Building Permits (Missoula: rent, houses, to buy)

[Joe Doer]

I heard Gallatin County had over 1200 building permits issued in 2007 and nine issued so far in 2008. This is not a good trend as there has to be a huge number of carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc. looking for work.

I am guessing most of those permits were for homes to be sold to out of staters. Maybe the flood of Californians has turned to a trickle. I wonder how these workers feel about all the Californians in MT.

[decembergirl]

If the Californians can't unload their houses in CA then they certainly won't be coming here to buy up property any time soon. And the number of building permits Gallatin County issued the year before is probably the reason they have so few this go round. We bit off more than we could chew here too. Missoula must be having similar issues as my brother in law who is a plumber has been laid off a few times recently.

[bigtrees]

I've heard Flathead County has issued 0 (nada, not one, zero) single family building permits issued in 2008. I also heard from the same grapevine that they have actually went as far to not even have a single employee work in the county building department due to low demand for building permits in Flathead County.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by bigtrees

I've heard Flathead County has issued 0 (nada, not one, zero) single family building permits issued in 2008. I also heard from the same grapevine that they have actually went as far to not even have a single employee work in the county building department due to low demand for building permits in Flathead County.

You can add to that the builders here that are going broke sitting on spec's they built/started in early '07. There were a lot of permits issued last year and I'll bet quite a few are still sitting unused.
Same with subdivisions that are platted and just sitting with little or no improvements. There's one down the road from us that was platted and staked and then stopped cold and has been sitting for months. After talking with several realtors (who are now quitting and doing other jobs btw) until the supply drops substantially new construction will be at a trickle or complete standstill.
GOOD! Let's use up some of what's already built!

[Joe Doer]

Originally Posted by jimj

You can add to that the builders here that are going broke sitting on spec's they built/started in early '07. There were a lot of permits issued last year and I'll bet quite a few are still sitting unused.
Same with subdivisions that are platted and just sitting with little or no improvements. There's one down the road from us that was platted and staked and then stopped cold and has been sitting for months. After talking with several realtors (who are now quitting and doing other jobs btw) until the supply drops substantially new construction will be at a trickle or complete standstill.
GOOD! Let's use up some of what's already built!

It is unfortunate for all the workers who are sitting on their thumbs with car payments and rent past due, kids to feed and in need of a tank of gas. I bet they wish those homes were sold and new ones were being built.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by Joe Doer

It is unfortunate for all the workers who are sitting on their thumbs with car payments and rent past due, kids to feed and in need of a tank of gas. I bet they wish those homes were sold and new ones were being built.

I agree but would add that they had to see it coming if they had their eyes open don't you think? From what I've been able to discern building here has always gone through cycles, though this one was bigger and longer lasting.

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by jimj

I agree but would add that they had to see it coming if they had their eyes open don't you think? From what I've been able to discern building here has always gone through cycles, though this one was bigger and longer lasting.

Yup, lots of people run when "theres gold in them there hills", and complains when the vein's all mined. Sometime a person has to dig some more to find the next vein.

Lot's of the builders I've met run from place to place anyway and are used to the up's and downs. Some of them have pretty good jobs lined up for the down times also. (firefighting, service work, etc..)

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by jimj

You can add to that the builders here that are going broke sitting on spec's they built/started in early '07.

Serves 'em right.

Lot of spec houses sitting empty around here too, tho the big developments still draw 'em in. But they've got economy of scale behind 'em too, so they can drop the price $100k and not lose money. The individual spec house can't do that.