Local home sales on the decline, but new home construction is holding steady.

The housing market around the country, struggling, but in Charleston construction of new homes has yet to see a huge drop off.
 
While home construction permits aren't going through the roof, they're also not plummeting like we’ve seen in other parts of the country.

Charleston County doesn't stop growing. Carl Simmons is the Building Services director for the county. He says that growth is helping to keep the home construction permit numbers from dropping.

"We have a lot of people coming in from outside this area. If you take a look at population trends for the last 20 years or so, for between 1990 and census of 2000, the population of Charleston County increased by 32,000 people. 25,000 of those were not born in South Carolina," said Simmons.

Out of towners helping the numbers stay level.

"That trend is continuing so you’re going to have people coming in from other market areas and buying new," said Simmons.

"Its very common for people coming who moved here from Iowa, Wisconsin or California come in and say I couldn't believe that's really a deal," said Simmons.

Last year the county issued more than 700 permits so far this year it’s more than 400. But, it’s still lower than previous years. Some bigger homebuilders are holding back on building without selling first.

"Generally we are a “to be” built homebuilder and build houses for buyers who sign contracts before the houses are started," said Charleston Division Beazer Homes VP of Finance. 

At least until the housing markets downtown turns up.

Charleston County Building Services officials say bigger home builders tend to suffer more because they deal with a national market.

Charleston County saw 761 new homes in all of last year. So far, this year to date, there have been 449.