Having spent over 35 years as a full-time real estate broker in Florida, I’ve watched our manufactured housing market evolve through wave after wave of regulatory changes. Now, a new federal law is set to make another significant impact—raising insured loan limits and, for the first time, expanding the federal definition of manufactured homes beyond those built on permanent chassis. This could open the door for greater design flexibility, especially for homes on permanent foundations or infill lots here in Florida, though zoning restrictions will still play a role in where these homes can be placed. We’ve already seen our state’s standards tighten, especially after 1992’s stricter wind codes, which improved quality but also increased costs. Raising the insured loan limits is a particularly important step, since buyers of manufactured homes have often faced steeper borrowing costs than those purchasing traditional homes. Ultimately, just how much changes here will depend on how new federal standards interact with our local rules. As always, affordability in this segment is shaped by the ongoing dance between financing, inspections, and permitting.