The year was 1998. It happened to be the year that manufactured housing hit its last peak, but it was also the year that Simon Reynolds compiled and published “Thoughts of Chairman Buffett – Thirty Years of Unconventional Wisdom from the Sage of Omaha.” Until you turn to the back of Reynold’s book, not many …
“It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” – Motto of the Christophers. Our friends, colleagues, clients, and readers in manufactured housing span the gamut of almost any groups or subgroups one cares to mention. While Muslims, New Age, Buddhists, atheists, agnostic, and other religious groups are among our …
Hanukkah, Advent, Festivals of Light, and Celebrating Manufactured Housing Integrity Read More »
Let’s stipulate that both President Donald J. Trump and his anti-Trump opponents at times error in various ways. No one is perfect. Let’s note later why the bullets below matters for the cause of the economy, affordable housing in general, and manufactured homes in particular. But we’ll do this systematically, by first …
Truth, Trump, Tragedy, Triumph, Affordable Housing, and Manufactured Homes Read More »
There’s a simple but profoundly useful concept taught be ancient to modern thinkers who ponder business, ethical, moral, political or other issues. It’s called the principle of ‘the lesser of two evils.’ It’s simple. When confronted with a choice, neither of which is perfect, by definition each is a some level of ‘evil’ …
Principle of ‘The Lesser of Two Evils,’ and MHVille’s Future Read More »
For billions of souls who believe, since the time Cain killed his brother Able, history records how dark emotions and desires have motivated some to harm or dominate others. In manufactured housing, Terry Decio with Skyline quipped on camera “I’m tired of being the best kept secret, I’m ready to help house America.” …
Why would The Blackstone Group (BX) enter the manufactured home industry quietly, instead of with fanfare? Let that question percolate in your mind for a bit, because if a large operation like Bloomberg can’t pry an official statement out of Blackstone, then surely they must think they have a good reason? Keep in mind other …
Blackstone, Bain Capital, CityLab, and Inside the Manufactured Housing Outlook Read More »
A) In manufactured housing production, the elephant in the room is Clayton Homes. They are owned by Berkshire Hathaway, which also owns the 2 largest industry lenders, 21st Mortgage and Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance (VMF). Berkshire also owns a large stake in the industry’s third largest single family manufactured home loan lender, Wells Fargo. There …
Warren Buffett’s Annual Letter to Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders, and their annual shareholders meeting, are writ large on the calendar for investors. The same can be said for professionals who are in or researching – or in – the manufactured home industry. Clayton Homes – led by company founder Jim Clayton’s son, Kevin Clayton – become …
Clayton Homes made the news several times in recent days. As a heads up to readers, this mentions legislation, but that isn’t the headline topic. The example that follows exemplifies a reality check that will tee up an “Aha! Moment” for many. The subjects Clayton Homes has been included in mainstream media reports included such …
Clayton Homes, Manufactured Housing Industry News, Reality Check Read More »
