Area single-family housing permits rose 10 percent in 2015

A key measure of the Kansas City area economy — single-family housing permits — finished 10 percent higher in 2015, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City.

The number of permits for single-family construction in the eight-county area climbed to 4,700 last year, up from 4,271 in 2014, the association said.

For December, cities issued 432 permits, up nearly 100 from the same month a year earlier.

The local market was driven by many of the same trends that boosted housing construction nationwide last year, namely job growth, pent-up demand and rising consumer confidence, David Crowe, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders, said in the report. And in 2016, he said, those factors and others will probably “keep housing on an upward trend.”

Kansas City issued the most single-family permits in the area last year, with 949, followed by Olathe, Overland Park, Lee’s Summit and Lenexa. The association also noted stronger pockets of building last year in Raymore and Grain Valley.

Multifamily construction also was stronger last year, finishing 7 percent higher.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Area single-family housing permits rose 10 percent in 2015."