Home construction in Lee County is on the uptick. That’s according to Michael Reitmann – the outgoing executive vice president of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA).
Reitmann said there’s been a 30 percent increase in the number of residential building permits in Lee County in the last year – aimed at filling the niche created by retiring baby-boomers.
“There’s a real shortage of homes in a certain price range – that is between $150,000 to 300,000,” he said. “The baby boomers are really looking at the price range and they’re not available in ideal geographic areas that they desire.”
Reitmann says the challenge is finding workers to build those new homes. He said following the building boom bust several years ago, the county lost 50 percent of skilled workers employed in the building trades. Now there’s a shortage of electricians, carpenters, and plumbers and others.
He said he’s concerned not enough young people are choosing to work in the building trades and that there appears to a cultural bias against it. Reitmann wraps up his 27-year career with the Lee BIA on Jan. 1.
