To the end of April, total housing starts increased from 1,067 units in 2009 to 3,070 units in 2010. Single-detached homes continued to lead the charge with work starting on 642 homes in April 2010, up from 234 from the same period last year. While year-to-date numbers show 2,170 single-detached units breaking ground, an increase from 793 units started in 2009.

“Low inventories continue to provide builders an opportunity to increase production,” said Richard Cho, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst for Calgary. “The upward pressure on inventories has been light as a high proportion of homes are being absorbed at completion,” he added.

Even the moribund multi-family market has seen a rise in April, as multi-family starts which include semi-detached, row and apartment units, rose from 87 units in 2009 to 267 units in 2010.

“Multi-family production has been higher each month this year compared to 2009 activity,” noted Cho. After the first four months, 900 multi-family units were started, up from 274 units in 2009. “Despite the positive gains in multi-family production, elevated apartment inventories have kept production relatively low,” he said.