The Alabama Center for Real Estate created the following rankings based on total year-to-date single family building permits through September.
- 1. Madison County – 2,115
- 2. Baldwin County – 1,549
- 3. Jefferson County – 1,160
- 4. Lee County – 817
- 5. Shelby County – 777
National and Statewide Overview
Building permits for new residential construction declined in both Alabama and the United States during September. In Alabama, September permits decreased 24.3 percent year-over-year from 1,381 one year ago to 1,040 currently. The good news, however, is that year-to-date permits are up 3.9 percent from 2017. Nationwide, September permits declined 2 percent from 101,400 one year ago to 99,380 currently. Nationwide permits are also up from 2017 as they improved 5.5 percent year-to-date.
Local Overview
Madison County leads the state in single family new construction activity during 2018 with 2,115 building permits year-to-date (YTD) through September, an increase of 12.3 percent from one year ago. Year-to-date new construction sales in the Huntsville metro area increased 3.3 percent year-over-year from 1,305 to 1,348 closed transactions. The year-to-date median sales price for new construction in the Huntsville area increased 1.5 percent year-over-year from $259,861 to $263,715.
Baldwin County’s new construction activity continues to grow as building permits increased 14.1 percent YTD from 1,357 one year ago to 1,549 currently. Year-to-date new construction sales in the area increased 34.9 percent year-over-year from 836 to 1,128 closed transactions. The year-to-date median sales price for new construction in Baldwin County increased 3.1 percent year-over-year from $247,309 to $255,025.
Jefferson County experienced growth in YTD new construction building permits but to a lesser degree as they are up 3.1 percent YTD from 1,125 one year ago to 1,160 currently. Year-to-date new construction sales in the Birmingham metro area increased 11.8 percent year-over-year from 1,236 to 1,382 closed transactions. The year-to-date median sales price for new construction in the Birmingham metro area increased 5.8 percent year-over-year from $262,867 to $278,065.
Lee County continues to see growth in new construction activity as YTD building permits increased 11.1 percent from 767 one year ago to 817 currently. Year-to-date new construction sales in Lee County increased 11.8 percent from 415 to 464 closed transactions. The year-to-date median sales price for new construction in Lee County increased 8.4 percent from $275,999 to $299,155.
Shelby County’s new construction activity declined slightly from 2017 as building permits dropped 5.7 percent year-to-date from 824 one year ago to 777 currently. September permits, however, increased 14.1 percent from one year ago. Year-to-date new construction sales in the Birmingham metro area increased 11.8 percent year-over-year from 1,236 to 1,382 closed transactions. The year-to-date median sales price for new construction in the Birmingham metro area increased 5.8 percent year-over-year from $262,867 to $278,065
