CLIPBOARD : Single-Family Home Futures

With most of the year gone, single family home building futures continue in the doldrums. Although September (the most recent month for which information is available) was the third most active month of 1990, with 433 such permits issued, the nine-month total was 53% less than 1989’s comparable figure and even lower contrasted with 1986-88.

While the major declines so far have occurred primarily in South County unincorporated areas and in Mission Viejo, some cities in the northern half show big negative comparisons--namely Anaheim, Orange and Yorba Linda. Newport Beach and Cypress are the sites of the largest increases.

Here’s how the cities stack up, listed from the largest decrease to the largest increase in permits issued:

Jan.-Sept. Jan.-Sept. 1989-’90 City 1989 1990 Difference Unincorporated areas 2,620 1,316 -1,304 Mission Viejo 923 45 -876 Anaheim 674 107 -567 Orange 360 55 -305 Yorba Linda 409 184 -225 San Clemente 271 92 -179 Buena Park 125 7 -118 San Juan Capistrano 169 68 -101 Fullerton 94 20 -74 Huntington Beach 151 83 -68 La Habra 88 28 -60 Fountain Valley 38 6 -32 Irvine 45 31 -14 Villa Park 19 14 -5 Seal Beach 15 12 -3 Westminster 2 0 -2 Santa Ana 53 54 +1 Garden Grove 8 12 +4 Laguna Beach 49 53 +4 Stanton 2 7 +5 La Palma 5 19 +14 Placentia 0 18 +18 Brea 4 37 +33 Costa Mesa 43 81 +38 Tustin 7 73 +66 Los Alamitos 0 71 +71 Dana Point * 12 89 +77 Newport Beach 56 212 +156 Cypress 2 172 +170 Laguna Niguel ** N/A 5 -- COUNTY TOTAL 6,244 2,971 3,273

* New city for 1989 tabulations; 1989 data before June is included in “unincorporated areas” total. ** New city for 1990 tabulations; 1990 data before July is included in “unincorporated areas” total. N/A: Not available Nine-Month Comparison 1986: 6,554 1987: 7,536 1988: 8,759 1989: 6,244 1990: 2,971 Source: Construction Industry Research Board