Even though the housing market remains fragile and foreclosures continue to rise, there are expectations that housing construction will rebound from the severely depressed levels of 2009, this year.

According to David Crowe, the National Association of Home Builders’ chief economist, construction will start on 610,000 single-family homes, up 38% from last year.

US jobs are forecasted to start growing again in the second quarter, though job growth will remain tepid, while the housing market remains tenuous, with housing starts remaining far below the
2005 peak of 1.7 million due to increasing foreclosures, as builders have trouble getting credit.

The Home Builder’s annual convention this week drew over 50,000 builders, suppliers and other participants, down from over 60,000 in 2008 and 140,000 in 2007, with many suppliers advertising energy-efficient products rather than extravagant décor.

In what is a daily feature of the Las Vegas market, less than three miles from the Home Builder’s convention, 60 people bid on foreclosed homes in a parking lot, with 60% of Las Vegas December home sales being foreclosed properties, according to the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors.

In order to compete with foreclosures, many builders have begun to focus on building low-cost homes. In Las Vegas, four years ago, prices for typical new homes ranged from $400,000 to $550,000, while a typical new house from KB Home now costs anywhere from $150,000 to $170,000.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, about 14% of American home-mortgage borrowers as of 30th September are at least 30 days behind on payments or in foreclosure.

John Burns Real Estate Consulting (JBRC) reports, in recent weeks there has been a picking up of sorts in the sales of new homes, including visits from potential buyers, after last year’s final quarter lull.

According to JBRC that advises builders, many of them are starting with low inventories of completed homes, which may spur building around the time people make home buys before the 30th April deadline for qualifying for tax credits.