Housing slump catches
up to Charlotte
By STELLA M. HOPKINS
Home building and sales are falling more sharply in the Charlotte area than nationally, a sign the housing slump is worsening in what has been one of the country's stronger markets.
Building permits -- an indicator of future home sales -- fell 40 percent in the eight-county Charlotte region during the fourth quarter, compared with the same period in 2006, according to a leading tracking service. That compares with a national decline of 27 percent.
Sales of existing houses, townhouses and condos also fell 24 percent in the fourth quarter, according to Market Opportunity Research Enterprises. Nationally, those sales were down 20 percent.
