During a recent government meeting, officials expressed significant concerns regarding the affordability of manufactured homes in Thurston County. The discussions highlighted the inadequacies of using Zillow data to assess housing affordability, particularly in mobile home communities, where rising lot rents have outpaced the affordability of the homes themselves.

One official pointed out that while a buyer might purchase a 50-year-old mobile home for $150,000, they could face monthly lot rents as high as $1,600, which has become more expensive than renting an apartment. This reality raises questions about the classification of these homes as affordable housing, especially for families earning 80% of the median household income. The official criticized the language in the draft plan that suggests preserving manufactured home parks would enhance housing affordability, arguing that the data used fails to account for the escalating costs associated with lot rents.

Another commissioner echoed these sentiments, noting the surprising number of mobile home parks in the county and the significant proportion of single-family homes on owned lots. They emphasized the need for a more accurate representation of housing affordability, particularly in light of the data collected, which excluded units in mobile home parks. The average asking price for manufactured homes was cited as $311,000, with the official asserting that this figure is misleading when considering the financial realities faced by moderate-income households.

The meeting underscored a growing concern among officials about the sustainability of manufactured home communities as a viable option for affordable housing. They called for a reevaluation of the strategies employed to protect these communities and ensure that they genuinely serve the needs of residents facing financial pressures. The discussions highlighted the necessity for local government to explore its powers under state law to address these issues effectively.