The numbers I'll provide are just an example of a random heat pump, and the actual performance can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer, design, and the components they are combined with.

Is the Only Way to Negotiate a Lower Price with Builders is to have a pain in the butt inspector find a laundry list of problems and meaningless in the grand scheme defects to compel them to cut their numbers to move to acceptance and closing?

Dalton, thanks for the vote, as far as @Jerry W. question, the boards are not cement board, they are drywall boards with holes in it, ran into these a few times. the boards you talk about Jerry are what was used when they tried to make plastering earlier ( they were the first drywall ) these products were sold in strips, not sheets, but they still had to be plastered just like with wood lathe. the purpose of the board was to cut down on the time it took to install the wood lathe.

U just had to cut down everything.. 

Interest rates are just one component of the economy and you have many different macro-economic conditions that impact housing such as job market, inflation, debt loads, lending standards etc. 

Purchased new a work horse set that’s pretty basic with no electronic components runs me about $1100.

Some deals you can get reimbursed for 100% some that exceeds the ARV allowance and it may be cut short.

I asked my husband (he's the bourbon drinker) and sent me an email to cut and paste with the following.Best topic on BP! 

Unless you're getting family memories and like using the place then it might be time to cut losses and move to a new investment. 

Audit expenses and cut the fat.