The Expert Podcast

• Topic: The Challenges Faced by the U.S. Real Estate Industry in Building New Homes
• Summary: In this episode, we explore why the U.S. real estate industry is struggling to meet the demand for new housing. A real estate expert discusses the factors that make it difficult for builders to construct new homes, despite the industry's call for more properties.
• Key Points:
  • The real estate industry is calling for more housing, but builders and contractors already want to build.
  • Builders need to construct homes to stay in business, as sitting idle leads to loss of money due to overhead costs.
  • Rising economy costs and long permitting processes are significant roadblocks for builders.
  • Permitting can take 8-9 months, or even over a year, causing additional delays and uncertainty for builders.
  • High interest rates and rising costs of land, materials, and permits make it difficult to build homes profitably.
  • An average $100,000 in site costs before breaking ground makes it hard to build homes for affordable prices.
  • With the cost of building materials, a 1,000-square-foot home could cost $300,000 or more to build, but it might not sell for a price that justifies these costs.
  • Builders face carrying costs, real estate commissions, and closing fees that make it even harder to profit from new homes.
  • The industry is also dealing with assumptions that interest rates and material costs may continue to rise, complicating the financial outlook for builders.
  • While single-family homes are challenging, remodels and commercial tenant improvements are somewhat more predictable and less speculative.
  • Despite these challenges, there is still a push to build more homes.
• Discussion:
  • The episode ends with a call to action for listeners to share their thoughts in the comments about the state of the housing market and the difficulties facing builders in the U.S. today.
• Join the conversation! Let us know what you think about the current state of the real estate market.