CLIPBOARD : Single-Family Home Futures

The number of permits issued for the building of single-family homes took an upward turn in August after two months of decline. There were 317 permits for future single-family home construction, a 25% increase from July.

On a year-to-date basis, the single-family home picture is somewhat improved from last year’s anemic performance. This year’s eight-month total of 2,750 permits is an 8% increase over 1990. However, it is 54% below the 1989 total.

So far, 12 cities have registered increases compared to 1990; there are declines in 17 cities and in the county’s unincorporated areas.

Here’s how the cities stack up, listed from the largest increase to the largest decrease in permits issued:

Jan.-Aug. Jan.-Aug. 1990-91 City 1990 1991 Difference Laguna Niguel * 1 360 +359 Cypress 16 242 +226 San Juan Capistrano 63 117 +54 Mission Viejo 45 90 +45 Anaheim 106 134 +28 Placentia 18 45 +27 Buena Park 5 30 +25 Tustin 73 98 +25 Los Alamitos 0 15 +15 Seal Beach 8 14 +6 Irvine 30 32 +2 Westminster 0 1 +1 Orange 53 52 -1 Stanton 4 0 -4 Fountain Valley 7 1 -6 Fullerton 20 11 -9 Villa Park 10 0 -10 Garden Grove 12 0 -12 La Habra 25 9 -16 La Palma 19 0 -19 Yorba Linda 151 132 -19 Laguna Beach 50 30 -20 Costa Mesa 79 55 -24 Huntington Beach 81 49 -32 Santa Ana 54 22 -32 Brea 37 0 -37 Newport Beach 84 34 -50 San Clemente 90 33 -57 Dana Point 87 29 -58 Unincorporated areas 1,308 1,115 -193 COUNTY TOTAL 2,536 2,750 +214

* New city for 1990 tabulations; 1990 data before July is included in unincorporated areas total.

Source: Construction Industry Research Board