Builders Look to Lawmakers

The new president of Orange County’s Building Industry Assn., Jeffrey Prostor, sounded familiar themes in his call for lowering barriers against home construction in Orange County and around the state.

The Building Industry Assn. has been urging lawmakers to open the spigot for housing

production in order to alleviate a housing crunch that is pushing up prices in high-growth areas such as Orange County.

Many analysts expect home prices and rents in the area to continue climbing, putting housing out of reach of more residents. Currently, he said, only 55% of the state’s households can afford to buy a home, compared to more than 67% nationwide.

“What happens to the long-term stability of our communities if nearly half the families rent?” he asked.

He cited a recent study showing that in San Diego County, about one-quarter of a home’s sales price consists of fees and other costs tied to government regulations.