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Commentary on Manufactured Home Communities Discussion with Gabe Vasquez by Gary Perry
I, along with several other Alamogordo citizens including our Mayor, Susan Payne and representatives from Holloman AFB were invited to a July 29th meeting with U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez to discuss issues associated with affordable housing in Otero County to include manufactured home communities.
One of the subjects discussed was the growing concern of private equity groups buying manufactured home communities and employing predatory business practices of significant rent increases, elimination of services, and failing to properly maintain parks.
Representative Vasquez acknowledged this is happening on a larger scale basis in New Mexico and he is hearing about it from other concerned residents of manufactured home parks.
Representative Vasquez will be introducing a bill in the U.S. House that will direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to investigate and report on the prices of pad site rents in manufactured home communities regarding potential market manipulation and price gouging, and its effect on senior citizen park residents
Additionally, the report would include a long-term strategy for Congress to address price manipulation in manufactured home communities.
It was pointed out to Representative Vasquez the failure of the New Mexico Legislature in 2023 and 2025 to pass legislation on the state level that would have helped control the predatory business practices of investor groups buying parks, raising rents and eliminating services for increased profits.
The voices of the residents fell on deaf ears of state legislators including Otero Representative John Block who voted no on the bills that were introduced.
We're still a long way away from getting the relief and protection that is needed for residents of manufactured home communities. But it's encouraging that the issues are gaining attention on the federal level and on a nationwide basis.
Representative Vasquez has left the communication door open for continued discussions and keeping him informed of manufactured home community issues especially associated with out-of-state investor groups buying parks.
We will see what the future holds.
- Gary Perry, Citizen Advocate
Note: Gary Perry is a local advocate for senior citizens rights and fair housing. His series of articles on Mobile Home Park rights can be found via the links below...
New Mexico Mobile Home Act Special Educational Series Introduction
New Mexico Mobile Home Act Special Educational Series: Tenancy Termination
New Mexico Mobile Home Act Special Educational Series: Part 3
Mobile Home Park Act Educational Series Part 4 by Gary Perry
New Mexico Mobile Home Park Act Summary and Needed Changes Part 5
