Housing Begins 2021 with Solid Numbers but Concerns Grow (January 2021)

Single-family housing permits maintained a solid pace as the new year began, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (KCHBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report.  With 406 single-family permits issued, January’s total was down just a little from the December 2020 count of 461. But there are concerns about the rising costs of materials, particularly lumber.

Click here to view the January 2021 Residential Stat Report.

“Lumber prices continue to escalate, which nationally is adding about $24,000 to the price of a newly constructed home right now,” said KCHBA Executive Vice President Will Ruder. “Supply chain disruptions coupled with consistent consumer demand are already impacting new home construction. This will undoubtedly affect KC area families as they seek out new homes in 2021.”

Overland Park, Kan., issued the most single-family permits in the eight-county area with 63, followed closely by Olathe, Kan., with 56.  Kansas City, Mo., Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan., rounded out the top five municipalities in residential permit counts. Johnson County was the top single-family permitting county with 183, followed by Jackson County with 80, and Clay County with 48 single-family permits issued in January.

In a wrap-up of the 2020 permit statistics, the KCHBA identified the list of top permitting homebuilders in the metropolitan area. Summit Homes tops the permit list with 378, followed by Prieb Homes at 270, Stucker Construction with 197, Country Club Homes with 161 and Rodrock Homes with 137.