Metrostudy: San Antonio home starts to stay the same in 2015

SAN ANTONIO – Housing starts in 2015 are likely to remain constant with 2014 — around 9,300 — a leading industry analyst told about 400 builders and contractors at the Greater San Antonio Builders Association’s housing forecast.

If San Antonio records more than 9,000 starts, it would be the second year above that mark since the nearly 13,000 starts in 2007, before the economic collapse.

According to Jack Inselmann, regional director of Metrostudy, the number would be even higher if there were more affordable housing starts — new homes priced at $150,000 and less. However, builders say the rising cost of building homes is making lower-end homes an unprofitable proposition.

In 2014, the $150,000 price range was the smallest sector of homes being built, with less than 500 being built.