[glitchc]

Housing prices increasingly reflect labour costs, as those represent a higher percentage of the BOM year over year. North America has high wages and so the minimum threshold for a new 2000 sq ft hovers around $250K, bulk of it being labour cost, the rest materials.

[DeathArrow]

This seems like a circle of inflation. High wages push prices up, which push wages up...

[codeadict]

My Latin American friends working in construction would not believe this, they are paid crap, and is the American construction company owner who pockets most of the money.

[glitchc]

Depends on what they're working in. A certified plumber, electrician, furnace/gas, HVAC specialist, all command market rates set by tgeir associations. Tilelayers, bricklayers, carpenters and cabinet makers also have set rates. There isn't much left that's unregulated, perhaps framing, drywall/plaster, hardwood/vinyl flooring, painting and landscaping.

[flukus]

Probably quite circular too, the labor costs are high because the housing/COL was allowed to become so high.