Definition of "Housing starts"

Steve Purcell real estate agent

Written by

Steve Purcellelite badge icon

Re/Max Affinity Plus

A measure of actual starts of houses, condominiums, and apartment construction. When an economy is going to take a downturn, the housing sector is the first to decline. The strength in housing starts means not only that the housing industry is healthy, but suggests strength in the overall economy. Housing starts figures are issued monthly by the Department of Commerce. Housing is a key interest-sensitive sector that usually leads the rest of the economy out of the recession. For the housing sector to be sustained, housing start figures need to be backed by building permits. Permits are considered a leading indicator of housing starts.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

House made using standardized components that are preassembled on an assembly line in a factory rather than being built from "scratch" on a site. Normally, the prefabricate house is trucked ...

Insulation covered on each side by a material, such as metal. ...

An insurance contract or home warranty, usually for one year, covering electrical, plumbing, heating, etc. ...

Portion of a construction loan withheld by a lender from a contractor until all construction work is satisfactorily completed or sufficient space is rented in a floor loan. The holdback ...

Property to be used by a retail business in the sale of merchandise or rendering of services. An example of retail property is a store. ...

Part of a capital gain constituting tax benefits previously taken and taxed as ordinary income. ...

The term agricultural property means a type of land that has been designed or is permitted to engage in agricultural activities. Also referred to as agricultural land, agricultural ...

Same as term soil porosity: Extent to which soil has cavities or pores, thereby allowing water to pass through. ...

An entrance hallway from the outside of a building. Foyers are intended as a gathering place for people either before exiting or upon entrance. ...

Popular Real Estate Questions