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Atlanta Home Building Report through Q2-2018

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Erika Carruth

Atlanta residential construction holds steady through Q2-2018.

Residential construction in Atlanta has remained steady in comparison to last year. In the first half of this year, there have been nearly 12,280 housing starts added to the HBW database, and more than 3% have been for high value homes with total construction values in excess of $500k.

County by county, the highest concentration of new home construction could be found in Gwinnett County (1,813 permits), Forsyth County (1,369 permits) and Fulton County (1,260 permits). The top five counties for total permits through the second quarter of this year are as follows:

ATL Top Five Counties for Total Permits thru Q2-2018

When looking at areas for growth patterns, there were a few standout counties…

Hall County has been on an upward climb in residential construction over the past five years, and in the first half of 2018 alone, there has been a 21% year-over-year increase in housing starts, resulting in 615 new residential construction permits in the HBW database. Cobb County has also been reflecting a growth pattern; since 2016, housing starts have been on the rise in Cobb, and this year, the area has continued this growth pattern having a 29% year-over-year increase resulting in 1,167 new residential construction permits through Q2-2018. Another county to watch is Forsyth – Forsyth County has seen annual drops in residential construction activity over the last two years, but 2018 appears to be showing a more positive outlook; through Q2, Forsyth is already ahead of last year by 12% and will exceed 2017 if it remains on this trajectory.

Although higher value construction made up less than 3% of total housing starts in Atlanta last year, this year the Atlanta area appears to be on track for exceeding those figures; in the first half of 2018 there have already been close to 400 higher value (>$500k) housing starts, with the second quarter reflecting a notable increase. The counties with the greatest volume of higher value residential construction permits are Fulton, Cobb and Cherokee.

Information utilized for the graphs and 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.

Florida Top Home Builders – June 2018

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Erika Carruth

HBW reviews the latest residential permitting data and home builder activity for the month of June 2018.

While it wasn’t a record-breaking month for Florida home builders in June, there were more than 6,000 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $1.6B added to the HBW database last month. Out of the five major regions reviewed (SW, SE, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville), the southwest region ranked #1 for total housing starts, having 1,453 new permits and a total construction value of $355M, and the Tampa area ranked second highest with 1,421 housing starts and more than $371M in total construction value for the one-month period.

The average value of residential construction statewide ranged from a low of $230k (Jacksonville) to the highest average value of $325k (Orlando), and while top builders varied by area, D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes were leading builders and ranked #1 in multiple regions throughout the Sunshine State.

Here’s a look at the top five builders by area for the month of June 2018:

Southwest Florida

In the southwest region of Florida, there were nearly 210 active builders with a total of 1,453 new residential construction permits on file for the month. The top five builders for total new permits in June are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	263
D.R. Horton	191
Pulte Homes	151
Neal Communities of SW FL	102
Taylor Morrison	72

Tampa

In Tampa, there were nearly 200 active builders with a total of 1,421 new residential construction permits on file for the month. The top five builders for total new permits in June are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	206
D.R. Horton	143
Pulte Homes	91
The Villages of Lake Sumter	90
M/I Homes	63

Orlando

In Orlando, there were more than 175 active builders with 1,235 new residential construction permits on file for the month. The top five builders for total new permits in June are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	128
Meritage Homes	99
Taylor Morrison	65
Lennar Homes	61
M/I Homes	47

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were 135 active builders with nearly 1,065 new residential construction permits on file for the month. The top five builders for total new permits in June are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	187
Lennar Homes	70
K B Homes	68
American Classic Homes	68
Dream Finders Home LLC	58

Southeast Florida

In the southeast region of Florida, there were just over 160 active builders with approximately 840 new residential construction permits on file for the month. The top five builders for total new permits in June are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	139
Lennar Homes	114
Pulte Homes	38
Minto Communities	32
Kolter Signature Homes	31

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.

HBW Report: Florida Swimming Pool Construction – June 2018

Posted on July 13, 2018 by Erika Carruth

HBW reviews the latest permitting data for swimming pool construction during the month of June 2018.

Last month, approximately 1,790 new swimming pool permits with a total construction value of $74.5M were added to the HBW database for Florida; this reflects an 8% month-over-month increase in new pool construction activity. We reviewed the permitting data for five major regions in the Sunshine State (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Southeast, Southwest), and while the Southwest (438 permits) had the greatest number of pool starts, Jacksonville led the state for average value of construction (average value: $45,167).

Here’s a closer look at new pool construction activity in Florida for the month of June 2018:

Southwest

New pool construction activity was highest in the southwestern region of Florida. Last month, the area had 438 pool starts with a total construction value of nearly $19M. The average value of new construction was on the higher end for the state coming in at $43,220, and the county with the highest volume of pool starts was Lee (133 permits).

Orlando

Last month, Orlando experienced close to a 25% month-over-month increase in new pool construction, resulting in more than 400 pool starts with a total value of nearly $16M. The average value of construction was on the lower end of the spectrum at $39,680, and the highest concentration of new pool construction could be found in the counties of Osceola (122 permits), Orange (104 permits) and Brevard (102 permits).

Southeast

Not far behind Orlando, the southeastern region of Florida had 393 pool starts with a total construction value of nearly $15M last month. The highest concentration of new permits originated from Palm Beach County (139 permits), and the average value of new pool construction (average value: $38,144) was lower than any other region reviewed.

Tampa

New pool construction in Tampa was consistent with the average volume for Florida last month. In June, there were more than 385 pool starts with a total construction value of nearly $17M. The average value of new pool construction was second highest for the state at $43,921, and the larger county of Hillsborough carried the greatest concentration of pool starts (143 permits) for the area.

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were nearly 170 swimming pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $7.5M on file for the month of June. The majority of new construction took place in the counties of Duval (64 permits) and St. Johns (60 permits), and the average value of construction was higher than any other Florida area reviewed at $45,167.

HBW Report: Texas Swimming Pool Construction Update – June 2018

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Erika Carruth

HBW reports on the latest permitting data for new swimming pool construction activity in Texas.

Texas Swimming Pool Permits by Area – June 2018

During the month of June, Texas experienced a slight month-over-month decrease (-5%) in new swimming pool construction. During the one-month period, there were nearly 720 new swimming pool permits with a total construction value of approximately $36M added to the HBW database. Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), the Dallas area continued to lead for highest volume of new swimming pool permits (361 permits), while Houston moved in take top spot for highest average value of new pool construction (average construction value: $57,026).

Here is a closer look at the monthly new swimming pool construction activity for the month of June by metro area:

Dallas

Dallas was the only area to experience a spike in swimming pool starts; last month, there were just over 360 new pool permits with a total construction value of nearly $16.7M, reflecting an 8% month-over-month increase in new pool construction activity. The average value of pool construction in the area was just over $46k, and the counties with the greatest concentration of swimming pool starts were Tarrant (107 permits), Dallas (86 permits) and Collin (86 permits).

Houston

Last month, the Houston area ranked second highest for total swimming pool starts. In June, Houston experienced a 15% month-over-month decrease in new pool construction resulting in nearly 220 pool starts with a total construction value of approximately $12.5M. As previously mentioned, the average value of new pool construction was higher in Houston than other major areas reviewed coming in just above $57k. More than half of all new construction took place in Harris County (139 permits).

Austin

New swimming pool construction in Austin has remained somewhat steady over the last couple of months. Last month, there were 78 new swimming pool permits with a total value of nearly $4M added to the HBW database; this reflects a 5% month-over-month dip in new pool construction, but considering the total number of permits, it is a minor fluctuation. The average value of construction was on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $50.3k), and nearly all new pool construction took place in Travis County (64 permits).

San Antonio

Swimming pool construction figures for San Antonio reflect a 15% month-over-month decrease, resulting in 60 new pool permits with a total value of $2.6M on file for June. The average value of construction was lowest in the San Antonio area at $43,866, and nearly all new pool construction took place in Bexar County (49 permits).

To gain more information on the builders and permits for the swimming pool 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 Residential Construction Report – June 2018

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Erika Carruth

An HBW review of new home construction in Texas during the month of June 2018

Texas New Residential Construction Permits – June 2018

Over the last couple of months, housing starts have been on a slight downward slope in Texas. During the month of June, the Lonestar State experienced an 8% month-over-month decrease in new residential construction. Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), Houston ranked highest for total housing starts (2,575), while Dallas continued its lead for higher value construction (average value: $293,613).

When looking at the builders leading new home construction, D.R. Horton ranked #1 in three out four areas (all with the exception of San Antonio), and Lennar Homes and KB Homes also held top positions on the leaderboard in most of the metropolitan areas reviewed.

Houston

As per usual, the Houston area continues to lead Texas for housing starts each month. In June, there were 2,575 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $504M, reflecting a steady market with a nominal (< 2%) month-over-month decrease in new permits. The average value of construction was lower than other metro areas reviewed (~$196k), and more than half of all new construction took place in Harris County (1,478 permits).

Out of the 255 active builders in the Houston area last month, D.R. Horton ranked #1 for total housing starts. The top three builders for total new residential construction permits on file for the one-month period are as follows:

#1 D.R. Horton

#2 Lennar Homes

#3 Long Lake LLC

Dallas

Last month, the Dallas area experienced a 7% month-over-month decrease in housing starts resulting in more than 2,230 new residential construction permits with a total value in excess of $655M. The average construction value for new homes was approximately $293.5k, and the counties with the highest concentration of housing starts were Tarrant (589 permits), Denton (549 permits) and Collin (536 permits).

Out of the approximately 245+ active builders in the Dallas area last month, D.R. Horton ranked #1 for total housing starts. The top three builders for total new residential construction permits on file for the one-month period are as follows:

#1 D.R. Horton

#2 Lennar Homes

#3 Beazer Homes

Austin

Austin experienced a month-over-month dip of approximately 8% in housing starts, having 935 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $218.5M on file with HBW. The average value of new home construction was nearly $234k, and more than half of all housing starts took place in Travis County (567 permits).

Out of the approximately 100 active builders in the area last month, D.R. Horton ranked #1 for total housing starts. The top three builders for total new residential construction permits on file for the one-month period are as follows:

#1 D.R. Horton

#2 KB Homes

#3 Lennar Homes

San Antonio

Last month, San Antonio experienced the most significant month-over-month decrease in new residential construction (-38%), resulting in 350+ housing starts with a total construction value of approximately $70M. The average value of new construction came in on the lower end of the spectrum (~$198.5k), and the majority of new permits originated from Bexar County (264 permits).

Out of the approximately 75+ active builders in the area last month, KB Homes ranked #1 for total housing starts. The top three builders for total new residential construction permits on file for the one-month period are as follows:

#1 KB Homes

#2 Continental Homes of Texas

#3 Fieldstone Homes

Seven Apps for Improving Social Content

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Erika Carruth

Keeping content fresh and appealing can seem like a full-time job, but it doesn’t have to be; with so many social trends and networks, it can be a challenge to decide which social platform and approach will yield the greatest results for your business.

Truth be told, not every social network will be the right fit for your business or the right place to engage your target audience, so the first step is narrowing down your choices to find the networks that will meet your needs. Once you are active on social media, it is important to routinely post content that is engaging and can help drive traffic to your website and business. Here are seven apps to help you improve your content on social media:

AR Placer Cam – This app allows you to place text or emojis directly into a video. You can easily create tracked text in Augmented Reality for your videos, which can be especially eye-catching in a video of a property tour. Plus, the 3-D feature takes standard titles to the next level.
Grammarly Keyboard – No matter how stellar of a speller you may consider yourself to be, all of us could use a little proofreading, especially in our social posts. We live in a world where spell check is built-in to our daily communications, so why wouldn’t you have the same in your social posts? For those of you looking for the extra double-checking, there is “Grammarly Keyboard”. This personal editor can be used for making sure your emails, LinkedIn messages and FaceBook posts are free of spelling and grammatical errors.
Scrubbies – If you like Boomerang, you will probably want to check out Scrubbies; with Scrubbies you can create video loops all while having full control of the speed and direction of video playback. In other words, you can capture the video now and turn it into the exact loop you want later.
Wonderlens – At first glance, you may think this app is a novelty app for changing out backgrounds and making people look as though they were in someplace completely out of this world, but it can also be great for home builders. Think about it… Have you ever taken a photo and had people or unfinished work in the background? Now, you can take photos of your finished remodel or latest build and make sure it stands out. With people recognition and ability to use your own backgrounds, it is also a great way to take photos of you and your team and place them at any job site or location.
InShot – This app is a handy and multi-functional video editor, and you don’t have to record the video within the app itself; instead, you can just import your favorite video and begin editing, adding voiceovers, text, music, stickers and video effects. You can also adjust speed, lighting and orientation. While the app is free, there are in-app purchases.
YouTube Studio – If you have a YouTube channel, YouTube Studio allows you to go beyond basic analytics that you already access in the app. You can monitor watch times, views and subscribers directly from the app, along with managing your videos.
Adobe Capture – Looking to transfer the colors and patterns from your latest construction project to the digital world? Adobe Capture allows you to take a photo and find the exact colors in any color scheme from printed materials to nature and landscapes. It provides an easy way for your proposal or marketing piece to share the exact same colors as the exterior or interior of a property or project.

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.

HBW does not endorse or receive compensation from any of the apps or related companies listed above. This article serves as a starting point for readers to conduct their own research and find social content apps that work best for them and their business.

Getting the Most Out of Instagram and Shoppable Posts

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Erika Carruth

Sometimes it feels like there are just too many social media outlets and so little time to keep up with our own pages. As a busy home builder, developing social media content can seem like an extra rather than a necessity, and the choice on which content to “tweet”, post on FaceBook or Instagram can become an annoyance when it should become a regular occurrence in your marketing schedule.

For the purpose of this post, we are taking a look at ways to maximize your company’s presence on Instagram, more specifically shoppable posts. Instagram has reported more than 400 million people using “Instagram Stories” every day; this is significantly higher than Snapchat’s reported 191 million daily “stories” users. And as of recently, Instagram has added features to its Stories products. Instagram’s shoppable posts feature allows customers to make purchases without ever leaving the app, and it is one of the easiest ways to promote your products and increase sales on Instagram. While this may not benefit your business if you are a service-only based business, you can utilize it if you are in a position to sell certain products (i.e. tile, light fixtures, countertops, interior/exterior décor).

With shoppable posts, Instagram users can go from inspiration to information and purchase your products in just a few short clicks. When you post something “shoppable”, your image will include a small but noticeable shopping bag icon. Users can tap on the photo to get information on the product including a description and price. From there, they just need to tap the “shop now” button to be directly forwarded to your product catalog. In this way, your Instagram post becomes less about “look at what we have” to “look at what you can have”.

Need a little guidance on getting started and posting your first shoppable post on Instagram? No problem. Instagram provides simple step-by-step instructions, and if you already have a catalog set up on FaceBook, you are almost halfway there. Your business profile must be connected to a Facebook catalog. This can be created and managed directly on your business page on Facebook; you can simply go to business.facebook.com/products, and click “create catalog”. From there, you can follow next steps as published by Instagram (Note: Make sure you have the latest version of the Instagram app.):

To enable product tagging:

Tap the profile icon to go to your profile
Tap the Get Started alert at the top of your profile
If you don’t see the alert in the image above, tap the settings icon.
Tap Shopping
Tap Continue
Select a product catalog to connect to your business profile.
Tap Done

To tag products in your posts:

Select a photo and add a caption, effects and filters
Tap the products in the photo that you want to tag
Enter the names of the products you want to tag, then select them as they appear in the search box
Tap Done
Tap Share

You can tag products in both new and existing posts from your Instagram business profile. You can tag up to 5 products per single-image post or 20 products per multi-image post.

As with anything new, it is easy to want to use it in everything you do, but shoppable posts should be used when you have already generated interest in a particular product and are prepared to meet those sales processed by the app. While you won’t want to make every post shoppable, you should most certainly make every shoppable post count.

Top Florida Pool Builders – May 2018

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Erika Carruth

An HBW monthly report on leading pool builders and new permitting data in Florida for May 2018.

FL Pool Permits by Area – May 2018

Last month, there were approximately 1,660 new swimming pool permits with a total value of nearly $71M added to the HBW database for Florida. Out of the five major regions (SW, SE, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville) reviewed, the southwestern region ranked highest for total pool starts (427 permits) while Tampa ranked highest for average value of new construction ($45,678).

Here is a look at Florida’s top pool builders by region for the month of May 2018:

Southwest Florida

Nothing quite compared to the southwestern region of Florida when it came to new pool construction. The southwest portion of the state led for total new swimming pool construction permits having nearly 430 new permits with an average construction value of $42,412 last month; the majority of pool starts originated from Lee (183 permits) and Collier (123 permits) counties.

Out of the more than 100 active pool builders in the area last month, the top five for total new permits on file with HBW are as follows:

1-Coast to Coast Pools

2-Aragon Pools & Spas

3-Pinnacle USA

4-Aragon Pools & Spas

5-Waterscapes Pools & Spas

Southeast Florida

In the southeast region of the Sunshine State, new pool construction was strong, especially in Palm Beach (132 permits) and Miami (101 permits). During the month of May, nearly 360 new pool permits were added to the HBW database and carried an average construction value of $41,282.

Out of the 137 active pool builders in the area last month, the top five for total new permits on file with HBW are as follows:

1-A&G Concrete Pools

2-Pools by Greg

3-Crystal Pools

4-Fountain Blue Pool Service

5-RHR Pools

Tampa

Tampa ranked third highest for pool starts last month where there were 335 new swimming pool construction permits. The average value of construction was highest in Tampa in comparison to other regions reviewed coming in at nearly $45.7k, and the greatest concentration of pool starts originated from the larger county of Hillsborough (104 permits).

Out of the 115 active pool builders in the area last month, the top five for total new permits on file with HBW are as follows:

1-Olympus Pools

2-Gulfstream Pools & Spas

3-Tampa Bay Pools

4-Natural Springs Pools

5-Larsen’s Pool & Spa

Orlando

In Orlando, there were 325 swimming pool starts with an average value of construction just over $40.3k last month, and the highest concentration of new pool permits could be found in Orange County (113 permits).

Out of the 77 active pool builders in the area last month, the top five for total new permits on file with HBW are as follows:

1-All Seasons

2-Bob’s Pool Service

3-American Pools & Spas

4-Intercoastal Pool & Spa Builders

5-Premier Pools of Central FL

Jacksonville

Last month, there were approximately 215 pool starts with an average construction value of $43.5k in Jacksonville, and close to half of all new swimming pool construction took place in St. Johns County (90 permits).

Out of the 75 active pool builders in the area last month, the top five for total new permits on file with HBW are as follows:

1-Superior Design Pools

2-Pools by John Clarkson

3-Crystal Pools & Spas

4-Stanley Pools

5-Surfside Pools & Spas

Five Tips for Improving Introductory Emails

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Erika Carruth

Cleaning up your email approach may just be the thing you need to have your introductory emails get noticed rather than deleted…

First time communication with prospects can be an exercise in trial and error. Sure, you may have a few tried-and-true sales techniques that have proven to be successful, but the truth is that what works for getting one contact to respond to an email may force another to flag you as “spam”. When making initial (or even second) contact by email, first impressions are important, and there are a few key improvements that can be made to maximize this opportunity for engagement:

Be Clear – It is easy for those of us who are in the industry to get technical and describe details that may not make sense to the consumer. When formulating an introductory email, your approach should be direct and serve as more of a lure for more information rather than a detailed guide or comprehensive list of your services. Be clear on what you offer and how the lead can reach you and take next steps.
Be Personal – It is easy to follow a template and create one email and “Bcc” hundreds of contacts, but that won’t make you stand out from the crowd. Take the time to look at the permitting data and history on file with HBW to truly assess what your lead needs and how you can offer products or services that provide solutions rather than unnecessary extras.
Be Concise – Now that you have done your research, looked at their permitting data and know their needs, be concise on your offerings. Think of your first email as an upgraded elevator pitch. Yes, you can add contact information and links to your website and social profiles, but try to limit the text to 20 seconds or less.
Be Clean – While you may have several product sheets, brochures and color samples, adding them to your message as attachments makes for one bulky email. Many filters will flag unknown contacts that have large file attachments which will increase the likelihood of your email never even making it to the “inbox”. Instead, consider using cloud-based storage for sharing links to your brochure or service list rather than attachments. This also allows the recipient to easily share your information with other decision makers in the household or business.
Be Focused – What products/services will speak most to this potential client? What is your call to action? Do you want them to respond to the email, click on a link or call you directly? The more focused you are on your offerings and next steps, the easier it will be for your lead to respond.

First time touchpoints usually have a level of uncertainty, but by making your approach more personal, concise and clear, you have a higher likelihood of engaging and opening the door to a new customer.

Florida Home Building Report – May 2018

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Erika Carruth

An HBW report on housing starts and home building activity in the Sunshine State during May 2018.

Last month, there were hundreds of active home builders throughout Florida contributing to the 6,030 new residential construction permits that have been added to the HBW database. As always, we reviewed incoming permit activity for five major regions throughout the Sunshine State (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Southeast and Southwest), and the combined total value of new construction ran over $1.6B for the one-month period. The area that ranked highest for total housing starts was Tampa (1,583 permits), while the southeast ranked highest for average value of construction ($306,203).

Here is a summary of new home construction activity by region in Florida last month:

Tampa

In Tampa, there were nearly 1,600 housing starts with a total value in excess of $426.5M last month. The average value of new construction came in at approximately $269.5k, and the highest concentration of new permitting activity could be found in the larger county of Hillsborough (526 permits).

Out of the 215+ active home builders in Tampa last month, Lennar Homes was the leader for total housing starts with 330 new residential construction permits on file for the one-month period. The top three builders for total housing starts are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	330
D.R. Horton	134
The Villages of Lake Sumter	99

Southwest

The southwestern region of Florida ranked second highest for new residential construction last month having approximately 1,330 housing starts with a total value of $321.5k. The average value of construction was nearly $242k, and the highest concentration of housing starts originated from Lee County (442 permits).

Out of the 215+ active builders with permits on file for the month, Lennar Homes took top spot for total housing starts having 191 new residential construction permits; the top three home builders for total housing starts are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	191
Pulte Homes	183
D.R. Horton	162

Orlando

In the Orlando area, there were more than 1,315 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $393M last month. The average value of new residential construction was on the higher end of the spectrum at $298k+, and the greatest concentration of new construction took place in Orange County (536 permits)

Out of the 160+ active builders in the Orlando area last month, Lennar Homes ranked #1 for total housing starts with 135 new residential construction permits; the top three builders for total housing starts for the one-month period are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	135
D.R. Horton	128
Park Square Homes	93

Jacksonville

Last month, there were more than 1,050 housing starts with a total value of nearly $231M in Jacksonville. The average value of new construction fell on the lower side of the spectrum at $219,113, and the majority of new construction took place in St. Johns (375 permits) and Duval (305 permits) counties.

Out of the 145 active builders in Jacksonville last month, D.R. Horton was the leader for total housing starts (210 permits); the top three builders for total permits on file with HBW are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	210
Lennar Homes	94
KB Homes	70

Southeast

While the Southeast had the fewest total housing starts last month (719 permits), it continued to land on the higher end of the spectrum for average value of construction (>$306k). Based on new permits added to the HBW database, more than half of all new construction took place in the counties of Palm Beach (208 permits) and St. Lucie (201 permits).

Out of the 170+ active builders in the area, Lennar Homes ranked #1 in the southeastern region having approximately 125 housing starts on file for the month. The top three home builders for total new permits are as follows:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	125
D.R. Horton	85
G.L. Homes	58