Inman News

New homes authorized by permits were up 17% year over year in December, according to the US Census Bureau and US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Housing construction continued to boom in the final months of 2020 — welcomed news for a housing market plagued by low supply issues.

Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits were up 17.3 percent year over year and 4.5 percent month over month, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

Housing starts, meanwhile, were up 5.2 percent year over year and 5.8 percent month over month, with the single-family sector, in particular, popping 12 percent month over month.

“Home construction finished the year with the biggest bang since 2006 with 1.669 million units started for construction in December (annualized),” Lawrence Yun, the chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, said in a statement. “That means the worst of the housing shortage could soon come to an end.”

Housing completions were up 15.9 percent from the previous month in December and up 8 percent year over year.

Despite the boom in construction, Yun was careful to clarify that the industry still has a long way to go to match housing supply with demand, especially as the housing market soars.

“For 13 straight years prior, homebuilders have been underproducing below historic norms,” Yun said. “Therefore it will take robust home construction this year and next, at a minimum, to fully supply the housing market to properly meet demand.”

“More construction also means more local job creation,” Yun added. “The housing sector looks to lead the economy in recovery in 2021.”