Home builders, like Sable Homes, preparing for potential impact of tariffs

In an interview with FOX 17, Sable Homes President John Bitely explained how the proposed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada could affect the housing market.

On Monday, Feb. 3, The White House announced a monthlong pause on the proposed 25% tariffs on Mexico, following conversations between President Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

The tariffs were aimed at curbing the flow of drugs and undocumented immigrants. The tariffs against Canada were also paused for at least 30 days.

The pause on Mexican tariffs comes with conditions: Mexico will deploy 10,000 National Guard members to the border, and the U.S. will work to prevent high-powered weapons from being trafficked to Mexico.

The tariffs’ potential impact on the U.S. economy and consumers remains a concern, with experts warning of increased prices, reduced GDP growth and job losses.

In West Michigan, local businesses are bracing for the potential impact.

Home builders like Sable Homes anticipate increased prices, exacerbating the already difficult housing market.

“Ultimately, a lot of the stuff will trickle through to the consumer, and it will not help those prices,” Bitely said in his interview with FOX 17. “It will increase them.”

He explained that many of the modern components that go into new home builds come from either Mexico or China.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has urged President Trump to exempt building materials from the proposed tariffs, citing concerns over housing affordability and supply chain disruptions.

In a letter to the president, the NAHB emphasized the need to address the housing shortage and affordability crisis, stating: “We respectfully ask that you consider the effects of tariffs on Americans struggling to afford housing and that you exempt critical construction materials from such actions.”

Watch John Bitely’s full interview with FOX 17, here.