Construction of new homes and apartments in urban areas increased 16% on the year to 3,537 units in the first quarter, while housing construction in rural areas rose 8.7% to 4,145 units.
Of the total new homes and apartments built in the first quarter, 7,633 units were privately funded, up from 6,769 units in the year-ago period. A total of 49 units were financed from public funds in the January-March period, down from 93 units in the same months of 2012.