Report: Dallas-Fort Worth is No. 2 in new-home sales, starts

Despite huge cuts in the residential construction business, Dallas-Fort Worth still ranks second in the country in new-home sales and starts.

Only Houston had more new-house construction and sales during the 12-month period ending in March, housing analyst Metrostudy Inc. said Tuesday in a new report.

"I expect the D-FW area and Houston to continue to lead the nation in new-home starts and closings," said David Brown, who heads Metrostudy's Dallas office. "Even though activity has fallen off dramatically, the slowdown in Dallas-Fort Worth and other Texas markets is not nearly as severe as other markets around the country.

"Dallas-Fort Worth and Texas have not been as severely affected by the recession as other regions of the country," he said. "Consequently, consumer confidence is much stronger in our region than any other area in the country."

Builders have cut the number of home starts in North Texas more than 50 percent in the last year because of the housing sector decline and slumping national economy.

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