A top U.S. housing executive has delivered a stark warning about the economy, sharply criticizing consumer attitudes and government policies that he says threaten affordability and homebuilding growth. Drawing a direct parallel between America’s fiscal habits and the problems facing homebuyers, Allan Merrill , CEO of $650 million homebuilder Beazer Homes , declared, “We want things that we don’t want to pay for” as a country.

Speaking on a panel at ResiDay , a residential real estate conference hosted by ResiClub , Merrill talked to the outlet’s editor, Lance Lambert , about what he sees as a fundamental cowardice in American economic behavior. At the same time, he warned that America’s neglect of blue-collar trades poses a significant risk to the economy and the homebuilding se

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