Whether you are looking at housing starts, MLS sales, or the average house price, the arrow is pointing upward in the province.

Lai (lye) Sing Louie, with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, says for only the third time in 28 years, provincial builders surpassed the 4-thousand mark for the number of single-detached housing starts last year.

Multi-family construction starts doubled in 2010 and were up over 50 per cent in 2011.

Louie says when it comes to MLS sales, 2007 was the record year with over 12-thousand-500, but last year came close with just under 12-thousand.

He projects the 2007 number to be eclipsed this year.

In Saskatoon, the average house price increased by 4-point-6 per cent last year and it is expected to increase by 3 per cent this year or an average price of 319-thousand dollars in 2012 and 326-thousand in 2013.

The annual CMHC Saskatchewan Housing Outlook Conference is today (Tues) in Saskatoon.

(ct/feb14/12)