November Housing Starts Increase – Highest Annual Rate Since April 2010

November Housing Starts

Housing starts for November rose 9.3% to 685,000. The highest annual rate since April 2010. Leading the way was multi-family units, rising 32.2%. Single-family units saw an increase of 2.3%. Over the last year, housing starts are up 24.3%.

The Housing Starts report measures the number of residential units on which construction is begun each month. A start in construction is defined as the beginning of excavation of the foundation for the building and is comprised primarily of residential housing. Changes in the rate of housing starts tell us a lot about demand for homes and construction outlook.

Furthermore, each time a new home is started, construction employment rises, revenues for the home builder and a myriad of other producers also increase; the economic “ripple effect” can be substantial.

But is the increase in “Multi-Family” housing a good sign for the home buyers market? We think not!