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In response to greater demand from buyers, nationwide housing production continued to increase in February.

Privately owned housing starts increased 0.8 percent from January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate 917,000 – 27.7 percent higher than 12 months before, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Single-family housing starts increased 0.5 percent to a rate of 618,000, which according to the National Association of Home Builders is the fastest pace since June 2008. NAHB reported that multifamily starts rose 1.4 percent to 299,000 units.

Meanwhile, prospective homebuyers are struggling to find houses in some submarkets. Last month, new residential sales activity grew 15.6 percent nationally.

David Crowe, chief economist for NAHB, said that based on permit activity, residential construction is likely to continue its upward trajectory throughout the coming year.

Overall, building permits issued for privately owned housing units increased 4.6 percent over January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 946,000 – 33.8 percent higher than 12 months before. Within that number, single-family housing permits were up 2.7 percent over the month to 600,000. NAHB reported that multifamily permits increased 8.1 percent to 346,000 units.

Housing completions were down slightly for the month, but up 24.3 percent for the year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 711,000. Single-family completions were up 3.6 percent over January to rate of 574,000.