Housing activity in Cherokee County has dropped off for three of the past four months, but this fall's pace is better than last year's.

There were 32 single-family housing permits issued countywide in November, a drop from 40 issued in October, but an increase from 27 issued in November last year.

So far this year, there have been 505 permits issued in the county, down from 903 permits issued at this time last year.

Mike Shina, president of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association Cherokee Chapter, said the county is going in the right direction despite the dip in starts. He said his company, Windsong Properties in Woodstock, has seen a busy two quarters.

"At this time last year, not only did we have no sales, we lost sales we had on the books," he said about the state of the economy last winter. "The numbers are more positive than they were last year."

Shina said niche markets are doing well, but the lack of demand from families looking for a new home is holding down the numbers.

"That family buyer is gone, and that is the blood and guts of Cherokee housing," he said.

The county building department, which covers unincorporated Cherokee as well as the city of Waleska, issued 16 permits last month, down from 20 issued in October and 18 issued in November last year. The county has approved 258 permits so far this year, down from 512 at this time last year.

Woodstock gave out 14 single-family permits last month, up from five in October and seven in November last year. This year so far, the city has issued 83 permits, down from 107 at this time last year.

Canton filled just two permit requests last month, dropping from 10 in October, but still up from just one permit issued in November last year.

Building Official Mark Crosby said he is optimistic that activity will start picking back up.

"[Builders] are starting some spec houses. You did not see that six months ago," he said.

The city has issued 66 single-family permits so far this year, down from 124 at this time last year.

Holly Springs did not issue any housing permits last month, according to Chief Building Official Chris Keown. The city issued four permits in October and one in November.

He said the lack of activity in the city for the month is typical for the season.

"Usually, at the end of the year, it generally slows down," he said about housing activity. "We anticipated for permits to be slower this time of year."

The city has issued 72 housing permits so far this year, down from 132 at this time in 2008.

Ball Ground did not fill any permit requests last month. The city issued one in October and none in November. So far this year, the city has approved 26 permits, up from 23 at this time last year.

The city of Nelson has not issued any permits in Cherokee this year and issued none last year.