We are feeling some effects now -- a run-up in the price of different types of materials,`` said Andrew Zuckerman, president of Zuckerman Homes in Coral Springs. ``But there will be larger problems next year when they start rebuilding.``

Zuckerman said his costs for building materials have risen 5 percent since Katrina hit. While those increases won`t affect buyers who have already contracted to buy homes from Zuckerman, it will affect future buyers.

``We will try to hedge and raise our prices in case there are any future increases or shortages,`` he said.

Nationally, the cost of plywood has risen about 50 percent since Katrina struck, said Jerry Howard, chief executive officer of the National Association of Home Builders in a teleconference on Monday.

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