New Hampshire Has Fewer Housing Starts

The head of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of New Hampshire says only 3, 250 building permits were issued in all of 2008.

Kendall Buck says that was 28 percent lower than the year before, and much lower than were issued a few years before that.

In 2005, by comparison there were 7,699 new housing permits issued in New Hampshire, compared the 3250 in 2008. So you see its been a downward trend in new housing starts.

Home Builders Association officials say that 58 percent drop is worrisome, though they’re keeping an eye on what the federal government is doing.

President Obama just unveiled a plan pledging 275 billion dollars to help many owners of foreclosed homes get help with their unaffordable mortgages.

And he recently signed into law a 787 billion dollar stimulus bill to help resuscitate the nation’s ailing economy.