June New Housing Permits Show Continuing Climb for the Year
In cities across the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area, housing production continues to climb in 2012 despite a slight dip in permit activity last month, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City’s (HBA) monthly Residential Building Permit Statistics report. June permits dropped from this year’s high of 299 recorded in May to 265 permits, however June numbers were still the highest recorded since June 2007.
Multi-family permits also increased with the addition of a 48 unit apartment complex in Kansas City, Missouri and 307 units in Kansas City, Kansas. Year-to-date for both single family and multi-family are both greater than any year since 2008.
“This report continues to reinforce what we hear about housing nationally and reinforces what our membership tells us locally that confidence is growing and that the increasing demand for a newly built home is real,” said Executive Vice President Sara Corless. “Buyers are recognizing the advantages of energy efficiency and favorable interest rates in spite of the continuing challenges in the economy.” Corless added, “Builders are creating a variety of housing products that appeal to buyers and are explaining the difference between buying a new house rather than a resale or foreclosure. For example, new homes have the advantage of sustainable materials that are often easy to maintain with better warranties.”
Six counties have increased year-to-date in June including Cass County is up 30 percent, Clay County is up 59 percent, Jackson County is up 9 percent, Platte County is up 121 percent, Johnson County is up 36 percent and Wyandotte County is up 34 percent. Two counties have decreased year-to-date including Leavenworth County decreasing 20 percent and Miami County decreasing 11 percent.