Why building a home takes much longer in different parts of the US

The average time to build a home in the U.S. can stretch to nearly 14 months in some regions, driven by stringent regulations, labor shortages and other construction constraints, according to data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). 

The Middle Atlantic faces the longest waiting period, with the average time between when a project is officially approved to when it is completed being 13.7 months. That's based on the 2024 data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC).