New-housing permits in Southeast Michigan rose 82 percent in 2010, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments said in a release Tuesday — a figure that exceeded the group’s expectations.
Just 1,598 permits were issued in the 233 communities SEMCOG covers in 2009, according to the report. In 2010, 2,902 were issued.
Macomb Township issued 329 permits in 2010, the most of any community in SEMCOG’s coverage area. Following were Novi with 181 and Clinton Township with 166.
Macomb County also reported the greatest percentage increase in permits — up 167 percent, from 347 in 2009 to 926 in 2010. Livingston County permits increased 104 percent, to 167 from 82; and the number of permits issued in Oakland County rose 102 percent, to 847 from 420.
Almost 80 percent of the permits were for single-family homes, however, condominium and apartment development more than doubled from 2009, according to the report.
The report attributes the increase to government tax credits, discounts by developers, the construction of more-affordable homes, the declining price of housing and some stabilization of the economy and job losses in the region.
