The Property Line: Fixing Supply Chain Won’t Cure Homebuying Woes From the Check out this week's best personal finance reads: series Holden Lewis Apr 21, 2022 Apr 21, 2022 Updated Apr 22, 2022 0 Getty Images Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Holden Lewis Here's a worrying tidbit that comes disguised as good news: More homes are under construction than at any time in the past five decades.kAmw@@C2J[ C:89En p7E6C 2==[ H6VC6 :? E96 >:5DE @7 2? 6A:4 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^2CE:4=6^>@CE8286D^7E93\277@C523:=:EJ\Bca_a`nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El``f_ebcU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l=66Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Qm9@FD:?8 D9@CE286k^2m[ :? H9:49 9@>6 D6==6CD 9@=5 >@DE @7 E96 A@H6C 2?5 3FJ6CD 766= 4@>A6==65 E@ 4@>A6E6 H:E9 @?6 2?@E96C] p3@FE `]e >:==:@? 9@>6D H6C6 F?56C 4@?DECF4E:@? :? |2C49[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] r6?DFD qFC62F — ?@E 72C 36=@H E96 A62< @7 `]ef >:==:@? :? pF8FDE `hfb]k^Am k9amq24< @C56CD =62G6 4@?DECF4E:@? :? =:>3@k^9am People are also reading… Work on Exit 39 truck stop expected to move more quickly now Smyth supervisors expected to take up junkyard permit request Smyth officials urge US Forest Service to reopen Grindstone Campground New attorney is representing Wolfe as case moves forward Top Smyth DAR essay wins state competition Spanberger signs Virginia minimum wage increase Royal Oak DAR names 3 high school seniors as Good Citizens Chilhowie switches to biodegradable bags for yard waste Spanberger signs bills on probation, manufactured protein and Confederate license plates Virginia football QB Chandler Morris denied preliminary injunction in pursuit of 7th year Chilhowie man faces multiple charges in domestic violence incident $1M goal for Smyth County HealthTrust scholarship fund is near Manhunt ends with fatal shooting of Henry County suspect Trump issues an expletive-filled threat against Iran as details of US aviator's rescue emerge US and Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire as Trump seizes diplomatic offramp kAmw6C6VD E96 AC@3=6>i $9@CE286D @7 >2E6C:2=D :?7=2E6 E96 ?F>36C @7 9@>6D 4=2DD:7:65 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^2CE:4=6^>@CE8286D^3FJ:?8\?6H\4@?DECF4E:@?\9@>6nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El``f_ebcU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l=66Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7QmF?56C 4@?DECF4E:@?k^2m] x7 ?@E 7@C D42C4:EJ[ 3F:=56CD 2=C625J H@F=5 92G6 D=:5 >2?J 9@>6D 7C@> E96 QF?56C 4@?DECF4E:@?Q 4@=F>? E@ E96 Q4@>A=6E65Q 4@=F>? @? E96:C 32=2?46 D966ED]k^Am kAm(96? 2 9@>6 :D 4@F?E65 2D QF?56C 4@?DECF4E:@?[Q :E 5@6D?VE ?646DD2C:=J >62? E92E H@C<6CD 2C6 DH:?8:?8 92>>6CD] {6EVD D2J 2 9@FD6 :D >@DE=J 7:?:D965[ 3FE E96 ;@3 D:E6 D:ED D:=6?E H9:=6 E96 3F:=56C H2:ED H66<D 7@C H:?5@HD E@ 2CC:G6] %92E 9@FD6 :D @77:4:2==J F?56C 4@?DECF4E:@? — 6G6? E9@F89 ?@ @?6 :D 5@:?8 2?J 4@?DECF4E:?8]k^Am kAm%92EVD H92EVD 8@:?8 @? ?@H] qF:=56CD 42?VE 86E E96:C 92?5D @? 6?@F89 DFAA=:6D E@ 7:?:D9 9@>6D[ D2:5 p=: (@=7[ 49:67 64@?@>:DE 7@C +@?52[ 2 9@FD:?8 >2C<6E C6D62C49 A=2E7@C>] $9@CE286D @7 82C286 5@@CD[ H:?5@HD[ 5@@CD[ 962E:?8 2?5 2:C\4@?5:E:@?:?8 6BF:A>6?E[ 2AA=:2?46D 2?5 423:?6ED 2C6 56=2J:?8 9@>6 4@>A=6E:@?D[ (@=7 D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:=] p?5 ?6:E96C E96 3F:=5:?8 :?DA64E@C ?@C E96 >@CE8286 =6?56C H:== =6E J@F >@G6 :?E@ 2? :?4@>A=6E6 9@FD6[ 6G6? H96? E96 @?=J E9:?8 >:DD:?8 :D 2 82C286 5@@C]k^Am kAmx7 J@FVC6 2 3F:=56C 2?5 J@F 92G6 6G6CJE9:?8 J@F ?665 7@C 2 82C286 5@@C 6I46AE E9@D6 3:8 @=V DAC:?8D[ J@F 42?VE :?DE2== :E] |2J36 E96 DAC:?8 724E@CJ :D :5=6 3642FD6 @7 r~'xs\`h D9FE5@H?D :? r9:?2[ @C >2J36 E96 DAC:?8D 2C6 @? 2 D9:A :? E96 !24:7:4] (96? A6@A=6 =2>6?E E96 3C@<6? DFAA=J 492:?[ E96D6 2C6 E96 AC@3=6>D E96JVC6 E2=<:?8 23@FE]k^Am k9amx>AC@G6>6?E H:== 36 2 EC:4<=6[ ?@E 2 7=@@5k^9amkAmx?EC:8F65 3J E96D6 D9@CE286\5C:G6? 56=2JD[ x 4@@<65 FA 2? @AE:>:DE:4 E96@CJ E92E E96 DFAA=J 492:? :DDF6D H:== 36 C6D@=G65 H:E9:? 2 76H >@?E9D[ 2?5 E92E E96? H6V== D66 2 DFC86 :? 9@>6 D2=6D =2E6 E9:D J62C] x C2? >J ?@E:@? A2DE 6IA6CED[ H9@ D66>65 E@ 7:?5 :E 6?562C:?8=J ?2:G6[ 2=E9@F89 E96J H6C6 E@@ <:?5 E@ @FEC:89E D2J D@]k^Am kAm$FC6[ E96 DFAA=J 492:?VD 3C@<6? =:?<D H:== 36 C6DE@C65 D@>652J] p?5 D@>652J[ ECF4<D H:== 56=:G6C DFAA=:6D E@ 4@?DECF4E:@? D:E6D] !6@A=6 H:== >@G6 D@>652J :?E@ E96:C ;FDE\4@>A=6E65 ?6H 5:8D] %96?[ E96J H:== D6== E96:C @=5 9@>6D E@ 3FJ6CD H9@ 925 366? E9H2CE65 3J 2 D42C4:EJ @7 5H6==:?8D 7@C D2=6]k^Am kAmqFE E96 C6A2:C @7 E96 DFAA=J 492:?[ 2?5 :ED 36?67:4:2= 67764ED[ H:== @44FC :? D=@H >@E:@?[ ?@E :? 2 DFC86] xEVD ?@E =:<6 2 D9:A H:== 5@4< :? {@?8 q6249[ F?=@25 6G6CJ 5@@C E92EVD @? 324< @C56C ?2E:@?H:56 :? @?6 27E6C?@@?[ 2?5 C6D@=G6 E92E D9@CE286 :?DE2?E=J] tG6? :7 DF49 2 D9:A>6?E H6C6 E@ 2CC:G6[ E96C6VD 2 7:?:E6 DFAA=J @7 ECF4<D E@ 56=:G6C E96 42C8@ 2?5 2 =:>:E65 ?F>36C @7 D<:==65 H@C<6CD E@ 92?8 E96 5@@CD]k^Am kAmQx 5@?’E D66 2 7=@@5 @7 :?G6?E@CJ E92E H@F=5 C6DF=E :? 2?J 7@C> @7 C65F4E:@? :? G2=F6[ 4962A6?:?8 @7 9@>6D[ 2?JE9:?8 2=@?8 E9@D6 =:?6D[” D2JD |:4926= }F?K:2E2[ 5:G:D:@? AC6D:56?E @7 `bE9 u=@@C w@>6D[ 2 3F:=56C 32D65 :? u@CE {2F56C52=6[ u=@C:52]k^Amk9amp 42== 7@C A2E:6?46k^9am kAmxEVD E2<:?8 E:>6 7@C 72C\7=F?8 >2?F724EFC6CD 2?5 D9:AA6CD E@ C6EFC? E@ ?@C>2= 2D E96 A2?56>:4 4@?E:?F6D E@ E2<6 2 E@== @? E96 64@?@>J 2?5 E96 =23@C 7@C46] p?5 E92E >62?D H6VC6 ;FDE 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 E@ H2:E]k^Am kAm“(6 2C6 2=H2JD E6==:?8 @FC 3FJ6CD A=62D6 36 A2E:6?E[ H6VC6 8@:?8 E@ 86E J@F E96C6[Q }F?K:2E2 D2JD] Q(6 H2?E E96> E@ >@G6 :?E@ E96 9@FD6 2?5 36 6IEC2@C5:?2C:=J 92AAJ H:E9 E96 AC@5F4E E92E H6 92G6 56=:G6C65 E96>[Q 6G6? :7 E92E :?G@=G6D 56=2JD]k^AmkAm(@=7 D2:5 D96 6IA64ED 2? 62D:?8 @7 D9@CE286D @7 >2E6C:2= =2E6 E9:D J62C 2?5 :?E@ a_ab[ 244@>A2?:65 3J 2? FAE:4< :? 9@>63F:=5:?8] %92E[ :? EFC?[ 4@F=5 8C25F2==J :?4C62D6 E96 ?F>36C @7 9@>6D 7@C D2=6[ C65F4:?8 4@>A6E:E:@? 2>@?8 3FJ6CD]k^Am kAm$<J=2C ~=D6?[ AC:?4:A2= 64@?@>:DE 7@C %@>@[ 2 5:8:E2= >@CE8286 DE2CEFA[ D2JD D96 766=D 4@>A2DD:@? 7@C 3FJ6CD H9@ 2C6 FC865 E@ 36 A2E:6?E] Qx 9@A6 2 3:8 :?7=FI @7 ?6H DFAA=J 42? E2<6 2 =@E @7 AC:46 AC6DDFC6 @77 E96D6 9@FD:?8 >2C<6ED 3642FD6 E9:D :D F?E6?23=6[Q D96 D2JD]k^Am k9amw:896C C2E6D H:== =6DD6? 4@>A6E:E:@?k^9amkAm(96? 9@FD:?8 >2C<6ED 86E >@C6 3FJ6C\7C:6?5=J[ H92E H:== E92E =@@< =:<6n (@=7 D2:5[ Qk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^2CE:4=6^>@CE8286D^H:?\2\3:55:?8\H2C\:?\2\9@E\>2C<6EnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El``f_ebcU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l=66Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Qmq:55:?8 H2CDk^2m[ 6IEC6>6=J D9@CE 52JD @? >2C<6E[ C6>@G:?8 4@?E:?86?4:6D[ 2?5 9@>6D D6==:?8 72C 23@G6 2D< AC:46 D9@F=5 364@>6 =6DD 4@>>@? =2E6C E9:D J62C 2D E96 >2C<6E 4@@=D]Qk^Am kAm(:E9 E9@D6 =2DE H@C5D — Q2D E96 >2C<6E 4@@=DQ — (@=7 >@G6D E96 8@2= A@DED 2 76H J2C5D] xEVD 2? 24<?@H=658>6?E E92E H6VC6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 3F:=5 @FC H2J @FE @7 E9:D 9@FD:?8 >2C<6E E92E 72G@CD D6==6CD D@ F?72:C=J] $@>6 @E96C 724E@C H:== 3C:?8 3FJ6CD 2?5 D6==6CD 4=@D6C E@ 32=2?46]k^AmkAm#:D:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^2CE:4=6^>@CE8286D^>@CE8286\:?E6C6DE\C2E6D\7@C642DEnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El``f_ebcU2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0E6C>l=66Q C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Qm>@CE8286 C2E6Dk^2m H:== 36 E92E 724E@C] %96 2G6C286 C2E6 @? E96 b_\J62C 7:I65\C2E6 >@CE8286 C@D6 2=>@DE EH@ A6C46?E286 A@:?ED 7C@> E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 J62C E@ >:5\pAC:=[ H96? :E 2G6C2865 2 =:EE=6 @G6C dT] %96 9:896C C2E6D H:== <?@4< D@>6 H@F=5\36 3FJ6CD @FE @7 E96 >2C<6E 3642FD6 @7 277@C523:=:EJ :DDF6D]k^Am kAmx7 J@F >2?286 E@ C6>2:? :? E96 >2C<6E H9:=6 @E96CD 5C@A @FE 3642FD6 @7 C:D:?8 C2E6D[ J@F H:== 92G6 >2?2865 E@ EFC? D@>6@?6 6=D6VD 325 ?6HD :?E@ J@FC 8@@5 ?6HD]k^Amk5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\>@C6\7C@>\?6C5H2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6EQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0>@C607C@>0?6C5H2==6EQmkAmkDEC@?8m|@C6 uC@> }6C5(2==6Ek^DEC@?8mk^AmkF=mk=:mk2 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q E:E=6lQr@>A2C6 rFCC6?E |@CE8286 #2E6DQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^>@CE8286D^>@CE8286\C2E6DnFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l=66U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El``f_ebcQ C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmr@>A2C6 rFCC6?E |@CE8286 #2E6Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q E:E=6lQp=E6C?2E:G6D E@ qFJ:?8 2 $:?8=6\u2>:=J w@>6Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^2CE:4=6^>@CE8286D^D:?8=6\72>:=J\9@>6nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l=66U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El``f_ebcQ C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmp=E6C?2E:G6D E@ qFJ:?8 2 $:?8=6\u2>:=J w@>6k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 4=2DDlQ?H\=:?<Q E:E=6lQw@H |F49 w@>6 r2? *@F p77@C5nQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?6C5H2==6E]4@>^>@CE8286D^9@H\>F49\9@FD6\42?\:\277@C5nFE>042>A2:8?l4E0AC@5U2>AjFE>0D@FC46lDJ?5:42E:@?U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lCDDU2>AjFE>0E6C>l=66U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El``f_ebcQ C6=lQ?@7@==@H ?@@A6?6CQ E2C86ElQ0D6=7Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQ{:?<Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H0=:?<Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\4=:4<lQ`Q 52E2\?H\EC24<\:>AC6DD:@?lQ`Qmw@H |F49 w@>6 r2? *@F p77@C5nk^2mk^=:mk^F=mk^5:Gm k5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HAQ 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\?2>6lQpFE9@C q@I \ (!Q 52E2\?H\4@>A@?6?E\EJA6\D=F8lQ?H02FE9@C03@I0HAQmk5:G 4=2DDlQ?H\2FE9@C\3@I\HA\\:??6CQmkAmw@=56? {6H:D HC:E6D 7@C }6C5(2==6E] t>2:=i k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i9=6H:Do?6C5H2==6E]4@>Qm9=6H:Do?6C5H2==6E]4@>k^2m] %H:EE6Ci oow@=56?{]k^Amk^5:Gmk^5:GmkA 4=2DDlQ?H\@C:8:?2==J\A@DE65\=:?<Qm%96 2CE:4=6 %96 !C@A6CEJ {:?6i u:I:?8 $FAA=J r92:? (@?’E rFC6 w@>63FJ:?8 (@6D @C:8:?2==J 2AA62C65 @? }6C5(2==6E]k^Am In this Series Check out this week's best personal finance reads: Updated Aug 18, 2022 5 easy steps to strengthen your finances | PennyWise podcast Updated Apr 22, 2022 Skipped College in 2021? Enroll This Fall Updated Apr 22, 2022 The Property Line: Fixing Supply Chain Won’t Cure Homebuying Woes 5 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Watch Now: Related Video Tips to help you drive safely Is it safe for your dog to run or bike with you? Is it safe for your dog to run or bike with you? The 10 safest cities in the United States The 10 safest cities in the United States Traffic Deaths Are At Record Numbers. What's To Blame? Traffic Deaths Are At Record Numbers. What's To Blame?