DIY Builds
Photo by Mary Taylor Pexels Logo Photo: Mary Taylor

Will it be cheaper to build a house in 2022?

It is anticipated that interest rates will be on a rising trend throughout 2022 and costs will continue to increase, although the cost increases will be at a more normalized rate. It is highly unlikely that it will be less expensive to build in the future.

What is the cheapest roof design?
What is the cheapest roof design?

Generally, a gable-style roof with asphalt roofing shingles is one of the most affordable roofs you can build on a residential home. Asphalt...

Read More »
Do you need to Tyvek a shed?
Do you need to Tyvek a shed?

According to experts, house wrap isn't actually necessary for sheds but if you want to protect its interior and contents from the heat, cold, dust...

Read More »

1. Is it going to cost less in 2022 to build than it did in 2021?

Good News! Construction cost increases have begun to slow to 3.3% increase as of September 2022 according to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). Since the start of the pandemic costs have increased around 32%. The historical average over the past five years has been an increase of under 2% yearly building cost increase. The silver lining to the Fed interest rate increases is that it has dramatically slowed the pace of cost increases we were experiencing that at one point were increasing at close to a 20% yearly increase in costs.

Chart from @aliwolfecon showing production capacity improvements anticipated throughout 2022.

@EricFinnigan

2. What is going to happen with lumber pricing in 2022?

Lumber has fallen from its large spike earlier this year. This decrease in Lumber pricing has helped soften the increase we have seen recently from Concrete and Gypsum materials. Lumber is currently 14.5% higher than a year ago and 41.9% higher than pre-pandemic as of September 2022.

Visit our model home for real-world inspiration. SEE MODEL HOMES

3. Is the housing market going to crash in 2022?

The trauma the housing industry experienced in 2008 is still fresh in many of our minds. Until that time we have never experienced a crash in housing of that magnitude. The cause of the crash in 2008 was loose financial lending criteria which enabled people to purchase homes they couldn’t afford once the variable rate on their loans increased. Lending standards are much stricter now and the vast majority of loans are conventional fixed rate loans. The strength of the lending standards was seen in the height of the pandemic as there was high unemployment and a low percentage of loans were in default or required forbearance. This is a good sign that we will not experience a banking & foreclosure crisis like we did in 2008 even when a recession does happen in the future. It is unlikely that we will experience a housing crash in 2022, however we do expect the market cool from the extremely hot markets we have had in 2020 and 2021.

Why does my roof only leak in heavy rain?
Why does my roof only leak in heavy rain?

The most common reasons why roofs only leak during heavy rain are: No sarking to catch leaks driven in by heavy rain. Leaking low pitched tile...

Read More »
How do I make my shed livable?
How do I make my shed livable?

Top Ways To Turn A Shed Into A living Space Run power to the shed for lights, electronics & HVAC. Choose a way to climate control – Heating &...

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Historically real estate is regionalized, until we had the national crash in 2008. Traditionally, the Sun Belt States (Florida, Texas, Arizona, etc) experience hotter housing markets than we do in Ohio and also cool more dramatically than we do in Ohio. When the housing market cools from increased interest rates the first homes that people stop buying are second homes which are a large percentage of the homes in the Sun Belt markets. We do not have as high of a prevalence of second homes and investors in Ohio, which makes our market more stabilized.

4. Are Interest Rates going to Increase?

It’s no longer a question will interest rates increase, but now the question is how much. The housing market has been spoiled with low interest rates for years. Unfortunately, with the high inflation the Federal Reserve will continue to push rates higher until inflation is controlled. This will continue to put pressure on mortgage interest rates throughout the year. Historically these are still extremely good rates. Most people refinance their homes over the life of the loan so if interest rates were to dip in the future you could always take advantage of lower rates by refinancing. Many of our buyers are choosing to do 5 or 7 year ARMs on their construction loans allowing them to lock in a lower rate until they refinance in the future at lower rate.

5. Where do I find Land for my Custom Home?

We reported back in June of 2021 that vacant land supply was at the lowest level ever recorded . It has continued to worsen. The supply chain issues and long approval process has pushed out the timeline for when more lots will come on line. . It has continued to worsen. The supply chain issues and long approval process has pushed out the timeline for when more lots will come on line. With Old World being a build on your lot home builder we have noticed the trend of available land for custom homes has continued to decrease since 2008. There are very few new developments that are not controlled by large regional or national home builders. This has made it more challenging than ever for our clients to find traditional build ready lots in subdivisions.

Can I build a cabin on my land?
Can I build a cabin on my land?

Residential log cabins will need planning permission before construction. Unless you can find a piece of land with planning permission attached....

Read More »
What is the state dessert of Texas?
What is the state dessert of Texas?

pecan pie The Texas House of Representatives named pecan pie as the state's official pie on Wednesday. State Rep. Marsha Farney (R-Georgetown)...

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Most available land for custom homes is now found on non-traditional lots (tear downs, lot splits, large vacant parcels).

Should I Build my Forever Home in 2022?

Our outlook continues to be that if you are ready and able to build then now is the best time to do it. It is anticipated that interest rates will be on a rising trend throughout 2022 and costs will continue to increase, although the cost increases will be at a more normalized rate. It is highly unlikely that it will be less expensive to build in the future. It is almost impossible to both directionally predict and time the real estate market when purely looking at a home as an investment. However, most of our clients are not purchasing a home purely as an investment and they are building a new home that is going to be their Forever Home. With this in mind we suggest not looking at building home as an investment decision and look at it as a lifestyle decision. If you plan on living in your home for longer than 5 years chances are you will benefit from price appreciation as well as the enjoyment of your family living in your new home during that time.

How much weight will a cinder block hold?
How much weight will a cinder block hold?

According to professionals, a cinder block must be able to withstand a minimum of 1,700 pounds of weight per square inch. Jun 30, 2022

Read More »
How big is a 10x20 garage?
How big is a 10x20 garage?

Like the name suggests, a 10x20 storage unit is 10 feet wide by 20 feet deep or vice versa for a total of 200 square feet. To give you a better...

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »
What is the most common anchor?
What is the most common anchor?

Claw Anchors The Claw Anchor is one of the most popular anchors among boaters in North America. This anchor is a dynamic anchor that performs well...

Read More »
Is it cheaper to build with steel or wood?
Is it cheaper to build with steel or wood?

Ultimately, wooden building materials are cheaper, but the ongoing costs and building costs make them much more expensive than you could ever...

Read More »