"The increase in new home construction activity compared to last year was supported by apartment- style rental unit construction as builders broke ground on 131 apartment units," said Matthew Gilmore, senior market analyst with CMHC's Atlantic Business Centre.
In the first quarter of 2012, single-detached starts in the HRM increased nearly 11 per cent compared to last year. Despite another strong first quarter, multiple starts declined 28 per cent to 268 units from 370 units in the first quarter of 2011.
In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in March were up 18 per cent to 13,761 units compared to 11,655 a year ago. Single-detached starts increased 11 per cent to 4,030 units, while multiple starts increased 21 per cent to 9,731 units in March.
In the Atlantic region, 333 new units were started compared to 271 during March 2011.
PRELIMINARY URBAN MONTHLY HOUSING STARTS
NOVA SCOTIA SUMMARY MAR MAR YEAR-TO-DATE
% Change % Change
-------------------- --------------------
2012 2011 2012 2011
ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATIONS greater than 50,000
HALIFAX CMA
Single 59 74 -20.3% 163 147 10.9%
Multiple 142 38 ## 268 370 -27.6%
TOTAL 201 112 79.5% 431 517 -16.6%
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CAPE BRETON RGM
Single 4 1 ## 20 11 81.8%
Multiple 0 4 ## 4 12 -66.7%
TOTAL 4 5 -20.0% 24 23 4.3%
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ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATION greater than 10,000
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ALL CENTRES(i)
Single 91 105 -13.3% 264 230 14.8%
Multiple 146 47 ## 288 410 -29.8%
TOTAL 237 152 55.9% 552 640 -13.8%
Figures for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revisions due to corrections or updates from quarterly enumeration or sampling results.
(i) Includes all centres with a total population of more than 10,000 (Halifax CMA, Cape Breton RGM, Truro CA, Kentville CA and New Glasgow CA, Chester MD, East Hants MD, Kings Subd. A SCM, Lunenburg MD, Queens RGM, West Hants MD, Yarmouth MD).
(ii) ## Indicates changes in excess of 100% which are not reported due to volatility resulting from small absolute numbers.
