Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) show that the number of home starts in the Hamilton

Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) fell 38 per cent in December as compared to the year before.

However, for all of 2008 home starts rose to 3,529 starts, up 17 per cent from the year before. A

surge in townhouse starts in Hamilton and in apartment starts in Burlington contributed to the

increase in starts. The five per cent decline in single-detached starts in 2008 was more than offset

by strong construction of all other housing types - semi-detached homes (up 40 per cent),

townhouses (up 33 per cent) and apartments (up 119 per cent).

"Single-detached homes dropped below 50 per cent of total new home construction this year in the

Hamilton CMA," said Sarah Fong, CMHC's Senior Market Analyst for Hamilton. "However, stronger

than expected construction of townhouses and apartments brought the total number of home starts

above the level forecast for 2008." added Fong.

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to

help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable

homes - homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities

across the country. For more information, visit http://www.cmhc.ca/ or call 1 800 668-2642.