MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C.,None — It's early, but the people who track Mecklenburg County's building permits say they're seeing more activity than they did last year.
Building permits for single-family homes were up by almost 50 percent in January after a flat year last year and big drops the three years before that.
Builders said they're seeing more business, too.
“This year we've seen sales take off with eight so far compared with just two last year," said Bill Saint, a Charlotte homebuilder who is selling a new project in Cornelius.
"We're seeing some steady growth patterns and we see those key indicators that it's starting to get its feet again," said Patrick Granson in the county's building permit office. "I think we're going to have a steady growth pattern this year and that's based on the indicators that we have."