October's 24 single home starts in Greater Sudbury were 18 units lower than the same month last year, according to preliminary data released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
As a results of a slow October, construction for the year to date is running behind figures from 2004, albeit only by five units. Twelve multi-family units have already started in 2005, up eight from last year.
According to Warren Philp, a Northern Ontario market analyst with the CMHC there is some good news for the month of November.
"Although October was slower, a spurt of building permits last month paves the way for a strong November in Greater Sudbury.
Fourth quarter numbers should still be quite healthy when all is said and done," Philp said, forecasting a total of 390 single home starts by the end of the year, up from 374 in 2004.