New single-family building permits were up 30 percent in Wake County last year, according to data compiled by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County.

Permits are up in all Wake County municipalities. The biggest percentage increases were in Rolesville, where permits jumped 173 percent from 64 last year to 175, and Garner, where they increased 70 percent from 50 to 85.

Municipalities in the south and west of the county showed strong increases. Permits were up 68 percent in Apex, 55 percent in Fuquay-Varina and 38 percent in Holly Springs.

Despite the rise in permits, inventory levels of new homes on the market in the Triangle remain at historic lows. Many of the new homes now being built are pre-sales, meaning they never show up on the market.

There were 1,501 new homes for sale in the Triangle at the end of the year, down 17 percent from the end of 2011, Triangle Multiple Listing Services show.

The region has a 4-month supply of new homes on the market at the current pace of sales, and 30 of the Triangle's price segments have zero inventory.

New single-family building permits were up 26 percent in Wake County through the first nine months of the year, according to data compiled by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County.

Permits continue to be up in all Wake County municipalities except Wendell and Zebulon.

Garner and Rolesville have seen the biggest percentage increases so far this year, with permits rising 188 percent and 126 percent, respectively.

The municipalities in western and southern Wake also continue to see a lot more activity, with permits up 46 percent in Holly Springs, 39 percent in Apex and 42 pecent in Fuquay-Varina.

Permits in Raleigh are up 18 percent through the end of September, while Cary permits are up 10 percent.

New single-family building permits are up 28 percent in Wake County through the first six months of the year, according to data compiled by the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County.

Permits are up in all Wake County municipalities except Wendell and Zebulon.

Those showing the biggest percentage increases were Garner, where permits are up from 16 last year to 58 this year. In Rolesville, permits increased from 38 to 85.

The municipalities in western and southern Wake also continue to see increased activity, with permits up 62 percent in Holly Springs, 42 percent in Apex and 42 percent in Fuquay-Varina.

A large, national homebuilder will expand into Raleigh for the first time, in another bet on the health of this region's housing market.

Meritage Homes, which is known for its energy-efficient homes, has purchased 46 one-acre lots at Inwood Forest, a subdivision near the corner of Lake Wheeler and Tryon roads in south Raleigh. The single-family homes will be priced from the high $200,000s to the mid-$300,000s.

It's the first foothold in North Carolina for Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Meritage, which builds in 12 other markets, including Houston; Las Vegas; Denver; and Orlando, Fla.