Uncovering Opportunities for Reducing Cost and Cycle Time in New Home Construction

Published Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Builders across the country are facing mounting pressure from both increased construction costs and extended project cycle times. To better understand what drives these challenges, Home Innovation Research Labs conducted an online survey in March 2026 with nearly 300 homebuilders across regions, company sizes, and home types. Their responses, shared without prompts or predefined options, offer a candid view of where builders are facing their biggest challenges and where meaningful progress is possible.

This survey asked participants to identify and prioritize challenges that impact new home construction cost, challenges that increase construction cycle time, and scalable solutions to these problems. Respondents included a representative sample of small and large builders from across the country. Similar challenges were identified regarding costs and cycle time, including issues with supply chain, labor, and permitting. Suggested solutions were focused on AI and software tools, workforce training and development, pricing stabilization, and regulatory reform. The full report includes frequencies of topics mentioned as well as direct quotes from respondents. 

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