Where real estate meets rhythm | Developer, investor, live music enthusiast, and mountain seeker.

​ Every modular factory I know says they understand the difference between standardized builder homes and bespoke, one-off projects. But when you look closely at how many factories actually cost those homes, a different story emerges. On paper, bespoke homes often get priced like standard models—same labor assumptions, same overhead logic, same margin expectations. The only difference? A few extra line items and a little extra contingency. That’s not strategy. That’s wishful thinking with a calculator. Let’s talk honestly about why this confusion quietly drains profits and why the industry at large continues to struggle with the promise of "efficient" modular building. The Standardized Sweet Spot Standard builder models are the backbone of profitable modular factories for one simple reason: predictability. They move smoothly through production because the engineering is complete, details are known, materials are stocked, and crews repeat the same tasks. When you cost a standa...

​ One year later, the smoke has long since cleared over Los Angeles, but for the residents of Pacific Palisades and Altadena, the view remains bleak. We are finally getting a look at the "true cost" of the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, and the numbers are just as staggering as the charred landscapes left behind. While the headlines have moved on, the recovery is lagging. For many, "home" is still a hotel room or a temporary rental. Here is the reality of where we stand 12 months post-disaster. The $8.3 Billion Disappearing Act According to a recent analysis by Realtor.com®, the financial crater left by these fires is deep. In the celebrity-laden enclave of Pacific Palisades, home values in the fire zones plummeted from $14.7 billion to $10.8 billion. Meanwhile, in working-class Altadena, values dropped from $7 billion to $4.7 billion. In total, an estimated $8.3 billion in housing wealth was erased across these two communities alone. This doesn't even account ...