Kansas City, MO – July 1 30, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Monthly single-family units permit activity edged up in May for the fourth consecutive month and for the first time this year surpassed the monthly year-over-year activity according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA). A total of 229 single-family units were permitted in May, up from 209 in April and up 7 percent over May 2010.
Low mortgage interest rates are helping keep numbers steady, but lack of construction financing and job creation continues to hamper progress.
“Builders seem to agree the key to creating and sustaining a positive trend will require improving the availability of credit, increasing consumer confidence and bolstering job creation,” said HBA Executive Officer Sara Corless.Kansas City, Mo. and Olathe led the list of top-permitting cities with 38 followed by Overland Park with 20, Leavenworth and Blue Springs with 11, and Shawnee with 10 single-family home units. By county, Johnson County ranked first with 81 followed by Jackson County with 48, Clay County with 45, Leavenworth County with 19, Platte County with 14, Cass County with 11, Wyandotte County with 9, and Miami County with 2.
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The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) is the voice of the housing industry and the source for housing information. Comprising approximately 750 member companies, the HBA represents an industry that supports more than 10,000 jobs in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
