There were 45 single-family housing permits issued throughout the county last month, increasing just slightly from 43 in May and 44 in June last year.
So far this year, 296 new single-family permits have been issued in the county, one up from the 295 new permits issued at this time in 2009.
Mike Shina, president of the Cherokee chapter of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, said there are good signs in the market. One is that some of the subcontractors he deals with have been adding to their staff.
"It is at least getting a little better," said Shina, who is with Windsong Properties of Woodstock. "They are confident enough to hire people."
Greg Padgett, a partner with RJK Homes in Woodstock, said the company has started a speculative house in Cobb County, but has only sold just a couple of houses so far this year.
"From what I'm hearing, there is not a lot of improvement," he said. "Jobs will have to come before the houses."
The county building department, which serves unincorporated Cherokee and Waleska, filled 35 requests for new single-family permits last month, a rise from 24 issued in May and 15 issued in June 2009.
So far this year, the county department has issued 148 new permits, down from 155 issued at this time a year ago.
County Commissioner Jim Hubbard of Hickory Flat said he sees a slow trend of improvement.
"There are a number of people contracting their own home," he said. "As long as unemployment is as high as it is, I don't expect an influx of builder homes for sale."
Canton's building department issued seven new permits last month, down from 13 in May and 14 in June last year.
The city has approved 69 new permits so far this year, a big jump from 28 issued at this time a year ago.
The Woodstock Building Department filled just two permit requests in June, dropping from six in May and nine in June last year. The city has issued 38 new permits this year so far, a decrease from 46 through June last year.
The building department in Holly Springs received no permit requests for the second consecutive month. The city issued six new permits in June last year.
This year so far, the city has issued 40 new permits, down from 55 through June 2009.
Ball Ground's building department filled one permit request last month, up from none in May and none in June of last year. The city has issued one permit this year so far, plummeting from 11 issued at this time a year ago.
The building department in Nelson has issued no permits so far this year nor had it issued any at this time last year.
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