As 2018 budget season arrives, it’s time to both model in and do something about cost escalation on building products and materials
By John McManus | Builder
Constraints on the supply of newly-built homes and communities is not letting up, nor is it likely to.
The biggest obstacle from the perspective of builders, as we’ve noted here, is land. It’s hard to find, too expensive, and takes too long to entitle and permit. What’s more, to some degree, the successful pace of sales in new communities across many geographies over the past couple of years served to make the issue worse. Solid sell-through and absorption on currently open communities forces a camel through the eye of a needle, as all builders need to restock “stores” that will sell out with new neighborhoods for next Spring and 2019, and 2020.
