Is Big Better? Today There’s a New #1!
Will Pulte and Centex Go Fresh?
Below are links of some of the best articles on this news:
Number Four ranked Pulte just pulled off a stock swap netting for itself #3 ranked Centex to become the new #1, overtaking long-time leader D. R. Horton who slipped to the new #2. Last year, Pulte and Centex combined closed 39,000 sales. To put it in perspective, that’s 150 homes per business day in the worst housing market since 1930!
What are we to think? At first blush, Wall Street Journal reported that the stock market smiled on the other large national public builders—Beazer, Lennar and Hovnanian shot up in midday trading, while Moody’s pondered a credit downgrade on the new entity.  Centex was the Old Skool queen. Cheap. Efficient. And unimaginative. Pulte was the steady Eddie who also lucked out by a big presence in Texas and the Carolinas, where the housing dive hasn’t been quite as bad.
What I’m waiting for is the Apple of the home building industry to make its appearance and take us into New Homes 3.0. We need a design and innovation revolution to create new products for a new generation. We need to see homes that are way greener than the current green-wash approach used so much. We need homes close to public transportation. We need the Del Webb (Pulte owned) for the new generation.
I have two young adults in my family who are within a few years of their first home purchase. Who is listening to this generation? They will trade square feet to live near friends…to be less dependent on cars. And they will trade mom and dad’s oversized suburban box for coolness.
If this innovation comes from the new #1, I will be both shocked and thrilled. But believe me, I’m not holding my breath.
Who do you know out there who are building a new, exciting and appropriately priced products for the Millennial generation?
And who’s building smarter and greener? We need to get the word out and keep the heat on the big boyz. Leave your comments or rants in the handy space below.
Right now I’m thinking small is the new big.
Posted by: Al Doyle | Permalink
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: Great story Al. As a I too look around and see the work needed on my place, I want a new home, now.
: i remember cold calling real estate agents and pitching them websites. it was only 5 or 6 years ago...
: Thanks, Murray. You know “restraint” is my middle name. NOT! Another well known builder asked...
: Amen. Though I thought you showed too much restraint! How do we replace the whole lot of them is what...
From Facebook:
Campbell Homes at 9:55am April 9
You want to hear my opinion on the merger…Are you sure? Well check out my blog about it at http://www.thecoloradogirlblog.com/post/1024298/sound-off-pulte-merges-with-centex
As for building and marketing for Millennials you are right on! I actually wrote a blog about his as well that I think you will really like: http://www.thecoloradogirlblog.com/post/936255/the-new-consumer-and-the-future-of-our-business
I am holding my breath too Al! Currently Campbell Homes does not offer homes below the 240s but we do offer 100% Energy Star tested homes and we are constantly trying to improve our product to fit the needs of out clients. Thanks for the note and I hope you will take a couple of minutes to read my blog post as they do pertain to your topic here.
-Kelly Noble
Campbell Homes
This merger is the perfect opportunity to look at market needs differently. Lets hope they take a leadership role in designing a sustainable and market-driven approach to housing and communities.