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New Home Construction Surge in Southern Maine


Portland - Industry officials say new home construction in southern Maine has jumped 35 percent in 2012, but warn that the rest of the state remains stagnant.

Larry Duell, president of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Maine, tells The Portland Press Herald, there is growth in coastal areas of York County but new home permitting in the rest of the state remains weak.

Construction Data New England says from January through September, builders took out 802 permits in 37 communities from Lewiston to Kittery. That compared with 594 permits for the same period last year.

Builders say while the market in southern Maine is stronger, it still faces challenges, including tight financing by banks. Also, values of existing homes have fallen, making it cheaper to buy than to build.

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