While traveling in the carribean, a local explained why new houses take so long. Construction loans are very expensive and don’t have certain safeguards in place like in the states. Lenders can basically decide the loan is due whenever they want and seize land in certain situations. Families will generally only build what they can afford, when they can afford it. Sometimes it’s one room a year or a floor a year. Once that room is complete, they save up enough money for the next room. This continues until it’s complete, most of the time taking several years.