The good news regarding housing starts here continued for another month.

Based on the monthly report from the Home Builders Association of Cherokee County, new housing starts jumped from six in June 2009 to seven in June of this year.

For the year, new home starts are up a stunning 16 (43-27) from the same six-month period in 2009.

The news was just as rosy when it comes to home values. The average value of the new homes in June jumped about $40,000 from the average home price of $96,000 in June 2009 to $137,000 this June. Helping boost that average is a 6,000-square-foot home valued at just under $200,000. Nathaniel Ellis was identified as the property owner in the housing report.

The housing news in the city remains gloomy, with no new home starts in June. In fact, there has been only one new home start in the city this year.

The largest commercial permit issued by the city in June was for the new Papa John’s restaurant in the Cherokee Plaza, valued at $100,000.

A permit issued for $115,770 for a plant addition at Parkdale Mills was the highest-dollar commercial permit issued by the county last month.