Housing starts were down by nearly two-thirds last month, but this year’s pace is still drastically ahead of 2015’s. Construction started on only two single and two multi-family homes in June, down from five and six respectively a year ago. Year-to-date, 130 new homes have been started in Grande Prairie, up from 76 through the first six months of last year.
The County of Grande Prairie is seeing an opposite trend. Housing starts were down nearly 75 per cent in the second quarter of the year from 102 to 29. Through the first half 2016, construction has begun on 129 homes, down from 161 in 2015.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says the economy and more resale homes mean a slower pace for home construction.