Atlanta housing starts zoom in third quarter

Housing starts in metro Atlanta increased 50.3 percent in the third quarter ended in September compared to the same period a year ago, according to a report by Metrostudy, a real estate research and consulting firm.

In a research note earlier this month, Eugene James, Metrostudy’s Atlanta regional director, said modest improvement in employment, coupled with higher demand, is helping the housing market. Inventory of available new homes overall remains low.