Real estate analysts say there is a buyers market in West Michigan with plenty of new homes up for sale. It's a trend that began last year.
The home builders association of Grand Rapids says housing starts fell by 6% between 2004 and 2005.
They're hoping to see a modest increase in construction this year, if buyers are there.
As the cold wind whips through a new development in Sparta, Jolie Malon and her one year old son play on the floor of their brand new home.
"We decided a little bigger home and closer to my husband's work,"
Jolie says.
After selling their house in Jenison, Jolie and her family moved here last October in one of the first homes in the neighborhood.
"There was a lot to choose from, we put a lot of time into it but we were happy with the price and what we got," Jolie says.
Jolie's part of a buyer's market that's existed here in West Michigan for about a year, and experts say will continue in 2006.
A slowdown in new home building is also projected to continue locally as income levels stay relatively stagnant.
But that will be good news for some who are looking to sell.
"Houses that are going for 200,000 or less seem to be the strongest market for 2006," says George Erickcek of the W.E. Upjohn Institute.
Those who forecast home construction say even though there seem to be a lot of new houses popping up, West Michigan's market is not out of control.
"There's not overbuilding nationally, not overbuilding locally. If there was we'd see prices falling," National Association of Home Builders' analyst Bernard Markstein says.
Prices have actually outpaced inflation in West Michigan, meaning homeowners are getting their money's worth out of their houses.
And they may get a good deal on a new home, because even though construction will slow, developers say it won't stop.
"I'm very focused on supplying a need and there's still a need in certain areas," says builder John Bitely of Sable Homes.
Keith Baldi