March Housing Starts in Halifax


HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwire - April 8, 2011) - New residential construction in Halifax saw little change last month compared to March 2010 according to preliminary data(1) released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). There were 112 housing starts last month, compared to 111 recorded in March of 2010.

"New home construction in Halifax recorded little change in March compared to last year," said Matthew Gilmore, senior market analyst with CMHC's Atlantic Business Centre. "Single-detached construction declined from 81 units last year to 74 in March, while multiple-unit starts increased from 30 to 38 units," added Gilmore. "First quarter numbers in the HRM were supported by an increase in apartment-style rental construction as builders broke ground on 325 units," Gilmore said. The 325 apartment starts represent the largest first quarter total in twenty years.

In urban centres across Canada, total housing starts recorded in March were up two per cent to 11,655 units compared to last year's total of 11,375. Single-detached starts declined 34 per cent to 3,633 units, while multiple starts increased 37 per cent to 8,022 units in 2011. In the Atlantic region, 271 new units were started in March 2011 compared to 311 units during the same period in 2010.

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.

(1) Figures for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revisions due to corrections or updates from quarterly enumeration or sampling results.

For more information, visit www.cmhc.ca or call 1 800 668-2642.

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PRELIMINARY URBAN MONTHLY HOUSING STARTS

NOVA SCOTIA SUMMARY

20112010%YEAR-TO -DATE %
MARMARChange20112010Change
ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATIONS > 50,000
HALIFAX CMA
Single7481-8.6%147216-31.9%
Multiple383026.7%37025048.0%
TOTAL1121110.9%51746610.9%
CAPE BRETON RGM
Single12-50.0%1112-8.3%
Multiple440.0%121020.0%
TOTAL56-16.7%23224.5%
ALL URBAN CENTRES WITH POPULATION >10,000
ALL CENTRES*
Single3,6335,536-34.4%10,60114,901-28.9%
Multiple8,0225,83937.4%20,90017,54919.1%
TOTAL11,65511,3752.5%31,50132,450-2.9%

Figures for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revisions due to corrections or updates from quarterly enumeration or sampling results.

* 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).

## Indicates changes in excess of 100% which are not reported due to volatility resulting from small absolute numbers.

Contact Information:

CMHC Market Analysis Centre
Matthew Gilmore
Senior Market Analyst
902-426-4686
mgilmore@cmhc.ca