Housing starts close to record
A surge in homebuilding in Central Texas sent housing starts to a near all-time high in the second quarter, according to Metro-study, which tracks the numbers. “The Austin housing market is benefiting from continued strong demand and that has resulted in near-record housing starts,” O’Grady said. “Results are being tempered though, by pressures on home prices due to labor shortages, construction materials cost increases, permitting and regulatory costs.” Builders started construction on 4,198 homes in the second quarter, a 31.7 percent increase from the same quarter in 2016, O’Grady said.
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