ACTIVITY HAS BEEN SLOW SO FAR THIS YEAR FOR ALBUQUERQUE AREA HOMEBUILDERS. THROUGH MAY, BUILDING PERMITS WERE THE LOWEST THEY’VE BEEN SINCE 2011. JOHN GARCIA WITH THE HOMEBUILDERS GROUP H-B-A SAYS THE AREA’S ECONOMY IS STILL A BIT SLUGGISH. HE SAYS WE’RE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE RECESSION WHILE OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTHWEST HAVE RECOVERED.
ONE PROBLEM, SAYS GARCIA, IS THAT THE METRO AREA’S POPULATION ISN’T GROWING MUCH. STILL, HE TELLS 770 KKOB HE LOOKS FOR A GOOD SUMMER…AND EXPECTS HOUSING STARTS TO TOTAL AROUND 16-HUNDRED BY THE END OF THE YEAR…EQUALLING LAST YEAR’S TOTAL.
