Area homebuilders turn in their best results since 2007

Kansas City area homebuilders finished 2014 with a flurry of activity, boosting single-family construction to its best year since 2007.

Data from the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City showed that 4,220 single-family building permits were issued last year, up 3 percent from the 4,090 in 2013. The total included 323 construction permits issued in December, up 35 from the final month of 2013.

The association also reported that building permits were issued for 3,910 multifamily units last year, up 1,031 units from the previous year.

The combination of single-family and multifamily construction resulted in a 17 percent increase in the total amount of housing permits in 2014 from the year-earlier level, the association said.

Despite the positive signs in single-family construction, the 2014 numbers trail 2007’s pre-recession level, when nearly 6,400 homes were built, according to the association.

Overall in 2014, Kansas City issued the most single-family permits, with 841. It was followed by Olathe, Overland Park, Lee’s Summit and Shawnee.

In a county-by-county breakdown, Johnson County led the way with 1,586 permits. That represented 38 percent of the total, down slightly from 41 percent in 2013. Jackson and Clay counties added to their share of the market.

This story was originally published January 30, 2015 at 9:24 AM with the headline "Area homebuilders turn in their best results since 2007."