Area homebuilding activity reaches a seven-year high

Homebuilding activity in the Kansas City area reached its highest level for October in seven years, a new report said.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City said 465 permits for single-family home construction were issued in October. That was the highest monthly total since 597 permits were issued in October 2007, before the housing market slumped and the economy headed into a recession.

Last month’s numbers also brought the year-to-date total of single-family construction permits to 3,591. That’s 129 units more than through the first 10 months of 2013, the association said.

“With this nice bounce in permits during October, it’s steady as we go into year end,” said Sara Corless, executive director of the builders group. “We’re hoping the weather will warm up one more time so foundations can get in and we finish ahead of last year’s numbers.”

The total number of permits issued for all of 2013 was 4,090.

Of the eight area counties surveyed by the association, six have increased their permit count this year from 2013. Only Platte and Miami counties were trailing last year’s totals.

The area housing market also continues to get a boost from construction of apartments and other multifamily units, the association said. In October, 78 multifamily housing units were added, bringing the yearly total to 3,246. That’s up from 2,493 units through the first 10 months of 2013.

This story was originally published November 25, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Area homebuilding activity reaches a seven-year high."