It's getting easier to buy a house as new-home construction sees a surprising jump

• November housing starts rose 14.8% from the prior month, hitting an annual level of 1.56 million.
• The jump came as a surprise, as Wall Street had expected 1.36 million. 
• The number of homes completed rose 5% to 1.45 million, but permits edged lower on the month. 

Housing starts saw an unexpected 14.8% jump in November compared to the prior month, according to Census Bureau data released Tuesday.

The annualized rate climbed to 1.56 million last month from October's downwardly revised rate of 1.359 million. Wall Street was expecting 1.36 million.

The number of homes completed rose 5% to 1.45 million. At the same time, permits for new homes declined 2.5% to 1.46 million, roughly in line with expectations, and are down 4.1% from a year ago.