I first heard the phrase “nobility of service” while listening to the audiobook, “Unreasonable Hospitality,” narrated by the author, Will Guidara. The book is a great read, but it’s an even better listen because Guidara’s passion for creating excellence comes through in his voice. When I think of nobility, I think of kings and queens, […]
You know the drill. Say “real estate” in North Texas and someone will shout “Frisco!” before you can blink. It’s like a reflex at this point. But let’s be honest: the north of Dallas is crowded, overpriced, and has more roundabouts than common sense. So, where does a smart, forward-thinking Texan look to develop? West, […]
[Editor’s note: Wildfires in Los Angeles. Hurricanes across Florida and the Southeast. Floods, extreme heat, and severe weather events are no longer rare occurrences—they’re becoming the new normal. The homebuilding and residential development industries face an urgent reckoning: how to build homes, neighborhoods, and communities that can withstand the increasing severity of climate-related natural disasters. […]
The ENERGY STAR for New Homes program has stood fast as a rare competitive lever that delivers value, trust, and operational efficiency in an already punishing economic and capital environment for U.S. homebuilders. That lever may soon be gone. According to internal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reorganization documents reviewed by the Associated Press and CNN, […]
The American homebuyer is nervous. Mortgage rates remain high, insurance premiums are soaring, and uncertainty about the economy, interest rates, and even extreme weather events is rattling consumer confidence. Christine Geeslin, VP and Executive Account Manager at Westwood Insurance Agency, which specializes in insuring new construction homes, puts it plainly: Buyers today want far more […]
After rents and home prices surged during the pandemic, Florida responded in 2023 by passing a law dubbed the Live Local Act to boost affordable workforce housing development with a state funding pipeline of over $700 million. Although some development projects secured access to the funds, local governments have thwarted efforts when they have been […]
Downtown San Francisco’s commercial towers by-the-dozen, once a buzzing throng of new-economy office workers, stand empty. They’re looming, silent, massively costly reminders of a city transformed by post-pandemic remote work trends, shifting business priorities, and a damaged public safety reputation. This protracted office vacancy has prompted city leaders and developers to reimagine these empty high-rise […]
A Image source: Southern Development Homes Ballif, who started Southern Development in 1999 “with no money and a lot of borrowed capital,” now oversees a land-rich private builder with strong community ties and a deliberate approach to growth. But he’s also clear-eyed about what lies ahead. We’ve had a good run operating independently,” Ballif says. […]
The April 2 policy announcement from the White House was meant to get tough on global trade competitors. Its ripple effects may reshape the ground war for land in U.S. homebuilding. Since “Liberation Day” — as several private builders have come to call the post-tariff declaration moment — the balance of power between public and […]
Warren Buffett, the 94-year-old “Oracle of Omaha,” announced his retirement as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the company’s 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting. His board voted unanimously to keep Buffett on as Chairman. At the end of 2025, his departure – as operating CEO – will mark the end of an era defined by disciplined investing, […]
Homebuilders — always, everywhere, and all at once — face challenges when it comes to securing timely building inspections they require in their build cycles to “progress” and complete new homes for delivery. Locality by locality, it’s the part of the business operation where what homebuilders can control meets head-to-head with forces of friction they […]
I’ve always loved science. As a child I was rather easy to entertain with model rockets, human-sized soap bubbles, and electric circuits. Some of my fondest childhood memories were visiting children’s museums during trips to see my grandparents. In my early careers I used chemistry to understand aroma and taste as a coffee importer, botany […]
