Housing Starts Rebound in April Good news! The Commerce Department recently reported that construction of new homes posted the biggest increase in more than two years in April. In addition, applications for building permits – considered a good sign of future activity – rose by 4.9 percent in April, the first gain in permits in five months. “It pays to ask” and it also pays to tell. Pick up the phone, talk to your clients and prospects and give them this encouraging news.