HBWeekly

Texas Top Home Builders – September 2020

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of leading residential construction contractors in Texas based on new permits on record with HBW during the month of September 2020

Last month, there were 7,785 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $1.7 billion in the Lone Star State. Out of the four major metropolitan areas factored into the total (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), Houston carried the highest concentration of new home construction activity (3,881 permits), while the higher value properties continued to thrive in Dallas where the average value of new home construction was $269,916.

Diving deeper into HBW’s monthly construction data reports, several home builders were identified as leading new construction across the state – Based on the total new permits on record with HBW for the one-month period, both D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes continue to dominate the market, having 1,319 and 527 housing starts respectively.

Here is a closer look at the leading home builders by Texas metro area and as based on total new residential construction permits added to the HBW database during the month of September 2020:

Houston

Last month, there were more than 3,880 housing starts with a total construction value of approximately $690 million in the Houston area.

Out of the 300 active contractors with new construction activity in the Houston area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on record:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	699
2-K Hovnanian Homes	274
3-Lennar Homes	211
4-Legend Homes	150
5-Pulte Homes	146

Dallas

In the Dallas area, there were nearly 2,415 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $651 million during the month of September.

Out of the approximately 215 contractors with housing starts in the area, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	407
2-Lennar Homes	167
3-Bloomfield Homes	95
4-Meritage Homes	90
5-Gehan Homes	86

Austin

In the Austin area, there were approximately 860 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $216 million last month.

Out of the nearly 100 contractors with new residential construction activity on record for the one-month period, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	181
2-Lennar Homes	82
3-Pulte Homes	50
4-KB Homes	42
5-Perry Homes	38

San Antonio

Last month, there were 630 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $150.5 million in San Antonio.

Out of the nearly 90 home builders with new permits added to the HBW database during the one-month period, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	67
2-Continental Homes of Texas	59
3-Bella Vista CMI	45
4-LGI Homes	37
5-Fieldstone Communities	34

To gain more information on the builders, homeowners and permits for the construction activity above, check out HBW for your copy of the latest construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest residential and commercial building activity in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.

Texas Swimming Pool Construction Review – September 2020

Posted on October 17, 2020 by Erika Carruth

An HBW report of the latest construction permit data for new swimming pools in Texas during the month of September 2020

In Texas, there were approximately 1,233 swimming pool construction permits with a total value in excess of $59M added to the HBW database last month. Out of the four major metropolitan areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), Dallas held the highest volume of pool starts (616 new permits) for the one-month period, while Houston carried the highest average value of new pool construction (average value: $57,256).

Here is a closer look at the latest permit data from the HBW database for new swimming pool construction in each of the four major metro areas of the Lone Star State:

Dallas

As previously noted, Dallas held the greatest concentration of new swimming pool construction last month, having more than 615 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $26M. The average value of pool construction landed mid-range (average value: $42,305) in comparison to other Texas areas reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from the two counties of Collin (223 permits) and Tarrant (158 permits).

Out of the more than 185 contractors with new swimming pool construction activity on record for the one-month period, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Riverbend Pools	43
2-Foley Custom Pools	29
3- Puryear Custom Pools	28

Houston

Houston ranked #2 for swimming pool construction, having more than 440 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $25.2M on record last month. The average value of construction was highest in Houston (average value: $57,256) in relation to other areas reviewed, and the county with the greatest concentration of pool starts was Harris County (184 permits).

Out of the nearly 175 pool builders with new construction activity on record in the Houston areas last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Mckinney Custom Pools	23
2-Supreme Pools & Spas	22
3-Platinum Pools	21

Austin

Last month, there were nearly 100 swimming pool starts with a total construction value of approximately $5.3M in the Austin area. The average value of construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $54,150) in comparison to other Texas metropolitan areas, and nearly all new swimming pool construction activity took place in Travis County (70 permits).

Out of the nearly 50 contractors with new construction permits on record with HBW for the one-month period, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Cody Pools	21
2-Anthony & Sylvan Pools	12
3-Texas Pools & Patios	8

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were nearly 80 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $2.4M during the month of September. The average value of new swimming pool construction was lowest in San Antonio (average value: $31,090) in comparison to other Texas areas reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from the County of Bexar (48 permits).

Out of the more than 30 contractors with new swimming pool construction activity on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Keith Zars Pools	14
2-Cody Pools	9
3-Alamo Pool Builders	8

Quarterly Report: Texas Residential Construction Q3-2020

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of permit data on record with HBW for new home construction in Texas from January through September of this year

Since the start of this year (thru Q3-2020), Texas has experienced gains in new home construction as there has already been an 11 percent year-over-year increase in housing starts. Based on the latest HBW Building Activity Trend Report for the four major metropolitan areas of Texas (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin), there has been a combined total of approximately 63,080 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database through the third quarter of this year. All major cities and surrounding areas reviewed exhibited year-over-year gains in new home construction ranging from 2 percent (Austin) to 14 percent (Dallas).

Here is a closer look at new home construction activity through Q3-2020 in each of the four major metro areas of the Lone Star State:

Houston

Out of the four Texas metro areas reviewed, Houston holds the highest volume of new home construction, having approximately 27,210 new residential construction permits on record with HBW through the third quarter of this year; while it may still be too early to determine, it appears that new home construction in the Houston area is on the rise as there has already been a 12 percent year-over-year increase in housing starts. Out of the five counties reviewed, more than half of all new construction took place in Harris County (13,921 permits).

When looking into the data further to identify higher value properties (value > $500k), just over 3 percent (865 permits) of all permits are for higher value residential construction projects, which is just slightly ahead of figures from the previous year.

Dallas

When it comes to annual gains in the market, Dallas is leading so far this year; with more than 20,520 new residential construction permits through Q3-2020, the Dallas area has exhibited the greatest year-over-year increase (+ 14%) in new home construction. More than half of all housing starts originated from the two counties of Tarrant (6,531 permits) and Collin (5,105 permits), with both counties demonstrating year-over-year increases in new home construction of 17 percent and 22 percent respectively.

Out of all Texas regions reviewed, the Dallas areas carries the greatest concentration of higher value (>$500k) housing starts, having nearly 970 new residential construction permits with values in excess of $500k through the third quarter of this year.

Austin

As previously noted, the Austin area appears to be in line and just slightly ahead of last year in terms of new residential construction through the third quarter. From January through September of this year, there have been more than 9,600 housing starts in the Austin area, reflecting a 2 percent year-over-year increase. More than half of all new residential construction has taken place in Travis County where there have been approximately 5,330 housing starts so far this year (thru Q3-2020).

When reviewing higher value construction projects (value > $500k), the Austin area appears to be slightly behind last year’s figures, as there have been just over 340 higher value residential construction permits added to the HBW database through the third quarter.

San Antonio

Through the third quarter of this year, there have been nearly 5,750 housing starts in the San Antonio area, reflecting a 9 percent year-over-year increase in new home construction. Out of the three counties reviewed, the bulk of all new permits originated from Bexar County (~3,710 permits), where there has been a 6 percent year-over-year increase in housing starts.

As far as higher value new home construction (value > $500k) is concerned, the San Antonio area appears to be slightly ahead of last year’s figures, having 136 new higher value residential construction permits on record with HBW through Q3-2020.

Atlanta Swimming Pool Construction Review – Q3-2020

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of construction permit data for new swimming pools in the Atlanta area through the third quarter of 2020

Since the start of this year (thru September), there have been 2,334 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database for the Metro Atlanta area. Based on the latest HBW Swimming Pool Construction Activity Trend Report, new swimming pool construction has been on the rise in the Atlanta area since 2015, and so far this year, the upward trend appears to be holding steady as there has already been an impressive 21 percent year-over-year increase in new pool construction through the third quarter.

When reviewing the latest reports to identify where the greatest amount of new swimming pool construction activity is taking place, three counties appear to be standouts – Nearly 40 percent of all new pool construction in the Atlanta area this year has taken place in the counties of Cobb, Cherokee and Fulton.

The greatest concentration of new pool construction permits originated from Cobb County where there have been 317 pool starts through Q3-2020, reflecting a 32 percent year-over-year increase. Not far behind Cobb, the two counties of Cherokee and Fulton have had approximately 290 pool starts each through the third quarter of this year, with Cherokee County exhibiting the greatest year-over-year increase (+77 percent) in construction.

Within HBW reports, subscribers can view a breakdown of construction permit data and compare rates of growth year after year and county by county. Using this feature of the report, we noted that there have been numerous Metro Atlanta area counties that appear to be experiencing significant spikes in pool construction, while others are showing signs of a decline. For example, and as previously mentioned, swimming pool construction appears to be gaining traction in Cherokee County, as there has been a 77 percent year-over-year increase in pool starts since the start of this year. Another county where pool construction is on the rise is Gwinnett County, where there has been nearly a 60 percent year-over-year increase in pool starts (thru Q3-2020), resulting in more than 260 new permits on record with HBW.

On the other hand, there are also a few areas where new swimming pool construction is limited or not taking place at all; such areas include the counties of Clarke and Banks where there haven’t been any pool starts this year, as well as Clayton, Rockdale, and Newton where there have been less than 20 new swimming pool construction permits pulled through the third quarter of this year.

By using HBW quarterly reports to identify hot (and not so hot) spots for construction, contractors can be more targeted and precise with marketing efforts, as well as identify areas where their services may be in demand to determine if and when to expand their service area. As with all HBW reports, the information about the properties, owners and projects can also be accessed, allowing contractors to gain a deeper understanding of prospects’ properties and needs.

Information utilized for the above listed figures for Metro Atlanta swimming pool construction was directly derived from HBW construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest residential and commercial building activity in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.

Quarterly Review – Atlanta Residential Construction Q3-2020

Posted on October 7, 2020 by Erika Carruth

An overview of new residential construction permit data on record with HBW for the Atlanta area from January through September 2020

Based on HBW’s latest Building Activity Trend Report for new residential construction in the metro Atlanta area, the market has experienced a 7 percent year-over-year decline through the third quarter of 2020. From January through September of this year, there have been approximately 16,500 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database for the Atlanta area, with five out of the twenty-four counties reviewed holding close to 50 percent of all housing starts.

Just looking at volume of new home construction by area (thru Q3-2020), Gwinnett County (2,524 permits) currently holds the highest concentration of new residential construction permits out of any county reviewed, reflecting a 5 percent year-over-year increase in housing starts. Next in line, Cherokee County had more than 1,600 housing starts through the third quarter of this year, reflecting a 5 percent year-over-year decrease in new home construction so far this year. Another county where new home construction is high in the Atlanta area is Cobb County – Through the third quarter of this year, there has been an 8 percent year-over-year increase in housing starts in Cobb County, resulting in more than 1,450 new residential construction permits on record with HBW.

When reviewing the latest reports for areas that have exhibited increases and growth in new residential construction, a few counties are significantly ahead of last year’s figures… Those counties include Newton (507 permits), Hall (897 permits) and Bartow (492 permits). Since the start of this year, the counties of Hall and Newton appear to be climbing out of last year’s annual decline in residential construction as both areas have demonstrated year-over-year increases of 9 percent and 13 percent respectively (thru Q3-2020). As for Bartow County, the area had a strong year in 2019 where it exhibited growth in the market, and so far this year it appears to be maintaining the upward trend, demonstrating a 25 percent year-over-year increase in new home construction.

Information utilized for the above listed figures for Metro Atlanta residential construction was directly derived from HBW construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest residential and commercial building activity in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.

Tips for Recruiting from Your Website

Posted on October 2, 2020 by Erika Carruth

It seems as though just about everyone in the construction industry is looking for skilled professionals to join their growing workforce. Let’s face it, in the competitive industry of construction, it is can be challenging to find experienced, skilled and knowledgeable team members, especially for those who are within specialty areas of construction. For this reason, it is important to diversify and adjust your recruiting efforts to attract top talent, and one of the easiest places to begin is your website.

If you do not already have a career page, start there. While job search engines, websites and social platforms are a given in recruiting, your own company’s website is probably one of the first places a job seeker will look to learn more about your company and open positions. To make the most of this opportunity, your career page should provide more than just a list of jobs and descriptions – it should serve as an advertisement for your company to potential candidates. Just in the same way you update and improve your marketing efforts to attract clients, your career page should be updated and engaging to attract talent.

Here are a few tips to improve and develop a career page that will be worthy of a new resume:

Know Your Audience – It is important to know exactly what job seekers within the industry are searching for… There are a variety of areas that are important to address beyond the responsibilities of the position; such areas include:
1. Company reputation
2. Number of employees
3. Years in business
4. Remote work and flexible schedule options
5. Work environment
6. Compensation/bonus structure and benefits, etc.

The more informative and transparent you are in your page, the better. And don’t be afraid to be upfront about safety precautions you and your business are taking to address the most recent concerns related to COVID-19.

2. Share Your Story – Your career page is a great place to share more personal information about your company to connect with candidates. This is where you can share your core values and beliefs, company culture and the extra efforts you take to care for employees. You may also consider adding a video testimonial with your own employees sharing why they enjoy working for your business.

3. Give it Purpose – When you are creating or updating your current career page, you should focus on the primary purpose and objective of the page – to provide candidates with all of the information and guidance they need to make an informed decision. Create a page that is user-friendly, easy to navigate and clearly states how candidates should (and should not) contact your company to learn more, submit a resume, and follow up. By spelling out what to expect and explaining the hiring process, candidates can gain confidence in the application process, and you can eliminate unnecessary calls/emails regarding the status of an application or next steps.

Although there are a multitude of areas to address in a career page, from design to content, an employer can start by using their own experience as a guide – What would you want to see if you were applying for a position within your company? By considering the questions that job seekers would ask themselves as they browse your website, you can attract and inform candidates in a meaningful way, ultimately converting a job seeker to a new employee.

For more information on construction industry trends and business tips, stay connected with the HBW Blog. To get ahead of construction activity and gain access to the latest permitting data in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma, contact HBW for more information on construction data reports and industry leads.

Contractor Holiday Marketing During COVID-19

Posted on September 30, 2020 by Erika Carruth

With the holidays fast approaching, it is important that businesses consider current conditions when launching holiday marketing campaigns

Let’s face it, the pandemic has flipped everyone’s world upside down. From health and safety measures to how we live and work, the last several months have been seemingly ever-changing. These changes are being felt across the board, and from a business perspective, every industry has experienced the impacts in their workflow, staffing and operations. From a marketing perspective, it has altered content and calendars, making it difficult to know how and when to launch previously scheduled campaigns. With everyone’s schedule still feeling a bit up in the air, it is important to take time to review your content and communications schedule to ensure that timing is still right and relevant.

When it comes to holiday marketing, reviewing your messaging is especially important. With the holidays being right around the corner, it is vital that your communications are sensitive to the current state of your customers’ families and businesses, as well as the uncertain social and political climate in which we are living. The holidays will most certainly look different this year for everyone, so it is essential to take extra thought and care in how and when to approach your clients and prospects.

In previous years, your holiday-related marketing efforts may have focused on gift giving or how to best prepare homes for dinner parties and guests. With social distancing measures still in place, more homes will be quiet and there will be less group gatherings. With unemployment still a reality for many, the focus on gifts may be on more practical and affordable options (if any) rather than extravagant extras. Such a change in focus for the buyer should shift your approach and offerings as well. Here are a few key things to keep in mind as you begin to launch your holiday marketing strategy:

Cater to Current Interest – While catering to your target audience’s main interest areas is a given in marketing, keep in mind that the focal area may have shifted due to fear and challenges resulting from the pandemic. Think about pushing forward the services and products that meet your target’s highest priority need. For example, an HVAC installer should focus on pushing forward clean air benefits related to filtering viruses, and floor installers should share the benefits of hard floors versus other surfaces when it comes to sanitizing and keeping a clean and healthy home.
Make it Easy and Contactless – To really expect any response or purchase at all during this time, you must make it easy for buyers to make a purchase and/or place an order. Additionally, transactions should be completely contactless, so if you do not already have online purchasing options for your services, now is the time to put one in place. To put it simply, you will want to remove any risk and inconvenience in the purchasing process.
Make it Safe – Lead with safety by taking all appropriate precautions. Don’t be afraid to put front-and-center your message regarding safety measures you and your team are taking to protect your clients and each other. For many who are on the fence about having a contractor, installer or designer in their homes, the extra reassurance and confidence that can be provided by clearly stating the safety precautions you have in place can convert an undecided prospect to a confirmed buyer.

By connecting with your leads in a way that is meaningful and thoughtful, you have the ability to learn more about their needs and ensure that the services you offer will meet them. It will also allow you to nurture existing client relationships that can build and strengthen your business well beyond the holiday season.

For more information on construction business and marketing tips, stay connected with the HBW Blog. To get ahead of construction activity and gain access to the latest permitting data in Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma, contact HBW for more information on construction data reports and industry leads.

Florida Swimming Pool Construction Review – August 2020

Posted on September 25, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of the latest permit data on record with HBW for new swimming pool construction in Florida during the month of August 2020

According to the HBW database, last month there were nearly 3,260 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $154 million in Florida. Out of the five regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), Southwest Florida (1,008 permits) carried the highest volume of new swimming pool construction permits, while Jacksonville continued to have the highest average value of new pool construction (average value: $54,752).

Here is a closer look at the latest permit data for new swimming pool construction in each of the five Florida regions during the month of August 2020:

Southwest Florida

As previously mentioned, the southwestern region of Florida carried the highest volume of pool starts last month, having 1,008 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $46.6 million on record with HBW. The average value of new pool construction landed mid-range in the southwest (average value: $46,253) in relation to other Florida regions reviewed, and the county with the greatest concentration of new pool construction activity was Lee County (369 permits).

Out of the nearly 170 contractors with new swimming pool construction permits on record for the southwestern region of Florida last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Coast to Coast Pools	95
2-Aragon Pools & Spas	74
3-Pinnacle USA	55

Southeast Florida

Southeast Florida ranked #2 for new pool construction last month, having 733 starts with a total value of approximately $28.8 million. The average value of new swimming pool construction was lowest in the southeast (average value: $39,280) in comparison to other Florida regions, and the bulk of all new permits originated from the counties of Palm Beach (264 permits) and Miami-Dade (253 permits).

Out of the more than 190 pool contractors with new construction activity on record in the area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Fountain Blue Pool Service	25
2-Crystal Pools	25
3-A&G Concrete Pools	23

Orlando

In Orlando, there were 583 swimming pool starts with a total construction value of nearly $28.7 million last month. The average value of construction was $49,211, and the county with the highest concentration of new swimming pool construction activity was Orange County with 253 permits for the one-month period.

Out of the approximately 130 contractors with new swimming pool construction activity on record in the Orlando area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-All Seasons	39
2-American Pools & Spas	38
3-Dreamscapes Pools & Spas	33

Tampa

In line with Orlando’s figures, the Tampa area had approximately 570 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $30 million last month. The average value of new pool construction in the Tampa area (average value: $52,730) landed on the higher end of the spectrum in relation to other regions reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from the two counties of Pasco (162 permits) and Hillsborough (138 permits).

Out of the 130 active pool builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits on record with HBW:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Olympus Pools	43
2-Challenger Pools	25
3-Riviera Pools of Tampa	24

Jacksonville

Last month, there were 365 pool starts with a total construction value of approximately $20 million in Jacksonville. The average value of new pool construction was highest in the Jacksonville area (average value: $54,752) in relation to other Florida regions reviewed, and the bulk of all new permits originated from the two counties of St. Johns (160 permits) and Duval (110 permits).

Out of the nearly 90 contractors with new swimming pool construction on record in the area, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Pools by John Clarkson	34
2-Island Pools	21
3-Tier 1 Pools and Spas	14

Top Florida Home Builders – August 2020

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A look at the leading home builders driving new construction in Florida during the month of August 2020

Last week, we reviewed new residential construction permit data for Florida during the month of August, where we reported approximately 7,660 new residential construction permits on record with HBW. This week, we are taking a closer look at the leading home builders driving new construction across the Sunshine State.

From a broad view and across the five major regions reviewed (Tampa, Southwest, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes continue to dominate the market, having 1,166 and 830 new residential construction permits on record for the one-month period respectively.

Here is a closer look at leading contractors by Florida region, as based on total new residential construction permits for the month of August 2020:

Tampa

Out of the nearly 220 active contractors with new permits on record last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	298
2-The Villages of Lake Sumter	149
3-Lennar Homes	122
4-Meritage Homes	93
5-Pulte Homes	81

Southwest

Last month, there were approximately 250 contractors with housing starts on record with HBW for the southwestern region of Florida, and the following ranked as top five for highest volume of new permits.

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	207
2-Lennar Homes	191
3-Taylor Morrison	145
4-Pulte Homes	138
5-Neal Communities of SW FL	102

Orlando

Out of the 200 contractors with new residential construction activity on record in the Orlando area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	267
2-Lennar Homes	152
3-Meritage Homes	123
4-M/I Homes	71
5-Pulte Homes	69

Southeast

In the southeastern region of the state, there were 165 active home builders with new construction activity on record last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	122
2-D.R. Horton	116
3-GL Building Corp	99
4-Maronda Homes	55
5-Holiday Builders	53

Jacksonville

Last month, there were more than 130 home builders with new construction activity on record in the Jacksonville area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	278
2-Lennar Homes	243
3-Dream Finders Home	192
4-KB Homes	119
5-American Classic Homes	97

Florida Residential Construction Review – August 2020

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of permit data for new home construction in Florida during the month of August 2020

When it comes to new home construction in Florida, Central Florida came out on top last month. Out of the approximately 7,660 new residential construction permits on record with HBW for the month of August, nearly 1,770 housing starts originated from the Orlando area, the highest volume of new residential construction in any Florida region reviewed for the one-month period. In relation to other Florida areas reviewed, Orlando also carried the highest average value of new home construction (average value: $315,114).

To gain a better understanding of new residential construction and related permit data by Florida region, here is a breakdown of total permits, average value of construction and leading counties for the month of August 2020:

Orlando

In Orlando, there were approximately 1,770 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $557.5 million last month. As previously stated, the average value of new home construction was highest in the Orlando area (average value: $315,114) in relation to other Florida regions reviewed, and the county with the highest concentration of new construction activity was Orange County with more than 650 new permits on record for the month.

Tampa

Not far behind Orlando, the Tampa area had 1,696 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $435 million last month. The average value of new home construction Tampa (average value: $256,544) landed mid-range in comparison to other regions reviewed, and the county with the greatest concentration of new home construction was Polk County (788 permits).

Southwest

In the southwestern region of Florida, there were 1,636 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $404 million last month. The average value of construction was $246,934, and the county with the greatest concentration of housing starts was Lee County (563 permits).

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were 1,587 housing starts with a total construction value of approximately $329.4 million during the month of August. The average value of new home construction was lowest in Jacksonville (average value: $207,560) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the majority of new construction permits originated from the two counties of Duval (773 permits) and St. Johns (502 permits).

Southeast

In the southeastern region of Florida, there were just over 970 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $250.5 million last month. The average value of new home construction was $257,899, and the county with the highest volume of new residential construction permit activity for the one-month period was St. Lucie County (470 permits).