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Housing starts track the number of single-family homes and apartment units, also known as residential units, on which construction has actually begun. This is considered a more accurate measure than housing permit applications because it tracks the actual work being done to build new housing in the area. The data is presented quarterly.

Please note that the Washington, D.C.-Md.-Va.-W.V. Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) covers parts of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and the entire District of Columbia. New figures are released three to four months after the close of a quarter.