Groupthink… “The ICY HAND of conformity”

Icy Hand“The Timber Frames Unlimited team is among this gallant band of independent thinkers who know there is simply a better way to build a home whose value increases from the first day of occupancy…”

Our winter season continues to plod along. Adding to the general malaise was a recent tease of warmer weather to come, followed by a retreat into the familiar pattern of snowfall and below-average temperatures. In New Jersey’s bear country, this season has allowed us to chronicle some unforgettable images, such as this icicle.

The frozen grip of this persistent weather pattern encourages a behavior we define as groupthink – the process of minimizing conflict by discouraging independent analysis.

The legions of skeptics whose view of real estate remain dim are notorious for encouraging groupthink behavior. But a simple look at the supply versus demand for residential housing reveals some fascinating information:

  • The US population continues to grow. By the year 2030, there will be approximately 370 million Americans. Even using long-term average home ownership rates for our burgeoning population, there will be an annual need for 1.1 to 1.2 million new single family homes per year.
  • The number of housing starts is lower than at any time in the past fifty years. Concurrently, professional builders have sharply reduced their construction capacity, which will increase lead times significantly once the market recovers.

This inevitable collision – an unwelcome byproduct of groupthink behavior – will mean a lot of people will be waiting a very long time to move into their new home. One simply cannot turn on a switch and have new homes instantly materialize on the landscape.

Timber Frame homes enclosed with structural insulated panels (SIPs) are magnificent structures designed and built by skilled artisans. The Timber Frames Unlimited team is among this gallant band of independent thinkers who know there is simply a better way to build a home whose value increases from the first day of occupancy, regardless of the groupthink mantra that seems to become more invasive each day.

The process, however, is analogous to mining – there is exploration, redirection, occasional reflection, and then, success. Our advice? Stay on course, be acutely aware of the inevitable collision referenced above, and contact Timber Frames Unlimited right away to begin your own mining journey. After all, we outlawed groupthink years ago!

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