Next Step

The Next Step Network is building a value chain that connects manufactured housing companies to nonprofit providers of affordable housing.

Our mission is to put homeownership within reach of everyone, transforming the manufactured housing industry through consumer education, affordability & energy-efficiency. This partnership helps the two sectors work together in a model that benefits not only both industries but ultimately, the customer: lower-income American homeowners. The Next Step System for doing business includes five guiding

principles:
1. Homebuyers prepared and supported through certified homebuyer education programs.
2. ENERGY STAR homes on FHA Title II permanent foundations.
3. Life-cycle pricing that is transparent to the nonprofit and to the homebuyer.
4. Mortgages with fair terms that enable families to earn wealth and/or preserve assets.
5. “A Home is a Home” policy commitment advocating that owners of manufactured homes have the same rights as owners of site-built homes. Through proven experience and collaboration, we believe that when a home is done right every single time – on the right foundation, providing comprehensive homebuyer support and with the right financing – we can create an opportunity for systemic change.

06/18/2026

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: The Housing Advisor's Guide to Factory-Built Housing Financing.

Walk clients through manufactured home loan options with confidence — from chattel vs. mortgage decisions to federal program eligibility (FHA, USDA, VA, Section 184) to the red flags that signal predatory lending.

Built for housing counselors and the home buyers they serve.

Download free https://nextstepus.org/resource/financing-factory-built-homes-for-advisors/

06/17/2026

A one-pager for counselors to use with factory-built home buyers. It covers credit, DPA eligibility, loan-type fit, and risk flags. Try it in your next client intake.

Free download → https://nextstepus.org/resource/client-assessment-checklist-for-housing-advisors/

06/15/2026

This week is for housing counselors and advisors.

Free toolkits, client checklists, and continuing-ed resources from Next Step — built for the work you actually do, every day, with real clients.

Explore the Resourceibrary → nextstepus.org/resources

06/12/2026

12 states have already passed manufactured housing zoning reform. Yours can be next.

The State Policy Playbook for Manufactured Homes — a new joint publication with The Pew Charitable Trusts and ROC USA, published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy — lays out the concrete steps state leaders can take to:

→ Expand attainable supply
→ Improve mortgage access
→ Preserve affordability in manufactured home communities

Download Here: https://nextstepus.org/resource/state-policy-playbook-manufactured-homes/

06/10/2026

One of the most persistent myths about factory-built housing: These homes don't appreciate.

The data says otherwise.

Our white paper — Off-Site Built Homes: Proven to Appreciate in Value, co-authored with Clayton — draws on national research, federal housing data, and real-world case studies to show that modern manufactured, modular, and CrossMod® homes appreciate at rates comparable to site-built housing when properly sited, financed, and maintained.

If you're making the case for factory-built housing — to a city council, a funder, or your community — this is the paper to bring. Read the full white paper: https://nextstepus.org/resource/factory-built-home-appreciation.

06/08/2026

RESOURCE SPOTLIGHT: Zoning Guidance for Municipalities. Practical guidance for cities and counties looking to enable factory-built housing. Download here: https://nextstepus.org/resource/zoning-guidance-for-municipalities/

06/03/2026

TOOL OF THE WEEK: TotalHome+ Calculator. See the true cost of a factory-built home — beyond the sticker price. Free, no signup. Try it → nextstepus.org/calculator

06/01/2026

Big news: our Resource Library is refreshed and bigger than ever. Free toolkits, calculators, and step-by-step guides for buyers, developers, and advisors. Explore the refreshed library: nextstepus.org/resources/

05/20/2026

Thinking about buying a home but worried it's out of reach? Factory-built housing has quietly become one of the most affordable and practical paths to homeownership — and today's homes look nothing like the "mobile homes" of decades past.

They're energy-efficient. Durably engineered. Financed with the same kinds of mortgages used for site-built homes. And often ready to move into in a fraction of the time, at roughly half the cost.

We just published a start-to-finish guide that walks you through everything you need to know:

✅ The 4 types of factory-built homes
✅ How financing actually works (it's easier than you think)
✅ A realistic 6-to-8-month timeline
✅ How to find down payment help in your area

You don't have to have it all figured out today. You just have to take the next step.
👉 Read the full guide: nextstepus.org/buying-guide

03/27/2026

Buying land for a factory-built home is an exciting step toward homeownership. However, before purchasing property, it’s important to understand zoning. Zoning laws determine how land can be used and what types of homes can be placed on a property. These rules are set by local governments and can vary widely between cities, counties, and neighborhoods.

Zoning districts typically fall into several categories, including residential, commercial, agricultural, and mixed-use. Within residential zones, additional rules may affect whether factory-built homes are allowed and how they must be installed.

Address

1287 Royal Avenue
Louisville, KY
40204

Telephone

+15026941976

Website

https://nextstepus.org/

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