Construction costs increasing, Billings housing market stable

The price of lumber is part of the reason the cost of houses has increased. And along with that comes the effects on the Billings Real estate market. “If I had my way, I'd help everybody out,” said Scot Bonenberger, BRS Construction owner. “I love building houses. I love building for people.” Bonenberger is two months away from finishing a 6,500-square-foot home in the Timbers on Alkali Creek subdivision and says lumber prices continue to remain high. Despite the surface numbers, lumber prices are actually higher than four years ago....