Residential housing construction is slowing in Casper, according to recent building permits, but the decrease is primarily among pricier homes.

Doug Barrett, the building inspection manager for the city, said Casper is simply backing off from the all-time high levels of 2007.

"It's definitely slowing up," he said. "But last year was a record level, especially in with the $350,000 to $500,000 houses. That market has really stopped."

Builders filed for a total of 16 residential building permits this July, in contrast to 36 in July 2007.

The value of total permits is also down from last year.

The first seven months of permits in 2007 valued roughly $131 million, and in the same period this year they totalled $102 million -- despite increases in construction costs.

Most of the difference, said Barrett, is the lack of larger projects this year.

"Last year, we built two new hospitals," he said.

He added that he expects the permits for two large apartment complexes to come in next month, adding value to this year's construction.

Roughly 90 percent of the building permits in July were in the $200,000 range, Barrett said.

Even though the total value of the 16 permits equaled $4,287,000, he said there are mostly houses in the lower price ranges and a few million dollar homes.

Local developer Rich Fairservis agreed that the higher-end market has slowed. The more "affordable" market of houses under $225,000 remains steady.

It's primarily due to lenders providing fewer zero-percent down loans and sub-prime mortgages.

"It's harder to get into homes," he said.

Local Realtor Lisa Burridge said the changes in the mortgage industry "greatly affected homes in the higher end."

She said the guidelines for buying have stiffened, meaning buyers who would have qualified for the pricier homes are looking toward lower-end housing options.

The number of houses for sale in Casper has also increased from 222 in July 2007 to 474 this July, according to the Casper Board of Realtors.

Burridge credits this rise similarly, saying that since the higher-end houses aren't selling as frequently, it's slowed the market down.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com