More housing starts in Vancouver, stable levels elsewhere in cities across B.C.

VANCOUVER – Housing starts in the Vancouver region are trending at high levels while home construction in cities across the province remains stable.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says starts in the Lower Mainland reached about 21,650 units in November, up about 60 units from the previous month.

CMHC spokesman Richard Sam says the building has been spurred along by relatively low levels of newly completed and unsold condos.

Surrey and Vancouver account for just under half of all new home construction so far this year.

Urban areas across the country have seen about 30,500 housing starts, including a bump in townhouse starts and a slight drop in apartment construction.

Single-detached and semi-detached homes remained relatively unchanged.