This document describes the Public Use File (PUF) created from data collected during monthly MHS. This document provides a brief description of the MHS and the differences between the MHS data and the records available in the PUF. This document also explains how to determine unit-level characteristics from the PUF and how to create estimates and measures of sampling variability from the PUF data. The PUF allows data users greater access to these data than standard tabulations and provides data users the ability to create a wider variety of tables tailored specifically to their data needs.

The 2022 MHS PUF contains a total of 7,023 records, which include a record for each of the 4,860 manufactured homes sampled in 2022 and 2,163 homes shipped to FEMA only dealers.

The 2021 MHS PUF contains a total of 4,928 records, which include a record for each of the 4,858 manufactured homes sampled in 2021 and 70 homes shipped to FEMA only dealers.

The 2020 MHS PUF contains a total of 4,860 records, which include a record for each of the 4,860 manufactured homes sampled in 2020 and 0 homes shipped to FEMA only dealers.

The 2019 MHS PUF contains a total of 4,916 records, which include a record for each of the 4,860 manufactured homes sampled in 2019 and 56 homes shipped to FEMA only dealers.

The 2018 MHS PUF contains a total of 6,188 records, which include a record for each of the 4,860 manufactured homes sampled in 2018 and 1,328 homes shipped to FEMA only dealers.

The 2017 MHS PUF contains a total 9,520 records, which include a record for each of the 4,859 manufactured homes sampled in 2017 and 4,661 homes shipped to FEMA only dealers.

The 2016 MHS PUF contains a total 7,915 records, which include a record for each of the 4,860 manufactured homes sampled in 2016 and 3,055 homes shipped to FEMA only dealers.
 
The 2015 MHS PUF contains a total 5,018 records, which include a record for each of the 4,860 manufactured homes sampled in 2015 and 158 homes shipped to FEMA only dealers.  

The 2014 MHS PUF contains a total 4,957 records, which include a record for each of the 4,859 manufactured homes sampled in 2014 and 98 homes shipped to FEMA only dealers. One sampled case in January 2014 was removed since it was a duplicate of another sampled case from that month.

For each record, there are six administrative variables and eight variables reflecting relevant responses to MHS questionnaire items. The form for the MHS can be found at:

The MHS PUF includes the following information for each record:

• CONTROL: An identification variable which includes the shipment month and a random number
• REGION: Four Census regions and a fifth code that represents the national level for three or more section homes
• SHIPMONTH: Shipment month
• SECTIONS: The size of the home with three or more section homes collapsed
• WEIGHT: Tabulation weight
• WGTADJ: Weight adjustment to account for frame undercoverage

The MHS PUF includes the following respondent-reported variables for each record:

• STATUS: The status of the home four months after shipment.  Nonresidential placements and other have been collapsed together.
  
• SQFT: The square footage of the home.  Top and bottom 5% within each region is top coded using the average. Rounded to the nearest 100 sq. ft. The average square footage of all values that lie above or below the cutoff is used as the top and bottom code, respectively.
• PRICE: (rounded on a sliding scale) this is the sales price if home is placed/sold and the intended sales price if the home is intended for sale.  For homes with 2 or less sections, the top and bottom 5% within each region is top coded. For 3 or more sections, the top and bottom 10% are top coded. The average price of all values that lie above or below the cutoff is used as the top and bottom code, respectively.
• BEDROOMS: Number of bedrooms, collapsed to two or fewer and three or more
• LEASE: Whether or not the home is leased (NEW in 2021)
• FINALDEST: Whether or not the home is placed at its final destination. (NEW in 2021)
• Characteristics of sold residential placements in 2014-2020: TITLED, LOCATION, FOUNDATION, and SECURED
  
• Characteristics of placements starting in 2021: TITLED, LOCATION, FOOTINGS, PIERS, and SECURED. Note: Secured is different from prior years. Refer to Appendix A for details.

The MHS PUF also contains eleven “j” variables (one for each respondent-reported variable) indicating whether a respondent-reported variable is reported (R), imputed (I), or not applicable (9).  These variables all have a prefix of “j” in the variable name.

Additional information on all the variables can be found in Appendix A.

The most recent MHS PUF datatsets can be found here: