SINGLE-FAMILY HOME FUTURES

Permits for single-family homes bounced back in October after hitting a 1989 low in September, but that is about the only good comparative news in the latest numbers for those who consider home-building a hallmark of progress.

The 587 permits issued in October was about 100 below the average for the first nine months of the year. It was also the lowest total for any October during the last four years and left this year’s 10-month total as the lowest for the same period.

Huge dips in the number of permits issued for building in the unincorporated areas and the cities of Yorba Linda, Tustin, Huntington Beach and San Clemente offset a significant increase in Anaheim.

Jan.-Oct. Jan.-Oct. 1988-’89 City 1988 1989 Difference Unincorporated areas 5,673 2,868 -2,805 Yorba Linda 918 433 -485 Tustin 478 0 -478 Huntington Beach 634 163 -471 San Clemente 542 276 -266 Irvine 107 45 -62 Newport Beach 131 72 -59 Garden Grove 69 11 -58 Placentia 67 18 -49 Fountain Valley 70 40 -30 La Palma 33 5 -28 Westminster 9 2 -7 Costa Mesa 53 49 -4 Villa Park 23 21 -2 Cypress 3 2 -1 Seal Beach 16 17 +1 Brea 2 4 +2 Los Alamitos 2 4 +2 Stanton 0 2 +2 San Juan Capistrano 164 171 +7 Laguna Beach 38 55 +17 Santa Ana 21 78 +57 Fullerton 15 97 +82 La Habra 6 88 +82 Orange 268 364 +96 Buena Park 11 126 +115 Anaheim 218 798 +580 Mission Viejo ** 124 944 +820 Dana Point * -- 72 -- COUNTY TOTAL 9,695 6,825 -2,870

* New city for 1989 tabulations; 1989 data is for four months only (July-October), 1988 data included in “Unincorporated areas” totals ** New city in 1988 tabulations; 1988 data is for four months (July-October)

24-MONTH TREND

10-MONTH ANNUAL COMPARISON 1986: 7,332 1987: 8,159 1988: 9,695 1989: 6,825

FIVE-COUNTY COMPARISON Orange County’s 29% decrease in single-family home permits issued during the first 10 months of 1989 compared to 1988 was a larger drop than occurred in any of the four contiguous counties. Two of the other counties--Riverside and San Diego--also had dips in the 20% range. Los Angeles had a huge increase, 41%. Despite the declines, half of all the permits issued in California (51%) were in the five-county area.

% of 1989 % of 1989 Jan.-Oct. Jan.-Oct. Percentage Five-County State County 1988 1989 Difference Total Total Los Angeles 14,773 20,794 +41 29 15 Orange 9,695 6,825 -29 10 5 Riverside 25,605 19,637 -23 28 14 San Bernardino 12,652 13,841 +9 20 10 San Diego 12,248 9,356 -24 13 7 Five-County Total 74,973 70,453 -6 100 51 STATE TOTAL 136,746 139,055 -2 -- 100

Source: Construction Industry Research Board