John Bitely: Potential tariff increase shouldn’t be a factor in home-buying decision

While the change in President Trump’s tariff policy is causing uncertainty for business owners, including many in the home building industry, Sable Homes President John Bitely said he doesn’t anticipate the potential 25% tariff increase to have a major impact on his Rockford-based business.

“It shouldn’t be the factor that makes them not buy a home or buy a home,” Bitely said in an interview with WZZM 13. “Let’s not panic – and let’s not man the lifeboats until we know that there’s a problem. There’s plenty to go around. Even if a toilet goes up 25%, it doesn’t change the overall of the house.”

On April 9, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on the reciprocal global tariffs that he called for on April 2. The National Association of Home Builders expects the proposed tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico could rise the cost of materials by more than $3 billion.

And if other products that cost more, like lumber, do increase, Bitely explained that companies may either change where they get their products or see how much the tariffs actually cost.

Sable Homes mostly uses American-made products. While Bitely says he still uses some materials from out of the country, it’s still too early to see what the true impacts will be.

“We will see some impact, exactly how much is kind of a wait and see because some of these countries are starting to negotiate what that could look like,” he said.

Bitely explained the real factor isn’t the tariffs, it’s the lack of housing.

“Here in West Michigan, we still do not have enough homes – there’s a demand for homes,” he told WZZM 13. “They come up for sale, they get sold, especially in more reasonably prices.”

Bitely advised that if you are wanting to build a home, to do it before things drastically change.

Watch the full interview, here.