Housing starts on the rise again

GAINESVILLE - Residential construction permits are on the rise again in Hall County ... but are still nowhere near the "pre-recession" numbers.

The number of permits approved for new single-family homes more than doubled during the first quarter of this year compared to a year ago. But, the 82 permits that were okayed does not begin to come close to the 440 issued during the first quarter of 2007 before the housing bubble burst.

Those 82 permits issued so far this year compared to 37 during the same period a year ago.