Although we calculate upon a softe...

Although we calculate upon a softening in multifamily construction in 1997 (we think the market will decline 13 percent to 273000 starts), near metropolitan areas will continue to provide ample shooting opportunities -- even while the national market declines. The task, therefore, is to identify which metro to target in the year ahead.

Using the system of exchanges Department's construction permit information, there are sum of two units ways to identify "top" markets for multifamily construction. First, we can identify the metropolitan areas where the largest amount of activity occurs; and other we ...