[Greenbuilding] Cost of Building-General

[Alan Abrams]

<Electrical wire was up 280% over the last year, last time I checked.
For a while this summer, asphalt roofing was zooming up at 8% per month.
Finally, I believe, these prices finally killed off the housing boom.>

Two (unscientific) observations-

First, is that the cost of construction materials--and labor rates--like
gasoline--had been relatively flat for the past 25 years--if one compares
current costs to those of 1980--the delta probably corresponds to the rate
of inflation.

Second--2-5 years ago, people were financing their new home or remodeling
projects with the helium based equity of their original homes.  Today they
are spending "real" money.

Alan Abrams