The latest release from the Census Bureau’s Manufacturing and Construction Division shows that the annual rate of starts in building five or more units was 285,000. This is an increase from October and is currently the highest this measure has been since July, 2008. It is still not as high as the multi-family housing boom periods of 1997-2006, but this is an extremely respectable number and definitely an upward trend.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau