Good news for Fulton, Gwinnett, Cobb, Cherokee and Forsyth Counties regarding the housing market. Collectively, the five counties have issued over 8,000 new home permits between April 2012 and March 2013:
· Gwinnett: 98% growth
· Cherokee: 78% growth
· Forsyth: 68% growth
· Fulton: 68% growth
· Cobb: 45% growth
This significant growth follows a tumultuous number of years for the construction business following the recession, but the increase in housing permits signifies a light at the end of the tunnel. An increase in the housing market has many economic implications for the region ranging from construction employment to local business patronage. Additionally, the improvement in the housing market can potentially cause a ripple effect allowing other community housing markets to improve as well. While permit numbers have not reached what they were prior to the 2007 industry decline, the growth has been consistently improving over the past few years. Forsyth County Commission Chairman Pete Amos tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that this type of steady, sustainable growth is exactly what the county needs to get the housing market going again.