"Falling interest rates and a strong underlying demand for housing seem to have sparked housing activity during the last four months," said Tim Underwood, Executive Vice President of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City. "Even as signs of a falling economy continue to grow, the housing industry has been a bright star."

The recent rebound in the local housing market follows what proved to be a slow start to the beginning of 2001. At the end of August, however, permit activity was only 4 percent behind activity reported during the same period last year.

"Activity in the housing industry didn't start out as strong as it has been in previous years, but during the last four months, activity seems to have increased significantly," Underwood explained.

Olathe remains the top-permitting city through August with 950 single-family permits issued. Ranking second in the number of single-family permits issued for the year-to-date is Kansas City, Mo., with 789. Overland Park and Lee's Summit are the third and fourth top-permitting cities with 573 and 527 single-family permits issued respectively.

Rounding out the top-permitting cities for the year-to-date are Shawnee, 347; Blue Springs, 227; Lenexa, 218; Independence, 190; Raymore, 172; and Liberty, 129.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) is the voice of the housing industry and the source for housing information. Comprising more than 1,000 member companies, the HBA represents an industry that contributes more than $2.5 billion to the Kansas City economy and supports more than 36,000 jobs in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.