The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released Aprils housing starts and things are looking flat for the Penticton area.

Housing starts were close to levels recorded a year earlier as there were 3 fewer single detached homes built and 2 more multiple units started.

So far this year Penticton has seen a relatively small decrease in starts but the focus this year is multi unit complexes such as apartments or condos compared to single detached homes last year.

Housing starts in Kelowna declined in April as 66 housing projects began construction this year compared to 134 starts in April 2011.

Both single detached and multi family starts were lower than a year ago.

So far this year Kelowna housing starts are below last years numbers, Vernon is up with an increase in multi units leading the way and Penticton is seeing a slight decrease in numbers.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton