2015 Home Building Pace Slightly Ahead of 2014 (Apr. 2015)

The eight county Kansas City metropolitan area recorded 436 single family building permits during April, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,323 according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (HBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report. This year-to-date total extends the gradually increasing building activity that began in 2013.  Multi-family construction continues to grow through-out the metro area, with Overland Park permitting 344 new units in April.

“Permit activity year-to-date is nearly indistinguishable from 2014 so far this year though builders seem to be seeing clearer signs that the economy is in a more positive position,” said Executive Vice President Sara Corless. “With home equity improving and continued low interest rates, prospective buyers are turning out in greater numbers to shop for a new home,” added Corless.

Building activity has slowed in Johnson County, with a decrease of 51 permits issued county-wide in the first four months of the year as compared to 2014.  Permits issued for new homes in the Clay County areas of Kansas City, on the other hand, have increased by 72—a 44% increase over the prior year.  Johnson County does continue to lead the county activity with 35% of total permits issued in the eight county area.  Kansas City, Missouri (Jackson, Clay and Platte counties) remains the top permitting city with 293, followed by Olathe with 164, Overland Park with 135, Lee’s Summit reporting 111 and Kansas City, Kansas/Wyandotte County rounding out the top five with 57.

Click here to view the April Residential Permit Statistics.