With 1,968 new home permits issued in the four-county area, the end of the first quarter 2016 marks a fairly large jump from the quarterly activity noted in 2013, 2014 and 2015 when permits remained just under 1,400. As a matter of perspective, the first quarter of 2011 yielded 644 permits. Experts believe this boost in activity is in line with expected increased activity in Northeast St. Johns County, which accounted for 847 of the quarterly total.