4 ms·

The material costs are high too because of regulations that require specific lumber for framing etc. It’s more complex than just reducing tariffs and inviting

The material costs are high too because of regulations that require specific lumber for framing etc. It’s more complex than just reducing tariffs and inviting cheap labor. It’s systemic red tape put in by the large builders to prevent anyone but them to be able to build. When they do build, it’s never to code. The code they themselves help write. Ryan Homes for example…

Aurornis 9mo ago
> The material costs are high too because of regulations that require specific lumber for framing etc. Having done some extensive remodeling and building work in recent years and going to great lengths to follow building codes, this just isn't it. The type of lumber you can use for most framing jobs isn't that special. Having walked through a number of new construction properties and seeing what passes code, I don't think relaxing lumber standards would be a good idea, nor buy us anything. When lumber, cabinetry, and other building products have tariffs in the range of 10-50%, you can't tell me that tariffs are not the primary problem driving costs up right now. There just isn't a secret stash of lesser grade lumber lying around that would also be perfectly good for building homes.
- potato3732842 9mo ago
  Single and few number family residential and owner stuff gets all sorts of exemptions in just about every town's zoning code because if not the townsfolk would revolt. This is why everyone on the internet screeches "well I put up a deck and it wasn't so hard". Try and do a new build of literally any structure and get back to me. Or worse, a construction type that is not the regional default for whatever it is you're doing. Reality for new construction is way, way, way worse than homeowners think. Unless you know a guy, in which case it's all open doors and green lights because that's how local politics always is.
  - FireBeyond 9mo ago
    > Unless you know a guy, in which case it's all open doors and green lights because that's how local politics always is. LOL, in my city, which is the capital city of our state, the city planning committee and property developers are all friends. By which I don't mean "having a drink at a community event", I mean openly posting on social media about their families going on vacation together, "Loved our family spending the week at this airbnb with the X family! So many good times and memories!"
    - potato3732842 9mo ago
      It's a club and you ain't in it.
      - FireBeyond 9mo ago
        So true. There was a vote about a measure to change up some tenant's rights in the city code (strengthening them). It passed 12-1. One dissenter, a Mrs [can't remember] Greene. Didn't think anything of it until someone pointed out "Oh, you mean [can't remember] Greene, wife of Jim Greene, owner and CEO of the second largest PM company in the County, Greene Property Management?" "Someone should ask her whether she's representing her constituents or her husband and his clients."
  - Aurornis 9mo ago
    I've worked in new construction previously. It's so much easier than the renovation work I'm doing. > Try and do a new build of literally any structure and get back to me. Or worse, a construction type that is not the regional default for whatever it is you're doing. Please don't be so condescending. I'm talking about my experience with home building in a thread about building homes. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with whatever you were building, but we're talking about homes.
    - reactordev 9mo ago
      Old home renovations are expensive because of these stupid codes. You have to bring a house up to code in many cases which increases the costs. You’re right that home renovations are more costly. For new homes it’s easier just to start “at code” and go from there. However, there are places that have strict building codes on the type of lumber you use for the roof, the frame, interior walls, exterior, etc. Lumber yards who sell this in bulk know this and charge a dozen percentages more for it. For example, in Virginia, lumber has to be graded for use for certain applications. If you happen to mill your own boards, your SOL. You’ll never be to code. The only way is to grease an inspector.
potato3732842 9mo ago
This. They don't want the local septic man and the local roofer partnering up to GC a development of a dozen houses or even worse, an individual doing the bulk of the work of building anything, so they get it all saddled with requirements that amortize away nicely when vertically integrated but absolutely crush anyone else.
- reactordev 9mo ago
  It’s a Ponzi scheme disguised as a monopoly. They’ll block everyone and just sit on the lots with a sign that says coming soon rather than let local contractors do the jobs.

Aurornis 9mo ago

> The material costs are high too because of regulations that require specific lumber for framing etc. Having done some extensive remodeling and building work in recent years and going to great lengths to follow building codes, this just isn't it. The type of lumber you can use for most framing jobs isn't that special. Having walked through a number of new construction properties and seeing what passes code, I don't think relaxing lumber standards would be a good idea, nor buy us anything. When lumber, cabinetry, and other building products have tariffs in the range of 10-50%, you can't tell me that tariffs are not the primary problem driving costs up right now. There just isn't a secret stash of lesser grade lumber lying around that would also be perfectly good for building homes.

potato3732842 9mo ago
Single and few number family residential and owner stuff gets all sorts of exemptions in just about every town's zoning code because if not the townsfolk would revolt. This is why everyone on the internet screeches "well I put up a deck and it wasn't so hard". Try and do a new build of literally any structure and get back to me. Or worse, a construction type that is not the regional default for whatever it is you're doing. Reality for new construction is way, way, way worse than homeowners think. Unless you know a guy, in which case it's all open doors and green lights because that's how local politics always is.
- FireBeyond 9mo ago
  > Unless you know a guy, in which case it's all open doors and green lights because that's how local politics always is. LOL, in my city, which is the capital city of our state, the city planning committee and property developers are all friends. By which I don't mean "having a drink at a community event", I mean openly posting on social media about their families going on vacation together, "Loved our family spending the week at this airbnb with the X family! So many good times and memories!"
  - potato3732842 9mo ago
    It's a club and you ain't in it.
    - FireBeyond 9mo ago
      So true. There was a vote about a measure to change up some tenant's rights in the city code (strengthening them). It passed 12-1. One dissenter, a Mrs [can't remember] Greene. Didn't think anything of it until someone pointed out "Oh, you mean [can't remember] Greene, wife of Jim Greene, owner and CEO of the second largest PM company in the County, Greene Property Management?" "Someone should ask her whether she's representing her constituents or her husband and his clients."
- Aurornis 9mo ago
  I've worked in new construction previously. It's so much easier than the renovation work I'm doing. > Try and do a new build of literally any structure and get back to me. Or worse, a construction type that is not the regional default for whatever it is you're doing. Please don't be so condescending. I'm talking about my experience with home building in a thread about building homes. I'm sorry you had a bad experience with whatever you were building, but we're talking about homes.
  - reactordev 9mo ago
    Old home renovations are expensive because of these stupid codes. You have to bring a house up to code in many cases which increases the costs. You’re right that home renovations are more costly. For new homes it’s easier just to start “at code” and go from there. However, there are places that have strict building codes on the type of lumber you use for the roof, the frame, interior walls, exterior, etc. Lumber yards who sell this in bulk know this and charge a dozen percentages more for it. For example, in Virginia, lumber has to be graded for use for certain applications. If you happen to mill your own boards, your SOL. You’ll never be to code. The only way is to grease an inspector.

potato3732842 9mo ago

This. They don't want the local septic man and the local roofer partnering up to GC a development of a dozen houses or even worse, an individual doing the bulk of the work of building anything, so they get it all saddled with requirements that amortize away nicely when vertically integrated but absolutely crush anyone else.

reactordev 9mo ago
It’s a Ponzi scheme disguised as a monopoly. They’ll block everyone and just sit on the lots with a sign that says coming soon rather than let local contractors do the jobs.