Raleigh, N.C. — North Carolina saw the fifth-largest increase in new home construction nationwide in the past six years, according to census estimates released Wednesday.
The state added 506,625 houses, townhouses and apartments between 2000 and July 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.
North Carolina trailed only Florida, Texas, California and Georgia in terms of new housing units during that period.
Mecklenburg County built the most housing in North Carolina during the period, with 77,125 units. Wake County was second, with 66,660 units.
But Union County had the fastest-growing housing market, adding 39.3 percent to its housing inventory during the past six years. That growth rate ranked 21st nationally, according to the Census Bureau.
Brunswick County's housing grew by 34.2 percent, which ranked 41st nationally, while Currituck County placed 90th nationally with a 26.9 percent growth in housing units.
Mecklenburg's 26.3 percent growth was 92nd nationally, while Wake's 25.7 percent growth wasn't in the Top 100 growth markets, according to the Census Bureau.
Jones County placed last statewide, with 47 housing units added in the past six years.



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... all using just 3 separate floor plans, and 6 exterior colors...
September 12, 2007 5:54 p.m.
I'm in total agreement. My wife and I both work and we may not pull down 6 figures this year in all liklihood, and we are both college graduates. Who can afford a 3500-4000 square foot house costing 300-400K? The houses I see going up in the Raleigh area, as well as Wilmington totally bewilder me. To me, the American dream does not exist anymore.
September 12, 2007 5:32 p.m.
September 12, 2007 5:26 p.m.
September 12, 2007 5:23 p.m.
Yes, the market is slumping today. It slumped in 1994. It slumped in the 1980s when interest rates were in the 18% range to buy a home on a 30 yr note.
And don't start in on the foreclosures. That is your lending industry (and overzealous buyers) at work, not the developers. Work on predatory lending reform if that's your gig, but leave the builders out of it. Work on buyer education if you must, builders don't make people "over buy".
Inventories have built up, prices are hanging steady, but aren't tanking like they are where lenders pressured appraisers into producing value numbers based on an artificial 20%+ appreciation per year.
September 12, 2007 4:53 p.m.