The United States is facing a severe shortage of homes for sale following a surge in buying activity throughout the pandemic, and unrelenting supply chain disruptions aren’t helping. The roots of a nearly 3 million home supply deficit can be traced back to the 2008 housing bubble and subsequent collapse, when the construction workforce became decimated and home building slowed across the U.S.
Over a decade later, builders are still working to get back on their feet, and demand from impatient buyers isn’t letting up. With a shortage of construction labor and ever-growing lead times still weighing on builders, a supply deficit continues to push home prices even higher in a volatile post-pandemic market, NPR reports.
Emerson Claus has been building houses for 45 years. But he has never faced delays like he is now trying to get basic building materials. "I had a client ask me to add a door," he says at a job site outside Boston. "We just waited six months to get it."
"That's a door in a frame," Claus says, exasperated. "That's kind of crazy." He says appliances can be even worse. "A dishwasher, if you can find the model you want right now, you might wait a year for it."
Advertisement
Related Stories
Manufacturers + Suppliers
Leaf Home Announces Winners in Stair Lift Giveaway for Veterans
The company has announced 13 winners in its third stair lift giveaway
Manufacturers + Suppliers
Bosch Power Tools Donates Products to Local Schools on Giving Tuesday
Bosch is donating more than $20,000 worth of tools and accessories to four high school and pre-college construction trade programs across the U.S.
Manufacturers + Suppliers
James Hardie Expands Rebate Program, Launches Sweepstakes for US Armed Forces
The company is expanding its existing rebate program and adding a new sweepstakes opportunity for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and Gold Star Families