By Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington | NAHB
Over the first seven months of 2018, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 521,438. On a year-over-year basis, this is a 7.0% increase over the July 2017 level of 487,495. The preliminary results from the New Residential Construction Survey are similar, year-to-date single-family permits over the first seven months of 2018 was, 522,200 which is 7.5% ahead of its level over the same period of 2017, 485,900.Year-to-date, single-family permits grew in the Southern and the Western regions of the country, while the Midwest reported no change and Northeast declined by 1.6% compared to July 2017 YTD. Western region had the highest growth in single-family (14.3%) while South recorded the highest multifamily permits growth (15.2%) during the last 12 months.
Between July 2017 YTD and July 2018 YTD, 34 states saw growth in single-family permits issued while 16 states and the District of Columbia registered a decline. Colorado recorded the highest growth rate during this time at 27.6% while single-family permits in the District of Columbia declined by 69.6%, from 217 in 2017 to 66 in 2018.
