The National Association of Home Builders Eye On Housing reports that January 2021 was a month to celebrate in the housing industry. Single-family permit gains saw a year-over-year 19.2% increase from January 2020. In January 2020 the level was reported at 70,386 and in January 2021 the level reached 83,921 year-to-date YTD.
All four regions saw increases. The Midwest saw an increase of 21.5%, right behind the Northeast with a 20.7% increase, the South 20.3% and the West came in last with a 15.1% increase. Sources feel that the Midwest saw the biggest increase due to the area's more affordable housing.
Not all states saw a YTD increase from January 2020 to January 2021. The highest increase was in South Dakota going from 99 to 202 with a 104% increase. The biggest decline was seen in Montana from 171 in 2020 to 144 in 2021 making this a decline of 15.8%. The top 10 states with the highest numbers combined accounted for 64.1% of the total single-family permits issued.
Metropolitan Statistical Area Single-family Permits: Jan (Units #YTD, NSA)
| Metropolitan Statistical Area | Single-family Permits: Jan (Units #YTD, NSA) |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 4,330 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 4,258 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 2,656 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,622 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,954 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 1,940 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,506 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,335 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,275 |
| Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN | 1,208 |
