Phoenix home building could become more expensive

Building a home in Phoenix could get more expensive, as much as $35,000 higher.

Phoenix is proposing double-digit jumps in fees charged to builders to pay for water plants and pipes, roads as well as fire and police stations in most parts of the city.

Catherine Reagor, Real Estate Reporter at “The Arizona Republic,” joined us to discuss.

Much of the impact fee increases could be passed on to homebuyers and renters, when many are already struggling with higher housing costs.

But Phoenix planners say the higher costs for building, especially in the northern part of the city, cover new infrastructure needed for the thousands of new homes going up to house the influx of people moving there.

Also, tariffs on lumber and steel coming in from places like Canada could also add to the higher costs.