Tariffs enacted on softwood lumber imported from Canada are helping create a "perfect storm" of escalating construction costs in Northern Nevada. Our contributor Kaleb Roedel of the Northern Nevada Business Weekly has the details.
Last December, the U.S. Department of Commerce imposed tariffs on five of Canada's largest producers of softwood lumber such as fir, spruce and pine. Those materials are commonly used to build single-family homes and multi-family apartment complexes.
The tariffs are set at 20.8 percent for the majority of Canadian softwood producers, and they're leading to increased construction costs for projects throughout the region.
Don Tatro is the executive director of the Builders Association of Northern Nevada. He says the tariffs amount to additional materials costs of nearly $6,400 per single-family home and $2,400 per multi-family unit.
To read the rest of the story, please visit the Northern Nevada Business Weekly.
KUNR is providing in-depth coverage on the lack of affordable housing in the region. Head to KUNR.org to check out our series Priced Out: The Housing Crunch.