Calgary's actual housing starts increased by 52 per cent in July, boosted primarily by increased activity in the city's multi-family sector.

According to the latest numbers from Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC), housing starts in the city numbered 1,383 units in July, up from 910 during the same month in 2012.

As temperatures in Calgary increased in May, so did the city's housing starts.

"The trend of total housing starts increased slightly in May, due to strong construction in both the single-detached and multi-family markets," said Richard Cho, senior market analyst for Calgary with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

For the month of May, housing starts in the city were 11,316 units compared to 11,270 in April. The trend is a six month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) of total housing starts.

Jumping into the new home pool is first-time buyer Duncan Hall, 25, set to take possession of his newly constructed condo in July.

"I have rented before but found that owning is smarter in the long run," he said. "I didn't like paying someone else's mortgage when I was renting and wanted to own something that would help me in the long run."