HBWeekly

Florida Quarterly Residential Construction Review – First Quarter 2016

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Erika Carruth

More than 15,700 housing starts are on file with HBW for Florida, reflecting a 34% increase in new residential construction in comparison to the first quarter of last year.

Image courtesy of CarruthPhoto.com

A recent article in U.S. News highlighted the top 20 most desirable places to live in the U.S. Not surprisingly, 25% (5 cities) of the top locations were in Florida. When looking at the latest HBW residential construction reports for the first quarter of 2016, Florida continues to shine with 15,745 housing starts on file and a 34% increase (vs. Q1 2015) in new residential construction.

Florida New Residential Construction Permits Q1 (2015 vs. 2016)

Central Florida is at the top for total new residential construction permits in the first quarter. The area has 3,249 housing starts on file for this period, a 29.3% increase in comparison to Q1 2015. Orlando is definitely on the rise in Central Florida; the city was listed at #16 by U.S. News as one of the top 20 most desired places to live. In Q1, Orlando (Orange County) was #1 in the HBW database for total housing starts. With 1,400 starts on file for the quarter, the county has experienced a 34% increase in new residential construction (vs. 2015).

Southwest Florida is also strong at the start of this year with 3,207 housing starts in Q1, a 54.6% increase in comparison to 2015. Additionally, two cities in this region were identified as top places to live in the previously referenced report by U.S. News… Sarasota (#13 – U.S. News) and Fort Myers (#17 – U.S. News) both experienced more than 50% growth in residential construction in the first quarter of 2016. The southwest counties of Lee, Collier, Manatee and Sarasota all held spots on the HBW list of top 10 counties for total housing starts in Q1. As for growth, the southwest county of Charlotte was #1 in the state for growth with a nearly 153% increase in new residential construction over Q1 of last year.

As for total permits, the top three counties were spread across the state in Central, West and Northeast Florida. As previously mentioned, Orange County took the lead statewide. Just a short road trip from Orange County is Hillsborough County (Tampa). Along with Tampa being listed as the #12 top desired town to live in the U.S. (source: U.S. News), it is the second highest for total housing starts. With 926 starts on file for this period, Hillsborough County experienced more than a 32% increase in residential construction in comparison to Q1 2015. Just behind Tampa and in the third spot with 894 housing starts, we have St. Johns County. St. Johns is another area experiencing substantial growth with a nearly 45% increase in new residential construction permits on file (vs. Q1 2015). Here’s a closer look at the top counties for total housing starts in the first quarter of this year:

Florida 10 Top Counties for Total Residential Permits – Q1 2016

Earlier this week, Realtor.com identified America’s “Boom Towns”. Boom Towns are areas that are well, booming. According to the report, Miami (zip code: 33132) is expected to see households grow by 14.9% over the next five years. In just the first quarter of this year, and based on the latest from HBW, Miami-Dade County has seen a 60% increase in housing starts in comparison to the same time last year. Although not in our top ten counties this quarter for total new permits, Miami-Dade is the #1 county in Southeast Florida and second highest statewide for new homes valued over $500k. Other areas that are seeing the most new residential construction valued greater than $500k are Orange County (#1) and Palm Beach County (#3). Across the state, in Q1 of this year there have been nearly 1,200 housing starts for homes of higher value (>$500k), making up approximately 7.5% of new residential construction permits on file for Florida this period.

FL Total Residential Permits for Homes > $500k - Q1 2016

FL Residential Permits for Homes > $500k – Q1 2016

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

Metro Atlanta – Quarterly Home Building Report

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Erika Carruth

In the first quarter of 2016, the Metro Atlanta area is solid with a 32% increase in housing starts in comparison to Q1 2015.

Metro Atlanta is having a great start to 2016 when it comes to residential construction. Just last month, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that Metro Atlanta’s home prices are growing every year. Based on a recent S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, home prices were reported to be up 5.7% year over year which is higher than the national growth rate. Along with home prices, new residential construction activity also increased in the first quarter of the year. According to the latest HBW permit report, there are more than 5,000 new residential construction permits on file for Q1 in the Atlanta area, a 32% increase from the same time last year; of the 5,017 housing starts on file with HBW, approximately 4% of them represent homes valued over $500k.

The counties with the greatest amount of growth in comparison to the same time last year include: Bartow (+300%); Clayton (200%); Dawson (167%); and Walton (161%). Although these counties show massive growth in the first quarter, the number of total housing starts are slim in comparison to other counties in Metro Atlanta.

Counties with the highest concentration of new residential construction, and therefore the most new permits on file with HBW, also reflect growth for the start of the year. Taking a look at Gwinnett County, there was a marked increase in new residential construction of 24% in comparison to Q1 2015. With 881 housing starts in the first quarter of 2016, Gwinnett holds the top spot for total new residential construction permits in Metro Atlanta. Forsyth County was close behind and second highest with nearly 800 housing starts – a 30% increase in comparison to the same time last year. Next in line is Fulton County, and although Fulton County is in third with 500 housing starts, it is the county with the most new homes valued over $500k. Nearly 17% of the starts in Fulton are for higher value (>$500k) homes, and overall the area has experienced a 24% increase in new residential construction over Q1 of last year.

Just behind Fulton County and in the fourth top spot is Cherokee County. Cherokee County is up 59% (vs. Q1 2015) with 476 housing starts on file. Finally, the county holding in at fifth for total new residential permits also saw the greatest amount of growth in the top five. In the first quarter of this year, Dekalb County experienced an astounding 95% increase in comparison to Q1 of last year with 337 housing starts. Over the past five years, Dekalb has consistently reflected huge leaps in residential construction activity, with the percentage of growth doubling year after year.

Metro ATL Top 5 Counties for Total Permits - Q1 2015 vs. 2016

Metro Atlanta Top 5 Counties for Total Permits – Q1 2015 vs. 2016

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

Texas Residential Construction Quarterly Report

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Erika Carruth

With the closing of the first quarter, here’s a look at the highs and lows of residential construction in Texas.

HBW subscribers working with leads in Texas are already aware of the more than 15,000 new residential construction permits on file in the first quarter of 2016. From Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, there was about a 2% drop in activity in comparison to Q1 2015, yet areas like Dallas and Austin were on the rise with increases in housing starts of 12% in Dallas and 20% in Austin.

According to the latest report in Dallas Business Journal, home sales in Dallas-Fort Worth are up 22% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2016. The same article attributed the strength in the market to more favorable weather conditions in comparison to 2015, noting that the figures could be even higher if the labor shortage wasn’t still an issue in the industry.

When reviewing HBW’s latest Building Trend Report for new residential construction, the increase in housing starts was evident in the Dallas area with more than 4,700 new permits on file in the first quarter (up 12% in comparison to Q1 2015); just over 10% (500 homes) of the housing starts in Dallas were for homes valued over $500k.

The greatest number of housing starts on file was found in the Houston area, with more than 6,600 new residential permits in the first quarter. Although the area saw a 16% decrease overall in new residential construction in comparison to the same time last year, the County of Brazoria experienced a massive 89% increase in housing starts. The area also reflected more affordable housing as less than 3% of new residential construction was for homes with values in excess of $500k.

As previously mentioned, Austin was up in the first quarter with a 20% increase and more than 2,400 housing starts. The majority of new residential construction took place in Travis and Williamson counties, and approximately 5% of new homes were valued greater than $500k. Just behind Austin was the San Antonio area with nearly 1,500 housing starts. San Antonio experienced a 5% increase in activity in comparison to Q1 of 2015, and less than 3% of new residential construction was for homes valued over $500k.

Texas New Residential Construction Permits – Q1 2015 vs. 2016

Taking a look at the counties with the highest concentration of housing starts in the first quarter, there are areas in Houston, Dallas and Austin that take the lead. Harris County (Houston) was #1 for total starts with 3,303 new residential construction permits on file. Harris County was also one of the top areas (third highest) for total starts of homes valued over $500k (102 homes). In Dallas, Collin County was second highest in the state with 1,514 housing starts, an increase of 14% in comparison to Q1 2015. Collin County was also second highest for homes valued over $500k as more than 7% of starts (113 homes) were in the higher value bracket. In the third spot, we look back at Houston and the county of Fort Bend. Although Fort Bend was third highest for total starts (1,434 permits), it had a 27% decrease in total new permits in comparison to Q1 2015. Of course, this is just the first quarter, and since 2011, Fort Bend has consistently had a pattern of growth in new residential construction year after year.

Two other areas that have continued a pattern of growth over the last five years are Travis County (Austin) and Tarrant County (Dallas). Travis County is already on the upswing in the first quarter of 2016 with a 33% increase in comparison to Q1 2015 and 1,325 new residential construction permits on file. Tarrant County (Dallas) was fifth highest for total housing starts with 1,153 new permits on file in Q1.

Texas Top 5 Counties for Total Permits – Q1 2016

Building and Maintaining an “A” Team

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Erika Carruth

With the success of your business being reliant on the skills and expertise of your team, attracting and retaining top employees is vital in today’s competitive market.

How is a business a cut above the rest? Well, it takes time, but delivering a high-quality product and offering top-of-the-line customer service is a good place to start. How does one get there? One of the answers is through developing a solid and reliable team. To create that solid team, the business must be structured in a way that attracts and retains top talent. As the old adage goes, “you are only as strong as your weakest link”; when it comes to building a winning team, the concept most certainly rings true.

Earlier this week, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics released the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Report for February. The report revealed that construction job openings have continued to rise at a rate of 2.8%, a 107-month high. The report also revealed an increase in “separations” (quits, layoffs, discharges, etc.) since January. Although monthly and annual fluctuations are expected and do not define the state of employment in construction, there is no denying the shortage of quality and skilled professionals in the industry. According to a survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, the shortage of construction employees is evident in more than craft workers – it has also been a challenge filling salaried professional positions.

When looking at your own business, there are few things you can review and revise to make your workplace attractive to top talent. Being attractive to the younger generation, while retaining your current key players, is important in building a winning and lasting team. Here are five things you can do to get the ball rolling:

Strengthen Your Hiring Process – Identifying your needs for a new hire and having a clear understanding of the ideal candidate is necessary in finding the right fit. Your recruiting and screening process should follow proven and effective methods, and you will want to hire more than just qualifications… The right candidate should also fit well with your company culture. Many firms rush the hiring process to get someone in the door, but you should be thorough in interviewing and reference review. It is not only important that the candidate is right for the position but that your company is right for the candidate.
Educate and Train – While apprenticeships and internships may assist in bringing in fresh talent with great potential, ongoing education and opportunities for growth keep them there. By providing training in the latest management tools, sales strategies and technology, you can keep your executive team engaged. At the same time, your field staff can always benefit from technical and safety training that will build confidence and refresh their skills.
Provide Opportunities for Growth – As noted in the Future Workplace “Multiple Generations @ Work” survey, 91% of millennials expect to be at a job for less than three years to advance their careers. Break the job-hopping cycle and cut them off at the pass by providing career advancement opportunities within your own company. In alignment with increased responsibilities and options for promotions should be growth potential in both salary and benefits. Performance-based bonus structures are a great way to provide a built-in system for growth for your more experienced employees and can also serve as a level of motivation for your entire team.
Be Flexible – where possible. This is not to say that everyone should make their own schedule and bring their dogs to work every day, but allowing flexibility for the personal life of your team will in turn make them more productive and refreshed each day. Options for working remotely, freelancing and having flexible schedules are just some of the ways a business can offer flexibility that can reduce stress and add to longevity.
Lead with Purpose – Having an “A” team means having “A” players, and high performing people need to have purpose in their work. Being a part of a healthy company culture with a clear mission and purpose is vital in developing a strong team and keeping them engaged. Make an effort to announce and recognize team and individual accomplishments. Show your appreciation with employees of the month and by highlighting the latest new project or secured job. Motivating your team entails more than just a few “attaboys” – By having collaborative meetings and sharing successes and best practices, your winning team will serve as motivation for each other.

Attracting and retaining top performers is not an overnight process, but neither is the process of building a successful business. Consider the amount of time you put into planning and creating your company; the same level of dedication and focus must be taken in developing your employees. By having a company culture and workplace that offer ways to be rewarded and growth potential, you open the doors to new talent and can begin building a winning team that will thrive with your business.

For more information on construction business tips and industry updates, 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.

Making the Most of Video Marketing

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Earlier this year, we explored various ways that home builders can develop “explainer videos“. At this point you may have developed those videos or are still on the fence about whether or not videos are a valuable marketing tool for you and your business. If you are on the fence, now is a good time to look at the facts about the power of video and dynamic content and ways to best incorporate video in your marketing efforts.

First, let’s take a look at the facts…

The number of people viewing YouTube has increased 60% year-over-year which is the fastest growth the website has experienced in two years (source: YouTube)
Globally, 80% of consumer internet traffic will be video by 2019. That’s an increase from 64% in 2014. (source: Cisco)
The current state of TV viewing is flat, while digital video viewing has increased. Online video ads score higher impact than TV ads on Nielsen measured metrics (source: Nielsen).

So now that we know that the power of video marketing is obvious in its growth and widespread use, let’s look at ways that you, the construction professional, can optimize use of video in your online presence. Here are video ideas and uses to consider as you get started:

Promote – Promotional videos are the obvious one here, but videos should be more than just an internet ad or modified TV commercial. A well-made TV commercial doesn’t always translate in a way that is equally effective online. Promotional videos can hit a variety of angles and audiences. Consider shorter and more specific content. Along with an eye-catching opener and video testimonials, you may choose to promote a specific service or product. You can also use video to highlight your company’s attributes that make you stand out from the competition. Simple photo montages are an easy way to highlight your portfolio, while demos and interviews are ideal for sharing your expertise and skills.

Educate – The e-learning industry is has become over a $1 billion/year industry, and online videos as an educational tool have become part of a cultural norm. Even higher education institutions are on the video train. As suggested in a survey (ITC), student enrollment in online courses continues to grow at a higher rate than overall student enrollment at colleges and universities. Although home builders are not in the business of college education, utilizing videos to teach about proper installation, safety and care can help build your reputation by flexing your credentials and expertise. Whether the video is for industry professionals or for the purpose of educating consumers and clients, educational videos are useful for building your business and online presence.

Diversify – YouTube is great; it is the king of video apps and platforms. That being stated, don’t limit video to your YouTube channel alone. In order to expand your reach and improve SEO, you need to get out there. Post your video and embed your link on your website and various social networks (Facebook, Twitter). Consider GIFs of the week and video shorts on Instagram, your e-newsletters and communications.

Go Live – Periscope and Snapchat are just two apps that have played a role in the growth and familiarity of live communication. Periscope, along with platforms like UStream and LiveStream, allow users to easily broadcast live streaming video. Whether you’re launching a new product or have a new service that would be of interest to your customers, producing a live streaming video is a great way to offer a personalized Q&A session and tailor information and instructions to your audience. Live streaming video can provide real-time answers that help prospects and clients make informed decisions.

From developing an explainer video to simply putting an opening intro video on your website and social media feed, dynamic content is valuable in converting a site visitor to a customer. Start small and test the waters to see what gains the most responses by tracking views and activity. There are a myriad options, and well-developed video content may just be the one thing that convinces a prospect to go with your business over the competition.

Swimming Pools Heating Up in Florida

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Erika Carruth

The start of springtime has delivered higher temperatures to Florida, along with an increase in swimming pool construction.

Since the start of the year, Florida has experienced an increase in swimming pool construction each month. Last month, the state saw a 7% increase in comparison to January. The southwestern region continued to be on top for total permits while Jacksonville was the highest for average construction value. The areas with the greatest gains in activity were Jacksonville (22% increase) and Orlando (15% increase).

FL Pool Permits by Area – Feb. 2016

From Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and Miami, more than 1,700 new permits were added to the HBW database last month. In February, Florida reached nearly $71.3 million in new swimming pool construction value, with the greatest total value of construction being in southwest Florida with nearly $20.6 million on record for the month.

County-by-County, Lee County (SW) was the area with the highest new swimming pool construction activity in the state, with 164 starts and more than $6.8 million in total value. Moving to the southeast, Palm Beach County was the second highest for new swimming pools last month with 161 new permits and nearly $6.2 million in total value. Collier County (SW) was third highest with 139 starts and a construction value in excess of $6.1 million, while Orange (Orlando) and Miami-Dade (SE) closed the top five counties with 124 and 111 permits respectively.

FL Top 10 Counties for Pool Construction – Feb. 2016

When reviewing the latest leads for average value, the landscape changes a bit. Although Jacksonville held the least number of total new permits, the area is #1 for average value in swimming pool construction. Last month, the average value of new swimming pools in Jacksonville was close to $66k, which is more than 50% higher than SE Florida. Southeast Florida holds the #2 spot for average construction value with a February average just over $41k. Tampa and Southwest Florida were about the same for average value ($40k+), while Orlando held the lowest average value ($35k+) for new swimming pools.

FL Average Pool Construction Value – Feb. 2016

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures was directly derived from HBW builder data reports. For more detailed information and access to construction leads in Florida and beyond, please contact HBW for details.

Texas Top Home Builders – February 2016

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Erika Carruth

D.R. Horton led new residential construction in Texas last month, with nearly 700 new permits added to the HBW database.

Earlier this month, we reviewed the top counties and areas in Texas that were booming in new residential construction last month. With approximately 5,100 housing starts on file in Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio combined, we took a deeper look to identify the leading companies that drove residential construction in each area. Across the Lone Star State, and including the areas listed above, there were three companies that added the most new residential permits to the HBW database in February. The top three companies for total housing starts are as follows:

#1. D.R. Horton

#2. Lennar Homes

#3. Pulte Homes

D.R. Horton was the leading company in three out of four of our focus areas, with 689 housing starts in February. Lennar Homes followed in the second spot with 280 new permits for the month, while Pulte Homes was third highest with 204 housing starts throughout the state.

Although D.R. Horton took the top spot statewide for the month, there are a number of prominent builders in each major metropolitan area. The top five builders in each area are as follow:

Dallas

As may be expected, D.R. Horton led Dallas in new residential construction last month. Having 273 housing starts on file and a total construction value of nearly $62 million, the company took a major lead in the area. In the second highest spot, Pulte Homes had 87 new residential construction permits for the month and a total value in excess of $17.5 million. Not far behind, Darling Homes came in at #3 with 71 housing starts and a total construction value close to $28.6 million.

Dallas Top 5 Home Builders – Feb. 2016

Austin

D.R. Horton also held a significant lead on housing starts in Austin. With a total construction value of nearly $16.8 million, the company had 102 new residential construction permits on file for the month. KB Homes was also active in Austin last month, with 60 housing starts and a total value of more than $9.7 million. With the highest average value of the top three builders in the area, Pulte Homes held in at #3 with 42 starts and a total construction value of nearly $10 million.

Austin Top 5 Home Builders – Feb. 2016

Houston

D.R. Horton flourished in Houston last month with 314 housing starts and a total construction value in excess of $43 million. Lennar Homes was also active in the area with 148 housing starts for the month and a construction value of nearly $23.7 million. Although in third, Perry Homes held the highest average residential construction value out of the top five in the area with 143 starts and close to $31 million in total value.

Houston Top 5 Home Builders – Feb. 2016

San Antonio

In San Antonio, another leader emerged in residential construction… Continental Homes was responsible for just over 15% of new residential construction in the area last month. Taking the #1 spot, Continental Homes had 79 housing starts and a total construction value of nearly $17 million. At the second highest spot for new residential construction, KB Homes had 29 starts and a total construction value just under $5.9 million. Close on the heels of KB Homes, Lennar Homes had 25 new residential construction permits on file last month and a total construction value of more than $6.7 million.

San Antonio Top 5 Home Builders – Feb. 2016

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures was directly derived from HBW builder data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest building activity in Texas and beyond, please contact HBW for details.

Planning for the National Safety Stand-Down

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Workplace Injury Facts

As a construction professional, you already know that safety is of the utmost importance in the industry. From the onboarding process with new crew members to safety guidelines and policies, keeping crews and clients safe on the job should be an integral part of every new project plan. In 2014 alone, OSHA reported nearly 4,700 worker fatalities on the job, and out of private industry worker fatalities, approximately 20% were in construction (source:OSHA). What was the leading cause of these fatalities? The answer: Falls. According to OSHA, Falls are the #1 cause of worker fatalities. With such daunting figures, it is no wonder that OSHA dedicates one week each year to the National Safety Stand-Down (May 2-6, 2016).

Although your company may have all safety measures fine-tuned and in place, OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down is a great way to refresh crews on Fall Protection (and other safety guidelines), as well as inform clients and the public of the safety measures you take on a daily basis to protect your workers. The ultimate goal of the week is to educate and reach 5 million workers nationwide with tools and knowledge on fall protection and prevention. Each year, construction contractors and other industry professionals take part in educating workers and the community to help reduce risk and falls on the job.

Here are a few ideas and resources that you can use to plan your participation in the National Safety Stand-Down in May:

Hold a Seminar – Along with teaching and refreshing your own crews, consider offering a free and open workshop to the public. This would allow you to maximize your reach and show the community that you care about worker safety and the industry as a whole. Focusing on fall protection, the seminar can be as simple as a workshop on your property or as elaborate as a presentation at a community center or public hall. For larger events, consider a corporate partner or co-sponsor to help spread the word and build public awareness.
Make it Social – Get in on the safety buzz in social networks. Share OSHA’s videos, or create your own video to post on YouTube, emphasizing the importance of fall protection. You can also easily share some of OSHA’s fact sheets (see below) or guidelines, as well as use hashtags such as #StopFalls, #OSHA and #StandDown4Safety in your posts and tweets.

Fall Prevention Fact Sheet by OSHA.gov

Toolbox Talks – In addition to your planned staff and crew meetings, you may want to schedule a toolbox talk for one or all days of the Safety Stand-Down. Offering refreshers on fall protection on one day could be coupled with another day covering fall hazards and prevention.
Conduct Inspections – Along with toolbox talks, make the week of May 2^nd-6^th a time where you conduct random site and/or equipment inspections. You can inform your crews or conduct impromptu on-the-job inspections that are designed to educate rather than intimidate. Random inspections are a great way to gain insight on strengths and weaknesses in your safety program and compliance. Equipment inspections can also be useful in working with crews to ensure that all equipment is properly inspected, maintained, and stored before and after use.
Share Your Story – Along with the option of sharing your story or suggestions with OSHA, consider sharing your program with others in the industry. If you have a safety program or toolbox talk that has proven successful, consider presenting it at a local building association meeting or a partnering trade school. Sharing successful safety programs is a great way to give back to the industry and protect other workers in the future. Additionally, through a few powerful press releases, you can also use this time to exhibit your expertise in safety as well as make a greater impact in the community.

OSHA offers a variety of resources from videos and worksheets to posters and publications. It is easy to take part in the National Safety Stand-Down. Make use of the resources available through OSHA, and keep the momentum going with regular safety check-ins and trainings throughout the year.

Top Home Builders in Florida – February 2016

Posted on March 23, 2016 by Erika Carruth

D.R. Horton continues to lead residential construction in Florida with more than 630 housing starts on file for February.

For those of you who read our Florida Residential Construction Report last week, you are already aware of the 19% increase in housing starts in Florida since January. With close to 4,800 new Florida residential construction permits added to the HBW database last month, it is a great time to identify and recognize the top builders. From Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Southwest and Southeast Florida, there were three builders who led the bulk of new residential construction:

#1 – D.R. Horton

#2 – Lennar Homes

#3 – Pulte Homes

D.R. Horton led new residential construction in Florida for all of 2015, and in February it continued to lead the state with 632 starts. The company did not just dominate statewide, but when isolating activity by region, D.R. Horton took the #1 spot in four out of 5 of the regions, and was #2 in the southwestern portion of the state.

Coming in at second highest for housing starts, Lennar Homes had 320 new residential permits on file for February. Lennar was in the top five list in four out of five of the regions (see graphs below), and was #2 in Tampa and Orlando just behind D.R. Horton. In the #3 spot, Pulte Homes had 292 housing starts in February throughout Florida. Pulte was most active in the southwestern portion of the state, taking the #1 spot there with 150 permits on file for the month.

With Florida being expansive, there are many builders who are most active in specific regions. Although they may not make the top three for statewide activity, there are many builders who focus and are successful in their primary areas of service. For this reason, we used HBW permit reports to gain a closer look at the top builders by region.

Orlando

As previously mentioned, D.R. Horton was #1 for total housing starts in every region aside from the southwest. In Orlando, D.R. Horton led with 132 new residential permits on file for the month and a total value in excess of $37.6 million. Lennar Homes was second highest with 75 starts and more than $13.6 million in total value. Close behind, Meritage Homes took the third spot with 72 starts and nearly $25.9 million in total construction value.

Orlando Top 5 Home Builders – Feb. 2016

Southwest FL

Pulte Homes took the #1 spot in SW Florida with 150 housing starts and nearly $36.6 million in total new construction value. Pulte was most active in three counties for the month: Manatee, Lee and Collier. D.R Horton held second in the SW with 97 new residential construction permits and a total value close to $24.3 million. Taking #3 for the month, WCI Communities was active with 69 housing starts for the month and a total value in excess of $16.4 million.

SW FL Top 5 Home Builders – Feb. 2016

Southeast FL

D.R. Horton had new residential construction activity in nearly every county in the SE with 122 starts on file for the month and nearly $40 million in total construction value. Galloway Contractors and Builders took #2 in the SE with 87 housing starts and close to $29 million in total value. In the #3 spot, GL Homes had 60 starts for the month and just under $21.6 million in total value.

SE FL Top 5 Home Builders – Feb. 2016

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, D.R. Horton had a strong hold on the lead with 166 starts for the month and close to $26.2 million in total construction value. Holding in the second spot for residential construction starts, Dream Finders Construction had 86 new permits for the month and nearly $19.8 million in total value. Not far behind, Lennar Homes held in at third highest with 84 starts in February and more than $20.5 million in total value.

Jacksonville Top 5 Home Builders – Feb. 2016

Tampa

The top two builders leading in Tampa had new residential construction taking place in three counties: Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk. D.R. Horton held the #1 spot for total new permits with 115 starts and more than $27 million in construction value. Lennar Homes was close behind and held second highest with 96 starts and a total value in excess of $21.4 million. Coming in at #3, The Villages of Lake Sumter had 68 housing starts for the month and a total value close to $23 million.

Tampa Top 5 Home Builders – Feb. 2016

Florida’s Top Counties for Commercial Construction – February 2016

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Spring Break is here, and with Florida being home of the Spring Break capital of the U.S., it is the perfect time to look at commercial construction in the Sunshine State. Earlier this week, our review of residential construction in Florida showed the state on the upswing since January. Taking a look at commercial construction last month, there were nearly 330 commercial starts and more than 1,000 alterations (including renovations and additions). With a new commercial construction value in excess of $1.2 billion and $460M in alterations in February, Florida had various counties seeing the bulk of commercial construction activity for the month.

New Commercial Construction

Using HBW construction data reports, we were able to customize our search for the highest concentration of new commercial construction leads throughout Florida. In February, Miami-Dade County of South Florida held the #1 spot for highest new commercial construction value ($318.5M), while Orange County (Orlando) was #1 for total commercial starts (44 permits). When looking at alterations and renovations, the leaders switched as Miami-Dade led for total permits (122), and Orange County led for total value ($77.5M) for the month.

Miami-Dade and Orange County were not the only areas with new commercial starts on file for February. The area with the second highest total for commercial starts was Hillsborough County (Tampa) with 27 starts and nearly $168.6 million in total construction value. South Florida held the third and fourth spots for total new commercial construction permits. Miami-Dade had 24 starts and a total value in excess of $318.5 million, and Palm Beach County also had 24 starts with a total value just over $52.4 million. Not far behind, Polk County (Tampa) had 23 new commercial construction permits and a total value close to $100.6 million.

FL Top 5 Counties – New Commercial Construction Feb. 2016

Commercial Alterations

As previously mentioned, commercial alterations refer to all alterations, renovations and additions. In Florida, Miami-Dade County was #1 for total alterations with 122 permits and more than $43.4 million in total value. Orange County wasn’t far behind with 109 permits and a total value in excess of $77.5 million. Palm Beach County (SE) came in a close third for alterations with 103 new permits on file in February and a total construction value greater than $48.1 million. Hillsborough County (Tampa) held the fourth top spot with 101 alterations on file and more than $70.3 million in total construction value. The northern portion of the state in Jacksonville also had some new commercial activity on file as Duval County had 98 alterations with a value of more than $46.3 million.

FL Top 5 Counties for Commercial Alterations – Feb. 2016