Building a massive real estate empire isn’t usually a quiet affair. But when you mix the high-stakes world of affordable housing with a founder who has a federal prison record and a penchant for "Big Lebowski" quotes, things get weird. Fast. Matt Davies Harmony Communities has become a lightning rod in California’s housing crisis, and honestly, the story is way more complicated than just another property management firm buying up land.
It’s a tale of two very different reputations. On one side, you have a sleek corporate image of "tiny home" revolutions and green energy. On the other, you have furious tenants in San Rafael and Fresno claiming they’re being squeezed out by a landlord who doesn't play by the rules.
The Dual Identity of Matt Davies Harmony Communities
If you look at the official website for Harmony Communities, it’s all sunshine and mission statements. They talk about "creating harmony" and providing "sustainable housing for low-income families." Matt Davies, the founder, often frames himself as a visionary. He’s the guy who saw the potential in manufactured housing back in 2009 when most investors were still licking their wounds from the Great Recession.
But there’s a shadow over the "About Me" page.
Before he was a real estate developer, Matthew Davies was the king of a Northern California marijuana empire. In 2013, he was sentenced to five years in federal prison. It was a huge deal at the time. He had an MBA, several dispensaries, and a massive warehouse grow-op in Stockton. When he came out, he pivoted back to the family business—real estate—but he didn’t exactly leave the controversy behind.
The Tiny Home "Revolution"
One of the most interesting things about Harmony is their push for tiny homes. Davies has been very vocal about how "dated modular homes" are a waste of space. His solution? Replace them with energy-efficient tiny houses.
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- Energy Savings: These units allegedly use about 7% of the power a standard home needs.
- The Carbon Footprint: They produce way less $CO_{2}$ during heating and cooling.
- Expansion: The program started in San Leandro and quickly spread to over 15 sites across California and Oregon.
It sounds like a win-win, right? Newer homes, lower bills. But for a resident living in a 30-year-old mobile home they own on a lot they rent, "replacing" a home often feels like an eviction notice in disguise.
Why Tenants Are Worried
You can't talk about Matt Davies Harmony Communities without mentioning the friction in places like the RV Park of San Rafael or Shady Lakes in Fresno. This is where the "knowledgeable expert" vibe of the company meets the reality of 2026 housing costs.
In San Rafael, residents were hit with a flurry of "seven-day notices" for minor stuff—overgrown greenery, old fences, you name it. To the tenants, it felt like "death by a thousand cuts." If you can’t fix a fence in a week, you're one step closer to losing your spot.
Then there’s the rent. At some parks, lot rents have jumped 20% to 65% since 2020. In a non-rent-controlled market, that’s just "business." In an affordable housing community, it's a catastrophe. Some people ended up living in their cars because they couldn't find a buyer for their mobile home who was willing to pay the new, higher lot rent.
The "Heywood Jablóm" Fiasco
Okay, we have to talk about the PR. Most companies hire a slick agency when they get bad press. Harmony... did something else.
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In 2023, reporters at The Business Journal realized they were being emailed by a "Heywood Jablóm." If you say it fast, you get the joke. It’s a middle-school-level prank name. Matt Davies even commented on LinkedIn, calling Heywood his "hardest working employee."
It was a bold move. Maybe too bold. It signaled a certain "don't care" attitude toward the media and local government that has defined the company’s recent years. Davies’ own email signature has reportedly used titles like “The Dude” or “His Dudeness.” It’s a vibe that works for a bowling alley, but it’s a bit jarring when you're managing $100 million in assets and people’s literal front doors.
The Reality of the Business Model
Is Harmony the villain or just a product of a broken system? Honestly, it’s probably both.
California is short about 1.5 million affordable units. When a "mom-and-pop" owner sells a mobile home park, they usually haven't raised the rent in 20 years. The infrastructure (pipes, roads, electric) is often crumbling. A company like Harmony steps in, spends the capital to fix the "underground stuff," and then raises the rent to pay for it.
Davies argues that corporate owners have "deeper pockets" to ensure the long-term viability of these parks. Without that investment, the parks might eventually just close down entirely. But that logic doesn't help a senior on a fixed income who just saw their rent go up $400 a month.
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What You Should Know Before Moving In
If you’re looking at a property managed by Matt Davies Harmony Communities, you've got to be smart. This isn't your standard apartment lease.
- Check Local Rent Control: Does the city or county have a "Mobile Home Rent Control" ordinance? This is your biggest shield against the "aggressive" rent hikes Harmony is known for.
- Read the Rules: They take "aesthetics" seriously. If your home looks "dilapidated" according to their standards, expect a notice.
- Know the Ownership: Harmony often acts as a third-party manager, not the owner. Sometimes they are the owner. It changes the legal leverage you have, so check the business filings.
Actionable Steps for Residents
If you’re currently in a Harmony park and feeling the heat, don’t just sit there.
- Form a Homeowners Association (HOA): Collective bargaining is the only thing that seems to slow them down.
- Document Everything: Every notice, every repair request, and every interaction.
- Contact Legal Aid: Organizations like Legal Aid of Marin or California Rural Legal Assistance have already spent years fighting these specific cases. They know the playbook.
The era of the "sleepy mobile home park" is over. Whether you think Matt Davies is a savvy businessman or a "dirtbag with a man bun" (as one Fresno resident put it), his impact on the West Coast housing market is undeniable.
To stay ahead of property management changes in your area, you should regularly monitor your local City Council agendas. Many of the battles between Harmony and its residents happen in those meetings long before an eviction notice ever hits a door. Checking the "Housing and Community Development" section of your local government website once a month is the best way to see if a park sale or a rent increase petition is in the works.