# Housing Starts

*Real Estate — Finicade finance glossary*

Housing starts count new residential construction projects begun in a period, and they're one of the most-watched leading economic indicators. Housing is highly interest-rate sensitive and starts turn down early in a tightening cycle, well before employment does. Building permits lead starts by a month or two, making them the earlier signal of the same thing.

**Also known as:** new home starts, building permits, construction starts

**Related terms:** [Housing Affordability](https://finicade.com/glossary/housing-affordability), [Business Cycle](https://finicade.com/glossary/business-cycle), [Zoning](https://finicade.com/glossary/zoning), [GDP (Gross Domestic Product)](https://finicade.com/glossary/gdp), [Aggregate Demand](https://finicade.com/glossary/aggregate-demand)

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/housing-starts