Twin Cities housing construction at highest level since 2006

Twin Cities new home and apartment construction rose more than 10 percent this year.

For the first time since 2006, building permits were issued for more than 10,000 single-family homes and apartment units.

"The numbers are telling a good story," said David Siegel, executive director of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. "Finally, it feels like after the Great Recession in the housing industry, we had a pretty good year in 2013."

Siegel believes next year will be ever better for builders, with low interest rates and people feeling better about the economy and their personal finances.

Building, though, is still short of the pace of 12,000 units a year needed to accommodate population growth and the replacement of older homes and apartments, the association said.