A review of permit data on record with HBW for new home construction in Florida during the month of March 2021

Last month, there were approximately 9,045 housing starts with a total construction value of $2.4+ billion in the Sunshine State, reflecting a 17 percent month-over-month increase in new home construction.

Out of the five regions reviewed (Tampa, Southwest, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), the greatest volume of new home construction could be found in Tampa (2,519 permits), while the highest average value of construction took place in Orlando (average value: $319,864).

When it comes to home builders, two giants in the industry continued to dominate the market, landing on the top five list in all regions reviewed; those builders were D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes which had 1,287 and 908 housing starts on record for the one-month period respectively.

Here is an overview of permit data by Florida region for new home construction during the month of March 2021:

Tampa

Tampa carried just about 28 percent of all new home construction activity statewide; last month, the area experienced a 17 percent month-over-month increase in new residential construction resulting in 2,519 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $669 million.  The average value of new home construction was $265,516, and the majority of housing starts originated from the counties of Polk (1,054 permits) and Pasco (909 permits).

Out of nearly 250 home builders with housing starts on record with HBW in the Tampa area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	313
2-Lennar Homes	243
3-Pulte Homes	222

Southwest

In the southwestern region of Florida there were 2,267 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $571.3 million last month. The average value of new home construction was $252,009, and the county with the highest concentration of housing starts was Lee County (816 permits).

Out of the nearly 365 home builders with new construction activity on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	293
2-Lennar Homes	282
3-Pulte Homes	206

Orlando

Last month, there were 1,584 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $507 million in the Orlando area.  As previously noted, the average value of new home construction was highest in Orlando (average value: $319,864) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and more than half of all new construction activity took place in Volusia County (495 permits) and Orange County (385 permits).

Out of the more than 200 home builders with new 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-D.R. Horton	292
2-Minto Builders	101
3-Lennar Homes	88

Southeast

In the southeast, there were 1,083 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $305 million last month.  The average value of new home construction landed mid-range (average value: $281,640) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and nearly half of all new permits originated from St. Lucie County (518 permits).

Out of the 185+ contractors with new permits on record in the southeastern region of Florida last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Pulte Homes	109
2-D.R. Horton	108
3-GL Building Corp	91

Jacksonville

Last month, there were 1,590 housing starts with a total construction value of approximately $387.1 million in the Jacksonville area.  The average value of new home construction was lowest in Jacksonville (average value: $243,460) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the bulk of all new residential construction permits originated from the counties of St. Johns (557 permits) and Duval (414 permits).

Out of the 165 contractors with housing starts on record in the Jacksonville area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	281
2-Lennar Homes	227
3-Dream Finders Construction	122

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.