On April 19, the Commerce Department announced that in March home construction rose 7.2 percent from its dismal showing a month earlier. And building permits rose 11.2 percent after reaching a five-decade low in February.

Many industry watchers consider the ratio of permits to housing starts a positive sign. Steven A. Wood, chief economist for Insight Economics, believes that the rise in permits could signal a turnaround in the coming months. This is good news for everyone with a stake in the home building industry.