CLIPBOARD : Single-Family Home Futures

Slowly, the market for single-family homes seems to be returning.

In June, the most recent month for which information is available, 442 permits were issued for future construction of single-family homes. That was a 30% decline from the previous month. However, measured on a year-to-date basis, 1991 has slowly inched its way back at least to around the same level as last year. The 2,179 permits issued for the first six months of 1991 leaves this year’s total just 3% in arrears of 1990.

The 1990 and 1991 totals, though, rank significantly lower than the three years before. The January-May totals for the years 1986-89 never fell below 4,171 (recorded in 1989)--nearly 50% greater than the 1990 figure.

So far this year, compared to 1990, there have been declines in 18 cities and, most notably, the county’s unincorporated areas. Los Alamitos remains steadfast in not issuing single-family home permits, and nine cities--particularly Cypress--have registered gains.

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

Jan.-June Jan.-June 1990-’91 City 1990 1991 Difference Unincorporated areas 1,224 877 -347 Dana Point 85 11 -74 San Clemente 84 24 -60 Newport Beach 67 22 -45 Santa Ana 48 6 -42 Brea 36 0 -36 La Palma 19 0 -19 Orange 49 32 -17 Yorba Linda 127 111 -16 Huntington Beach 58 44 -14 Irvine 30 17 -13 Costa Mesa 60 49 -11 La Habra 20 9 -11 Laguna Beach 33 24 -9 Fullerton 11 4 -7 Villa Park 6 0 -6 Stanton 4 0 -4 Fountain Valley 5 1 -4 Garden Grove 2 0 -2 Los Alamitos 0 0 No change Westminster 0 1 +1 Seal Beach 7 9 +2 Placentia 18 30 +12 Mission Viejo 45 58 +13 Buena Park 4 30 +26 Anaheim 101 134 +33 Tustin 42 95 +53 San Juan Capistrano 52 113 +61 Cypress 6 233 +227 Laguna Niguel * N/A 245 -- COUNTY TOTAL 2,243 2,179 -64

* New city for 1990 tabulations; 1990 data before July is included in “unincorporated areas” total.

N/A: Information not available

Source: Construction Industry Research Board