July Sees Uptick In Building Permits Issued In Wisconsin

Building permits in the state’s biggest metropolitan areas increased more than 42 percent in July compared to the same month last year.

The data comes from MTD Marketing Services of Wisconsin, Inc., a company that tracks residential construction in most of the state.

Permits in the first seven months of this year were also up from the same time period in 2012 by more than 28 percent.

Dominic Collar, an owner-partner of MTD Marketing Services, says the increase in July’s permits this year is linked to the uptick in contract houses, which are homes that people pay companies to build. “As you see more contract houses, it really tells you that consumers are the ones that are driving the market,” he says.

Collar says contract houses have been driving the market since the beginning of the year. He adds that another good sign across the state is the return of mid-level building companies to the market. “When you start to see a return in the diversity of the builders out there, you can tell the market is becoming much healthier,” he says.

The number of building permits is up statewide. Collar also saysit appears August will be a good month for housing starts.