LETHBRIDGE- February was a very good month for housing starts in our city, up 43.9-per cent over the same time last year.

Warm weather is getting a big part of the credit for the 94-single family and 24-multi-family starts, as it's simply easier to dig a basement when the ground has thawed, however Jean Greer-McCarthy with the local branch of the Canadian Home Builders Association also noted that high consumer confidence is definitely helping.

Greer-McCarthy added that they're forecasting a 5-per cent increase in housing starts over the course of 2010, leading to yet another solid year for our city.

Greer-McCarthy also noted that our city has a good mix of everything from starter homes to high end homes, council helping to develop more work/live units and mixed use buildings.