Despite challenging conditions in the housing market, residential building permits soared in the fast-growing North Texas suburb of Celina in 2023.

In contrast with many other cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro, single-family home construction permits rose by more than 52% in Celina in 2023, according to data released Jan. 19 by Addison-based Tomlin Investments Ltd. Celina, which lies in Collin and Denton counties, issued 2,503 permits last year compared with 1,650 in 2022.

High mortgage rates and home prices continue to influence the housing market, with little relief for buyers in sight. Even so, Celina, with a population of roughly 30,000, has managed to grow its housing supply at one of the fastest clips in the nation. It shows people and businesses continue to flock to the areas north of Dallas, a trend that is reshaping the North Texas economic order.

New development, including The Ranch at Uptown Celina, and new infrastructure, like the extension of the Dallas North Tollway, have contributed to Celina’s blazing growth. So has the city’s geographic location between the major arteries of Preston Road to the east and the future Dallas North Tollway to the west.

While Celina’s homebuilding permits soared, the tough housing market took a toll on many North Texas cities, according to Tomlin Investments’ monthly roundup of residential construction in the fastest growing suburbs and exurbs north of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Single-family home permits fell 22% in Frisco, 32% in neighboring Little Elm, 9% in Prosper and 13% in Denton in 2023 compared with 2022. 2023 permits totaled 1,036 in Frisco, 880 in Little Elm, 884 in Prosper and 1,064 in Denton.

Celina, however, wasn’t the only bright spot for building permits. In 2023, single-family residential permits shot up 47% in McKinney and 64% in Princeton. McKinney and Princeton are in Collin County. McKinney’s permits last year totaled 1,853 and Princeton’s totaled 1,708.