Single-family housing starts -- starts for homes not considered multi-unit properties or to be apartment buildings -- was mostly unchanged, slipping 1,000 units on a seasonally-adjusted annualized basis. The Housing Starts data is the third housing-related release this week that hints at a strong start for the 2013 housing market. Early in the week, the National Association of Homebuilders released its Housing Market Index (HMI), a measure of home builder confidence in the new construction market. The HMI posted 46 -- the highest reading since 2006. With mortgage rates low and buyer traffic high, builders are expecting a rash of sales between now and the New Year, and an elevated number of closing over the next six months, in general. The HMI is scored on a scale of 1-100. One year ago, it read 19. Then, the National Association of REALTORS® showed Existing Home Sales climbing 2.1% and home supply fell to a multi-year low. At the current sales pace, the entire U.S. home inventory would be sold in just 5.4 months. Analysts believe that a home supply of less than 6.0 months favors home sellers. In unison, these three housing market reports suggest a sustained, national housing market recovery. Home prices are expected to rise into next year's housing market.