Pike's new home boom still continues

MILFORD - Despite national and regional figures, they are still building lots of new houses in Pike County. As the association members prepared for their annual Home Show this weekend, Pike County Builders Association President Coulby Dunn said the new season “looks as bright as ever for Pike County.” Dunn, who is also president of Mountain View Homes in Greene Township characterized permit issuance as ongoing “at a record pace.” New building code requirements are causing some delay, but township are doing their best to keep up, Dunn said. Members of the Pike County association work across the Pocono region, which is generally seen as Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Carbon counties. Among those four counties, Dunn estimated that 2006 would see some 2,500 new home starts. And that will be 2,500 for three years in a row. Numbers started climbing after 1999, when builders in the region started about 1,500 new homes annually. According to US Census figures, single-family housing starts dropped off about 13 percent between February of last year and February of this year. The estimated percentage drop was even greater between January and February of this year. Dunn, who is also a realtor, confirmed that there has been a dropoff in existing home sales. “Things are not as brisk as they were. There’s more listings and prices are higher,” he explained. But the lull has not touched new home starts. “Our problem,” he said in a serious tone, “ is that there are so many homes underway, that I don’t know if we have enough manpower.” The builders and their suppliers may not need the business, but Dunn said more than 60 vendors will be on hand this weekend for the annual show at the Best Western Inn in Matamoras. Dunn said builders and those considering building or renovating need to attend just to keep up. “There are so many new products, designs, and materials. There is so much on the market that wasn’t a year ago,” he said. Show hours are Friday, from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The association collects a $2 donation for adult admissions and all money collected goes to association’s scholarship fund. For more information visit the association’s Web site at www.pikecountybuilders.com or call 570-296-5500.