By Richard MizeReal Estate editor rmize@oklahoman.comHomebuilders hurried into spring at a pace 2.7% above last year, but the rush has subsided: In the dead of summer, starts slipped 2.6% below midyear-2018, statistics show. Sales are strong, though, builders said, soaking up inventory of new move-in-ready houses. Builders started 2,936 new houses through July, compared with 3,014 during the first seven months of last year, in Oklahoma City, unincorporated Oklahoma County, Bethany, Blanchard, Choctaw, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Mustang, Newcastle, Noble, Norman, Shawnee and Yukon, according to The Builder Report by Norman-based Dharma Inc. "Buyer mood has been better than it has in the last couple years.Read more on NewsOK.com