The housing market dropped significantly here in May.

There were six new home starts in the county, down from 21 in May 2006, according to the Home Builders Association of Cherokee County.

For the year to date, there have been 20 fewer home starts than the same period last year.

The drop in May was not unexpected.

"We stated last year that those 21 new home starts in one month was a rare occurrence," the Home Builders Association said in its newsletter.

The value of the new homes this May was slightly higher than the same period last year. The average value of the home starts in May was $104,114 - up from $98,428 in May 2006.

The city had no new home start last month. There was one new home start in the city in May 2006.

The new Pizza Hut, valued at $248,000, was the largest commercial permit in the city last month.

The $569,452 Pleasant Hill Baptist Church project was the largest commercial permit issued by the county in May.

(Larry Hilliard)