The falling population in Chicago is putting a damper on homebuilding, especially when it comes to single-family homes.

Chicago is falling behind the rest of the nation’s big metros in new housing, according to a new report from Trulia featured in Crain’s. Chicago will end the year 20 percent below the area’s historical average for new construction. Of the 20 largest metros in the nation, Chicago finishes just in front of San Diego (29.2 percent), St. Louis (33 percent), and Cleveland (35 percent). 

Home value growth in Chicago was reported at 23.4 percent, which is considerably low compared to cities that fared well in home building. For example, San Francisco’s homebuilding is nearly 42 percent higher than the historic average and home value growth is 63.4 percent.

The Trulia report looked at all types of housing, including single-family and multifamily properties. When just looking at single-family homes, permits are off the historical average by more than 60 percent. The apartment boom in neighborhoods throughout the city is swaying figures reported by Trulia. Trulia forecasts that by the end of the year builders will have taken out about 16,480 permits. The area’s long-term average was 20,600. 

Chicagoland leads the U.S. in population loss, witnessing a drop for two consecutive years. According to a report from the Chicago Tribune in March, Chicago was the only metro of the nation’s 10 largest that saw a drop in its population between 2015 and 2016.

And while the rental sector is faring better, it’s comprised of millennials and other individuals who are not ready to settle down into a permanent home.