Reality-television stars are rarely consulted on matters of public policy. But in April, Realtor.com asked Tarek El Moussa to comment on the White House’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. The Southern California entrepreneur, who rose to fame on the popularity of HGTV’s Flip or Fop franchise, warned that higher import taxes would harm “new-home builders” and “first-time buyers” the most — after all, “luxury buyers” could absorb greater costs. Aspiring homeowners, he averred, are “usually strapped for cash,” and “doing everything they can just to buy a house.” Now that the second Trump administration has passed its one-year anniversary, all evidence indicates that El Moussa understands his industry well. There is little doubt that his trade war erects a sizable obstacle before those looking to find a place of their own. …The types of wood available in the US are not always the same as what’s available from Canadian imports.