Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,881,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 22.5% above the January 2020 rate of 1,536,000 and 10.4% above the revised December 2020 rate of 1,704,000.

Single-family authorizations in January were at a rate of 1,269,000; this is 3.8% above the revised December 2020 figure of 1,223,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 557,000 in January.

Privately owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,580,000. This is 2.3% below the January 2020 rate of 1,617,000 and 6% below the revised December estimate of 1,680,000. Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 1,162,000; this is 12.2% below the revised December figure of 1,323,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 402,000.

Privately owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,336,000. This is 2.4% above the January 2020 rate of 1,305,000 and 2.3% below the revised December estimate of 1,368,000. Single-family housing completions in January were at a rate of 1,036,000; this is 10% above the revised December rate of 942,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 296,000.