Housing Starts Edge Down 1.1 Percent, Permits Rise In July
Nationwide housing production edged down 1.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 746,000 units in July, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. However, builders pulled more permits for planned new-home projects than they have in any month since August of 2008.
"While many builders believe that the outlook for housing is considerably brighter than it has been in years, we are being very careful about keeping inventories tight and not building ahead of demand," noted Barry Rutenberg, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. "At the same time, builders are drawing more permits for new construction so we can accommodate buyers and renters as they return to the marketplace."