I work for a builder. Materials have not got down in cost. Wages have not gone down. Some subs are lowering their bids to get jobs. That is not always a good thing. They have to cut costs some how and it may be in the quality of the job or the materials they use.

Some materials have gone down, but I think mostly that is due to a temporary overstock of some items which occurred when various tract developers put a halt on their builds due to lack of sales. Many other items used for a build are creeping up in price as wholesale costs are adjusted for the increase in transportation expenses.

As jamgill says, company wages have not decreased. What I do see is that "independent" sub crews are having to really compete for the available business. Possibly because the tract and spec houses are not being produced in mass quantity, the crews that *were* working for mass builders are now looking for work for individuals. To that extent, it may be fair to say that some crews will take a cut in pay as being better than NO pay. This does not mean that you will automatically get worse or lower quality labor/skill if a sub bids low. It does mean that you must be very very careful to check references and past work done. There are people, in subs as elsewhere, who seem to think that a novice is a sheep ready to be fleeced. Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes.

As for the average build being more "high" cost or "low" cost than before: I think the cost variance will be extremely local, so localized that it would be unfair to claim any particular area of the country as being either high or low. It's going to depend on local situations. If your area has a lot of spec houses sitting unsold, then there will be crews and materials available [which quite often means a decrease in price as they compete for your money]. OTOH, if you are in an area where most homes were not built until sold, then you are more likely to see little change in price except as higher materials costs affect it.

Some of my costs have went down, others, up, from when I had items quoted back in February:

The electrican gave his workers raises in April

Shingles went from $54/sq to $86/sq

Concrete went up, partly due to delivery cost increases (fuel)

Lumber and drywall has remained roughly the same, luckily

thanks for the info, it is greatly appreciated.

framing lumber in NC has dropped by 30% in the past 24 months. Agree on labor cost not changing and concrete/asphalt rising.

Shingles have gone up and we received an updated quote for windows from the one we got six months ago and prices have gone up.

Stagflation is back.

Material costs are up here in WA. Subcontractors are definitely hungry for work though and are being more competitive with their bids (my personal experience). :)

I think some price drops from builders or subs are due to less "I'm too busy to take this job but I'll bump someone else if this fool is willing to pay my ridiculous price" gouging.