Who qualifies as a dealer in the manufactured housing market?

In the context of the manufactured housing market, a dealer is defined as a person or entity that sells or leases manufactured housing for compensation. This means that individuals engaged in the business of selling or leasing these homes are categorized as dealers because they are actively participating in the commerce of manufactured housing for a profit. Their role encompasses not just the transaction aspect, but also the obligations associated with providing homes to consumers and adhering to regulatory requirements.

To further clarify the roles of the other parties: individuals who rent manufactured housing for free do not engage in a commercial transaction and, therefore, do not meet the criteria for being classified as a dealer. A person constructing manufactured homes would be recognized as a manufacturer or builder, not a dealer, since their primary function is creating the homes rather than selling or leasing them. Similarly, a company that manufactures housing is involved in the production aspect of the market, which is separate from the sales or leasing activities performed by dealers.