Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trump’s China tariffs are driving up the cost of new homes in California by $20,000
Sacramento Bee ^ | September 05, 2019 | Kate Irby

Posted on 09/05/2019 6:10:57 AM PDT by artichokegrower

President Donald Trump’s tariffs have created the “perfect storm” at the wrong moment for the housing industry, California builders say.

The California Building Industry Association estimates tariffs have driven up the cost of an average-size new home by $20,000 to $30,000.

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: construction; trumptrade
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 next last
To: artichokegrower

When the median price for a home in California is more than $400k, Trump’s China tariffs are not the problem.


21 posted on 09/05/2019 6:34:30 AM PDT by Durbin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower

Isnt that 2/10 of 1 percent?


22 posted on 09/05/2019 6:35:27 AM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower

No my decimal point is in the wrong spot.


23 posted on 09/05/2019 6:36:54 AM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower

2 percent.


24 posted on 09/05/2019 6:37:16 AM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JohnBrowdie

Exactly.


25 posted on 09/05/2019 6:43:42 AM PDT by tennmountainman (Liberals Are Baby Killers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower
That comes from tariffs appliances, certain counter tops and other miscellaneous items that “at the end of the day, really add up,” according to Dennis Fitzpatrick, owner of Fitzpatrick Homes in Modesto.

I call garbage. Not too many years ago, I built my own home in northern Illinois. Although I used a homeowner's system, I spec'd a lot myself.

My drywall was locally made. My concrete, driveway asphalt and rebar were U.S.

The lumber, wood flooring, stairs and roofing shingles were certainly not Red Chinese, nor was the sepytic tank, siding, paint, furnace, AC flooring or the fiberglass insulation.

The appliances were U.S., Korean or Mexican assembled. The hired labor was not Chinese.

The Kohler and Delta fixtures were not Chinese. That leaves us with can lights, outlets, thermostat, some non-high voltage cable, possibly the well-pump and a couple of sumps, maybe some cheap linoleum.

A Chinese tariff would only add a tiny surcharge to the total cost. Maybe some indirect costs (cheap tools bought by installers, parts in some of the appliances assembled in the U.S.) but all in all a trifle. Much less than extra expenses incurred satisfying the highway department on driveway entry specs and rerouting gas and electric to satisfy septic field rules.
26 posted on 09/05/2019 6:46:28 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("...a choice between Woke-fevered Democrats and Koch-funded Republicans is insufficient."-Mark Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower

And?


27 posted on 09/05/2019 6:47:23 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Sivana

I think this is all about solar panels. California is different in many ways from real America.


28 posted on 09/05/2019 6:49:24 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower

Good. No one should live in CA. It’s a failed state.


29 posted on 09/05/2019 6:53:39 AM PDT by LS ("Castles made of sand, fall in the sea . . . eventually" (Hendrix))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower

How about indoor sprinkler systems, solar power mandates, and land use restrictions in California, along with the need to house millions of Illegals - are they Trump’s fault too?


30 posted on 09/05/2019 7:09:40 AM PDT by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart - I just don't tell anyone.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: central_va

“Math is hard. For a 10% import tariff to increase construction material costs by $10,000 then the total amount of imported construction material would have to be $100,000. I find that really hard to believe.”

Agree, and the material cost for building a house, at least for stuff that can even be imported from China (which excludes wood and concrete, and probably roofing materials), is very, very, low. The article is BS.


31 posted on 09/05/2019 7:12:58 AM PDT by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart - I just don't tell anyone.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: US Navy Vet

“FUCK YOU California!”

Any chance you could clarify your position on California? We don’t like people here that beat around the bush.


32 posted on 09/05/2019 7:13:38 AM PDT by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart - I just don't tell anyone.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: US Navy Vet

Ahhh...! Like a sailor you talk..!


33 posted on 09/05/2019 7:14:04 AM PDT by unread (Joe McCarthy was right.......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: US Navy Vet

I agree. I’m for any tax, law or regulation the drives CA further into the ground. All of the woke CA voter have no idea that they are committing societal suicide. Let the great experiment continue!


34 posted on 09/05/2019 7:19:32 AM PDT by .44 Special (Tiamid Buarsh)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower

Nancy and Mad Maxine are stunned? (maybe stoned?)


35 posted on 09/05/2019 7:19:52 AM PDT by litehaus (A memory toooo long.............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower

20 - 30K is chump change when you consider how over priced calipornia already is:-)


36 posted on 09/05/2019 8:00:34 AM PDT by Harpotoo (Being a socialist is a lot easier than having to WORK like the rest of US:-))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Sivana

Agreed,
Very little new construction items come from China.
Concrete is local, lumber used in California mostly comes from the US and Canada. THERE IS NO LUMBER COMING INTO THE US FROM CHINA. OSB board comes from the US & Canada. Windows and doors and almost all millwork comes from the US.
The only items that may come from China are: lights, faucets and cheap bamboo flooring.

Most construction materials have a much larger percentage of freight cost in their transportation to their final destination. Therefore, it is not typical to ship them half way around the world like an I phone. Also, most construction materials are commodities. There is a much lower profit margin on them. FYI, most framing lumber is only 15-25%.


37 posted on 09/05/2019 8:23:50 AM PDT by woodbutcher1963
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower

Before the tariffs they were going up due to stupidity.


38 posted on 09/05/2019 8:27:24 AM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: artichokegrower
Dan Dunmoyer, president of the California Building Industry Association, said increasing the cost of $500,000 home in the state by even $10,000 would price out thousands of families.

Complete nonsense. That's doesn't pass any known smell test. A 2% price increase on a $500,000 home would price no one out of typical home, mortgage financing.

39 posted on 09/05/2019 8:27:59 AM PDT by Will88 (The only people opposing voter ID are those benefiting from voter fraud.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: woodbutcher1963
Very little new construction items come from China.

During the last housing boom, some chuckleheads imported drywall from Red China. A lot of it turned moldy, and wound up costing billions of dollars to replace and who knows how many still standing moldy homes?
40 posted on 09/05/2019 8:37:31 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("...a choice between Woke-fevered Democrats and Koch-funded Republicans is insufficient."-Mark Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-46 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson