[ad_1]
Over the last month, the most frequent question we’ve received here at the Missing Middle is, “How will the Trump Administration’s unwarranted and unprecedented trade war on Canada impact housing construction?” Our response had been to largely look at the macro factors. As the trade war weakens the economy and unemployment rises, families are less likely to want (or be able to) purchase a new home, causing housing starts to fall even further, a point made by Douglas Porter at BMO. Once the economy recovers, the period of underbuilding will cause prices and rents to spike in some markets.