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The Crazy Days are Back, New Construction Stretches Out

Reblogger Sandra Watkins
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Town & Country

I am seeing more and more homes going up in our area as well. I welcome the building but not the long build times. I am not seeing a 9 month wait here yet. 

Original content by Bob Pisa, Broker Associate

The Crazy Days are Back, New Construction Stretches Out

Labor Shortages Causing Longer Lead Times


Today I worked with a customer contracting to build/buy a new home in Naples. Contract to move-in time was quoted to be nine months! Now, we're talking about a nice home but it is a builder's tract home model.

What's causing the delay? In general, a labor shortage. Homes are lined up just waiting for the availability of labor and material to start the next phase.


We drove buy several homes in the state as the one pictured to the right. Blocks are up and they are sitting there waiting their turn for delivery of trusses and the labor to put them up. We were told that the shortage is nationwide.

Now isn't that interesting...? Looking for work...?

 

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Bob Pisa, REALTOR

Downing-Frye Realty, Inc.
Naples and Bonita Springs offices

Show All Comments Sort:
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Sandra:  Many agents and builders see the main problem is that there is no work force... no labor pool to build these homes like there used to me.  There is an obvious reason for why that "labor pool" disappeared.

The exceedingly restrictive laws that some states passed to keep Mexican "illegals" out of their state... well, those same laws chased out a huge source of laborers from those same states.

Very, very hard working people.  Honest, dependable, family-oriented.  They had been the backbone of the construction industry's labor force for many, many states, and for many, many years.  Then... all of a sudden... the radicals in the state houses saw what Arizona did with their 1070 law... and passed laws that either met those restrictions... or even exceeded them.

That left many states with crops that rotted waiting to be harvested, foundations waiting to be built for new homes, roadways and other concrete work that went unstarted as the big construction machines sat idle.  That huge, cheap labor force panicked, and left those particular states.

Other states, ones that had the wisdom to NOT pass those kinds of excessive laws... benefited from the large labor pool that resulted.

Make hay while the sun shines?  How about "harvest the crops before they rot?"

Sep 12, 2012 04:18 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

As far as incredibly long build times... well... in Texas... in most parts of the state... once permits are submitted and approved... most first and second home-buyer homes are typically built in 90 to 105 days... three to three-and-one-half months.  And built very well, I might add.  In this type of "stage building"... there is usually one type of "trade" or another in each home every day.  Sometimes including week-ends.

The only way this can be done is if you have that "labor pool."

Sep 12, 2012 04:19 AM
Sandra Watkins
RE/MAX Town & Country - Canton, GA

I do agree about the labor pool going poof. My brother in law does commercial building and he is having a terrible time getting workers. They are just not there like they were. 

Sep 13, 2012 09:40 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Sandra:  Just one question about your labor pool in Georgia.  Has your state legislature passed any harsh or restrictive immigration laws concerning the "illegals?"  If you say "yes..." that's probably a large part of what happened to your "labor pool."  Somebody screamed "everybody outta the pool."

Sep 13, 2012 10:11 AM