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?"

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."

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."