HBWeekly

Texas Annual Report: Swimming Pool Construction 2023

Posted on January 27, 2024 by Erika Carruth

The Annual Construction Activity Trend Reports by HBW are now available and provide powerful data and insight into new construction activity. Today, we utilized the Trend Reports to review new swimming pool construction across Texas during 2023.

With a 31 percent year-over-year decrease in new pool construction permits last year, it appears that the previous growth pattern for new pool construction in Texas has ceased, and the market has taken a downward turn for the first time in over five years. From January through December, there were 9,137 new swimming pool permits from the combined metro areas of Dallas, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, with each area exhibiting year-over-year declines in construction ranging from -21 percent to -33 percent.

Here is a closer look at the total permits and leading counties for new swimming pool construction in each of the four major metropolitan areas of Texas last year:

Dallas

Out of the four Texas regions reviewed, Dallas carried the highest volume of new pool construction activity last year, having 4,300 new permits on record for the period, reflecting a 31 percent year-over-year decrease in permits. Out of the six counties that make up the Dallas area, nearly half of all new construction took place in the two counties of Dallas (1,069 permits) and Collin (1,038 permits) where there were year-over-year decreases in pool permits of 16 percent and 36 percent respectively.

Houston

In Houston, there approximately 2,540 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database last year, reflecting a 33 percent year-over-year decrease in new pool construction. Out of the five counties that make up the Houston area, the bulk of new permits originated from the County of Harris where there were 1,634 permits for the year, reflecting a 24 percent year-over-year decrease in new swimming pool construction.

Austin

Last year, there was a 32 percent year-over-year decrease in new swimming pool construction in the Austin area, resulting in approximately 1,375 new permits on record with HBW. Out of the four counties that make up the Austin area, Travis County held the greatest concentration of new pool construction activity, having approximately 1,065 permits on record with HBW, reflecting a 31 percent year-over-year decrease in construction.

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were approximately 925 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database last year, reflecting a 21 percent year-over-year decrease in new construction activity. Out of the three counties that make up the San Antonio area, Bexar County held the greatest concentration of new pool construction, having approximately 650 new permits on record, reflecting a 24 percent year-over-year decrease in construction.

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.

Florida Top Home Builders – December 2023

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Based on the latest construction data reports from HBW, there were approximately 7,575 new residential construction permits with a total value of nearly $2.3 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 (2,375 permits), while the highest average value of construction could be found in the southeastern region of the state (average value: $381,361).

Here is a closer look at the total permits, average value of construction and leading counties throughout the Sunshine State during the month of December 2023:

Tampa

As previously noted, Tampa held the greatest amount of new residential construction activity last month having 2,375 new permits with a total value in excess of $661.2 million. The average value of new home construction in the Tampa area was $278,421, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Pasco (830 permits) and Sumter (526 permits).

Southwest

In the southwestern region of Florida, there were 2,066 new residential construction permits with a total value of $568 million. The average value of new home construction was lowest in the southwest (average value: $274,939) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Lee (718 permits) and Manatee (444 permits).

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were 1,193 new residential construction permits with a total value of $328.5 million added to the HBW database last month. The average value of new home construction landed on the lower end of the spectrum in Jacksonville (average value: $275,392) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the majority of all new residential construction took place in the counties of St. Johns (389 permits) and Duval (388 permits).

Orlando

Last month, there were 1,100 new residential construction permits with a total value of $397.4 million added to the HBW database for the Orlando area. The average value of new home construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $361,276) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the counties with the highest concentration of new construction activity were Orange (333 permits) and Brevard (277 permits).

Southeast

Last month, there were approximately 840 new residential construction permits with a total value of $320 million in the southeastern region of Florida. The average value of new home construction was highest in the southeast (average value: $381,361) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and the counties with the greatest concentration of new residential construction activity were St. Lucie (281 permits) and Palm Beach (226 permits).

Florida Swimming Pool Construction Report – December 2023

Posted on January 20, 2024 by Erika Carruth

In Florida, there were approximately 2,200 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of nearly $166 million added to the HBW database during the month of December. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), the greatest concentration of new swimming pool construction could be found in the southwestern region where there 856 new permits for the one-month period. When looking for the highest average value of new swimming pool construction, Jacksonville was a standout having an average value of new swimming pool of nearly $93,200.

Here is a closer look at the total permits, construction values and leading counties for new swimming pool construction activity in Florida during the month of December 2023:

Southwest

As previously mentioned, the greatest concentration of new swimming pool construction permits originated from the southwestern region of Florida, where there were 856 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $65.1 million. The average value of new pool construction landed mid-range in the southwest (average value: $76,084) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and 60 percent of all new construction took place in the counties of Lee (332 permits) and Collier (222 permits).

Southeast

The southeastern region of Florida ranked #2 for new swimming pool construction last month, having just over 480 new permits with a total construction value of approximately $35 million on record with HBW. The average value of new pool construction was $72,379, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Palm Beach (173 permits) and Broward (87 permits).

Tampa

In Tampa, there were 332 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of $27.3 million last month. The average value of new pool construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum in Tampa (average value: $82,235) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and just over half of all new permits originated from the counties of Hillsborough (107 permits) and Pasco (62 permits).

Orlando

Last month, there were approximately 320 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of nearly $19 million added to the HBW database for the Orlando area. The average value of new pool construction was lowest in Orlando (average value: $59,470) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and just over half of all new construction activity took place in the two counties of Orange (84 permits) and Lake (82 permits).

Jacksonville

In the Jacksonville area, there were 210 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of approximately $19.6 million during the month of December. The average value of new swimming pool construction was highest in Jacksonville (average value: $93,193) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and nearly half of all new permits originated from St. Johns County (98 permits).

Annual Review – Metro Atlanta Swimming Pool Construction 2023

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Erika Carruth

When it comes to new swimming pool construction in the Metro Atlanta area, a significant decline was evident in 2023. Last year, there was a 29 percent year-over-year decrease in new swimming pool construction, marking the steepest annual decline for the area in more than twelve years.

From the twenty-four counties that make up the Metro Atlanta area, there were approximately 2,970 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database for the one-year period. The bulk of new construction originated from six counties where nearly 60 percent of all new swimming pool construction took place last year; those counties are as follows:

Fulton County

Last year, Fulton County ranked #1 for new swimming pool construction, having nearly 540 new permits on record with HBW, reflecting a 30 percent year-over-year decrease in new construction.

Gwinnett County

The county that ranked #2 for new swimming pool construction was Gwinnett; last year, there were 265 new permits added to the HBW database for Gwinnett County, reflecting 27 percent year-over-year decrease in new pool construction.

Cobb County

Just slightly behind Gwinnett, Cobb County was third in line for new pool construction in 2023. In Cobb, there were 264 new permits resulting from a 33 percent year-over-year decrease in new swimming pool construction.

Forsyth County

In Forsyth County, there was a 25 percent year-over-year decrease in new swimming pool construction last year, resulting in 236 new permits on record with HBW.

Coweta County

Last year, there were 211 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database for Coweta County, reflecting a 19 percent year-over-year decrease in new pool construction.

Cherokee County

In line with Coweta County, there were 211 new permits on record for Cherokee County in 2023, reflecting a 31 percent year-over-year decrease in swimming pool construction.

Information utilized for the above listed figures for Metro Atlanta swimming pool 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.

Atlanta Residential Construction Annual Report – 2023

Posted on January 12, 2024 by Erika Carruth

As we say goodbye to 2023 and begin 2024, HBW is in the process of reviewing construction permit data over the last year to identify building trends and areas where there have been gains (and losses) in the market. HBW construction data reports provide an in-depth and detailed overview of everything from leading contractors to the number of permits and construction values for any given area, and today we are looking at new residential construction activity in the Metro Atlanta area.

Last year, there were 21,600 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database for the Metro Atlanta area, reflecting a 15 percent year-over-year decrease in new residential construction. Out of the twenty-four counties that make up the area, five counties carried nearly 50 percent of all new construction activity, and those counties were as follows:

Gwinnett County

Gwinnett County ranked #1 for new home construction last year, having 3,550 new permits on record with a steady market that was on par with the previous year. This new stability is a good sign for the area considering 2022 had demonstrated a major year-over-year decrease (-21%) in new home construction.

Cherokee County

Last year, there were approximately 1,895 new residential construction permits in Cherokee County, reflecting a 19 percent year-over-year decrease in new home construction. Over the last five years, the area has demonstrated incremental increases in housing starts (with the exception of 2021), and the marked downward shift last year is both significant and not typical for the area.

Fulton County

In Fulton County, there were approximately 1,770 new residential construction permits last year, reflecting a 12 percent year-over-year decrease in new home construction. Although the year-over-year dip in new construction is not as significant as 2022, new permits have been steadily declining and new home construction has been slowing in the area over the last two years.

Cobb County

With a 2 percent year-over-year decrease in new residential construction permits, Cobb County had more than 1,510 housing starts on record in 2023. Since 2019, Cobb County has exhibited an inconsistent market for residential construction, with some years faring better than others. Last year, there was minimal year-over-year change which may be indicative of some steadiness in the market ahead.

Paulding County

Last year, there were 1,315 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database for Paulding County, reflecting a steady market that was right in line with figures from the previous year. Over the last few years, new home construction has been rapidly on the rise in Paulding, and in 2023, it appears that those previous gains are holding and perhaps reaching a temporary plateau.

Information utilized for the 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.

Texas Top Home Builders – December 2023

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Last week, we reviewed the latest construction permit data available from HBW to report on new residential construction in Texas; through the reports, we found there were approximately 6,110 new residential construction permits with a total value of $1.8 billion added to the HBW database for the Lone Star State last month. Today, we are taking a look at the same construction data reports to identify the leading contractors that held the highest volume of housing starts last month. And while each Metro area of Texas has its own unique lineup of leading home builders, there have been two major players in the market month after month – From across the four major areas reviewed (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), both Lennar Homes and D.R. Horton continue to carry the highest concentration of new residential construction activity, having approximately 706 and 565 permits on record respectively for the one-month period.

Here is a closer look at the top five builders for each Metro area in Texas based on the total number of permits on record with HBW during the month of December 2023:

Houston

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Lennar Homes	521	$ 223,004.00
2-D.R. Horton	431	$ 250,945.00
3-Meritage Homes	158	$ 278,902.00
4-Pulte Homes	152	$ 248,644.00
5-David Weekley Homes	150	$ 238,819.00

Dallas

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-D.R. Horton	107	$ 337,066.00
2-First Texas Homes	89	$ 446,158.00
3-Bloomfield Homes	65	$ 373,639.00
4-Lennar Homes	65	$ 227,893.00
5-Highland Homes	55	$ 443,092.00

Austin

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Taylor Morrison Homes	70	$ 287,767.00
2-Perry Homes	46	$ 373,196.00
3-Pulte Homes	40	$ 364,920.00
4-GFO Homes	35	$ 258,420.00
5-Lennar Homes	32	$ 238,010.00

San Antonio

Builder	Total Permits	Average Value
1-Lennar Homes	88	$ 157,758.00
2-National Home Corp	40	$ 180,309.00
3-KB Homes	37	$ 225,059.00
4-Sitterle Homes	23	$ 168,290.00
5-Continental Homes of Texas	21	$ 200,140.00

Texas Residential Construction Report – December 2023

Posted on January 6, 2024 by Erika Carruth

The latest and greatest HBW construction data reports are in and ready for review. Based on the reports for Texas, there were approximately 6,110 new residential construction permits with a total value of $1.8 billion added to the HBW database for the Lone Star State last month. Upon reviewing the four major Metro areas in Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), we found that the greatest concentration of housing starts originated from Houston (3,251 permits), and Dallas carried the highest average value of new residential construction (average value: $368,903).

Here is a closer look at the total permits, average value of construction projects, and leading counties for new home construction in Texas during the month of December 2023:

Houston

As previously noted, Houston carried the greatest amount of new home construction last month, having 3,251 new permits added to the HBW database. The average value of construction was $258,929, and the county with the highest concentration of new residential construction activity was Harris County (1,344 permits).

Dallas

In Dallas, there were just over 1,755 new residential construction permits with a total value of nearly $648 million on record last month. The average value of new home construction was highest in the Dallas area (average value: $368,903) in comparison to other areas reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Collin (528 permits) and Dallas (382 permits).

Austin

Last month, there were nearly 700 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $226 million in the Austin area. The average value of new home construction was $323,910, and 65 percent of all new permits originated from Travis County where there were 450 new permits on record for the one-month period.

San Antonio

In the San Antonio area, there were more than 400 new residential construction permits with a total value of $89.5 million last month. The average value of new home construction was lowest in San Antonio (average value: $221,611) in comparison to other Texas regions reviewed, and the majority of all new permits originated from Bexar County (283 permits).

Texas Swimming Pool Construction Review – December 2023

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Based on the latest construction data reports from HBW, there were approximately 650 new swimming pool permits with a total construction value of nearly $41 million added to the HBW database for Texas last month. Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), Dallas carried the highest volume of pool starts (339 permits), while Houston carried the highest average value of new pool construction (average value: $81,177).

Here is a closer look at permit data and leading swimming pool contractors within each Texas metro area during the month of December 2023:

Dallas

As previously mentioned, Dallas carried the greatest amount of new pool construction in comparison to other Texas areas reviewed, having 339 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $19 million on record last month. The average value of new swimming pool construction landed on the lower end of the spectrum in Dallas (average value: $56,273) in comparison to other areas reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from the two counties of Collin (104 permits) and Dallas (84 permits).

Out of approximately 160 contractors with new swimming pool construction on record in the Dallas area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits for the one-month period:

Builder

1-Riverbend Pools

2-BMR Pools

3-Puryear Custom Pools

Houston

Last month, Houston ranked #2 for new swimming pool construction, having more than 160 new permits with a total construction value of $13 million on record for the one-month period. The average value of new pool construction was highest in Houston (average value: $81,177) in comparison to other Texas regions reviewed, and the majority of swimming pool construction activity took place in Harris County (110 permits).

Out of 90 contractors in the Houston area with new pool construction activity on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Blue Haven Pools

2-Platinum Pools

3-Avree Pools

Austin

In Austin, there were more than 100 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value in excess of $6.8 million last month. The average value of new swimming pool construction was $66,889, and the bulk of all new permits originated from Travis County (83 permits).

Out of more than 55 pool builders with new construction activity on record in the Austin area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Cody Pools

2-Innovative Pools & Spas

3-Anthony & Sylvan Pools

San Antonio

Last month, there were nearly 50 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of approximately $2 million in the San Antonio area. The average value of new swimming pool construction was lowest in San Antonio (average value: $42,077) in comparison to other Texas areas reviewed, and the county with the greatest concentration of new construction activity was Bexar with 33 permits on record for the one-month period.

Out of nearly 25 contractors with new swimming pool construction permits on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Keith Zars Pools

2-Aquamarine Pools

3-Gary’s Pools & Patio

Design Trends Expected in 2024

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Erika Carruth

Fashion and design seem to change with the wind – A new interior design trend can go from “hot” to “not” in a blink of an eye, and when homeowners jump on the latest and greatest, they can often find themselves in “outdated” by the time the finally get settled in.

For this reason, we are providing a brief overview of some of the trends that are expected in 2024, providing an industry “heads up” to let you know what your clients may begin to buzz about in the new year. As a home builder, contractor, or design professional, you are already well informed on what is best for your clients, but clients also have tremendous access to information and may have a clear idea on the direction they want to take with their new build or renovation.

As we have combed through some of the latest industry buzz, here is a quick overview of a few concepts that may be featured on your clients’ mood boards in the coming year:

Texture on the Walls: According to Elle Décor, glossy is gone, and texture is the “it” wall of 2024. And when you think of texture, abandon any thoughts of wallpaper. Instead, think more about integrating patterns in stone and wood that are three dimensional – shapes and movement that change when light hits them. Brushed and hand-applied finishes are also expected on the scene in addition to limewash.
Terra-Cotta Tile: Did terra-cotta every really go out of style? Not sure, but apparently it is back with a strong presence. In fact, 1stDibs reported that approximately 25 percent of designers surveyed expressed that ceramic and terra-cotta were leading materials expected to be in play.
High-Tech: As technology continues to advance at the speed of light, so have ways to integrate technology into homes. From high-tech lighting to smart appliances and controls, there are multiple options now available for everyone ranging from the buyer with no limitations to the client with the most cost-conscious practices.
Sustainable Materials and Services: Sustainability is in demand, and it is being adopted by many designers and architects as part of their overall purpose and approach to projects. With this, many industry professionals are getting creative with the products and services they offer. Sustainability isn’t just about whether the material itself is sustainability – clients are also interested in how and where it is sourced, production practices, and minimizing their impact on the environment.
Just “Peachy”: As many readers will already be aware, Pantone named “Peach Fuzz” the color of the year. So, what does this mean for you? Well, you can expect informed and on-trend clients to be entertaining the idea of introducing warmer peach and apricot colors into their next project. Variations of this color can easily pair with neutrals and natural shades, and can be integrated into textiles, glass, paint, and décor; it will also work well with pops of greens and blues for contrast.

While the above listed areas are just a few of the many trends that could pop up in the year to come, it is always helpful to have an idea of what information clients may be receiving before they seek professional consulting and services. Their enthusiasm for new trends paired with your industry expertise can strike the perfect balance in design, resulting in a final project that they will enjoy long after the newest trend becomes old news.

For more information on construction industry updates and business 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.

Top Home Builders in Florida – November 2023

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Erika Carruth

Last week, we reviewed the latest data pulled for Florida from new residential construction permits on record with HBW during the month of November; as previously reported, there were more than 4,675 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $1.4 billion added to the HBW database for the Sunshine State last month.

This week, we are taking a closer look at the HBW construction data reports to identify leading home builders in Florida based on total new permits on record for the one-month period. From the five major regions reviewed (Tampa, Southwest, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), two companies continue to lead new residential construction activity throughout the state – D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes. Both home builders carried approximately 645 new permits each on record last month, and both ranked #1 in two out of five regions reviewed.

Here is a closer look at the leading home builders by Florida region during the month of November 2023:

Tampa

In the Tampa area, there were 175 builders with new residential construction permits on record with HBW last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	212
2-D.R. Horton	186
3-The Villages of Lake Sumter	64
4-Homes By West Bay	58
5-Pulte Homes	43

Southwest

In the southwestern region of Florida, there were nearly 275 contractors with new home construction activity on record last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	255
2-D.R. Horton	115
3-Pulte Homes	54
4-JHS Builders	50
5-Adams Homes	29

Southeast

Last month, there were more than 120 contractors with new residential construction activity on record with HBW in the southeastern region of Florida, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-GL Building Corporation	86
2-D.R. Horton	79
3-Pulte Homes	54
4-Lennar Homes	28
5-GHO Homes	25

Orlando

In Orlando, there were nearly 140 contractors with new residential construction activity on record last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	121
2-Lennar Homes	113
3-Pulte Homes	112
4-Meritage Homes	34
5-K Hovnanian Homes	34

Jacksonville

Out of more than 100 contractors with new residential construction permits on record with HBW in Jacksonville last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	144
2-Pulte Homes	69
3-Richmond American Homes	43
4-Lennar Homes	38
5-AMH Development	29