[PeregrineA1]

There are not enough competent architects or contractors. Probably even bigger than that is the serious lack of competent tradesmen to perform the work.

I've been a contractor and/or in the contracting business since the early '80's and it has never been harder to get qualified individuals to perform the work.

After the fires in Laguna Beach in 1993 (~400 homes) it was nightmarish to get to a ground breaking-compounded by the arcane Laguna Beach process-and even harder to deal with construction. Add to that scammers, bad business people (many/most contractors are good at the trade, but bad at business) and it was an exasperating time.

This will be orders of magnitude worse.

Building materials are going to be challenging too. With hurricane recovery competing for materials, and to some extent talent. Construction has become an industry of vagabonds at the tradesman level.

Negotiating with insurance adjusters adds another dimension. Get in early and press hard.

Modular and manufactured homes are going to fill some of the gap and that will have a shorter turn around. That industry is also running at capacity now and kindly raised prices in response to the hurricanes (at least one of our vendors did).