Yeah, fact is in Scripps Ranch and Carmel Valley the big builders so far are offering very meager discounts, maybe a few thousand $$ in help towards closing costs and some minor upgrades. They don’t appear to be panicked, but then again the peak Summer selling season just ended.
Unfortunately, I don’t think Davidson is publicly traded. Or if it is, it’s one brand among several at a larger builder.
Taking a quick look at these companies’ SEC filings, it appears they do provide commentary on the strength / weakness of regional markets, but not to the point where they disclose margins on individual developments.
Say what you want about them, the guys that run these housing companies are pretty smart. Their main cost is land, I believe, and I am certain they build in a nice, fat cushion when they bid on parcels.
And if that cushion starts to get too thin, guess what? They start to cut corners on materials and labor. I understand many of the homes that were being finished in the middle of the last trough are rife with defects.