The National Association of Home Builders/First American released their Improving Markets Index in January, and the Tri-Cities made the Index due to home price appreciation, an increase in employment, and an increase in building activity.
The Index measures improvements from “troughs” in building permits (measured from the U.S. Census Bureau), home prices (measured from Freddie Mac), and employment (measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Each metro area has different trough dates depending on the lowest point in each of those individual areas. Cities that made the Index are those who have shown improvement from their trough over the last six months. Here is how the Kennewick metro area shaped up:
Let’s take a closer look at the new housing permit data from the U.S. Census Bureau. As you can see in the chart below, building permits for each month were higher than the previous month for each month in 2012 with the exception of April of 2012.
Total permits for 2011 were 1598 and increased by 28.84% in 2012 to 2059 (measured from January – November for both 2011 and 2012).
We have a few more months until spring when the new home construction season starts and we at Devoted Builders and Referred Real Estate are looking forward to being a part of it!
If a move is in your future this spring, we would love to help! Please give us a call – Jessica (509) 947-2230 or Jennifer (509) 947-5670. We would love to get you into the home of your dreams!
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