Home >> Daily Dose >> Housing Starts, Permits a ‘Pleasant Surprise’
Print This Post Print This Post

Housing Starts, Permits a ‘Pleasant Surprise’

Positive news for housing continues to roll in to start the new decade. 

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 1.55 million housing permits were issued in January 2020—a 9.2% increase from December 2019 and an annual increase of 17.9%. 

Single-family authorizations were 6.4% higher than the month prior at 987,000. 

An estimated 1.56 million housing starts were reported in January. While this is a 3.6% decline from December, it is a 21.4% year-over-year increase. January saw 1.001 million single-family housing starts, which is 5.9% below December 2019. 

Additionally, housing completions for the month were down month-over-month by 3.3% at 1.28 million. Housing completions were still 1.5% above the January 2019 rate of 1.26 million. 

Holden Lewis, Home and Mortgage Expert with NerdWallet, called January’s figures a “pleasant surprise” for future homebuyers. 

Builders broke ground in January with vigor. Housing starts were much higher compared to a year earlier, which is a sign that housing shortages could ease in some markets when those homes are completed,” Lewis said. “Note that I'm not saying housing shortages will end—just that they might be less bad. There were fewer housing starts in January than in December, but everyone expected that. December's pace of housing starts was the highest in 13 years."

 

“The housing market is on solid footing. Demographic demand only continues to strengthen as 4.8 million millennials turn 30 this year (approaching peak home-buying age) and low borrowing costs and a strong labor market boost purchasing power,” said Odeta Kushi, First American Deputy Chief Economist. “Finally, the other half of the equation, supply, is beginning to accelerate to keep up with the pace of household formation.”

Kushi added that permits are a “leading indicator” of future housing starts and a harbinger of things to come in 2020. 

Realtor.com’s Senior Economist George Ratiu said also pointed to the growing number of millennials set to enter the housing market as a sign of brighter days ahead. 

With growing families and shifting preferences younger buyers are looking for new homes in a market parched for affordable options,” Ratiu said. “Sunny, lower-cost markets in the South are beckoning with an attractive mix of economic growth, lifestyle amenities, and affordability. The south-bound migration is gaining steam this winter, and not just for snowbirds’ looking for respite from Arctic snows, but for buyers of all ages looking for a permanent home.”

About Author: Mike Albanese

A graduate of the University of Alabama, Mike Albanese has worked for news publications since 2011 in Texas and Colorado. He has built a portfolio of more than 1,000 articles, covering city government, police and crime, business, sports, and is experienced in crafting engaging features and enterprise pieces. He spent time as the sports editor for the "Pilot Point Post-Signal," and has covered the DFW Metroplex for several years. He has also assisted with sports coverage and editing duties with the "Dallas Morning News" and "Denton Record-Chronicle" over the past several years.
x

Check Also

Survey: Homeownership Remains Elusive for Baby Boomer Renters

A recent look into housing affordability by NeighborWorks America has found that three in five long-term baby boomer renters feel homeownership remains unattainable.