Business is Slow

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Slow down in construction

Slow down in construction

Hello, how long did anyone really think we could continue to send our manufacturing jobs overseas before the house of cards would start to crumble. Then add to that the fact that contractors are very willing to cut wages by hiring illegal workers, who send billions "home" to other countries each year. Then we see greedy lenders making home loans to hundreds of thousands of these illegals, who could not keep up the inflated payments! What else could happen besides the whole economy slowing way DOWN! :confused:
 
Energy-Miser said:
Has the remodel / addition market been any better?
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Not here. A lot of the remodel/ additions were from people buying existing homes and renovating to suit them. Since all home sales are down, so are the romodels/ additions.
 
j_erickson said:
Not here. A lot of the remodel/ additions were from people buying existing homes and renovating to suit them. Since all home sales are down, so are the romodels/ additions.
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Yes, I am sure that's what we are seeing around here too. In my neighborhood, a few years ago, homes were on the market for only hours before they were sold, and brought MORE than the asking price. Well right now my next door neighbor's house is on sale, and has been for 6 months!
 
Energy-Miser said:
Yes, I am sure that's what we are seeing around here too. In my neighborhood, a few years ago, homes were on the market for only hours before they were sold, and brought MORE than the asking price. Well right now my next door neighbor's house is on sale, and has been for 6 months!
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Same thing here. My next door neighbor just took his off the market after 6 months.
 
Interesting times, I talked to one of the counterpeople at my supply house today and they are sweating layoffs. One of the carpenters I work with told me his supply houses are calling him asking how things are looking. I read today that the NAHB said the bottom should hit the middle of this year and then it will get better. Hopefully they are better forcasters than the weathermen.
 
I spoke to a guy today about a development in Houston that has either 300 or 600 houses set to be built. Not that I plan on going south, but is this true. Is this an mistake or are there areas still hot. Last year at this time upstate NY was jamming. Around the Saratoga area. Did that die out too or is that still going hot?
 
Just got some numbers this morning.

Oct-Dec 2006: 10,671 inspections
Oct-Dec 2007: 7,413 inspections

That's 3,258 fewer inspections. Now inspections aren't a real accurate way to see if business is slow as one inspection could equal a patio cover or a 10,000 square foot office building, but it does give you some indication.
 
I herd that during the Great Depression that there were "Soup Kitchens" going up all over the country. Good commercial work. :grin:

All areas of the economy are never affected the same way at the same time but even a 5% slow down in the overall economy can have a devastating effect.
 
Energy-Miser said:
Has the remodel / addition market been any better?
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No, here in California, all the guys who worked on new homes have moved into remodel/addition. Not licensed contractors either, unemployed tradesmen laid off from new construction are now on Craigslist posing as contractors.

In Los Angeles, in the residential remodel/addition market, if you're a legitimate licensed electrical contractor, you can expect to get about $100 a day.
 
:-) said:
No, here in California, all the guys who worked on new homes have moved into remodel/addition. Not licensed contractors either, unemployed tradesmen laid off from new construction are now on Craigslist posing as contractors.

In Los Angeles, in the residential remodel/addition market, if you're a legitimate licensed electrical contractor, you can expect to get about $100 a day.
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Los Angeles, doesn't a cup of coffee cost around $100 there? e/m
 
zog said:
They cant build the houses fast enough here in NC
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The reason NC has so much new growth is not new business, rather plants amd industry that layed off workers in the north east, and ran away from the heavy taxes and non busness friendly goverments, NC gave the companies a fair deal so they are growing like weeds, and building to keep up.
 
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satcom said:
The reason NC has so much new growth is not new business, rather plants amd industry that layed off workers in the north east, and ran away from the heavy taxes and non busness friendly goverments, NC gave the companies a fair deal so they are growing like weeds, and building to keep up.
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Sounds like NC gets a gold star.
 
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