The local housing market didn't catch a break in September.

Home starts dropped from 13 in September 2007 to six last month, according to a monthly report issued by the Home Builders Association of Cherokee County.

But there was better news concerning the cost of those houses as prices rose a whopping $55,000, from $96,000 in September 2007 to $151,000 last month.

Housing starts were unchanged from four in Sept. 2007 to the same number last month.

Buford Street United Methodist Church's planned $1.8 million family life center was the largest commercial permit issued by the city last month.

The largest commercial permit issued by the county was for a 15,000 square foot metal building at Sarratt School Road valued at $475,000.

The mobile home sector slowed last month with 15 permits. Of that total, six were for new units and nine were for relocating existing mobile homes.