ENCOURAGING NUMBERS FOR THE HOMEBUILDING INDUSTRY. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, NATIONALLY, HOUSING STARTS IN NOVEMBER GREW AT THE FASTEST PACE IN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. JOHN GARCIA, HEAD OF THE HOMEBUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL NEW MEXICO, SAYS THE NUMBERS ARE IMPROVING…BUT THERE'S A LONG WAY TO GO. HE SAYS THE ALBUQUERQUE METRO AREA IS AT ABOUT HALF OF WHERE IT WAS IN 2008, WHEN NUMBERS WERE PRETTY GOOD.
GARCIA EXPECTS HOUSING STARTS TO INCREASE IN 2014 AS THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO IMPROVE. HE SAYS MOST OF THE ACTIVITY WILL BE ON ALBUQUERQUE'S WEST SIDE AND SOUTH SIDE.
