SINGLE-FAMILY HOME FUTURES

New single-family home permit activity during the first two months of the year fell off slightly from 1989’s level, making 1990’s total the lowest for any of the last five years. The January-February total was 3% fewer than last year, but fell much lower than the preceding three years. In fact, the two-month total for such permits has declined steadily since 1986.

Although permit activity this year began on a fairly brisk note, February’s total of 352 was the lowest single monthly number since the 322 issued last September. That also makes this the lowest February in five years.

Pulling the two-month total lower this year as opposed to 1989 were major decreases in Mission Viejo and the city of Orange. The largest increase came in Yorba Linda. There are eight cities that, through the first two months of the year, had let no permits for single-family homes this year.

Jan.-Feb. Jan.-Feb. 1989-’90 City 1989 1990 Difference Mission Viejo 161 10 -151 Orange 125 36 -89 Huntington Beach 38 8 -30 San Juan Capistrano 28 13 -15 Villa Park 5 1 -4 Fountain Valley 2 0 -2 Seal Beach 2 0 -2 La Habra 2 1 -1 Cypress 0 0 No change Irvine 0 0 No change Los Alamitos 0 0 No change Placentia 0 0 No change Tustin 0 0 No change Westminster 0 0 No change Buena Park 1 1 No change La Palma 0 1 +1 Brea 0 2 +2 Garden Grove 0 2 +2 Laguna Beach 10 12 +2 Costa Mesa 2 5 +3 Fullerton 2 5 +3 Newport Beach 14 18 +4 Stanton 0 4 +4 Unincorporated areas 484 491 +7 Santa Ana 3 34 +31 Anaheim 27 64 +37 San Clemente 22 64 +42 Yorba Linda 2 96 +94 Dana Point * -- 30 -- COUNTY TOTAL 930 898 -32

*New city in 1989 tabulations; data included in “Unincorporated areas” total.

FIVE-COUNTY COMPARISON Not only Orange County incurred a decline in single-family home permits during the first two months of the year. All four of the surrounding counties had lower numbers as well, led by the 35% drop in Los Angeles. The statewide total was also off the 1989 pace. And the five-county total dropped from 49% of January-February statewide action to 46% this year.

% of 1990 % of 1990 Jan.-Feb. Jan.-Feb. Percentage 5-County State County 1989 1990 Difference Total Total Los Angeles 2,775 1,791 -35 19 9 Orange 930 898 -3 10 4 Riverside 2,988 2,957 -1 32 15 San Bernardino 2,444 2,158 -12 23 11 San Diego 1,832 1,451 -21 16 7 Five-County Total 10,969 9,255 -16 100 46 STATE TOTAL 22,309 20,100 -10 -- 100

Source: Construction Industry Research Board

TWO-MONTH ANNUAL COMPARISON 1986: 1,471 1987: 1,341 1988: 1,203 1989: 930 1990: 898