Tri-Cities lawmaker’s bill to make financing manufactured homes easier is now law
Some manufactured homes will be eligible for the same low-cost mortgages as their site-built counterparts under a bill signed into law by Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson.
The governor signed Engrossed House Bill 1191 at a ceremony Friday after it was passed unanimously by lawmakers in both chambers — 97-0 in the House and 49-0 in the Senate.
The unanimous support is a coup for State Rep. April Connors, R-Tri-Cities, its primary sponsor.
Connors called it a small but critical step to address Washington’s statewide shortage of housing by lowering the cost to finance manufactured homes.
The initial impact is small, but it could alter the financial landscape for owners who site their homes in manufactured home parks in the future.
The new law allows owners who live in the growing number of parks where residents own the land to ask the Department of Licensing to remove vehicle licenses from the title.
Once that happens, the homes are treated as real property, eligible for standard mortgages.
Vehicle loans typically carry much higher interest rates than real estate mortgages, translating to higher payments and less access to down payment assistance and other help.
The number of resident-owned parks is rising.
The Northwest Cooperative Development Center in Olympia, which advocated for the change, helps residents buy their parks through its Resident Owned Communities program or ROC Northwest.
To date, 30 communities have been purchased by their residents, representing nearly 1,700 homes.
More candidates are being added to the list. The center is currently reviewing properties in both Prosser and Kennewick for resident-led buyouts.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM.