WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump's tariffs have created the "perfect storm" at the wrong moment for the housing industry, California builders say.
The California Building Industry Association estimates tariffs have driven up the cost of an average-size new home by $20,000 to $30,000.
That comes from tariffs on appliances, certain counter tops and other miscellaneous items that "at the end of the day, really add up," according to Dennis Fitzpatrick, owner of Fitzpatrick Homes in Modesto.
