According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC), B.C.’s urban housing starts totalled 24,346 homes in 2011, compared with 23,600 in 2010.
Carol Frketich, CMHC's B.C. regional economist, said, "Compared to 2010, the level of housing starts was relatively stable in 2011. Consumer demand, high land prices and other factors resulted in an increase in the share of multi-family housing starts."
"Apartments, townhomes and semi-detached homes represented 71% of urban housing starts in 2011, an increase from 61% in 2010."
In December 2011, there were 1,594 housing starts, compared with 2,180 units in December 2010. Single detached starts were up from a year ago, while multi-family housing starts were lower than December 2010 levels.
Jennifer Harrison
@jharrisonbiv