Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

1DollarOr1Million t1_j4mi2w7 wrote

Building new is more expensive than buying existing, unless you are a contractor that can build it yourself. But 99% of us are not.

19

thebaerfetus OP t1_j4okc89 wrote

I wonder if a lot of the issue in VT is there are so few people who CAN do this work. I'm currently living in Arkansas, and the house I currently live in is 1,232sqft and I paid 132k. We also have lots of different contractors and companies and individual people and small businesses that are able to do this kind of work. So I wonder if it's simply a matter of high demand and short supply of the skills and equipments needed to build homes--therefore contractors can charge whatever they want because people are insane enough to pay for their "dream home." VT has so many people with college degrees, but how many with trades certifications and training? Curious.

2

1DollarOr1Million t1_j4q00nb wrote

There is no real shortage of trade workers. It’s just that between the 2nd home owners, massive influx of people moving here in the last several years, and a short term rental issue because of so many ski towns, the “locals” are being forced to spend 50% of their income or more on rent, and buying is just out of sight.

2