How Long is Your Home Building “Season”?

Winter is fast approaching. Have you wondered how winter weather impacts construction timelines – and thus real estate investment timelines - in different parts of the country?

Monthly employment data suggests there are big disparities in construction timelines and investment costs across the U.S. (SEE THE MAP)

As the map shows, Southern and Coastal areas are keeping construction jobs at or near peak summertime levels nearly year-round. But the North has huge construction employment drop-offs relative to summer peaks, with as many as 8 months being well below peak construction levels.

More months of construction work gives the south and coasts a leg up in building new housing, which has big impacts on supply, prices, and investment strategies, and is an influencer of Homeworthi's forecasts.

But I’m hearing from developers here in North Carolina – where the map shows year-round construction employment - that they’re starting to see winter weather changes that are impacting construction. It’s not the cold, but the rain that’s slowing construction schedules here. Worth keeping an eye on if more parts of the country can’t maintain long construction seasons.