COUNCIL BLUFFS — A local Realtor looked at the latest figures on housing permits and wasn't impressed.
"That's way down," said Jay Kathol.
Through Thursday, just 49 new single-family housing permits, with a total valuation of $9,154,095, had been issued by the Council Bluffs Building Division in 2011. During the first six months of last year, 66 permits were issued.
"There's not a whole lot of new construction," Kathol said.
The economy is obviously a factor, he said, but so are low interest rates. Many who may be interested in buying a new home are instead refinancing loans on their current one at those low rates and staying in them for a few more years than planned, Kathol said.
There also are a lot of good deals on resales, he added.
"There are so many good deals on existing homes that people are being picky and patient, and I don't blame them," he said.
The latest figures also show more people are renovating their homes. Through Thursday, 327 permits were issued for residential alterations, totaling $1,967,804. Seventy-five permits were issued for additions to homes, and 15 for adding a garage or a shed.
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