06/12/2026
We’ve been saying it for years. The rise in materials coupled with regulatory requirements makes it significantly harder for the average person to build a new home.
Regulatory costs including permits, building codes, inspections, and design standards now make up 26.4% of the average new home's sale price, adding $131,734 to the typical $499,500 home and rising nearly 40% in just five years, according to a new National Association of Home Builders study.