I have heard people complain that building a house is N times more difficult today than 20 years ago, and as someone who wishes to build a house in the future,

I have heard people complain that building a house is N times more difficult today than 20 years ago, and as someone who wishes to build a house in the future, these complaints worry me. Perhaps there is no need for worry over second hand mutterings, though. I will see what the situation is like when I actually start building. It seems that usually the legal burden of compliance and regulation forms an efficient service sector that is able to meet it– but in a sort of roundabout way I question the very need for this compliance sector. Thank God for fire safety and non-toxic building materials, but some law is absurd, and represents a process for process' sake when you look at its effect.