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Housing, Construction & Real Estate

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute provides leading real estate and construction research for the State of Utah. Our research provides decision makers with critical information about residential and non-residential construction trends and issues. In addition to construction research, our work focuses on housing research related to affordability and market stability. Our team works closely with real estate professionals, planners, economists, researchers and business, and community leaders to make informed decisions about the Utah economy.

2012, 2017

Ivory-Boyer Fourth Quarter Report 2017

December 20th, 2017|

The value for all types of permit authorized construction totaled $8.21 billion, a 3.9 percent decrease from 2016 (inflation adjusted dollars) (see Figure 1). The decline in total construction value can be attributed to Salt Lake City issuing a permit for $566 million in 2016 for the redevelopment of the Salt Lake City International Airport. Without this permit, the total construction value for 2017 would be approximately 3 percent higher than in 2016.

2009, 2017

Ivory-Boyer Third Quarter Report 2017

September 20th, 2017|

Utah’s construction industry is on pace for a very good year. The total value of construction for the first three quarters of the year rose to $6.3 billion, a nine percent increase over 2016. Through the third quarter the number of permits issued for residential dwelling units was 17,681, a 26 percent increase over 2016 and the highest level since 2007.

2006, 2017

Ivory-Boyer Second Quarter Report 2017

June 20th, 2017|

Construction activity has had a strong start in 2017, with the mid-year numbers at the highest level in 10 years. The number of building permits issued for residential units through the first six months was 11,145, nearly 22 percent higher than 2016 and the highest mid-year level since 2007 (see Figure 1). Total construction valuation at $4.1 billion was also at the highest midyear level since 2007 and five percent above 2016 (see Figure 2).

1104, 2017

Ivory-Boyer Year-End Construction Report, 2016

April 11th, 2017|

For the sixth consecutive year, permit authorized construction increased in Utah. The value for all types of permit authorized construction totaled $8.17 billion, the second highest value in Utah’s history

2003, 2017

Ivory-Boyer First Quarter Report 2017

March 20th, 2017|

The value of all permit authorized construction in Utah during the first quarter of 2017 was $1.92 billion, a three percent decrease from the first quarter of 2016. While a relatively minor decrease, it is the first decline in first quarter total construction value since 2012. The slowdown in overall construction was attributable to the 30 percent decline in nonresidential construction value.

811, 2016

Salt Lake City’s Rental Market: Past, Present, and Future

November 8th, 2016|

The development of rental housing in downtown Salt Lake City has always been prone to periods of intense activity followed by years of inactivity. A look back at apartment development in this area shows that prior to the early 20th century, housing in downtown was limited to detached single-family units. Tenement and row housing, common features in some downtown markets, were never part of the housing patterns of Salt Lake City.