Enduring Quality - 2003-03-13
Paul Shoopman had had enough frustration. He was tired of the inconsistent quality of lumber that was ending up in his homes and the way materials were damaged when they stayed on a job site.

Larkins says he plays up the construction schedule and the quality of the process as a key point in the company's advertising and collateral materials. It's a "huge, huge" part of the presentation in the sales center, and is promoted as a differentiator in the market energized by low mortgage rates.
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Boom Times - 2003-03-13
One thing that hits me about the competitive landscape in the Chicago area has less to do with the big builders entering town and more to do with the lack of a recession.

Typically, we have a recession every 4 years. The fourth year, through natural selection, those that are weaker and those that can't cope with the market just fall out. That hasn't happened in 12 years, helped by historically low mortgage rates.
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