What Next Step Network does

Next Step Network, Inc. is a Louisville, Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 by President and CEO Stacey Epperson to expand affordable homeownership through factory-built housing. The organization operates as a national intermediary rather than a home manufacturer: it defines the Next Step Home specification (factory-built homes meeting ENERGY STAR V3 and DOE Zero Energy Ready Home standards, built on HUD Title II permanent foundations that qualify them for FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae MH Advantage, and Freddie Mac CHOICEHome mortgage financing), coordinates a multi-stakeholder ecosystem of manufacturer, developer, lender, and HUD-certified housing-counselor partners, and delivers homebuyer education and counseling to first-time and moderate-income buyers. Headquartered at 1287 Royal Avenue, Louisville, KY with a 1–10 person staff, Next Step distributes exclusively through indirect channels.

Its core product surface comprises (i) the Next Step Home specification and certification layer for participating manufacturers (Clayton Homes, Eagle River Homes); (ii) a homebuyer-facing tool suite including the Down Payment Seeker™ (DPA-program lookup), TotalHome+ Calculator™ (mortgage estimator), the MH101 introduction course, and the Next Step Navigator counseling program delivered via the Maple LMS learning management system; and (iii) a developer-facing track including the GroundWork™ Developer Academy, Consulting & Development Services, and a published municipal zoning-reform toolkit. Branded subdivision deployments include Kilpatrick Woods (238 homes, Hagerstown, MD, opened May 2024 with EquityPlus LLC) and Homes in the Heights (17 homes, Petersburg, VA, 2024).

The business model is nonprofit: revenue derives from charitable donations (processed via JustGiving), foundation and government grants (HUD counseling, DOE programs), professional services and consulting fees paid by housing developers and municipalities, and education/course fees. Pricing for homebuyer services is not publicly disclosed; community home prices at Kilpatrick Woods ranged from $280,000 to $375,000, while the median new single-section factory-built home is around $90,000 per industry data. Customer segments are first-time and moderate-income homebuyers (primary, persona segment), housing developers and builders, HUD-certified housing counselors, and specialty mortgage lenders. Public 2026 targets — reaching 250,000 homebuyers, opening in 20 new markets through zoning changes, deploying DOE Efficient New Homes in five markets, and reaching a run-rate of one home per day — frame the near-term organizational trajectory.

Name

Next Step Network

Legal name

Next Step Network, Inc.

Website

https://nextstepus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Next Step Network is a Louisville, Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that expands affordable homeownership through factory-built housing by certifying manufacturer partners, delivering homebuyer education and digital tools, and partnering with developers, HUD-certified counselors, and specialty lenders to place ENERGY STAR-certified, permanently financed manufactured homes for first-time and moderate-income buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Services

akta.pro primary industry

Down Payment Assistance (DPA) & Homebuyer Subsidy Programs (FSALAKAE)

Keywords

• Affordable housing nonprofit
• Manufactured housing education
• Homebuyer counseling services
• Factory-built housing
• Down payment assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Homebuyer Services and Education: Nonprofit organization providing homebuyer education, counseling, and support services. Revenue derived from grants, donations, and program fees for education courses and counseling.
2. Developer Consulting Services: Consulting and development services provided to housing developers interested in factory-built housing communities. The organization provides technical assistance and partnership development.
3. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Next Step receives charitable donations and government/foundation grants to support affordable housing programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Next Step Network is a nonprofit that promotes affordable homeownership through factory-built housing by maintaining the Next Step Home specification (ENERGY STAR V3, DOE Zero Energy Ready, HUD Title II permanent foundations) and supporting it with free homebuyer education tools and counseling, developer training, and consulting services. Revenue is derived primarily from grants, donations, and program/consulting fees rather than home sales, with homes delivered through a network of manufacturer and developer partners.

Product overview

Next Step Network operates a platform of interconnected programs and resources centered on making factory-built homeownership accessible and affordable. The core offering is the Next Step Home — a high-quality, ENERGY STAR V3 and Zero Energy Ready manufactured home placed on permanent foundations that qualifies for traditional mortgage financing. This core product is supported by homebuyer-facing tools (Down Payment Seeker, TotalHome+ Calculator, MH101 course, and Next Step Navigator counseling program) and developer-facing services (GroundWork Developer Academy and consulting). Community-scale deployments are showcased through branded subdivisions like Kilpatrick Woods (238 homes in Hagerstown, MD) and Homes in the Heights (17 homes in Petersburg, VA). Content and education are delivered via Maple LMS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Next Step Homes: Factory-built homes meeting ENERGY STAR V3 standards and DOE Zero Energy Ready specifications, designed for affordable homeownership with permanent foundations and qualifying for traditional mortgage financing.
• GroundWork Developer Academy
• Next Step Navigator

Products and services

• Next Step Home Factory-built manufactured home built to the Next Step specification (ENERGY STAR V3 + DOE Zero Energy Ready Home) on a HUD Title II permanent foundation, qualifying for traditional mortgage financing. Sold through developer and manufacturer partners rather than directly by Next Step.
• Down Payment Seeker™ Free interactive online tool that helps prospective homebuyers identify local, state, and national down payment assistance (DPA) programs that specifically support factory-built homes. Users enter property and homebuying information to receive a list of eligible programs.
• TotalHome+ Calculator™ Free online calculator that estimates monthly mortgage payments for factory-built homes based on home type (single-section vs. multi-section), land tenure (community vs. owned land), and energy-efficiency preference.
• Introduction to Manufactured Housing (MH101) Free online education course providing foundational knowledge about manufactured housing, including types of factory-built homes, financing options, and the home-buying process. Designed for prospective homebuyers and housing counselors.
• Next Step Navigator Program Homebuyer education and counseling program that guides participants through the factory-built home purchasing process, including financial information collection, credit history review, and course completion tracking. Delivered through Maple LMS.
• GroundWork™ Developer Academy Education and training program for housing developers seeking to incorporate factory-built homes into development projects. Covers zoning, financing, and best practices for affordable housing development using manufactured housing.
• Consulting & Development Services Professional consulting services for developers, municipalities, and housing organizations looking to integrate factory-built housing into affordable housing strategies. Includes support for zoning reform, project planning, and financing alignment.
• Unlocking Manufactured Housing Solutions Policy Toolkit

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-50% utility savings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EquityPlus LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2024Developer partner for Kilpatrick Woods project in Hagerstown, MD. Privately held investment and advisory firm focused on building value using federal and state tax credit investment programs. Led development of 238-home community representing pioneering effort to address homeownership affordability through off-site homebuilding.
• Eagle River HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2024Home builder for Kilpatrick Woods project. Builds manufactured homes meeting—and often exceeding—federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. Homes meet Next Step specifications.
• Triad Financial ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2024Lending partner for Kilpatrick Woods offering manufactured housing financial solutions. Over 60 years of experience helping accelerate homeownership through innovative lending products.
• CompassminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 May 2024Real estate brokerage partner for Kilpatrick Woods project. Country's largest independent real estate brokerage with agents Allison Zerr and Kate Dutton providing real estate services in mid-Maryland.
• Clayton HomescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey manufacturing partner providing Next Step specification homes. Clayton offers Zero Energy Ready (eBuilt) homes and has been building to DOE ZERMH standards since January 2024 across 39 facilities. Clayton provides homes to Next Step homebuyers and has supported the organization since its founding.
• NeighborWorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit network focused on affordable housing. Listed as key supporter, providing network support and resources for community development.
• Key MortgageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmartMH partner lender providing financing options for factory-built homebuyers. Offers specialized loan products including Kentucky Housing Corporation partnerships.
• Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado-based nonprofit providing homebuyer education, credit counseling, and financing support. Helped Jennifer Quintana achieve homeownership through their subdivision program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Clayton Homes: The largest U.S. manufactured home builder (39 ZERH facilities), simultaneously a core manufacturing partner of Next Step and a broader incumbent shaping factory-built housing supply and standards nationwide.
• Fannie Mae (MH Advantage): GSE offering MH Advantage financing for factory-built homes on permanent foundations—a key financial sponsor of Next Step and adjacent in defining which manufactured homes qualify for conventional mortgage financing.
• Freddie Mac (CHOICEHome): GSE offering CHOICEHome financing alongside Fannie Mae—co-sponsor of the Kilpatrick Woods Open House and a Core financial partner analogous to how it operates in the same factory-built housing ecosystem.
• Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI): National trade association representing factory-built housing producers, with overlapping policy and advocacy priorities to Next Step around zoning reform, financing, and consumer perception.

Direct peers

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that invests in affordable housing development, policy advocacy, and resident services—comparable to Next Step as a national-scale nonprofit driving affordable homeownership through partnerships and developer support.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Community development nonprofit providing financing and technical assistance to affordable housing developers—comparable in mission to support affordable developers and bring capital to underserved housing markets.
• NeighborWorks America: A national network of community-based nonprofits providing affordable housing counseling, development, and lending—sharing Next Step's national affordable-housing mission and HUD-counselor distribution approach.
• Habitat for Humanity International: National nonprofit that builds and finances affordable homeownership for low-income families through donated labor, mortgages, and counseling—overlapping directly with Next Step's model of making affordable factory-built homeownership accessible to first-time, moderate-income buyers.

Emerging players

• Pacific Community Ventures / Opportunity Fund CDFIs: Network of Community Development Financial Institutions providing homebuyer lending and DPA in underserved markets—comparable in connecting moderate-income buyers to subsidized financing for homeownership.

Others

• National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA): Membership organization of state housing finance agencies like Kentucky Housing Corporation—comparable as a peer ecosystem where housing finance policy and DPA programs are coordinated, including factory-built product offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NextStepUS
• Facebookfacebook.com/NextStepUS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/next-step-network

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Next Step Network