By Michelle Price
Special to the UCBJ
PUTNAM COUNTY – February is normally one of the slowest months of the year for building, but according to Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter, February 2022 broke the “all-time” record for the month with almost $8 million in permits issued.
February numbers showed 39 permits for $7.9 million, with 27 of those being new single family residential homes. The dollar amount of construction costs is more than double the next highest February on record, February 2017 with 36 permits for $3.5 million.
“In comparison, February of 2021 was 14 permits for $1.8 million, with 10 being new homes,” said Porter.
“All of this is happening with construction costs at a near all-time high,” reflected Porter.
Many of these permits are for new homes for people relocating to Tennessee.
“I think a lot of the construction has to do with so many people moving here from other states where housing prices are much, much higher,” he said. “They think our housing prices are cheap compared to what they sold their homes for, is what I hear from people moving here.”
