Since the Election........

[2manyrocks]

I suspect there is an economic case to be proven that there was more uncertainty and perhaps outright disbelief during this year's election cycle that caused consumers to pause their spending. That's not to say that so much inflation for so long hasn't depleted the savings of many people.

Regional economic factors also come into play. Costs of living relative to incomes in some areas mean that some places have experienced outward population flows which adversely affects new construction in those areas.

 

[Hay Dude]

Not sure, maybe it's just that my community is growing like crazy. New neighborhoods popping up everywhere the last 15 years or so, land has went sky high, cost of houses have almost doubled. We never slowed during covid, it was and still is booming here. My realtor friends keep telling me the need for contractors here is in great demand. I just hate carpentry and never want to go back to it as a living again.

Hah, me too. I am a “recovering” framing contractor & builder.
So much happier farming & land clearing….

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Construction is booming in my area. Contractors are so back logged they're saying it'll be two years before they can take anything else on.

Two years is what contractors are saying here.

 

[Fixastuff]

People often see what they want to see. I’ve found if I keep working and looking for new opportunities then who is in office isn’t even noticeable. Other people the second someone they don’t like is in charge the whole world is crap.

 

[Snobdds]

An economy, at its most basic level, needs confidence that money put out will bring a return on that investment.

It's amazing what simple economic confidence will do. It's a metric that can't be quantified or qualified. It's a feeling. It's hard to explain to simple minds, but its there and needed.

 

[riptides]

Flat out booming in my immediate area. The housing market seems to be strong. Still seeing lots of sales and renovations. Commercial is too, it's called data centers, roads and feeder infrastructures. But my area is not reflective of the country. Being outside the DC area....

 

[ultrarunner]

It’s mixed in my region depending on location…

With so much available retail and home prices dropping even the flippers have moved on.

It’s night and day from 5 years ago…

I’ve kept in contact with friends and neighbors that have relocated and no regrets…

Hardware stores still closing along with retail and manufacturing leading me to believe more of the same coming…

Being in Oakland/SF East Bay/California has taught me the realities here are often quite different from other places…

 

[Jstpssng]

We get a publication every week which includes wholesale prices for 2x4s on the Boston market. They were below preCovid levels but started rising in August and have been going up ever since.
The economy always rises and falls in cycles.

 

[Hay Dude]

Flat out booming in my immediate area. The housing market seems to be strong. Still seeing lots of sales and renovations. Commercial is too, it's called data centers, roads and feeder infrastructures. But my area is not reflective of the country. Being outside the DC area....

The economy in Northern Virginia is always good

 

[quicksandfarmer]

The economy in Northern Virginia is always good

I can remember two times in the past 35 years when banks were bulldozing newly built homes in NoVa because there were just no buyers -- 1992-3 and 2008-9.