These Sun Belt States Are Falling Behind on Home Permitting, Study Finds

In an era of strained housing affordability, new-home construction is one of the keys to easing the housing shortage. And some states are building faster than others.South Carolina, Idaho, and North Carolina lead the nation in permitting new homes, according to data from the Lied Center for Real Estate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. On the other hand, the more affordable Midwest was stagnant. UNLV looked at data from the U.S. Census Bureau in the first eight months of this year compared to 2025.Meanwhile, in the Sun Belt, which has been a bright spot in housing production the past few years, some states are falling behind, a new study finds. UNLV found slowing permitting activity in Texas, Arizona, Utah, and Oklahoma."The supply side will determine what housing or rent prices people will face in 18 to 24 months," study co-author Nicholas Irwin said. "And through political action, community members can encourage more development and put pressure on elected leaders to become accountable for rising housing prices."New permits nationally fell in September—5.2% month over month and 7.4% year over year to an annualized 1.22 million units. Builders in some of these markets are re...