Being real here. There are a lot of understandable concerns about affordable housing in Vermont but builders are also quoting $350/sqft prices for things like simple additions. Material prices do not dictate that high of a rate, so it feels like people who want to stay or live in VT and contribute to the communities (with kids who VT’rs so desperately want to stay) are stuck being raked over the coals by the majority of contractors. No one can afford to spend their life savings on a house.
Yes contractors deserve a fair wage, but overinflated labor costs are killing rural housing except for the rich few who can afford to pay. This scenario feels like a self-full-filling prophecy where Vermonters are making the housing market unaffordable for itself. In contrast similar building in upstate NY is more reasonable. There has to be some middle ground here, eh? Perspectives or solutions welcome.