Statistics released by the Johnston County Inspections Department this week left no doubt the housing industry in the county has recovered to levels prior to the 2009 recession.
In 2016, permits were issued for $421.56 million in various construction projects – both residential and commercial – compared to $409.05 million in 2015.
A total of 1,396 new single family home permits were issued in 2016, up from 1132 in 2015, which represents an increase of 23 percent. The average value of a new home built in 2016 was $185,406 up from $182,892 a year earlier.
“The residential construction numbers were up by 264 houses in 2016 when compared to 2015 housing construction numbers,” according to Inspections Department Director Dean Barbour. “These numbers are equivalent to around $50 million dollars in construction value increases over the previous year.”
“I see the construction growth continuing this upward trend in 2017. The Building Inspections office is welcoming a lot of foot traffic from developers that are new to the County and have plans to build in Johnston County in 2017,” Barbour told WTSB Radio News. “I forecast a great year for the Building Industry in 2017 because Johnston County is the best place in the State to build a house.”
Modular home permits rose from 31 to 38, and townhomes increased from 52 to 64.
Commercial construction also increased last year. A total of 94 commercial building permits were issued for a total value of $59.9 million, compared to 70 worth $103.3 million in 2015.
Manufactured house remained exactly the same. Seventy nine doublewide and 102 singlewide permits were issued in both 2015 and 2016. However the value of the homes increased from $6.2 million to $6.5 million.
The Inspections Department collected a total of $2,524,749.96 in fees in 2016, up from $2,108,041.97 in 2015. Inspectors passed 43,402 inspections and failed 11,283.
