Home builders in 2009 started construction on 3,545 homes in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando counties.
That's compared to 4,721 home starts in the 2008, according to Houston-based Metrostudy, which compiled the numbers.
Builders began the year poorly, starting construction on 710 homes in the first quarter. By the third quarter, however, deals were boosted by the first-time homebuyer tax credit. Construction started on 1,031 homes during that quarter. There were 880 starts during the fourth quarter.
One positive noted by Metrostudy is the number of completed homes sitting vacant. That number has decreased 11 consecutive quarters in the Tampa area. In the fourth quarter, there were 1,931 finished, vacant homes in the area.
Home starts in recent years have been lackluster compared to the real estate boom times at mid-decade. For perspective, in just one quarter in 2005 - during the home construction boom - builders started work on more than 6,600 homes.
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