Michael Dekker

Tulsa World Business Reporter

The number of housing starts in the Tulsa metro area increased by 23.1% in the first four months of this year, the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa said.

The spike is a result of President Donald Trump’s announced tariffs, a perception that interest rates have stabilized, and normal home construction in anticipation of people wanting to move into new homes by late spring and early summer, said Jeffrey Smith, CEO of the association.

“Interest rates have somewhat stabilized,” he said. “I think there’s kind of a pent-up demand, and now (new home buyers) kind of know what they want.”

There were 1,315 new residential permits issued, compared to 1,064 during the same four-month period in 2024, the association said.

April saw 253 new ho

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