CMHC: February Starts Are Close to Five-Year Average

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 8, 2011) - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) released new home construction figures for the Oshawa Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) today. Total February housing starts, at 90 units, were around last year's level and the five-year average for this month. The single-detached segment experienced a 30 per cent decline in starts compared to February 2010. Growth in housing construction was primarily driven by 32 semi-detached units that started last month in Oshawa City.

To view the graph associated with this release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/cmhc0308oshe.jpg.

"The Oshawa CMA provides a source of affordable single-detached housing in the Greater Toronto Area, which is attracting more interest from homebuyers.

Furthermore, improved sales of semi-detached homes since the middle of 2010 are translating into increased starts of this housing type this year," said Inna Breidburg, Market Analyst with CMHC's Ontario Business Centre.

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on 65 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of high quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable homes. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making informed decisions.

HOUSING STARTS - DURHAM REGION

FEBRUARY HOUSING STARTS
	SINGLE		SEMI		TH		APT		TOTAL		% CHG
	2010	2011	2010	2011	2010	2011	2010	2011	2010	2011
Whitby	10	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	18	80.0
Oshawa City	49	20	0	32	0	0	0	0	49	52	6.1
Clarington	24	20	0	0	0	0	0	0	24	20	-16.7
OSHAWA CMA	83	58	0	32	0	0	0	0	83	90	8.4
Pickering	3	19	0	0	0	0	0	235	3	254	**
Ajax	14	37	0	0	4	0	0	0	18	37	105.6
Uxbridge	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	NA
Brock	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	NA
Scugog	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	NA
DURHAM REGION	100	120	0	32	4	0	0	235	104	387	**
JANUARY- FEBRUARY HOUSING STARTS
	SINGLE		SEMI		TH		APT		TOTAL		% CHG
	2010	2011	2010	2011	2010	2011	2010	2011	2010	2011
Whitby	32	23	0	0	0	0	0	0	32	23	-28.1
Oshawa City	107	38	0	32	0	0	0	0	107	70	-34.6
Clarington	69	47	0	0	0	0	0	0	69	47	-31.9
OSHAWA CMA	208	108	0	32	0	0	0	0	208	140	-33
Pickering	8	22	0	0	0	0	0	235	8	257	**
Ajax	44	41	4	0	17	0	0	0	65	41	-36.9
Uxbridge	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	NA
Brock	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	-100.0
Scugog	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2	-33.3
DURHAM REGION	264	177	4	32	17	0	0	235	285	444	55.8

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Aussi disponible en français