Christopher S. Rugaber
December 18, 2013 - 5:34 AM
WASHINGTON - U.S. builders broke ground on homes at the fastest pace in more than five years, evidence the housing recovery is accelerating despite higher mortgage rates.
The Commerce Department says developers began construction on houses and apartments in November at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.09 million. That's the fastest pace since February 2008, just a few months after the recession began.
Construction of single-family homes jumped 21 per cent to an annual pace of 727,000, also the highest in more than five years. Apartment construction soared 26 per cent to a 354,000 annual pace.
Permits for future building slipped 3 per cent to just over 1 million, down from 1.04 million in October. The drop reflected a decline in apartments, which can be volatile. Permits for single-family homes rose.
News from © The Associated Press, 2013