TexCo opened with a perfect Texas day and we woke up extra happy because we were the official Wifi sponsor this year. We attend a lot of industry events, but this one is definitely one of our favorites.
The name on the badge, the welcome reception chatter, the handshake that turns into a twenty-minute conversation about cybersecurity, insurance, or MFH IT. It’s easy to read an agenda online, but it’s something else entirely to stand in a room full of owners and operators who are navigating real challenges in real time.
We showed up because being part of this industry means more to us than watching it from a distance.
Let’s take a look at the energy, the themes, and the conversations that stood out when we were at TexCo 2026.
The Food & Bev (Yes, It Matters)
Every good event starts with food and a little breathing room.
The welcome reception set the tone right away. A mix of familiar faces and new introductions, plates in hand, conversations starting naturally instead of feeling forced. There’s something about standing around a high-top table that makes people open up faster than they would across a formal conference room table or under booth signage.
Breakfast the next morning had that same steady buzz. Coffee cups refilling, people comparing notes from the year, talking through the day ahead. The food was delicious, especially the breakfast burritos (we’re from California, so we know good breakfast burritos). Thanks for sponsoring, 21st Mortgage.
Lunch gave everyone a chance to reset and keep the conversations going over more delicious food, sponsored by Berkadia.
The Talks
Even if you weren’t sprinting from session to session and taking notes, the themes were hard to miss.
The morning opened with a firsthand report on the Texas Hill Country floods, and you could feel the room lean in. When operators talk about loss, it’s not theoretical; it’s about real communities, real residents, and the ripple effects that follow.
From there, the economy, community loss data, and development conversations layered on something bigger. Growth is still happening, and transactions are still moving, but the margin for error feels smaller. Risk isn’t abstract anymore. It’s something owners are actively calculating.
The legislative update and zoning discussions carried their own weight. You could sense how much attention is being paid to policy shifts and how quickly local decisions can change the landscape. Comparing Texas to less landlord-friendly states only sharpened that contrast.
Then there were the conversations around lot rents, insurance coverage, and what to know before buying. The common thread here was awareness. Operators aren’t just reacting anymore. They’re planning, questioning, comparing, and preparing. That says a lot about where this industry is headed.
The Vendors
As vendors ourselves, it’s important to talk about the vendor experience once on-site. Network Thinking Solutions has been attending TexCo for several years, so being back on site felt like a reunion with old friends. We were the only IT vendor there, which gave us a different perspective.
Between sessions and breaks, the vendor area had its own rhythm. One thing that makes TexCo unique is that this wasn’t a room full of quick pitches and business cards being tossed around. It felt more like ongoing conversations picking back up where they left off last year.
A lot of the conversations we had circled back to the same themes: managing IT risk without overcomplicating operations, preparing for tighter cybersecurity requirements, thinking ahead instead of reacting to the next ITemergency.
There’s a noticeable shift happening with how manufactured housing operators are approaching their IT. Operators are still growth-focused, but they’re also more disciplined about what they bring into their environments and who they trust to support it.
Events like this remind us that relationships drive this industry. The vendors aren’t just service providers. They’re part of the ecosystem that keeps communities running, especially when things get complicated.
The Attendees
The real value of events like TexCo isn’t just the food, the vendors, or the talks. It’s the people in the chairs.
Hundreds of operators in the manufactured housing industry, all under one roof. While yes, there were conversations about rates and the cost of lumber, we were surprised by just how much owners and operators are juggling right now.
We had several conversations that circled back to the same reality. Most operators aren’t trying to become technology experts; they’re just trying to keep communities running smoothly while navigating a changing landscape. They want fewer surprises and less IT downtime. They want clear visibility into what’s actually happening across their properties.
That’s where what we do intersects with what they’re managing daily, and we’re glad that we were on-site to have these conversations.
What stood out most wasn’t fear. It was intentionality. The people in that room are thinking ahead. They’re asking sharper questions, and they’re planning more carefully.
Looking Ahead
TexCo felt like a strong start to the year. Not because of one conversation or one panel, but because of the tone in the room. Operators are paying attention and they’re thinking long-term. They’re asking sharper questions about risk, growth, and what it takes to keep communities stable in a shifting environment.
A special thanks goes out to Caitilin Whatley and Sunstone REA for organizing this great event, and to Allison Weiss and Julie Simon who made this possible.
We’re grateful for the conversations, the handshakes, and the chance to listen. Events like this are a reminder that manufactured housing is built on relationships as much as it is on strategy.
Next up for us is MHI Congress & Expo 2026 in April. We’re looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones there.
If we met onsite and you want to keep the conversation going, or if you want us to take a look under the hood of what’s going on with your IT, drop us a line, and we’ll be in touch!