Manufactured Housing Moves Forward: Insights from the IMN Forum

At this year’s IMN Manufactured Housing Forum, one thing was clear: manufactured housing has solidified its role as a critical component of the U.S. housing market. As demand grows, available homes become harder to find, and residents expect more from their living experience, the industry is seeing big opportunities, alongside new challenges to navigate. Conversations throughout the forum centered on strategic planning, particularly around optimizing Net Operating Income (NOI), modernizing infrastructure, and meeting the evolving needs of today’s renters.

Evolving Perceptions of Manufactured Housing

Manufactured housing continues to redefine itself. Once commonly associated with mobile home parks, today’s communities feature higher-quality, upgraded homes designed to meet the needs of today’s renters. Many operators are focusing on workforce housing, offering residents privacy, space, and professional management—often in locations where traditional multifamily developments face cost challenges. As affordability remains a pressing concern across the country, manufactured housing is emerging as a scalable solution that aligns with both consumer demand and investor interest.

Driving Ancillary Revenue  Without the Added Complexities

With rent growth slowing and fewer property sales happening, many operators are now looking for ways to drive revenue and increase property success beyond rent collection. Packaging internet service in bulk offers both reliable service for residents and steady income for owners. But for many of those owners, adding a new provider to their ever-growing vendor stack creates unnecessary complexities and additional management resources. We heard from many industry leaders at this year’s event about the need to centralize critical, revenue-driving services under fewer vendors, delivering operational efficiencies in the process.   

Delivering Reliable Connectivity Without the Costly Overhaul

Internet access is now as essential to residents as traditional utilities, especially in manufactured housing communities near large metropolitan areas. However, many owners still assume that delivering fast, reliable internet requires a costly overhaul of their entire network infrastructure.  At the forum, experts shared that this isn’t always true. Many communities do not need to explore a costly fiber retrofit, but instead can improve their internet service by leveraging a community’s existing infrastructure, like coaxial cable wiring. By partnering with providers who know the unique needs of manufactured housing, operators can offer better internet without costly construction or major disruptions.

Stepping Into the Future of Manufactured Housing

The IMN Manufactured Housing Forum made it clear that manufactured housing communities are stepping into a new era—one where long-term success depends on adaptability, efficiency, and a modern resident experience. As operators look for smart ways to increase revenue and meet growing expectations, internet and bundled tech services are becoming must-haves rather than nice-to-haves. 

By offering scalable, fully-managed connectivity programs and utility management services tailored to the unique needs of manufactured housing communities, Onboard and Conservice’s centralized approach helps owners deliver essential internet service to residents, all while reducing operational burden, saving on utility costs, and creating a reliable new income stream. Whether you’re looking to improve infrastructure, simplify property management, or boost NOI, our team of experts are a trusted partner in helping communities stay competitive and residents stay connected.