Single-family building permits are on the rise, and local builders are increasingly back to work, hammering away at both pre-sold and speculative homes.

In Larimer and Weld counties combined, the number of single-family permits granted between January and May totaled 904 compared to 554 in the first five months of 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While some of the buildings activity can be attributed to national builders such as D.R. Horton and Ryland Homes, the majority of the new neighborhoods popping up throughout Northern Colorado is the result of local builders getting back to work.

One of the busiest builders is J&J Construction, an arm of Greeley-based Journey Homes, which has either recently completed homes or has homes under construction in Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley.

In Loveland alone, the company just finished 32 homes, according to sales manager Bob Golba.

Work recently began on a neighborhood in southeast Fort Collins called Pelican Ridge, Golba said, and of the 65 lots under construction, 54 of them already have buyers waiting for their homes to be finished. The prices at Pelican Ridge range between $210,000 and $300,000, Golba said.

The homes are