoly? Other monopolies?

Here are some of the dozens (if not, hundreds) of articles that MHLivingNews and MHProNews published in support of Dodd-Frank, CFPB related news, and reform efforts.

Media Should Re-Visit Dodd-Frank Reporting in Light of Congressional Testimony – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com

Richard Cordray, CFPB Director, Manufactured Home Loan regulation, predatory mobile home lending, Seattle Times/BuzzFeed/Center Public Integrity, PBS Newshour,

Noise and Smoke vs. Facts About Manufactured Homes and Lending – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com

Preserving Access Manufactured Housing Act, HR 650/S682, CFPB Manufactured Home Loan Regulations, Sen Bob Corker, CFPB Richard Cordray, Sam Landy UMH, HUD Julian Castro,

Renters’ Nation: The Dark Side of Dodd-Frank and Its Impact on Affordable Housing – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com

Affordable housing harmed by Dodd-Frank, creating a Renters nation. Examples. Manufactured Home loans, HR 650, S 682, Preserving Access Manufactured Housing Act.

She Black, He’s White, They’re in Different Parties. Why Congressional Representatives Terri Sewell and Andy Barr Support Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com

In their own words, you will see in the next few minutes why Congressman Andy Barr and Congresswoman Terri Sewell both strongly support manufactured housing.

Dodd-Frank and Manufactured Home Financing: The Place Where Good Intentions and Unintended Consequences Collide – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com

The path to home ownership lay before him, smooth and attainable as never before. All Eric Powell had to do was secure a small loan. He had a steady job, a decent credit score and a wife who happened to work for a bank: What could possibly go wrong?

Can MHI – or any of their most ardent supporters – find any others in the industry’s trade media that provided more published support for their Preserving Access bill?

Thousands of others – including us – wrote in support of their bill. But in hindsight, in spite of all those efforts, wasn’t Preserving Access a flawed plan from the start?

ExperienceTeachesOnlyTheTeachableAldusHuxleyBrainyQuoteDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews

Those and numerous other pro-Preserving Access steps were taking place, even though Jennison was allegedly already undermining MHProNews/MHLivingNews, which will be the subject of a separate, upcoming report.

While word, deeds, and rumors were coming to MHProNews about Jennison’s and his allies effort to undermine this pro-industry trade media – which we where then an MHI member company – MHProNews continued to support Preserving Access. Why?  On principle, based upon what we knew at the time, it seemed like a sound plan.

Furthermore, the evidence shows that MHProNews continued to allow MHI to provide content to be shared with the industry to promote that effort. One of several possible examples is linked below.

Industry Voices

As the national association serving as the voice of the manufactured housing industry, Tim (Williams) asked that MHI respond to your inquiry. Our official response is provided below.

Note that in a prior message to MHProNews, MHI’s then VP admitted that Barack Obama’s winning in 2012 was a significant setback for any roll-back of Dodd-Frank.

Industry Voices

While commentators will be picking over the remains of the 2012 elections for weeks to come and discussing what the political landscape will look like over….

That being the case, as MHI’s own VP stated, why did MHI continue to pursue Preserving Access

Why did MHI continue to promise passage of Preserving Access – as Jennison publicly did in 2015 at Louisville – when their own Vice President of Government Affairs laid out the facts as to why it was not going to happen?

In hind-sight, where was the logic of the MHI stance?  Or as Berkshire Hathaway’s chairman has said,

Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”

– Warren Buffett,
Berkshire Hathaway (BH) Chairman, parent to Clayton Homes, Vanderbilt & 21st Mortgage, et al, per Investing.

As quoted in Medium, his partner at BH said, “Warren Buffett has become one hell of a lot better investor since the day I met him, and so have I. If we had been frozen at any given stage, with the knowledge we had, the record would have been much worse than it is. So the game is to keep learning, and I don’t think people are going to keep learning who don’t like the learning process.” – Charlie Munger, Berkshire Hathaway – parent to Clayton Homes, Vanderbilt & 21st Mortgage, et al.

Isn’t it time for the industry’s business professionals to follow Buffett’s lead on three things: reading, planning long term, and learning from the lessons of history?

WarrenBuffettMostImportantHabitReadingReadMajorityofSuccessfulPeopleRead30MinutesDailyTimeMoneyDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews
MHI and Warren Buffett provide the best reasons for the industry to follow and support the industry’s leading independent trade media. MHLivingNews.com, and MHProNews.com.  BH companies do… 

What MHI, Industry Insiders Have Told MHProNews

Several industry success stories, plus association, non-profit and other informed sources and insiders have told MHProNews that Dodd-Frank has proven to be a windfall for Buffett’s brands.

The Masthead

We’ve heard for some time the whispers about the now announced closure of U.S. Bank’s indirect manufactured housing lending program. To protect source…

U.S. Bank clearly stated that that they exited manufactured home lending, due in part to low volume, and regulatory risk.

The volume, knowledgeable sources at U.S. Bank said was okay, as their loan portfolio was profitable.

But U.S. Bank could not overlook the risk of the loans.  That statement dovetails with what UMH President Sam Landy told MHLivingNews about their own loan program, and Landy pointed to others that exited for the same reason – regulatory risk – as was reported.

Sam Landy, UMH CEO, on Dodd-Frank and The Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing Act – S 682/HR 650 – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com

Financing is often at the heart of any deal involving a major purchase. Manufactured home sales follows that patten, with some two out of three new homes being sold involving lending.

Some of that regulatory risk could have been eliminated, per our sources, by trading the MLO rule for the 21st/VMF sought points and fees rule.

The Bottom Lines?

Warren Buffett has said that his favorite hold time is forever. Unlike many in the industry, which is often short term in thinking, Buffett’s patient. In 2003, Buffett began his run on taking over the manufactured housing industry.

Fraud, Class Action, CFPB-Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Clayton Homes, Vanderbilt Mortgage & Finance, 21st Mortgage, Manufactured Housing Institute, and the Manufactured Homes Industry

It has not been without controversy, as MHProNews has previously reported, and more veteran industry professionals know first-hand.

In hindsight, isn’t it true that Buffett and his brands win regardless if Preserving Access passes or not?  Sources have made precisely that claim, and those sources include voices within MHI’s circle of influence.

Beyond that circle that speak off-the-record, are comments like Alan Amy, Lance Inderman, Bob Crawford, or others who have spoken on the record on various aspects of the Preserving Access and related issues.

LanceIndermanQuoteDoddFrankObamCarePrivateSectorDespiseGovtwealthyDespiseTruePrivateSectorUseGovtDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews
This comment was previously sent, and MH Industry readers, as with any quote, should determine if it fits the context of this article. “We Provide, You Decide.” ©

MHI/NCC member Frank Rolfe made it clear that MHI’s communications and pushing for Dodd-Frank made no sense to him.

 

FrankRolfeNegativeArticlesOnIndustryNoCommentbyManufacturedHousingInstituteMHIRVHorizonsMobleHomeUniversityPostedDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews-575x132
http://www.mhpronews.com/blogs/daily-business-news/frank-rolfe-blasts-mhi-for-poor-media-engagement-industry-reactions/
KennyLipschutzQuotePoorJobOfLobbyinginMHIndustry-postedMHProNews48thMHINCClist
For the full context and interview, click this link or the graphic above. http://mhpronews.com/featured-articles/november-2017/a-cup-of-coffee-with-kenny-lipschutz-homefirst-certified-communities

Solutions, Not Whining

Jim Ayotte’s statement, quoted below, was sent to MHProNews regarding a different topic, one that will be published soon.  But isn’t Ayotte’s observation a keen one for not only associations, but also businesses or pro-industry trade publishers too?

AsAssocExecutiveMyJobAssessSituationSeekBestPossibleOutcomeBasedOnFactsAsIKnowThem-ManufacturedHousingIndustryVoicesDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews

Don’t the facts reveal that MHI has supported one ineffective policy after another?  Where is their self-proclaimed clout?

Exclusive – HUD’s Manufactured Housing Program Administrator Pam Danner, Update

While MHI has failed to advance its agenda, even before MHProNews began to more aggressively fact check the association, doesn’t the history above clearly reflect that MHLivingNews and MHProNews supported Preserving Access?

castleInSkyPixabayManufacturedHousingIndustyDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews-575x312
http://www.mhpronews.com/blogs/daily-business-news/exclusive-huds-manufactured-housing-program-administrator-pam-danner-update/

Even while supporting MHI’s bill, and prior to this publication more aggressive fact checks of MHI, the Daily Business News will further allege that Dick Jennison was working against this operation’s interests.

That’s not a light comment.  Others associated with MHI have said similarly, that their interests (not just ours…) are being undermined by the Monopolistic Housing Institute (oops, Manufactured Housing Institute…MHI) – too.

ELS’ Sam Zell – Compliance Costs Destroys Smaller Businesses = Consolidation

Perhaps more significant, as MHI presses on with its over half-decade failed agenda, for whatever reasons, the industry continues to consolidate.

That consolidation is taking place due to the heavy burdens of regulations.

Regulation Nation – Manufactured Housing Associations, Companies, and Professionals

The non-profits and MHI company members have informed the Daily Business News that MHI had in its power to ‘cut a deal’ to eliminate the so-called MLO, several years ago by agreement.  The trade?  Give up the points and fees in exchange for the MLO rule.  MHI’s leadership, per those sources, said no.

IshbelDickensPhotoNationalManufacturedHomeOwnersAssocNMHOALogoDailyBuisnessNewsMHproNews
MHProNews has fact-checked the often flawed positions of NMHOA for years; that said, on this issue, there are multiple sources that state that Dickens accurately reflected the meeting between MHI and other non-profits.

While other industry companies and so-called “Lonnie Dealers” could have benefited from the points and fees rule too, the primary beneficiary were the Berkshire Hathaway brands of 21st, and Vanderbilt.

Simple reason tells the objective observer that Warren Buffett’s companies have not only dominated MHI, they’ve used MHI to the detriment of thousands of others in the industry.

So where is the logic for independents to support MHI?

The Racket?

It is Democratic lawmakers who are calling leading light Democratic supporter Warren Buffett’s MH brands a “near monopoly.”

CongressAsksDOJInvestigateClaytonHomesCreditTwitterWikipediaMHProNews
U.S. Representatives Maxine Waters (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Mike Capuano (D-MA). Image credit, Twitter, Wikipedia. http://www.mhpronews.com/blogs/daily-business-news/post-charlottesville-cfas-hunts-evidence-of-racism-steering-predatory-lending-against-buffetts-clayton-homes-vanderbilt-mortgage-and-21st-mortgage/

It was Tim Williams who made the statement below, one that thousands in manufactured housing would agree with.

VicePresidentMikePenceWifeKarenHandOverHeartPledgeColts49ersGameWashingtonTimesDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews
Notice. One can agree with 21st Mortgage CEO and prior MHI Chairman Tim Williams’ presentation, from which the slide above was taken with permission, while still questioning how it can be that Williams is intellectually at odds with Berkshire Hathaway Chairman, Warren Buffett. To see all of William’s informative slides, click the graphic above. http://www.MHProNews.com/industry-news/industry-in-focus/is-tim-williams-21st-mortgage-ceo-mhi-chair-at-odds-with-berkshire-hathaway-chairman-warren-buffett

But isn’t it ironic that his statement flies in the face of what Warren Buffett supported?

HillaryClintonWarrenBuffettCreditBostonGlobePostedManufacturedHousingIndustryResearchDataReportsDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews-com-
Hillary Clinton, left, Warren Buffett, right. Credit – Boston Globe.  But Buffett’s stock has soared since the Trump victory, see the graphic and report, linked here. 

Namely, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both of whom supported Dodd-Frank.  Where’s the logic?

Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” – Warren Buffett.

What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history.

– Warren Buffett,
Berkshire Hathaway (BH) Chairman, parent to Clayton Homes, Vanderbilt & 21st Mortgage, per GoodReads.

 

Is Buffett and MHI hoping small to mid-sized companies keep paying for MHI, so that Buffet’s brands benefit from MHI’s actions?

Are companies pressured into being MHI members, if they want to do business with Buffett’s brands?

 

The Solution?

The industry needs a post-production association, one that will replace the tongue-in-cheek “Monopolistic Housing Institute.” MHARR has long supported that call.

MHARR has long supported that position.

Isn’t it long overdue?  If not now, when the evidence is so clear, when?

BobCrawfordDickMooreHousingFrankRofleRVHorizonsMobileHomeUniversityTunicaShowManufacturedHousingIndustryMHProNews

 

Before another year of dues are sent by a company like your’s to MHI, isn’t it time for businesses to re-assess, and plan for a new national association platform?

Study Recommending New Manufactured Housing Association for Independent Retailers, Communities, Lenders, Others Released

Possible concepts are in the report linked above.

IfYoureWillingtoAbandonPrinciplesConveincesocialAcceptabilityNotPrinciplesCostumeJoeConchaTheHilInspirationlMHProNews874
http://www.mhpronews.com/blogs/INspiration/principles-social-acceptance-and-posturing/

INspirations for Manufactured Housing Professionals

Nothing is changed, until it is challenged. “If you are willing to abandon your principles for convenience, or social acceptability, they are not your principles, they are your costume.” Joe Concha, The Hill,

As a trade publication, akin to Ayotte’s insight, the best that we or any professional can do is do the best with the facts when known. MHProNews’ understanding of Preserving Access and MHI have evolved through painful experience. It is thus proper to attempt to inform the industry of the facts, allegations and concerns as they are known and alleged.

Simplicity is supporting the kind of proven pro-business positions advocated by Kid Rock, and President Donald Trump.

KidRockSenateDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews

We can and would support a new national post-production association effort, that is pro-business, pro-consumer, and based upon sound ethical principles.

IWillLowerTaxesEliminateUnnecesaryRegulationUnleashAmercianEnergyPlacingAMericanBusienssandWorkersFirst-DOnalTrumpNationViewsMHProNews
President Trump and VP Mike Pence have both said they will be in the promise keeping business. MHProNews publicly supported Trump – while MHI, just days before the election – put two pro-Clinton speakers on their Chicago event stage.

We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (News, analysis, and commentary.)

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(Image credits are as shown above, and when provided by third parties, are shared under fair use guidelines.)

SoheylaKovachManufacturedHomeLivingNewsManufacturedHousingIndustryDailyBusinessNewsMHProNews-Submitted by Soheyla Kovach to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.com.
Soheyla is a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC the parent company to MHProNews and MHLivingNews.

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