Housing stats started off strong in 2020, but officials say the current health situation could be felt later in the year.

"We're not seeing as many renovations, sheds, decks... people are in a holding pattern just to see what's going on with their jobs and next paycheques," MSTW General Manager Glen Wieler explains, though it doesn't seem to have hit housing yet.

"Replacing the deck isn't a high priority, but new housing doesn't seem to be slowing down," he adds.

Wieler says it's hard to predict how the current health situation will create ripple effects as many projects have been many months in the making, "you get that big train running you can't just stop it. The next three to six months will really tell us what's happened."

In Winkler, total permits were down from 40 to 31 in the first quarter of the year compared to the same time last year. The value of the work was down from $8.2 million to $6.2 million. However, single-family homes were up one to ten.

In Morden, permits were up 3 to 16 and a total permit value of $1.6 million.

In the RM of Stanley, permits were up 5 to 14. The value of work was down approximately half a million to $660,000.