There's more concern about the housing market tonight and local construction businesses tell NEWS 3 it's hurting them more than ever.
This week, the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce released its 2008 Forecast and 2007 Economic Trends Report. It says the total number of residential building permits in Chatham County last year was down 16 percent from a year ago and eleven percent from 2005.
Cutting back on building means less work for construction workers. One Statesboro business showed NEWS 3 how it’s making it through the hard times.
American Vinyl Siding Services
Mickey Nesmith started American Vinyl Siding Services about seven years ago with his family. "The renovation business is a business we've been in for years. This is basically what we started the business on," says Mickey.
Eventually they hammered their way into doing new homes – helping build them, then the developer sells them. But Mickey says lately that hasn't been going so well.
"New construction has pretty much slowed to nearly nothing," says Mickey. So his company now truly depends on renovation work. But Mickey doesn't think things are as bad as some say.
"I'm a very optimistic person. I hear all the naysayers. I hear the negatives," says Mickey and he sees the positives, confident the housing market will turn around in a few months. Until then, he hopes his company's good reputation will continue bringing the business they need.
"Ultimately, when you do a good job, all customers want the best they can get," says Mickey.
Chatham, Bryan, Effingham
Last year, realtors reported a 25 percent drop in sales of single family homes in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties.
Chatham County's dropped 25 percent from 2006, a whopping 51 percent for Bryan County, and Effingham County was actually up five percent from 2006.
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