A review of permit data for new residential construction in Florida during the month of December 2020

Based on the latest construction data reports from HBW, there were approximately 6,860 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $1.9 billion in Florida last month.  Out of the five major regions reviewed (Tampa, Southwest, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), the greatest volume of new home construction took place in Tampa (1,816 permits), and the highest average value of construction could be found in the southeastern region of the state (average value: $317,426).

Here is a closer look at the total permits, average value of construction and leading counties and contractors throughout the Sunshine State during the month of December 2020:

Tampa

As previously noted, Tampa held the greatest amount of new residential construction activity last month having 1,816 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $507 million.  The average value of new home construction in the Tampa area (average value: $279,357) landed mid-range in relation to other Florida regions reviewed, and approximately 60 percent of all new permits originated from the counties of Polk (548 permits) and Pasco (529 permits).

Out of the more than 220 contractors with new residential construction activity on record for the Tampa area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	301
2-D.R. Horton	193
3-The Villages of Lake Sumter	151

Southwest

In the southwestern region of Florida, there were 1,766 housing starts with a total construction value of $441.5 million.  The average value of new home construction was $250,025, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Lee (527 permits) and Sarasota (440 permits).

Out of the nearly 270 contractors with new residential construction permits on record in the southwest last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	269
2-Lennar Homes	193
3-Pulte Homes	177

Orlando

Last month, there were nearly 1,270 housing starts with a total construction value of approximately $398 million in the Orlando area.  The average value of new home construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $313,614) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the county with the highest concentration of new residential construction activity was Orange County with more than 370 new permits for the one-month period.

Out of the approximately 155 contractors with new construction activity on record for the Orlando area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	194
2-Lennar Homes	103
3-Mattamy Homes	78

Jacksonville

Just behind Orlando, Jacksonville had 1,243 housing starts with a total construction value of $289 million on record with HBW last month.  The average value of new home construction was lowest in Jacksonville (average value: $232,541) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the majority of all new residential construction took place in the counties of St. Johns (444 permits) and Duval (415 permits).

During the month of December, there were more than 120 contractors with new home construction activity on record in the Jacksonville area, and the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	226
2-Lennar Homes	192
3-Dream Finders Construction	85

Southeast

Last month, there were 765 housing starts with a total construction value of $242.8 million in the southeastern region of Florida.  The average value of new home construction was highest in the southeast (average value: $317,426) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and the county with the greatest concentration of new residential construction activity was St. Lucie with 363 new permits for the one-month period.

Out of the 135 active contractors with new permits on record with HBW in the southeast last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-GL Building Corp	124
2-D.R. Horton	94
3-Holiday Builders	67

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.