Transformation of the MH Industry with Skyline Champion Corporation

22 million Americans live in manufactured homes. Manufactured homes represent around 1 in 10 new homes constructed in the U.S. each year. After years of spiking real estate prices, mortgage rates, and rents, the housing affordability crisis in the U.S. is more apparent than ever.  

Manufactured housing starts with a prefabricated home built in a factory before being transported to it’s ultimate destination.  

We wanted to bring you into the Burleson, Texas plant to see first hand how they are constructing 13 floors a day, from concept to completion and with the demand, they expect to increase up to 18. This impressive achievement is powered by a workforce of over 300 dedicated individuals who handle everything from construction and design to inspection and sales. 

Burleson is one of Skyline Champion’s 42 manufacturing facilities across the US. Where they have sold over 3 million homes in the 70-year history. When we arrived, Jimmy Griffith, Sales Manager at Champion Home Builders, equipped us with safety goggles and earplugs and led us straight out to see the latest materials used to help with durability, safety, and security. Griffith started in the industry in 1982 and has seen the transformation in the industry firsthand.  

“The innovation has been incredible, and the quality materials, safety standards to name a few” says Griffith who credits regulation for shaping the industry’s progress.  

Since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) began regulating the Manufactured Housing Industry in 1976, a new era of quality assurance emerged. The certification label on each manufactured home ensures adherence to HUD's Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, covering vital aspects such as framing, thermal protection, plumbing, electrical systems, and fire safety.

The manufactured housing industry received a substantial boost with the introduction of The Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. Recognizing the affordability and potential for increased homeownership, the government worked to enhance the quality, durability, affordability, and safety of these homes. 

Energy efficiency has become a cornerstone of the industry's transformation. In 2016, the Department of Energy released new guidelines for increased energy efficiency in manufactured homes. Manufacturers, including Skyline Champion, have risen to the challenge of implementing measures such as enhanced insulation, energy-efficient windows, and modern water heaters. These improvements have led to homes built at Champion that are up to 27% more energy efficient. 

After recognizing manufactured housing as a solution for affordable living, the government introduced the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. This enhanced manufactured homes' quality, durability, affordability, and safety. 

The interiors being built for the manufactured homes at Skyline Champion are the same as what you find in site-built homes. Large upper cabinets, full-size appliances, including a large laundry room with mudroom options, pendant lighting above a kitchen island with custom countertops, and a walk-in pantry are just a few of the options that are catching many consumers' attention. Notably, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the integration of home offices as a standard feature in many home plans, adapting to the changing needs of our lives. 

With the Manufactured Housing Industry, the road ahead is paved with promise, and Skyline Champion Corporation and its counterparts continue to lead the charge, building not just homes, but the foundations of dreams and futures.