Area filings for new homes still rising, but growth rate slows

Area builders saw rising interest in new homes in June, but the growth rate in that demand declined to its lowest point in 14 months, according to the latest numbers from the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis.

Builders filed 682 single-family construction permits in the nine-county area in June, up 4 percent compared with the 653 permits that were filed in June 2017.

The 4 percent rise in filings was the smallest monthly increase since April 2017, when filings were up 3 percent on a year-over-year basis.   

On a year-to-date basis, permit filings are up 20 percent, from 3,150 in the first six months of 2017 to 3,792 during the same period this year.

Area filings have been on the rise in 29 of the last 31 months.

Hamilton County led the area in filings in June with 229, a decrease of 5 percent compared with June 2017.

Marion County saw a 15 percent decrease in filings, from 122 to 106.

Filings jumped 63 percent in Johnson County, to 109.

Hendricks County received 75 filings in June, a decrease of 33 percent. They declined 26 percent in Boone County, to 31.

Permits were up 71 percent in Hancock County, to 77.

Filings rose from 16 to 21 in Morgan County and fell from 15 to 11 in Shelby County.

Madison County saw seven filings, down from 10 in June 2017.