The manufactured housing industry, a key provider of affordable homes in the U.S., has long faced a fragmentation problem: buyers and homeowners often struggle to find the services they need—from transport to financing—due to a lack of centralized resources. MHarketplace, a new online platform, launched today to address this gap by offering a nationwide directory of manufactured home communities and a network of service professionals, with the goal of making the entire ecosystem more accessible and efficient.
Manufactured housing is a significant segment of the American housing market, with approximately 100,000 new homes shipped annually at an average price of $115,600, which is less than one-third the cost of a site-built home. The industry's occupancy rates are near 95%, reflecting its importance in providing affordable housing. However, the process of buying and servicing a manufactured home can be daunting, especially for first-time buyers, due to the need to coordinate multiple services such as titling, financing, insurance, and transportation. MHarketplace aims to simplify this by providing a single platform where homeowners can find communities, service providers, and educational resources.
Jacob Campbell, founder of MHarketplace, emphasizes that the problem was never a lack of expertise but rather a lack of visibility. "The expertise exists everywhere in this industry. What's been missing is the connection - homeowners simply don't know these businesses exist. MHarketplace makes the ecosystem visible," he said. The platform offers a searchable community directory, a trusted services network, buyer education, and listings for buying, selling, and renting homes. It is designed to complement existing marketplaces by focusing on the services and education that surround the transaction, rather than competing with them.
The platform is rolling out state by state, with national coverage of community directories already in place. Service businesses can claim and enhance their listings, while homeowners and buyers can access the platform for free. Campbell believes that increasing visibility for these businesses is not just marketing but an opportunity for growth and industry improvement. "Every confident, well-informed homeowner helps close that gap, and that strengthens the entire industry," he added.
By connecting homeowners with local service providers, MHarketplace aims to improve the overall experience of buying and owning a manufactured home, potentially increasing the appeal of this housing option. As the industry continues to play a critical role in addressing the nation's affordable housing crisis, platforms like MHarketplace could be instrumental in ensuring that homeowners have the support they need to succeed.
