November 2025 Residential Construction Data | source: HBW construction data reports
Florida’s residential construction sector closed November 2025 with continued momentum, underscoring the state’s structural demand drivers: sustained population growth, demographic migration, and long-term housing undersupply. According to construction data reports compiled by HBW, new residential construction permit activity remained broadly distributed across Florida’s five primary regions—Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast, and Jacksonville—while simultaneously revealing a clear concentration of market leadership among a handful of national and regional builders.
Today, we will be using HBW’s construction data reports to rank the top home builders in each region based on total new residential construction permits recorded during November 2025. Permit volume serves as a leading indicator of near-term construction activity, capital deployment, and builder confidence. Total construction valuation and average project value further contextualize each builder’s strategic positioning, product mix, and pricing power within its respective submarket.
Southwest Florida
Out of 310 active home builders pulling new residential permits in Southwest Florida during November, the top five builders collectively accounted for a substantial share of total market activity.
Lennar Homes led the region decisively with 330 permits, translating to nearly $60.0 million in total construction value. While the average construction value per unit ($181,770) trailed some competitors, Lennar’s volume-driven model continues to dominate entry-level and move-up segments across high-growth Southwest submarkets.
D.R. Horton followed with 166 permits and more than $41.7 million in total valuation, reflecting a higher average project value and a balanced approach between scale and price point. Pulte Homes ranked third with 139 permits, reinforcing its consistent presence in planned communities.
Notably, Neal Communities of Southwest Florida distinguished itself as a strong regional player, posting 97 permits with the highest average project value ($255,504) among the top five. This performance highlights the ongoing relevance of regionally focused builders capable of competing on design sophistication and localized market expertise. Taylor Morrison (92 permits) rounded out the top five, emphasizing attainable housing at comparatively lower per-unit valuations.
Tampa
The Tampa region, with 285 builders pulling permits in November, can be considered one of the most competitive and capital-intensive residential construction environments in the state.
Lennar Homes again emerged as the clear market leader, recording 427 permits and an impressive $161.3 million in total construction value. The average construction value of nearly $378,000 per unit reflects Tampa’s rising price floor and the builder’s expanded footprint in higher-value communities.
D.R. Horton secured second place with 184 permits, while The Villages of Lake Sumter demonstrated the impact of large-scale, age-restricted development with 118 permits at a uniform average valuation. Pulte Homes (95 permits) and Homes by West Bay (92 permits) rounded out the top five, with Homes by West Bay notably achieving the highest average construction value ($482,215) among Tampa’s leaders—an indicator of luxury-leaning product concentration and strong buyer demand at the upper end of the market.
Orlando
In the Orlando area, nearly 140 builders recorded new residential permits during November, reflecting a healthy mix of national builders and emerging competitors.
Lennar Homes led with 149 permits and more than $58.5 million in total construction value, continuing its role as a volume anchor in Central Florida. Pulte Homes followed closely with 134 permits and a total construction value in excess of $44.9 million, maintaining strong market penetration across multiple submarkets.
Meritage Homes ranked third, posting a comparatively high average construction value ($438,389), which may suggest a strategic emphasis on energy-efficient and design-forward homes. D.R. Horton (49 permits) and Stanley Martin Homes (47 permits) completed the top five, reinforcing Orlando’s appeal to builders targeting both affordability and mid-range buyers.
Southeast Florida
Southeast Florida’s November activity reflected a markedly different construction profile. While permit volumes were lower relative to other regions, average project valuations were substantially higher which is indicative of land constraints, regulatory complexity, and a premium housing mix.
Lennar Homes led the region with 84 permits, though its average project value ($214,840) landed lower than several competitors. GL Building Corporation (70 permits) stood out with the highest average construction value among the top five, exceeding $500,000 per unit—an unmistakable signal of luxury-oriented development and affluent buyer demand.
Minto Communities and D.R. Horton followed with moderate permit counts at 65 and 61 respectively, while Mattamy Homes (45 permits) rounded out the region’s leaders, reinforcing Southeast Florida’s blend of national scale and niche market execution.
Jacksonville
Jacksonville’s residential construction market continued its steady activity in November, with more than 100 builders pulling permits across the region.
Lennar Homes again claimed the top position with 82 permits, followed closely by D.R. Horton with 67 permits. Meritage Homes (60 permits) secured third place with a lower total valuation (average value: $141,921), reflecting an emphasis on attainable housing options. Mattamy Homes (33 permits) and Dream Finders Construction (32 permits) completed the top five, both reflecting Jacksonville’s continued appeal as a value-driven alternative to Florida’s more expensive metros.
A defining takeaway from last month’s data is the unmistakable dominance of a small group of national builders operating at scale across multiple Florida regions. Lennar Homes led permit volume in all five major regions analyzed, underscoring its unmatched geographic reach, operational efficiency, and ability to adapt product lines to diverse market conditions. D.R. Horton also demonstrated broad statewide leadership, ranking within the top five in every region and frequently occupying the second position. Pulte Homes similarly maintained a strong multi-regional presence, particularly in Southwest Florida, Tampa, and Orlando.
In contrast, several builders—such as Neal Communities, Homes by West Bay, GL Building Corporation, and Dream Finders Construction—excelled through regional specialization, leveraging localized knowledge and targeted product strategies to compete effectively against national counterparts.
As we are now in the final stretch of the year, permit activity continues to signal confidence among builders and developers, positioning the Sunshine State for continued residential growth as it moves into 2026.
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.