The total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date nationwide reached 276,110 in March, up 25.3% over the March 2020 level of 220,416. In addition, gains were reported in all four regions of the country, with the Midwest reporting an increase of 40.0%, followed by the Northeast (27.3%), the West (23.9%), and the South (23.1%).
Multifamily permits were also robust across the country in March compared to last year with the South (22.1%), Northeast (21.3%), West (20.3%) and Midwest (13.5%) all showing double digit percentage gains.
Of the top 10 metropolitan areas that issued the highest number of single-family permits, three were in Texas; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (13,094), Houston-The Woodlands-Sugarland (12,745) and Austin-Round Rock (6,189), and two were in Florida; Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (5,219) and Jacksonville (3,391).
The largest number of multifamily permits were issued in the New York-Newark-Jersey City area (9,222), with the second highest number in Austin-Round Rock (7,359).