HBWeekly

Florida Top Home Builders – May 2024

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Earlier this week, we reviewed the latest residential construction permit reports for Florida and discovered that there were 7,200 new permits added to the HBW database during the month of May. When looking into the reports further, we are able to identify the leading home builders driving new construction in each of the five major regions of Florida (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), as well as across the state.

Statewide, there continue to be two major players in the residential construction market – Both Lennar Homes and D.R. Horton are responsible for approximately 25 percent of all new residential construction activity on record last month, having 999 and 767 new permits respectively.

Here is an overview of the top home builders in each of the five major regions of Florida during the month of May 2024:

Southwest

Last month, there were nearly 325 contractors with new residential construction permits on record in the southwestern region of Florida, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits added to the HBW database during the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	315
2-Pulte Homes	153
3-D.R. Horton	131
4-Neal Communities of SW FL	107
5-Taylor Morrison	105

Tampa

Last month, there were approximately 180 home builders with new permits on record in the Tampa area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits during the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	217
2-Lennar Homes	203
3-Meritage Homes	107
4-Homes by West Bay	84
5-Pulte Homes	71

Orlando

In Orlando, there were nearly 160 home builders with new permits added to the HBW database last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	190
2-Pulte Homes	137
3-D.R. Horton	133
4-Meritage Homes	77
5-Park Square Homes	49

Jacksonville

Last month, there were more than 140 home builders with new permits on record in the Jacksonville area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits during the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	213
2-Lennar Homes	204
3-Dream Finders Construction	152
4-Pulte Homes	104
5-David Weekley Homes	57

Southeast

In the southeastern region of Florida, there were approximately 125 home builders with new permits on record with HBW last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-GL Building Corporation	89
2-Lennar Homes	87
3-D.R. Horton	73
4-Pulte Homes	57
5-KH Southeast FL Homes	39

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 Residential Construction Report – May 2024

Posted on June 19, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Last month, there were 7,200 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database for the Sunshine State. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), the southwest ranked #1 for new permitting activity (1,813 permits), while the highest average value of new home construction could be found in the Southeast (average value: $361,005).

Here is a closer look at new residential construction permit totals by area, along with average value of construction and leading counties in each region:

Southwest

As previously noted, there were 1,813 new residential construction permits with a total value in excess of $612.2 million in the southwestern region of Florida last month. The average value of new construction was $337,697, and more than half of all new construction activity took place in the two counties of Lee (526 permits) and Manatee (489 permits).

Tampa

Not far behind the southwestern region, the Tampa area had 1,745 new residential construction permits with a total value in excess of $578 million on record last month. The average value of construction was $331,310, and the county with the greatest concentration of new home construction activity was Polk County (712 permits).

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there 1,446 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $399.3 million on record last month. The average value of construction was lowest in Jacksonville (average value: $276,139) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Duval (582 permits) and St. Johns County (398 permits).

Orlando

Last month, there were more than 1,375 new residential construction permits with a total value of approximately $435.5 million added to the HBW database for Orlando. The average value of construction was $316,249, and more than half of all new permits originated from the two counties of Lake (420 permits) and Orange (372 permits).

Southeast

Last month, there were approximately 820 new residential construction permits with a total value of nearly $296 million on record with HBW for the Southeast. The average value of new home construction was highest in the area (average value: $361,005) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from the two counties of St. Lucie (364 permits) and Palm Beach (190).

Florida Swimming Pool Construction – May 2024

Posted on June 14, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Last month, there were approximately 1,655 new permits with a total construction value of $137.3 million on record with HBW for the Sunshine State. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), the southwest ranked #1 for greatest volume of new pool permits (509 permits), while the highest average value of new pool construction could be found in the Jacksonville area (average value: $87,710).

Here is a closer look at new swimming pool construction permit totals by area, along with average value of construction and leading counties in each region:

Southwest

In the Southwest, there were approximately 510 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $44.3 million last month. The average value of new pool construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $86,977) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the counties with the highest concentration of new construction activity were Lee County (183 permits) and Manatee County (131 permits).

Southeast

Last month, the southeastern region of Florida ranked #2 for new pool construction, having 360 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $27.3 million on record with HBW. The average value of construction was lowest in the area (average value: $75,929) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from the two counties of Palm Beach (104 permits) and Miami-Dade (85 permits).

Orlando

Last month, there were nearly 310 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of approximately $25 million added to the HBW database for Orlando. The average value of new pool construction was $80,609, and more than half of all new permits originated from the two counties of Orange (100 permits) and Lake (72 permits).

Tampa

In Tampa, there were approximately 290 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of $24.4 million during the month of May. The average value of construction was $84,434, and the county with the greatest concentration of new pool construction activity was Hillsborough (113 permits).

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were approximately 190 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of $16.5 million on record last month. The average value of new pool construction was highest in Jacksonville (average value: $87,710) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the majority of new permits originated from St. Johns County (70 permits) and Duval County (52 permits).

Texas Top Home Builders – May 2024

Posted on June 11, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Last week, we reviewed HBW construction data reports and noted 6,175 new residential construction permits on record for the month of May. When taking a deeper dive into HBW’s reports and database, we are able to identify the contractors and companies that are driving new home construction throughout Texas, and within each of the four major metro areas of Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.

The result: Lennar Homes and D.R. Horton continue to lead in most Texas metro regions. Last month, both home builders carried more than 15 percent of all new residential construction activity on record, having 520 and 418 new permits respectively for the one-month period.

Based on the total number of permits on record last month, here is a closer look at the top five home builders in each of the four Metro areas of Texas:

Houston

In Houston, there were 320 home builders with new construction activity on record with HBW last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	274
2-D.R. Horton	271
3-Meritage Homes	239
4-David Weekley Homes	234
5-K Hovnanian Homes	200

Dallas

Last month, there were nearly 250 contractors with new home construction activity on record in the Dallas area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits during the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	110
2-Taylor Morrison Homes	103
3-Highland Homes	62
4-Bloomfield Homes	58
5-Pulte Homes	57

Austin

Last month, there were 65 contractors with new home construction activity on record with HBW for the Austin area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits during the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-BB Living Homes	81
2-Taylor Morrison Homes	56
3-Lennar Homes	53
4-KB Homes	50
5-D.R. Horton	37

San Antonio

In the San Antonio area, there were 75 contractors with new residential construction activity on record with HBW for the month May, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits during the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	150
2-KB Homes	95
3-Continental Homes of Texas	58
4-Century Communities	29
5-Meritage Homes	17

Texas New Home Construction Report – May 2024

Posted on June 8, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Based on the most recent construction data reports from HBW, there were 6,175 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database last month, reflecting just about a 22 percent month-over-month decrease in new residential construction. Out of the four Metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), approximately 80 percent of all new home construction originated from Houston and Dallas, where there were 3,511 and 1,438 new permits on record respectively for the one-month period.

When looking at the value of construction, the average value of new permits added to the HBW database for Texas last month ranged from a low of $191,006 to a high of $394,547, with Dallas holding the lead for higher value projects.

Here is a closer look at the latest permit data for new home construction in the four major Metro areas of Texas last month:

Houston

In Houston, there were 3,511 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $1 billion last month. The average value of new home construction was $289,473, and the bulk (77 percent) of all new residential construction permits originated from the counties of Harris (1,679 permits) and Montgomery (1,021 permits).

Dallas

Dallas ranked #2 for new home construction, having 1,438 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $567 million last month. As previously noted, the average value of new home construction was highest in Dallas (average value: $394,547) in comparison to other areas reviewed, and the majority of construction activity took place in the two counties of Collin (606 permits) and Denton (307 permits).

Austin

Last month, there were more than 670 new residential construction permits with a total value in excess of $189 million in the Austin area. The average value of new home construction was $282,176, and more than half of all new permits originated from Travis County (399 permits).

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were 555 new residential construction permits with a total value of $106 million during the month of May. The average value of new home construction was lowest in the San Antonio area (average value: $191,006) in comparison to other Texas areas reviewed, and nearly all new home construction took place in Bexar County where there were 461 new permits on record for the one-month period.

Texas Swimming Pool Construction – May 2024

Posted on June 5, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Last month, there were more than 515 new swimming pool permits with a total construction value of nearly $35 million added to the HBW database for the Lone Star State. Out of the four Metro areas reviewed (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), Dallas (213 permits) carried the greatest volume of new pool construction activity, while Houston (average value: $82,143) held the highest average value of new pool construction for the month.

Here is a breakdown of the total permits, average value of construction and leading contractors in each of the four major metro areas of Texas last month:

Dallas

Dallas ranked #1 for new pool construction having 213 new permits on record last month. The average value of new pool construction was $58,645, and more than half of new pool construction activity took place in the counties of Dallas (74 permits) and Tarrant (50 permits).

Out of 125 contractors with new pool construction on record in the area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Riverbend Pools	13
2-Claffey Pools	11
3-Accent Pools	7

Houston

Last month, Houston ranked #2 for new swimming pool construction, having 192 new permits on record with HBW for the one-month period. The average value of new pool construction was highest in Houston (average value: $82,143) in comparison to other Texas areas reviewed, and well more than half of all new construction took place in Harris County (138 permits).

Out of nearly 95 pool contractors with new construction activity on record with HBW in Houston last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Platinum Pools	15
2-Cypress Custom Pools	12
3-Supreme Pools & Spas	10

Austin

In the Austin area, there were 70 new swimming pool permits added to the HBW database last month. The average value of construction was $63,699, and nearly all new permits originated from Travis County (64 permits).

Out of more than 45 contractors with new pool construction in Austin last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits on record with HBW:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Cody Pools	13
2-Anthony & Sylvan Pools	3
3-Premier Pools & Spa North Austin	3

San Antonio

Last month, the San Antonio area carried a low level of new pool construction, as well as a low average value of new projects, having 41 new permits on record with HBW for the one-month period. The average value of new pool construction was lowest in San Antonio (average value: $48,171) in comparison to other areas reviewed, and almost all permits originated from Bexar County (39 permits).

Out of more than 20 contractors with new pool construction activity on record in the San Antonio area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Cody Pools	8
2-Keith Zars Pools	7
3-Gary Pools	4

7 Tips for Engaging Leads

Posted on June 1, 2024 by Erika Carruth

As an HBW subscriber, you have access to a constant and reliable source for timely and verified leads. With new and complete building permit data readily available from the HBW database, your team has everything they need to start contacting new prospects; that being stated, how you choose to engage them will determine whether you convert prospects into customers.

For this reason, we are providing several tips for engaging new leads effectively:

Offer Value – In order to be of value, you must provide value; this can be in the form of valuable content, insights, or solutions that address the pain points or challenges that your leads may be experiencing. Whether it’s through informative articles, helpful tips, or free resources, establishing value can help you gain trust and serve as a resource whether they choose your services now or down the road.
Change it Up – Don’t limit yourself to cold calls. Consider using multiple channels for reaching out; this may include email, social media, phone calls, mail, and virtual or in-person meetings when possible. Different leads will be reachable through different communication channels, so diversifying your approach will increase the likelihood of reaching them effectively. Additionally, you should personalize your method of outreach by tailoring your communications to each lead based on their interests, preferences, and needs.
Pay Attention to Timing – Timing is key; timing your communications to coincide with significant decision-making moments or relevant events can dramatically increase engagement. For example, you can use the latest HBW building permit data to find out when your lead will need new tiles for their pool or a new roof for their home.
Be a Good Listener – While it is important to have a defined objective and strong sales pitch, it is equally as important to ask questions and listen to better understand each prospect’s needs. You can encourage two-way communication by asking open-ended questions and actively listening to your leads’ responses.
Be Sure to Follow-Up – Whether your first interaction was slow or kicked off with a speedy start, you should set reminders and a system in place for following up. By following up with leads consistently (not excessively), you can stay top-of-mind and nurture the relationship over time.
Provide Social Proof – You can demonstrate proof of your success by sharing testimonials, case studies, or success stories from satisfied customers. Research shows that 84 percent of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. For this reason, it is important to put your best social foot forward to build credibility and demonstrate the value of your services.
Offer Incentives or Promotions – While nobody wants to come across as another promotional deal of the day, providing incentives in the form of discounts, exclusive offers, or a free trial or consultation can incentivize leads to take action and engage with your products or services.

Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution for engaging leads, the above listed tips can be useful as you develop a comprehensive approach that is unique to you and your business. As you make progress, be sure to track your engagement efforts and analyze the results to identify the methods that prove to be effective (and ineffective); use this data to refine your approach and optimize your strategies for better engagement in the future.

For more information on construction business marketing 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.

HBW Report: Florida Pool Construction – April 2024

Posted on May 29, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Based on the latest HBW construction data reports, there were approximately 2,465 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database for Florida last month. Out of the five Florida regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Southeast), the greatest volume of new pool construction took place in the southwestern region of the state (899 permits), while the highest average value of construction could be found in Jacksonville (average value: $100,349).

Here is a closer look at the total permits, average value of construction, leading counties and contractors in each of the five regions of Florida during the month of April 2024:

Southwest

Total Permits: 899

Average Value of Construction: $77,458

Top Counties for Total Permits: Collier County (249 permits); Sarasota (196 permits)

Out of more than 200 pool contractors with new construction activity on record in Southwest Florida last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Aragon Pools & Spas	72
2-Coast to Coast Pools	55
3-Pinnacle USA	50

Southeast

Total Permits: 481

Average Value of Construction: $73,530

Top Counties for Total Permits: Palm Beach (185 permits); Miami-Dade (131 permits)

Out of 215 pool contractors with new permits on record in Southeast Florida last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-A&G Concrete Pools	23
2-Fountain Blue Pool Service	22
3-Treasure Pools & Service	12

Tampa

Total Permits: 439

Average Value of Construction: $89,525

Top Counties for Total Permits: Hillsborough (158 permits) and Pasco (81permits)

Out of the approximately 150+ pool builders with new construction on record in the Tampa area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-T&D Pool & Spa Construction	27
2-Gulfstream Pools & Spas	22
3-Cody Pools	19

Orlando

Total Permits: 416

Average Value of Construction: $65,840

Top Counties for Total Permits: Orange (106 permits); Brevard (98 permits)

Out of approximately 120 pool builders with new construction on record with HBW in the Orlando area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Bob’s Pool Service	53
2-Dreamscapes Pools & Spas	47
3-All Seasons	24

Jacksonville

Total Permits: 228

Average Value of Construction: $100,349

Top Counties for Total Permits: St. Johns (109 permits); Duval (56 permits)

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

Builder	Total Permits
1-Agua Pools & Spas	16
2-Breakwater Construction Group	11
3-Premier Outdoor	8

Florida’s Top Home Builders- April 2024

Posted on May 24, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Last month, there were more than 8,570 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database for Florida. Using the latest construction permit data reports from HBW, we are taking a look at the home builders that are driving new residential construction in five major regions of Florida: Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Southeast.

Statewide, there were three mega builders that appeared to dominate the market – Lennar Homes (1,215 permits), D.R. Horton (959 permits) and Pulte Homes (694 permits) carried more than 33 percent of all new residential construction activity in Florida last month, having a combined total of 2,868 new permits on record with HBW.

Here is a look at the top five builders in each of the Florida regions reviewed based on total new permits on record with HBW for the one-month period:

Southwest

In the southwestern region of Florida, there were 385 home builders with new construction activity on record with HBW for the month of April, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	480
2-Pulte Homes	266
3-Taylor Morrison	235
4-D.R. Horton	113
5-Neal Communities of SW FL	98

Tampa

Last month, there were nearly 230 active home builders with new construction activity on record with HBW in the Tampa area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	393
2-Lennar Homes	292
3-Taylor Morrison	120
4-Pulte Homes	98
5-LGI Homes	85

Orlando

Last month, there were more than 175 home builders with new construction activity on record with HBW for the Orlando area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Pulte Homes	196
2-D.R. Horton	126
3-Lennar Homes	119
4-Meritage Homes	74
M/I Homes	66

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were approximately 135 active home builders with new construction activity on record with HBW last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-D.R. Horton	293
2-Lennar Homes	163
3-Dream Finders Homes	127
4-Cambridge Builders & Contractors	63
5-Pulte Homes	63

Southeast

Last month, there were approximately 160 contractors with new home construction activity on record with HBW in the southeastern region of Florida, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits during the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Lennar Homes	161
2-Gl Building Corporation	115
3-Pulte Homes	71
4-Kolter Homes	62
5-Mattamy Homes	35

Texas Swimming Pool Construction Review – April 2024

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Erika Carruth

Last month, there were more than 630 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of nearly $41 million added to the HBW database for Texas. Out of the four metro areas reviewed (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), Dallas (250 permits) carried the greatest volume of new pool construction activity, while Houston (average value: $91,418) held the highest average value of new pool construction for the month.

Here is a breakdown of the total permits, average value of construction and leading contractors in each of the four major Metro areas of the Lone Star State during the month of April:

Dallas

As previously noted, Dallas ranked #1 for new pool construction having 250 new swimming pool construction permits on record last month. The average value of new pool construction landed mid-range in Dallas (average value: $66,407) in comparison to other areas reviewed, and 62 percent of all new permits originated from the counties of Dallas (89 permits) and Collin (66 permits).

Out of nearly 135 contractors with new pool construction on record in the area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Riverbend Pools	19
2-Claffey Pools	16
3-Foley Custom Pools	8

Houston

Last month, Houston ranked #2 for new swimming pool construction, having 180 new permits on record with HBW for the one-month period. The average value of new pool construction was highest in Houston (average value: $91,418) in comparison to other Texas areas reviewed, and the majority of all new construction took place in Harris County (131 permits).

Out of more than 110 pool contractors with new construction activity on record with HBW in Houston last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Platinum Pools	12
2-Anthony & Sylvan Pools	12
3-Regal Pools	6

Austin

For the Austin area, there were more than 120 new swimming pool permits added to the HBW database last month. The average value of new pool construction was $41,434, and nearly all new permits originated from Travis County (102 permits).

Out of approximately 70 contractors with new pool construction on record in Austin last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1- Cody Pools	16
2- Denali Pools	7
3- Texas Tiny Pools	5

San Antonio

Last month, the San Antonio area carried a low level of new pool construction, as well as a lowest average value of new projects, having 80 new permits on record with HBW for the one-month period. The average value of new pool construction was $34,127, and the majority of all permits originated from Bexar County (54 permits).

Out of approximately 40 contractors with new pool construction activity on record in San Antonio last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
1-Keith Zars Pools	9
2-Gary Pools	7
3-Cody Pools	5