by Calculated Risk on 12/20/2011 08:30:00 AM

From the Census Bureau: Permits, Starts and Completions

Housing Starts:
Privately-owned housing starts in November were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 685,000. This is 9.3 percent (±13 1%)* above the revised October estimate of 627,000 and is 24.3 percent (±20.1%) above the November 2010 rate of 551,000.

Single-family housing starts in November were at a rate of 447,000; this is 2.3 percent (±8.0%)* above the revised October figure of 437,000. The November rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 230,000.

Building Permits:
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in November were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 681,000. This is 5.7 percent (±1.6%) above the revised October rate of 644,000 and is 20.7 percent (±1.8%) above the November 2010 estimate of 564,000.

Single-family authorizations in November were at a rate of 435,000; this is 1.6 percent (±1.6%) above the revised October figure of 428,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 224,000 in November.

Click on graph for larger image.

Total housing starts were at 685 thousand (SAAR) in November, up 9.3% from the revised October rate of 627 thousand (SAAR). Most of the increase this year has been for multi-family starts, but single family starts are increasing a little recently too.

Single-family starts increased 2.3% to 447 thousand in November.

The second graph shows total and single unit starts since 1968.

This shows the huge collapse following the housing bubble, and that housing starts have been mostly moving sideways for about two years and a half years - with slight ups and downs due to the home buyer tax credit.

Multi-family starts are increasing in 2011 - although from a very low level. This was well above expectations of 630 thousand starts in November.

Single family starts are still mostly "moving sideways".
All Housing Investment and Construction Graphs