Area residential construction is ahead of last year’s pace

Homebuilders in the Kansas City area had another busy month in July and construction activity remains on track to beat last year’s total, according to the latest report from the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City.

Builders took out 398 permits for single-family homes in July, up 23 from the same month a year earlier, although down 35 permits from June, the association said.

Through the first seven months of 2015, 2,546 permits were issued for single-family homes. That’s the highest level since 2007 and is slightly ahead of 2014’s seven-month total.

“Builders say the 2015 summer building and sales activity has been hotter than any time in the past five years,” said Sara Corless, the association’s executive vice president.

Johnson County has the highest number of single-family permits, with 882 issued through July. Clay County was second, with 520 permits.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 2:23 PM.