New Study Finds Government Regulations Add Nearly $132K to the Cost of New Homes

By Bradford Betz | FOX 13 News

Government regulations now add roughly $132,000 to the cost of a typical newly built home, according to a new study from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), as industry leaders warn that mounting costs are worsening the nation’s housing affordability challenges.

The NAHB study found that regulations imposed by federal, state and local governments account for 26.4% of the final price of a new single-family home. Applied to the average sales price of a new home in January, the regulatory burden totals approximately $131,734 per house.

The estimate is based on Census Bureau data showing the average sales price of a newly built home sold in January was $499,500.

The report comes as housing affordability remains a challenge for many Americans amid elevated mortgage rates and persistently high home prices. 

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