Are through the roof! We have more customers who want to buy new homes now than ever before. Our foundation contractor moves from one house lot to the next. Company buys tracts of land years ahead of time to develop house lots......but we're catching up fast. It's a bit of a zoo....controlled chaos. I never minded working in a fast paced envirement...but I'm getting towards the end of my career and not enjoying the push we call .... "balls to the walls":rollem:

That’s great to hear. I’ve been very busy too.
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Guys i work for own a crapload of commercial property too... gas stations/convenience stores...apartment complexes etc

Im doing renovations at one of the office units right now ...its a nice change of pace.
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A guy I work with just paid $31,000 OVER asking price for his house. Bidding war because the market is so crazy. Houses are selling hours after they are listed.

I want to build one and sell and move my current place. But the land I am looking at keeps disappearing.

A guy I work with just paid $31,000 OVER asking price for his house. Bidding war because the market is so crazy. Houses are selling hours after they are listed.

TRUE! I think, because we have 15 1/2 acres, a spring fed pond and 4 outbuilding we are getting R/E Agents bugging us constantly. We are NOT for sale but the offers I have been getting make me think...

I want to build one and sell and move my current place. But the land I am looking at keeps disappearing.
Single house lots can be hard to find....and when you do find them you have to be in position to act quickly. We develop lots from larger tracts.....and build custom or spec. As a general rule we wont sell individual lots to customers who want to be their own general contractor or hire another builder.......with exceptions made for people willing to pay a premium price.

Like hearing this,,, means plenty of work for the trades,,, and that’s a good thing

Like hearing this,,, means plenty of work for the trades,,, and that’s a good thing

My major concern is the supply chain continuing to slow down or shut down for building materials and supplies... Starting to see some restocking of PT, but up 40-60% from March 1 pricing. Decking still slow to arrive. I ordered mine in early June. Missed the 3-4 day initial expected date. Then the 3-4 weeks date. then the Aug 1st date. Now waiting to see if it arrives next week. Or not. Then roofing is down to four colors and dwindling supply. No rubber gloves for weeks. And on and on. Phuk China... I think we slow down drastically by late November/December.

My major concern is the supply chain continuing to slow down or shut down for building materials and supplies... Starting to see some restocking of PT, but up 40-60% from March 1 pricing. Decking still slow to arrive. I ordered mine in early June. Missed the 3-4 day initial expected date. Then the 3-4 weeks date. then the Aug 1st date. Now waiting to see if it arrives next week. Or not. Then roofing is down to four colors and dwindling supply. No rubber gloves for weeks. And on and on. Phuk China... I think we slow down drastically by late November/December.

China sucks....my stair parts supplier sent me five newel posts for a stairway i was building...I opened all five and found them all to be defective junk...I asked him where they came from....CHINA!

Only supply problem we're having is the PT......other than that we are moving right along with several houses being framed at once.
I wouldnt mind a slowdown soon....things are way to hectic right now.
In 47 years of working as a carpenter... I have never been out of work...be it a recession or a pandemic..worked right through all of them....also I believe that I could go just about anywhere and find work...and not just survive but succeed.
I'm seeing help wanted signs everywhere I go. This economy will be stronger than ever after the re-election.

Like hearing this,,, means plenty of work for the trades,,, and that’s a good thing

True also. I'm turning down tree clearing jobs weekly. Just too busy with 3 days a week at Franklin CC and my place. Just no time.

Right now...if you want to work...the jobs are out there. All you need is a pulse.
On the other hand if you want to bitch and moan about the China virus and how bad things are....go ahead and milk it for all its worth.
Give weak spineless people an excuse to fail and they will take it and run with it. Bunch of babies imo.

My son told me last week . that they landed another job .1st one in ten years that is going to pour a slab foundation ……………………………………… all the rest are buy them / knock them down to build what they want .
every single hone is a 2nd or 3rd home for the owners ><><

they are very close to be getting a BI job .that,s a tough nut to crash .

but the fisherman [prices] havn,t recovered & I don,t think I,ll be doing it if & when it does....

there is a shellfish transplant next Tuesday in the Providence ………. I,d love to be there & see what these heavy hitters are going to get in a 4 hour period .

I can,t even guess .I know my personal best is 61>> 50# bags in 3.5 hours . now I have to sit in my boat til someone comes buy to help with the empty pail & gas jugs :wave:

My son told me last week . that they landed another job .1st one in ten years that is going to pour a slab foundation ……………………………………… all the rest are buy them / knock them down to build what they want .
every single hone is a 2nd or 3rd home for the owners ><><

they are very close to be getting a BI job .that,s a tough nut to crash .

but the fisherman [prices] havn,t recovered & I don,t think I,ll be doing it if & when it does....

there is a shellfish transplant next Tuesday in the Providence ………. I,d love to be there & see what these heavy hitters are going to get in a 4 hour period .

I can,t even guess .I know my personal best is 61>> 50# bags in 3.5 hours . now I have to sit in my boat til someone comes buy to help with the empty pail & gas jugs :wave:

Is that slab foundation on BI ? I have a bunch I know the project
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No Nebe on Beavertail Rd

No Nebe on Beavertail Rd

Ahh ok
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When the economy is in recession or sluggish, wealthy people are still going to build that large custom home...or second home.
The company I work for has several large tracts of land to be developed into house lots. Some are large estate lots in rural areas for custom homes up to a million dollars, and others are minimum size lots for much smaller homes.
Right now and for the last few years it is has been mostly the latter, working class and blue collar types, their dream of owning their own home coming true. From my perspective, hard working people who make good decisions will always succeed, and in this very good economic times they are buying new homes in record numbers.
Lazy and unmotivated people will always make excuses for failure.
Poor planing and decision making has repercussions.

Ahh ok
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He’s talking about Jamestown nebe.
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When the economy is in recession or sluggish, wealthy people are still going to build that large custom home...or second home.
The company I work for has several large tracts of land to be developed into house lots. Some are large estate lots in rural areas for custom homes up to a million dollars, and others are minimum size lots for much smaller homes.
Right now and for the last few years it is has been mostly the latter, working class and blue collar types, their dream of owning their own home coming true. From my perspective, hard working people who make good decisions will always succeed, and in this very good economic times they are buying new homes in record numbers.
Lazy and unmotivated people will always make excuses for failure.
Poor planing and decision making has repercussions.

Lots of smart people holding onto tracts, waiting for that right moment

Developing tracts of land into buildable house lots can be profitable, but there are many pitfalls and obstacles to overcome, and timing is critical.
There is so much involved in the process, tens of thousands of dollars will need to be spent before a single lot can be sold or built upon, and it can take years for approval and permiting from the town.
Starting with the high cost of survey and engineering for roads, planning for utilities ... sewer water gas and electric and then there's the wetlands issues.... Presenting a subdivision proposal to the town officials requires attending a crapload of meetings with an engineer and lawyer in tow.
When a loan is involved, more tens of thousands of dollars in interest, and then real estate taxes.....all this and more before a single dollar in profit can be made. Nothing simple about it.

Got a text from my boss yesterday......well more like a rant.... about how stressed he is, due to the fact that he has five houses under construction that are supposed to be done by Christmas. I've been in this game way too long to even care. Make stupid promises and you must live with them.

We have been offered insane amounts of money for our place lately.

We have a lot of land, a pond and a custom home. Not to mention a 1500 sq. ft. garage/workshop and 3 other out buildings.

The problem is, where the hell would I go????

We have been offered insane amounts of money for our place lately.

We have a lot of land, a pond and a custom home. Not to mention a 1500 sq. ft. garage/workshop and 3 other out buildings.

The problem is, where the hell would I go????
Somewhere warm where you never have to think of splitting and stacking firewood again U ' be earned it
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We have been offered insane amounts of money for our place lately.

We have a lot of land, a pond and a custom home. Not to mention a 1500 sq. ft. garage/workshop and 3 other out buildings.

The problem is, where the hell would I go????

Yep, someplace warm, where you can golf and fish year round, get twice the house for half the money, and pay a third of what you pay in property taxes.
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Yep, someplace warm, where you can golf and fish year round, get twice the house for half the money, and pay a third of what you pay in property taxes.
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pretty much what this guy said,

We've had a long run of ridiculously low interest rates, get ready for inflation to slow things down.

Somewhere warm where you never have to think of splitting and stacking firewood again U ' be earned it
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I suppose but Jeanne's whole family is here and I would have to fight her to leave. Maybe in a couple of years.

We have been offered insane amounts of money for our place lately.

We have a lot of land, a pond and a custom home. Not to mention a 1500 sq. ft. garage/workshop and 3 other out buildings.

The problem is, where the hell would I go????

My good friends and neighbor of 35 years, decided they could no longer maintain their beautiful home and moved to a retirement community...When I see them I can tell they have some regrets about that decision. In discussing our plans for the future, I told my wife that the only way I'm leaving the house i built by myself 43 years ago.... is in a hearse.

My good friends and neighbor of 35 years, decided they could no longer maintain their beautiful home and moved to a retirement community...When I see them I can tell they have some regrets about that decision. In discussing our plans for the future, I told my wife that the only way I'm leaving the house i built by myself 43 years ago.... is in a hearse.

Why leave even then bob?
Clear the family plot now
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Why leave even then bob?
Clear the family plot now
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Ha ...
I'd be good with that...already got a plot for our dogs who have crossed the rainbow bridge
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I suppose but Jeanne's whole family is here and I would have to fight her to leave. Maybe in a couple of years.


I was negotiating to buy 20 acres of prime land... up in NH back in the 70's....to start a homestead.....Bride to be said no way she would ever move that far from her family. She was right

I was negotiating to buy 20 acres of prime land... up in NH back in the 70's....to start a homestead.....Bride to be said no way she would ever move that far from her family. She was right

...and that's the problem. She won't leave and she's probably right.

I am just a million dollar scratch ticket away from us doing three months a year in the Hilton Head area...

I am just a million dollar scratch ticket away from us doing three months a year in the Hilton Head area...

Ha!
My motto is “I started with nothing and have most of it left” :hihi:
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Our new home sales remain very steady....last year was a great one for us... the year end bonuses we received reflect that!!
Outlook for the year going forward....very good! Breaking ground on a new subdivision with five houses pre-sold and five others being framed right now in the heart of the city (unusual for us to be building in an urban area).....Ride the bubble! I was actually hoping things would slow down a bit.....we will have a #^&#^&#^&#^& ton of finish work this summer.....my vacation days to go boat fishing will not take a back seat this year dammit.:mad:

Our new home sales remain very steady....last year was a great one for us... the year end bonuses we received reflect that!!
Outlook for the year going forward....very good! Breaking ground on a new subdivision with five houses pre-sold and five others being framed right now in the heart of the city (unusual for us to be building in an urban area).....Ride the bubble! I was actually hoping things would slow down a bit.....we will have a #^&#^&#^&#^& ton of finish work this summer.....my vacation days to go boat fishing will not take a back seat this year dammit.:mad:

Are these in the heart of Fall River? Where are they going up in the city? Didn't think there was a piece of land left big enough to stuff 10 houses in.

Are these in the heart of Fall River? Where are they going up in the city? Didn't think there was a piece of land left big enough to stuff 10 houses in.

Only five going up in fall river....these are going to be economical no frills ...back yard borders on a park
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Hooked....maybe not exactly the heart of the city.....corner of Stafford Rd. and Chicago St...abutting Maplewood Park ... the other five pre-sold homes are going up in rural part of Dartmouth.
Most important function that keeps our home building operation going is land acquisition.......and we are really good at it.

I know exactly where that is, in fact I tried to buy that piece of land off the Diocese of Fall River when we were building our outdoor Ball Hockey rink. We almost had it but they were being greedy. (We built it at the YMCA in Swansea) Thats right down the street from the fire station I'm at, go by there often...Ill blow the horn next time I go by.

Happy Birthday Spud!

Spud, that refrigerator still running?
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Happy Birthday Spud!

Thanks Bruce!

Jeff it died the week of Thanksgiving! Not a bad run for a few hundred bucks.

Since we started building five spec houses in the city......our sales team has been bombarded with offers....with some potential customers offering to outbid other buyers.
Now selling fast .......at prices that are hard to believe.
Push is on to get them done ASAP.

One of the District Chiefs on the Department with me listed his house on Wednesday for $429,000...had 22 offers by Friday. It sold for $495,900. Absolutely crazy! He had people calling the realtor saying he was a "Dream Crusher" for not accepting their offer of $30,000 over asking price.

One of the District Chiefs on the Department with me listed his house on Wednesday for $429,000...had 22 offers by Friday. It sold for $495,900. Absolutely crazy! He had people calling the realtor saying he was a "Dream Crusher" for not accepting their offer of $30,000 over asking price.


Wow an extra $60 grand!!....unfreiking believable.
"Dream Crusher"...thats funny!....home buying has got to be very stressful right now......I've never seen such a buying frenzy....not sure whats driving it.

Wow an extra $60 grand!!....unfreiking believable.
"Dream Crusher"...thats funny!....home buying has got to be very stressful right now......I've never seen such a buying frenzy....not sure whats driving it.

Low supply. People have been hunkered down and have not. Been traveling, moving, or wanting to change where they live during the pandemic. Pair that with low interest rates and a booming economy (thank you trump) and what you have is a recipe for a housing bubble.
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We have stared thinking about a move. The numbers realtors are calling with are insane.

One of the District Chiefs on the Department with me listed his house on Wednesday for $429,000...had 22 offers by Friday. It sold for $495,900. Absolutely crazy! He had people calling the realtor saying he was a "Dream Crusher" for not accepting their offer of $30,000 over asking price.

Prices here in Marblehead were crazy pre-pandemic... I can count on one hand the number of free standing houses I have seen listed for under $429k in the past year.... I searched MLS for 01945 and actually saw a couple price reductions, that is how high they were priced. No way I see my kids being able to buy here anytime soon....

Prices here in Marblehead were crazy pre-pandemic... I can count on one hand the number of free standing houses I have seen listed for under $429k in the past year.... I searched MLS for 01945 and actually saw a couple price reductions, that is how high they were priced. No way I see my kids being able to buy here anytime soon....

Same down here. Little 1300sqft cape with a small lot down the road went for 350k last month.....
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Same down here. Little 1300sqft cape with a small lot down the road went for 350k last month.....
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Bryan, same around us. Houses on our road with 3 acres, 1800 sq ft are in the high $400 to low $500K.

Won't even tell you what we are being offered with 15 1/2 acres, private pond, 4 garages and a 2500 sqft custom home but there are more zeros than I ever thought I'd see.

Bryan, same around us. Houses on our road with 3 acres, 1800 sq ft are in the high $400 to low $500K.

Won't even tell you what we are being offered with 15 1/2 acres, private pond, 4 garages and a 2500 sqft custom home but there are more zeros than I ever thought I'd see.

hard to sell with numbers like that, hard to sell when you have 15 acres also. Man that's a tough one for sure.

Bryan, same around us. Houses on our road with 3 acres, 1800 sq ft are in the high $400 to low $500K.

Won't even tell you what we are being offered with 15 1/2 acres, private pond, 4 garages and a 2500 sqft custom home but there are more zeros than I ever thought I'd see.

Just my opinion but this is the time to cash out your chips unless you want to pass your property down to your kids. Cash out now when the market is on fire and relocate down where it’s sunny and warm and where the redfish and snook roam and enjoy the rest of your life without a worry in the world.
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CC is off the wall $$$$

Surprises me..... that these small five houses..... in the city... on tiny lots....would be in such high demand.....so much that there are ongoing bidding wars for them....pushing the price up to the low $400,000's.
I thought that most people want to move out of the city. Apparently there are people who have lived in this part of the city their whole life....maybe in a tenement they own and have extended family and friends in the neighborhood that they would rather stay close by. That and the limited supply of any new houses in that area. Smart guys running the company I work for..... always in the right place at the right time to capitalize on any given situation.

Bryan, same around us. Houses on our road with 3 acres, 1800 sq ft are in the high $400 to low $500K.

Won't even tell you what we are being offered with 15 1/2 acres, private pond, 4 garages and a 2500 sqft custom home but there are more zeros than I ever thought I'd see.

15 acres is my neighborhood.... I know you love your land, Paul, but that is an opportunity that I doubt I could pass up vs. the chance to not have a financial worry for you and Jean, ever again.

Ross, I agree but where do we go? We love the privacy, the freedom. Hell, I walk out my back door and shoot my pistols and shotguns and no one says a word.
We are literally 4 miles from the center of town with gas, grocery store, hardware, post officer.

I don't know. We talk about it all the time lately. It has become kind of consuming.

Just my opinion but this is the time to cash out your chips unless you want to pass your property down to your kids. Cash out now when the market is on fire and relocate down where it’s sunny and warm and where the redfish and snook roam and enjoy the rest of your life without a worry in the world.
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I hear you Eben. As I said to Ross, it has become all consuming. It's like all Jeanne and I talk about.

I am just a million dollar scratch ticket away from us doing three months a year in the Hilton Head area...
Guy I work with bought a great house there a few years ago. One hurricane and he moved to Charlotte.

I hear you Eben. As I said to Ross, it has become all consuming. It's like all Jeanne and I talk about.


If you're in a good place financially, you're happy and your children are rooted, don't stress over it. Live your life...you'd know if you wanted/needed to sell....

I hear you Eben. As I said to Ross, it has become all consuming. It's like all Jeanne and I talk about.

Literally the only non-impulsive decision you've made in the last 15 years. Buy a boat, sell a boat, buy in Warwick, sell in Warwick, buy an r/v sell an r/v.... :heybaby:

Literally the only non-impulsive decision you've made in the last 15 years. Buy a boat, sell a boat, buy in Warwick, sell in Warwick, buy an r/v sell an r/v.... :heybaby:

You gotta luv the guy! :-)

You gotta luv the guy! :-)

Calling him a character is the understatement of the internet.... :D

Calling him a character is the understatement of the internet.... :D

I beg your pardon! :fury:

RIRH

I tried to make a list of things ……….but there isn,t any paper long enough ><>>:walk::walk:

RIRH

I tried to make a list of things ……….but there isn,t any paper long enough ><>>:walk::walk:

Yup.
Still we love the old bastard 😂😂
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Thank you guys for the kind words. It makes me feel loved!

Just so you skeptics know. We are meeting with a realtor friend April 1.

We are swamped with work right now.....dozen or more houses to build that are all presold....at prices that are hard to believe.
I've got to train someone else to do kitchen and stairs.... so I can take some time off this summer.

Home prices today! Wow! How did we get here? I know I'm getting older and times have changed.....but low $600,000.....for a modest sized home.....never thought I'd see this. But I'm comparing it to when I built a small cape on a 1 1/2 acre lot I paid $6,700 for and $22,500 loan to build it with. Good God seems like ancient history.

In North Attleboro they are selling mobile homes (1400 sq. ft.) in a 55 and older park for $410,000!!!
They are ordering 12 at a time and can't keep them.

In North Attleboro they are selling mobile homes (1400 sq. ft.) in a 55 and older park for $410,000!!!
They are ordering 12 at a time and can't keep them.

And I believe most trailer parks the people don't own the land at the end of the day so it equates to a pretty darn expensive camper and campsite
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Our neighbor had a shoddy home built maybe eight years ago, leaked like no tomorrow and they would find one source and another would develop, the builder eventually said see you go sue me. Instead she sold it two weeks ago in three days for $680,000 cash. It’s a three bedroom I wouldn’t give you $400,000 for. I’ve hinted to Peg we should consider cashing out but I don’t see her considering it in the near future.

Our neighbor had a shoddy home built maybe eight years ago, leaked like no tomorrow and they would find one source and another would develop, the builder eventually said see you go sue me. Instead she sold it two weeks ago in three days for $680,000 cash. It’s a three bedroom I wouldn’t give you $400,000 for. I’ve hinted to Peg we should consider cashing out but I don’t see her considering it in the near future.

20 years from now that will be a million dollar house. People were saying this back in 2002 when there was a big boom in prices. Back then that house would have been around 300k.
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So obviously my house is worth alot more than my original investment plus improvements...but replacement costs....needing another place to live..... would negate any gain. Also is the decent sized workshop I built on the property that is something I could never go without.
The market has gone up and down with housing booms and slowdowns....high and low interest rates and now rapidly rising prices.
One thing that has never changed is my ability to find an abundance of work throughout the years........never been laid off....although sometimes i could have used a break.
Anyway...I will never sell my house....no better place out there for us. We've been here since just before the blizzard of '78... lost power for ten days......but as young newlyweds we hardly noticed.



Hoping to pass the property on to my kids when I leave...
Picture is after a snowstorm a couple of years back

And I believe most trailer parks the people don't own the land at the end of the day so it equates to a pretty darn expensive camper and campsite
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You are correct, $410K for the unit itself and that park is $595.00 a month for the land lease. They do cut your grass, mulch your beds, trim bushes/trees, remove snow from driveway and walk ways and provide trash removal .hey do not have a basement being a trailer and there are so many restrictions but I suppose they are fine for the people that buy them....not for me. I build a lot of these parks and we currently have a waiting list of over 12 months to get a new unit.

20 years from now that will be a million dollar house. People were saying this back in 2002 when there was a big boom in prices. Back then that house would have been around 300k.
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I dont think the cost of building a new home will level out anytime soon....Its been rising rapidly...especially in the last two years.
Same house we were selling then...went from the high $300 thousand range to now low $600,000 dollars. Our other developments with larger lots and houses are already close to or over a million.

Most likely material prices will continue to increase dramatically over the next few years......and it appears to be closely related to energy costs and policies.

At this point it doesnt seem possible that either one of my two sons, who both work hard at decent jobs will ever be able to afford even a modest new home.

20 years from now that will be a million dollar house. People were saying this back in 2002 when there was a big boom in prices. Back then that house would have been around 300k.
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We bought our land for $7,500 and build our house for $33k. All back in 73, 74. We were recently offered $1.3M. INSANE!!!

The problem is where the hell do you go if you sell? Very limited inventory and prices, as everyone has pointed out, are sky high.

We bought our land for $7,500 and build our house for $33k. All back in 73, 74. We were recently offered $1.3M. INSANE!!!

The problem is where the hell do you go if you sell? Very limited inventory and prices, as everyone has pointed out, are sky high.

You don’t go anywhere. You stay put and enjoy your kingdom :)
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You don’t go anywhere. You stay put and enjoy your kingdom :)
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Yup! That's what Jeanne says.

Our new subdivision with 28 house lots will be selling out quickly!
These are smaller homes on smaller lots than we normally have done in the past.... and they are going up fast. I believe they are priced starting in the low $600,000's....crazy!
Before we started on it, a few months ago, my boss wanted reassurance that I wouldnt be retiring this year.

I have spent the last 49 years working in constuction and the wear and tear on my hands is severe, and its becoming more difficult using them , going to hang in to make it a nice round figure of 50 years next June. In the meantime I would like to tutor one of our younger guys on cabinet installation.

Sometimes when I observe the methods of work these kids use i just shake my head....when I know much better ways...but dont want to be overbearing or be the "know it all". If they ask thats different and I am always willing to share what I've learned.

Grind the trash ! ?
Hell of an idea….
Good read Bob….

and slow down before you stop please….. :wavey:

Grind the trash ! ?
Hell of an idea….
Good read Bob….

and slow down before you stop please….. :wavey:


Thanks Ray....yeah the grinder.....we're trying something new......the 30 yard dumpsters can fill up in a matter of hours around here....helped along by private donations.

With the recent rise in interest rates and historic inflation....we are expecting a big drop off in our new home sales. Not a concern for me personally as I am planning on working less....not retiring......just cutting back on work and spend more time doing what I like.

Besides when we are not building homes we have lots of commercial properties that need retrofitting. Never been laid off or out of work since I started in the trade.

In June of next year, it will be fifty years that I have been building homes.... looking forward to that milestone as a finish line, after which I will defer my responsibilities to the youngsters.

Another year has flown by....we were busier than ever....so many houses at such a fast pace. I'm exhausted and barely noticed time marching on.
Subdivision with about fifty houses filled up fast.....As I drive through I cant recall working on them...but know I did.
The year end cash bonuses reflect how appreciative our employer is....but I really want to slow down at some point in the near future. Four of my brothers have already retired.....but are bored silly.

[QUOTEh...but I really want to slow down at some point in the near future. Four of my brothers have already retired.....but are bored silly.[/QUOTE]

...and that's why I keep working. You can't just sit around if you worked hard all your life.

Never understood the caution about being bored in retirement, between golf, fishing, carving, maintaining two homes and family, I don’t have time to be bored.

Never understood the caution about being bored in retirement, between golf, fishing, carving, maintaining two homes and
family, I don’t have time to be bored.

I too have hobbies and a home to maintain.....but having had the same routine of getting up and dressed and lunch made before sunrise and a job that I have loved and excelled at for all these years is a hard habit to break. Nice that you made the adjustment so easily. I'll have to make the transition and leave it all behind.....but not until I have to.
I have four brothers that have retired.....one has a high powered telescope and takes pictures of distant galaxies for his fun.....I do like fishing and boating but it's kind of seasonal.

Never understood the caution about being bored in retirement, between golf, fishing, carving, maintaining two homes and family, I don’t have time to be bored.

I golf! I fish. I maintain 15 acres, a 2500 sq ft house and 4 out buildings but I like to work!!!!:bl::rotflmao:

I too have hobbies and a home to maintain.....but having had the same routine of getting up and dressed and lunch made before sunrise and a job that I have loved and excelled at for all these years is a hard habit to break. Nice that you made the adjustment so easily. I'll have to make the transition and leave it all behind.....but not until I have to.
I have four brothers that have retired.....one has a high powered telescope and takes pictures of distant galaxies for his fun.....I do like fishing and boating but it's kind of seasonal.

That won’t change, just NO pressure to get out the door… trust me LOL

How about make your own hours quality control / super for your present employer for a while,,, you know they’re gonna miss ya ….

good time of life….

I can’t wait to retire so I can work even harder
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That won’t change, just NO pressure to get out the door… trust me LOL

How about make your own hours quality control / super for your present employer for a while,,, you know they’re gonna miss ya ….

good time of life….


Thanks Ray..... also I dont have a lot of friends... outside of all the guys I know and like from work....my crew, plumbers, painters, electricians.....we all go back a ways and the daily interaction with them will be missed. Oh....and I dont golf...never have and never will. The company truck, gas, and credit cards they've given me will be hard to give up.

Then there is the financial aspects of retiring.....carpenters in general do not make big money, and although I live modestly I dont think Social Security Income will keep up with INFLATION, property taxes, and our medical needs.....and the SSI is also taxable....which is unfair tax on seniors.

I resent paying all these taxes and dont approve of how my tax money is spent by our government.

Thanks Ray..... also I dont have a lot of friends... outside of all the guys I know and like from work....my crew, plumbers, painters, electricians.....we all go back a ways and the daily interaction with them will be missed. Oh....and I dont golf...never have and never will. The company truck, gas, and credit cards they've given me will be hard to give up.

Then there is the financial aspects of retiring.....carpenters in general do not make big money, and although I live modestly I dont think Social Security Income will keep up with INFLATION, property taxes, and our medical needs.....and the SSI is also taxable....which is unfair tax on seniors.

I resent paying all these taxes and dont approve of how my tax money is spent by our government.

Amen brother! :smash:

Amen brother! :smash:
Especially the money taken from the hard working people.....and given to those who have chosen not to work in favor of government support. The men who donate sperm to conceive children should be FORCED to pay for them........not you and I.......we supported and raised our children to be self sufficient with no assistance from the taxpayers.

Not the only waste of taxpayer money.....but this is getting worse by the minute.
Exhibit A: warning explicit and disgusting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLTTX35LNJo

These folks on public assistance seem to be mocking us working people....for being so stupid...not paying attention and letting this happen. I cant believe this type of behaviour is celebrated in some circles. Most of us raised by good parents would find this shameful. Mine are already in heaven and still guide most of my decision making. Hope my children would never disgrace my wife and I with this immoral life style we see on display. I've taught them to work to survive....and to not accept handouts. I wonder how Chapter Jacksons parents feel about her disgusting videos? If it were my daughter...I would let her know how strongly I disapprove and that it must stop!
Ok ....rant over....now back to building homes.......and paying my taxes.
I've always liked the cape cod style houses ....like this one we did not too long ago.
Our current subdivision of 50 something houses is just about sold out. Ongoing bidding wars on the last few.....boring cookie cutter houses on tiny lots. Congested area but with quick access to rt 24 on ramp. Hope we can get back to building the bigger custom homes after these are done.

Interesting ear boards …. Beauty of a house

I dont get a lot of exterior pics.....i must have liked this one...with the stone work.
Dont care for the electric meter being so visible up front...

I dont get a lot of exterior pics.....i must have liked this one...with the stone work.
Dont care for the electric meter being so visible up front...

I like the one with the stone work.

I like the one with the stone work.

Another with some stone

Are those actual individual stone faces or the stone face sheets?
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Are those actual individual stone faces or the stone face sheets?
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It's stone veneer in individual pieces, Stonecraft is the brand.....you can buy boxes of the corner pieces.

Stone veneer was used on this retaining wall for the pool.
Also... you can see an outside shower we put in on the left side of the house. No enclosure just a valve and shower head.

Just to show how close together these houses are....there ll be a lot of fences going in....we will be done with the last six or seven in this subdivision by august....after that is uncertain

When we started this subdivision a couple of years ago...the houses were selling in the high $300,000 range.....same house now is mid $600 g's.

Somebody made a #^&#^&#^&#^&-ton of money...im at the trickle down end...
but ive heard rumors that my boss is going to take his twenty mil and say adios. Things might be slowing way down as the interest rate keeps rising.

People these days want smaller yards as equals less maintenece.
They pack houses so tight to maximize profit.
We did a couple of finished basements in a development in dighton the past few years in brand new developments. 600k houses that u could literally pass your neighbor butter through the window
They just packed a couple of houses near sawdy pond right on busy rt 177 in Westport. Giant houses on top of each other that are up for almost a mil.
Not my ideal setting. Need some level of separation so don't hear neighbors tv or fighting.
My wife's grandmothers house was sold to investors 6 mths ago for 300k. Small lot on corner of worst busiest intersection in Westport. They completely renovated it. My guess 100k total investment. Looks nice. On market for 600k !!!!!!! Heard sold for over asking in first hour of open house. Insane.
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Same thing happend at Franklin CC, The club sold the land the old driving range was on and a developer build houses so close you literally can touch each other. Went for $500K 5 years ago. Now in the $800K range.

Our last 25 houses were mostly sold preconsruction...the rest had customers buying on the spot or trying to outbid each other.
I would not want to live there.....way to close to each other.....I can only see one other house where I'm at......can't even see the street I'm so far back.

Our last 25 houses were mostly sold preconsruction...the rest had customers buying on the spot or trying to outbid each other.
I would not want to live there.....way to close to each other.....I can only see one other house where I'm at......can't even see the street I'm so far back.

We live in the middle of 15 1/2 acres. Our house is 1000 feet from the road and I can't see anyone!:btu::btu:

We live in the middle of 15 1/2 acres. Our house is 1000 feet from the road and I can't see anyone!:btu::btu:

Sounds perfect, although I’d miss my view of the bay.

We live in the middle of 15 1/2 acres. Our house is 1000 feet from the road and I can't see anyone!:btu::btu:

Wow 15 1/2 acres! Thats great!
I grew up in the inner city....a tenement apartment....with ten of us in my family....and neighbors had ten kids. I was ok with it then, but as I grew to adulthood, I yearned for a place of my own with privacy and solitude. Sounds like you have an abundance of both. . Mine is only an acre and a half but surrounded by state forest. Neighbors are great when you have enough distance.

Looking out my front door

Wow 15 1/2 acres! Thats great!
I grew up in the inner city....a tenement apartment....with ten of us in my family....and neighbors had ten kids. I was ok with it then, but as I grew to adulthood, I yearned for a place of my own with privacy and solitude. Sounds like you have an abundance of both. . Mine is only an acre and a half but surrounded by state forest. Neighbors are great when you have enough distance.

Looking out my front door

Looks wonderful. I also grew up in a little place in Greenville RI. 50X100 lot.
Bought this place in 73 so we've been here 50 years. Built a 1.5 acre pond in 76. Spring fed and I stock it. Been offered insane money but where would we go??

Just stay put.....how in the world would you ever think of leaving your beautiful...one of a kind homestead?
Wouldnt you feel a huge sense of loss? I would feel totally out of place anywhere else but here.:o
I have no interest in retiring to Florida or any other retiree mecca....heaven for me is right here....in a house I built with my own two hands.......and my separate building and workshop... I'll never give up.....until they pry it from my cold dead hands.:huh:

Same thing happend at Franklin CC, The club sold the land the old driving range was on and a developer build houses so close you literally can touch each other. Went for $500K 5 years ago. Now in the $800K range.

Our course sold all the land our range sits on, but nothing permitted yet so one more year of getting some warm up in ahead of rounds.

People these days want smaller yards as equals less maintenece.
They pack houses so tight to maximize profit. .
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Yes smaller lots to maximize profits.....this company has made a killing doing this as opposed to one off custom homes on estate lots.



Iv'e left most of my property of over an acre totally natural.....i dont rake leaves or water grass. Our developement houses....even with the six foot high fences..... the neighbors can hear anything above a whisper....and nosey ones know your business like its theirs.

Building houses on small lots like we are doing is only possible when municipal water and sewer is accessible. With a private well and septic system you need much bigger lots to maintain distances between them.

When the housing market slows down in the near future due to inflation and higher interest rates, the many commercial properties owned by this company that need rehab will keep me busy. We need to replace every window, each about 6' x 10' high....cant even guess how many....on their 4 story 200 year old granite mill which has been converted into offices and light manufacturing spaces. Lot of state agencies already renting large portions of the building.
Latest refit on fourth floor will be leased to Mariot Hotels as a training facility.

Price of building materials are at an all time high......people bitching about prices contractors are charging.....have no clue how little it has to do with profit. For work... I pick up what I need and pay with company credit card. Every trip has me thinking there must be some mistake when I see the total........hundreds of dollars buy next to nothing. Add to that the increase in the interest rate.....things are not looking too good for the new home market going forward. Glad Im not contracting anymore.
Now Im doing some remodeling at my own home... buying materials myself and experiencing the shocking reality of the historic inflation... wondering how much higher prices will go before leveling off...if that is even possible.

It's certainly NOT sustainable. Almost getting to the point of not able to stay in business myself.

On a side note.... renters are blaming landlords for higher rents and there are local groups trying to pass rent control. How about the rising property taxes, insurance, utilities, depreciation, and maintenance...how about some controls on that.
If I were a landlord I would raise the rent now before something stupid like rent control is passed.
One guy told me that a tenant didnt tell him about the toilet running and the water bill was astronomical.

Customers in general have no idea the amount of overhead a legitimate construction business has to absorb before a single dollar of profit is to be made. For instance....just truck and tool expenses can add up quick and thats just the beginning. I just had a set of new tires put on my heavily used work truck and a few other minor repairs......bill was over $2,000...and thats just minor stuff....eventually that truck will be junk and will have to be replaced. Tools also break or wear out and are a constant expense.
Dont forget all the taxes, insurances, fees, permits, licences and employee expenses Where is all that money supposed to come from...my paycheck?

Most think labor + materials = price. Try running a business that way and you wont stay afloat for very long....and if they think you are trying to make a profit on their project they are offended or asking for a break or extra work thrown in. You will be bidding on jobs where customers are getting prices from fly by night hackers.... be ready to be told that you were the highest price...and they will ask you to lower it to match the other guys. F'that.

A good contractor I know refers to his night job of submitting proposals for elaborate remodeling projects as "entertaining peoples fantasies". Never suggest to them the idea of dropping some of the more expensive options they have chosen to lower the cost......not what they want to hear.
Especially the ones with six figure salaries living in the exclusive zip codes and gated communities.

A good contractor I know refers to his night job of submitting proposals for elaborate remodeling projects as "entertaining peoples fantasies". Never suggest to them the idea of dropping some of the more expensive options they have chosen to lower the cost......not what they want to hear.
Especially the ones with six figure salaries living in the exclusive zip codes and gated communities.

I call it “illusions of grandeur “ or call it “ get real “.
:jump:

Just to show how close together these houses are....there ll be a lot of fences going in....we will be done with the last six or seven in this subdivision by august....after that is uncertain

When I took that picture I was thinking how ridiculously close these houses are.......now I learned it's three feet too close to the lot line and probably will be demolished. Surveyor...excavator and form guys are all pointing fingers. I don't care.

The foundation that is three feet too close to the lot line will not be demolished after all.....instead an easement/variance has been applied for and expected to be approved in a few weeks. In the meantime it was discovered that another house has a basement entrance bump out that is two feet too close to the adjacent lot line and will have to be cut back.....foundation,walls, and roof.

No room for error on these tiny lots and someone (civil engineers)? keep screwing things up.
We got six more houses in this development to finish by labor day and then we're done with this #^&#^&#^&#^& show.

Tomorrow June 1....will be the 50th anniversary of the first day I started in the construction trade back in 1973!
Where did the time go?

My old neighborhood a family put up a two story house I called the Hampton Inn because of the lack of windows. Completely blocked the water view of the neighbor up the hill. So they never had the permitting for the septic done right and had to install an above ground unit that overlapped the garage doors. Such half ass crap.