The debate over the large builders’ elevated use of mortgage buydowns — and the potential risks to buyers — isn’t new. Reigniting the argument, a recent report from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) asserts that mortgage buydowns among the large builders are artificially inflating new home prices, therefore creating a risk for buyers in the […]
Are mortgage buydowns a lifeline or a risk for new homebuyers? Read More »
As major builders like D.R. Horton and Tri Pointe Homes trim new home starts to protect margins, Beazer Homes is taking a page out of Lennar’s playbook. Beazer’s Q4 earnings call reveals a builder determined to sustain a robust sales pace, even as it navigates a lower-margin reality driven by a spec-heavy approach and increased
Beazer Homes shifts to move-up buyers, bets on energy efficiency Read More »
While headlines scream that Berkshire Hathaway has taken a $4-plus billion position in Alphabet, a quieter, “closer-to-home” move slips into the latest 13F filing. In the same quarter that Berkshire built its stake in Google’s parent, it closed out its position in D.R. Horton and added to its stake Lennar. For the broader market, that’s
Berkshire exits D.R. Horton, adds to Lennar — what it means for homebuilders Read More »
PulteGroup announced plans to expand its Ohio operations, including an entry into the Cincinnati market. In a press release, Tony Barbee, PulteGroup’s North Area president, said that the company is well-positioned for success in Cincinnati due to its already established presence in the state. “This strategic expansion into the growing Cincinnati area is a natural
PulteGroup expands into Cincinnati market Read More »
Most home improvement contractors are still optimistic about the future of the market, but headwinds such as material costs and reined-in consumer spending are weighing down expectations. The Q3 Contractor Activity Tracker, released by The Farnsworth Group and Home Improvement Research Institute, found that home improvement contractors are less optimistic than they were a year
He wasn’t complaining.He wasn’t catastrophizing.He was being honest. A homebuilding CEO — one of the dozens who write privately in moments of candor — put it this way: “We are far from solving the problem… margins will be in the 18% range if things go well.” Then came the real admission, the one that strips
What if the real homebuilding disruption isn’t AI — It’s culture? Read More »