The Commerce Department report on housing starts showed a considerable drop in starts in November. However, with December's mortgage rates continuing to dip even further, we expect housing starts will bounce back fairly quickly.

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We also want to express our thanks to the two Chambers of Commerce and the SBA District Office officials for providing the space for the Disaster Loan Assistance Centers. The many courtesies extended to our staff have been greatly appreciated.

That said, January housing starts were the highest in over 20 years, and that is based on higher rates than we are currently experiencing, ... All in all, the little run-up in rates that occurred this week will not be enough to cause a significant slowdown in current housing market activity.

That said, January housing starts were the highest in over 20 years, and that is based on higher rates than we are currently experiencing. All in all, the little run-up in rates that occurred this week will not be enough to cause a significant slowdown in current housing market activity.

That said, housing starts -- although down a little from the month before -- were still remarkably strong in May with most of the decrease in overall construction coming from a drop off in multiunit building,