2011 was another tough year for Twin Cities-area home builders, but it wasn't as bad as 2009. Throughout the metro area 2,978 permits were issued to build 4,529 units, including for sale housing and rental apartments, according to data from the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. That's down 20 percent from 2010, but a very slight improvement compared with 2009.

More than a third of all new units last year were attached housing - mostly rental apartments, down slightly from the prior year. Strengthening demand for new houses helped take up some of that slack, a sign that consumers are feeling only a bit more confident.

"While our builders have been seeing small signs of recovery all year, it was pretty clear that any sustained growth would remain elusive," said Rich Riemersma, 2011 president of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities and a builder himself.

Because demand for rentals has been strongest in Minneapolis, builders in that city were issued permits to build 416 units - more planned than any other municipality last year. Blaine was next with 336 units and Woodbury followed with 292 units.