When Sekisui House, the Osaka, Japan-based global real estate development and construction conglomerate, acquired

Source: Sekisui House company reports
  1. Ultra-Patient Capital Investment: Sekisui House’s commitment to long-term investment allows for strategic, sustainable growth, bypassing the short-term pressures faced by many public U.S. homebuilders. With Japan’s lower capital costs, Sekisui can outlast downturns and invest in innovation.
  2. Holistic Building Science: Sekisui House homes are renowned for their resilience, energy efficiency, and environmental performance. The ShaWood brand exemplifies this, utilizing precision-manufactured wood components designed to withstand seismic activity, resist fire, and optimize energy consumption. As of 2024, Sekisui House reported exceeding their annual sales plan for ShaWood homes in communities like Sommers Bend in Temecula, California, reinforcing growing U.S. demand for their high-performance housing.
  3. Customer Lifecycle Engagement: Unlike most U.S. builders who focus primarily on the initial sale, Sekisui House views homebuyers as lifelong customers. In Japan, Sekisui offers maintenance, renovations, and even rebuilding services decades after initial construction. This philosophy could introduce new revenue streams and foster deep customer loyalty in the U.S.

Toru Ishii, Senior Managing Officer, highlighted this during the Q3 call:

We have adopted strategies across our U.S. subsidiaries—Woodside Homes, Holt Homes, and Chesmar Homes—to focus on delivering added value to customers through optional contracts and incentive packages. This approach increases order volume while maintaining price integrity.”

  1. Labor Innovation and Training: Sekisui House plans to send Japanese experts to the U.S. to train local contractors and carpenters in its multidisciplinary approach to construction. By fostering a more skilled and versatile workforce, the company aims to tackle the persistent labor shortages plaguing the U.S. housing sector.

Sekisui House’s willingness to invest in workforce development stands out as a bold differentiator. During the earnings call, Horiuchi added,

We see workforce training not as an expense, but as a long-term investment in quality and productivity. By transferring skills from Japan to the U.S., we aim to set new industry benchmarks.”