| First Quarter 2010: Starts Up 53% |
|
Following 30 months of decline, 2010 brought with it a strong turn upward for Montana's housing starts. The news is certainly welcomed by an industry that has struggled with the strong and swift downturn of the housing economy. Though a 53% increase over the first quarter of 2009 is exciting, a note of caution is required; the starts are an increase over the lowest numbers we have ever recorded and the the starts have certainly been buoyed by $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of this month. Only time will tell if Montana's housing market will continue to recover. The starts are still over 50% below the same quarter in 2006. |