2018 saw a sharp drop in the number of permits taken out in Ritchot for single family homes.

There were 50 permits taken out in 2018, compared to 76 in 2017. St. Adolphe saw 24 new housing starts, Grande Pointe had 10, in Ile des Chenes there were 9, in Ste. Agathe there was 1, while the rural area had 6.

Even though St. Adolphe had nearly half of all permits for single family homes, that number was way down from 2017, when 59 permits were pulled.

Ritchot Mayor Chris Ewen says he is not sure why construction stumbled in 2018.

"I don't know if that has something to do with the market trends, the increase of interest rates for mortgages," he says. "I'm not surprised but I'm hopeful for 2019 to be a more prosperous year."

Meanwhile, total construction was up in 2018. There were 158 total permits taken out, up from 148 in 2017. Last year's highlights included 38 decks, 24 accessory buildings and 19 basement renovations. Total construction last year reached $26.7 million.