Single-family construction permits in the eight-county metro also posted a new record for the first quarter, up 6 percent from the first quarter of 2004. A total of 2,698 permits have been issued so far this year, up from 2,511 in 2004. The previous first-quarter best was in 1999 when 2,563 permits were issued.

A significant portion of March’s increase came from Kansas City, Mo., which adopted new building code changes taking effect April 1. Permits issued after that date must be built using the latest updates to the International Residential Code. Permits pulled by April 1 may use the previous code, which allows builders and home inspectors time to adjust to new code and enforcement changes. Kansas City, Mo., issued 351 single-family permits last month, nearly double the 181 permits issued in March of last year.

Aside from the one-month spike for Kansas City, Mo., new-home permit activity metrowide remains on par with last year, which finished as the busiest year on record for local new-home construction. HBA Executive Vice President Tim Underwood said conditions remain favorable for new-home construction in the metropolitan area in the near future. He cited the HBA Spring Homes Tour as an example of the rise in new housing choices. The annual two-week event runs April 24 through May 8 with 734 new homes open throughout the metro area, making it the second-largest homes tour in the nation.

“Mortgage rates remain historically low, which will continue to allow more Kansas City families to take advantage of the benefits of homeownership,” Underwood said. “The one trend we continue to see is consumers seeking out locations where there is a broader mix of housing choices. Permit growth is very strong in the Northland and Cass County while permit activity is slower in areas such as Johnson and Jackson counties where the lot supply is decreasing and land prices are rising.”

Kansas City, Mo., ranked as the top city for new single-family construction permits through February with 639 permits, followed by Olathe with 232 permits. Lee’s Summit ranked third with 206 followed by Raymore with 121 permits.

Rounding out the top 10 were Shawnee, 117 permits; Overland Park, 114; Kansas City, Kan./Wyandotte County, 110; Independence, 106; Lenexa, 84; and Gardner, 80.

The Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (HBA) is the voice of the housing industry and the source for housing information. Comprising more than 1,000 member companies, the HBA represents an industry that contributes more than $2.5 billion to the Kansas City economy and supports more than 36,000 jobs in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.