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Florida Residential Construction Report – April 2020

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of construction permit data on record with HBW for new home construction in Florida during the month of April 2020

Last month, there were approximately 5,675 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $1.6 billion in the Sunshine State. As with every monthly report, the five major Florida regions reviewed included Southeast, Southwest, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville. Out of the five regions, the highest concentration of new home construction took place in Tampa (1,687 permits), while Orlando carried the highest average value of new residential construction (average value: $318,827).

Here is a closer look at the total permits, average construction values and leading counties by area in Florida during the month of April 2020:

Tampa

Last month, approximately 30 percent of all new home construction in Florida took place in the Tampa area, resulting in 1,687 new permits with a total construction value of nearly $500 million being added to the HBW database. The average value of new home construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum in comparison to other regions reviewed (average value: $296,076), and the county with the highest concentration of new permits was Hillsborough County (646 permits).

Southwest

In the southwestern region of Florida, there were nearly 1,260 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $353 million last month. The average value of new home construction was $280,713, and the county with the greatest amount of new construction activity was Lee County (401 permits).

Jacksonville

Last month, there were approximately 1,045 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $235 million in the Jacksonville area. The average value of new home construction was lowest in Jacksonville in comparison to other regions reviewed (average value: $225,229), and the bulk of new permits originated from St. Johns County (388 permits) and Duval County (381 permits).

Orlando

While Orlando carried a lighter load of housing starts last month (~1,000 permits), the area continued to hold the highest average value of new home construction (average value: $318,827), resulting in a total construction value of more than $318.5 million for the one-month period. Out of the six Orlando area counties reviewed, just about half of all new construction took place in the two counties of Orange (267 permits) and Volusia (230 permits).

Southeast

In the southeastern region of Florida, there were 685 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $202.5 million during the month of April 2020. The average value of construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $295,699) in comparison to other Florida regions reviewed, and the majority of new residential construction permits originated from St. Lucie County (275 permits) and Palm Beach County (219 permits).

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.

Texas Top Home Builders – April 2020

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of the leading home builders in Texas based on the total new permits added to the HBW database during the month of April 2020

As published on the HBW blog last week in a post titled “Texas Residential Construction Report – April 2020”, there were approximately 6,200 housing starts in Texas with a total construction value in excess of $1.5 billion during the month of April 2020. While we previously reviewed permit details and leading counties throughout the four major metro areas of Texas (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), this week we are taking a closer look at the latest HBW construction data reports to identify the leading home builders in Texas. The criteria for leading home builders first include the total number of new residential construction permits pulled for a given period (April 2020), and secondly the total construction value of permits on record.

Across the state, D.R. Horton continues to dominate the market, having nearly 900 total new residential construction permits on record with HBW last month. Out of the four metro areas reviewed, D.R. Horton ranked #1 in Dallas, Houston and Austin. Here is a closer look at the top five home builders by area and based on the total number of housing starts during the month of April 2020:

Dallas

In Dallas, there were nearly 215 active home builders with new construction activity on record last month, and the following ranked as the top five for total new residential construction permits for the one-month period:

Builder	Total Permits	Total Value
D.R. Horton	266	$ 54,859,680.00
Bloomfield Homes	98	$ 31,344,403.00
First Texas Homes	89	$ 33,219,881.00
Highland Homes	86	$ 25,530,729.00
Pulte Homes	84	$ 19,901,091.00

Houston

Last month, there were 265 active contractors with new construction activity in the Houston area, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on record with HBW:

Builder	Total Permits	Total Value
D.R. Horton	301	$ 38,047,495.00
Lennar Homes	164	$ 24,441,605.00
K Hovnanian Homes	140	$ 19,277,541.00
Perry Homes	109	$ 31,033,165.00
David Weekley Homes	97	$ 26,155,157.00

Austin

In Austin, there were 85 home builders with new residential construction activity on record with HBW during the month of April, and the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Total Value
D.R. Horton	290	$ 52,496,924.00
Lennar Homes	85	$ 13,418,501.00
Pulte Homes	75	$ 22,850,255.00
Pacesetter Homes	72	$ 10,549,988.00
KB Homes	55	$ 10,837,504.00

San Antonio

Out of the nearly 100 active home builders with new construction activity on record in the San Antonio area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits	Total Value
Lennar Homes	98	$ 24,178,925.00
Bella Vista CMI	50	$ 11,929,673.00
Fieldstone Communities SA	46	$ 11,500,000.00
D.R. Horton	39	$ 7,066,800.00
KB Homes	34	$ 8,420,165.00

Texas Swimming Pool Construction Report – April 2020

Posted on May 22, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of the latest permit data for new swimming pool construction in Texas during the month of April 2020

Based on the HBW database, there were approximately 540 new swimming pool construction permits with a total value of $30.4 million in Texas last month. Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), Dallas carried the highest volume of new construction activity (271 permits), while Houston held the highest average value of new pool construction (average value: $62,727).

Here is a closer look at the total permits, leading counties, and average value of new pool construction in Texas during the month of April 2020:

Dallas

As previously mentioned, Dallas ranked #1 for new swimming pool construction, having more than 270 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $14.8 million last month. The average value of new pool construction was $54,722, and more than half of all new permits originated from the counties of Collin (82 permits) and Tarrant (61 permits).

Out of the 100 pool builders with new construction activity on record with HBW last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Riverbend Pools

2-Hauk Custom Pools

3-Gold Medal Pools

Houston

Houston ranked second for volume of pool starts last month, having nearly 165 new permits with a total construction value of approximately $10.3 million on record with HBW. The average value of new pool construction was highest in the Houston area in comparison to other metro areas reviewed (average value: $62,727), and more than half of all new construction activity took place in Harris County (86 permits).

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

Builder

1-Premier Pools

2-Platinum Pools

3-Anthony & Sylvan Pools

Austin

In Austin, there were 62 new swimming pool permits with a total construction value of nearly $3.6 million on record for the month of April (2020). The average value of new pool construction landed on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: $57,652) in comparison to other metro areas reviewed, and nearly all new permits originated from Travis County (45 permits).

Out of the more than 30 pool contractors with new construction activity on record last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Anthony & Sylvan Pools

2-Cody Pools

3-Texas Pools & Patios

San Antonio

Last month, there were more than 40 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $1.7 million in the San Antonio area. The average value of new pool construction was lowest in San Antonio (average value: $41,949) in comparison to other metro areas reviewed, and nearly all new construction took place in Bexar County (34 permits).

Out of the 20 active contractors with new swimming pool construction on record with HBW for the month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

Builder

1-Keith Zars Pools

2-Blue Haven Pools

3-Pool Concepts by Pete Ordaz

Texas Residential Construction Report – April 2020

Posted on May 20, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A report on the latest permit data available from the HBW database for new home construction in Texas during the month of April 2020

Last month, there were approximately 6,200 housing starts in Texas with a total construction value in excess of $1.5 billion. Out of the four major metropolitan areas reviewed (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), Houston continued to lead for volume having nearly 2,430 new permits on record for the one-month period, and Dallas maintained its hold on higher value homes with an average construction value of more than $290k for the month.

Here is a closer look at the total permits, construction values and leading counties by area for new residential construction in Texas during April 2020:

Houston

As previously mentioned, Houston has and continues to lead Texas metropolitan areas for new home construction as it consistently holds the highest concentration of new residential construction permits month after month. Last month, there were nearly 2,430 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $511 million on record for Houston. The average value of new construction was lowest in the Houston area (average value: $210,531) in comparison to other metro areas reviewed, and more than half of all new permits originated from Harris County (1,417 permits)

Dallas

Dallas ranked second for volume of housing starts, having nearly 2,090 new permits with a total construction value of more than $606.5 million on record last month. The average value of new home construction has continued to be highest in Dallas (average value: $290,670) in comparison to other Texas metro areas reviewed, and the counties holding the majority of new home construction activity are Tarrant County (643 permits) and Collin County (519 permits).

Austin

Last month, there were more than 1,050 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $240 million in Austin. The average value of construction landed on the lower end of the spectrum in comparison to the other areas reviewed (average value: $227,251), and nearly all new home construction activity took place in the counties of Travis (508 permits) and Williamson (458 permits).

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were approximately 635 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $150 million during the month of April 2020. The average value of new home construction was $237,033, and the bulk of all new permits originated from Bexar County (427 permits).

Florida Swimming Pool Construction Report – Q1-2020

Posted on May 15, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of new pool construction permits in Florida and on record with HBW during the first quarter of 2020

There is no doubt that swimming pools are a very popular (and often expected) feature of homes in Florida. Year after year, and over the past five years, new swimming pool construction has been on the rise in the Sunshine State, with annual spikes ranging from 4 percent to 7 percent. Since the start of this year (thru March 2020), the market for new swimming pool construction is strong, with nearly a 25 percent year-over-year increase in pool starts resulting in 7,100 new swimming pool construction permits on record with HBW.

Out of the six major Florida regions reviewed (West, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest, West and Central), the greatest volume of new swimming pool permits can be found in the southwestern region of the state (1,962 permits) where there has been a 45 percent increase in new pool construction in comparison to the same time last year. In the southwest, more than half of all new construction took place in the two counties of Lee (675 permits) and Sarasota (401 permits), with both counties demonstrating year-over-year increases in new pool permits of approximately 55 percent.

Other Florida regions that have carried a higher volume of new swimming pool construction activity since the start of the year include the western and central portions of state. In West Florida, there has been a 10 percent year-over-year increase in pool permits (thru March 2020), resulting in more than 1,305 pool starts on record with HBW for the three-month period.

In Central Florida, there has been a major 29 percent increase in new swimming pool construction (Q1-2020) in comparison to the same time last year, resulting in more than 1,250 new swimming pool permits on record for the three-month period. The counties driving the high construction figures in the central region include both Orange (415 permits) and Osceola (348 permits) counties where more than half of all new construction took place, with both counties reflecting an average of a 30 percent year-over-year increase in pool starts.

Moving to the southeast, there have been approximately 1,170 pool starts since the start of the year (thru March 2020), reflecting an 8 percent increase in new pool construction in comparison to the same period last year. The bulk of new construction originated from the two counties of Palm Beach (409 permits) and Miami-Dade (312 permits), with both counties demonstrating year-over-year increases in pool construction of 3.5 percent and 35 percent respectively.

While new pool construction in the northern region of Florida is lower than other portions of the state, there has still been significant growth in pool starts during the first quarter of this year. Both the northeast and the northwest have demonstrated increases of 23 percent and 35 percent respectively (Q1-2019 vs. Q1-2020), resulting in a combined total of 1,411 new swimming pool permits on record for the northern region.

Florida Quarterly Residential Construction Review: Q1-2020

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of permit data on record with HBW for new residential construction in Florida during the first quarter of 2020

Over the last five years, new residential construction has been soaring in Florida year-after-year, with annual increases ranging from 2 percent to 14 percent. At the start of this year, gains in Florida’s residential construction market are already evident, as there has been a 22 percent year-over-year in housing starts from January through March 2020, resulting in 23,930 new permits on record with HBW.

Out of the six major regions reviewed (Central, West, Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest), West Florida held the highest concentration of new residential construction activity (5,684 permits), while the northwestern region of the state exhibited the highest increase in new permits (48%+) in comparison to the same time last year.

Here is a closer look at the total permits, leading counites and YTD % change in new permits during Q1-2020:

West Florida

As previously mentioned, West Florida is currently the leading region for new residential construction as there were 5,684 housing starts since the start of this year (thru March 2020), reflecting a significant 29 percent increase in new home construction in comparison to the same time last year. Out of the seven area counties reviewed, three counties carried the bulk of new construction activity: Polk County (1,640 permits); Hillsborough County (1,623 permits); Pasco County (1,310 permits).

Southwest Florida

In the southwestern region of the Sunshine State, there were more than 4,800 housing starts in the first quarter of this year, reflecting just over a 29 percent increase in new home construction in comparison to last year. Out of the five counties reviewed, both Lee (1,573 permits) and Sarasota (1,018 permits) carried the bulk of new residential construction permits, with year-over-year increases (YTD-Q1) of 44 percent and 33 percent respectively.

Northeast Florida

In the northeastern region of Florida, there were 3,880 housing starts in the first quarter of this year, reflecting a 22 percent year-over-year increase in new permits on record with HBW. Out of the eight area counties reviewed, more than half of all new residential construction permits originated from Duval (1,308 permits) and St. Johns (1,009). While Duval County is significantly ahead of last year’s figures for new home construction (+58%), St. Johns is falling just behind with a 7 percent decrease in new permits in comparison to the same time last year.

Central Florida

Since the start of this year (thru March 2020), there have been 3,580 housing starts in the Orlando area, reflecting just over an 8 percent increase in new home construction in comparison to the same time last year. Out of the six major counties reviewed, Orange County held the highest concentration of new residential construction activity (1,094 permits), despite the fact that it experienced a 19 percent year-over-year decrease in new home construction. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Lake County is currently exhibiting a major spike in new home construction with a 213 percent year-over-year increase in new residential construction activity (Q1-2020), resulting in approximately 725 new permits on record with HBW for the three-month period.

Northwest Florida

In the northwest, there were more than 3,360 housing starts during Q1-2020, reflecting approximately a 48 percent year-over-year increase in new home construction. For the northwestern region of Florida, 18 counties were reviewed, including two neighboring counties in Alabama (Mobile and Baldwin), and more than half of all new construction took place in the three counties of Baldwin (699 permits), Santa Rosa (613 permits) and Escambia (445 permits).

Southeast Florida

During Q1-2020, there were approximately 2,620 housing starts in the southeastern region of Florida, reflecting a 3 percent decrease in new home construction in comparison to the same time last year. Out of the seven counties reviewed, St. Lucie County carried the highest volume of housing starts (1,009 permits) and surged ahead of the previous year with a 21 percent year-over-year increase in new home construction.

New Swimming Pool Construction in Texas on a High in Q1-2020

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of the latest permit data for new swimming pool construction in Texas during the first quarter of 2020

Based on the latest construction permit data available from HBW, new swimming pool construction has started out strong in Texas early this year. From the combined metropolitan areas of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, new swimming pool construction in Q1-2020 was up by 14 percent in comparison to the same time last year, resulting in more than 2,060 new permits on record with HBW for the three-month period. Every metro area (with the exception of Dallas) exhibited year-over-year increases in new pool construction ranging from 27 percent to 34 percent, with the highest concentration of construction activity taking place in the Dallas area (950 permits).

Here is a closer look at new swimming pool construction permit totals, and leading counties by Texas metro area from January through March of this year:

Dallas

New swimming pool construction in the Dallas area appears to be holding steady since the start of this year (thru March 2020), as there were 950 pool starts in the first quarter, reflecting a nominal 1 percent year-over-year decrease in new pool construction. Out of the six Dallas metro area counties reviewed, more than half of all new construction originated from two counties: Collin County (271 permits) and Tarrant County (244 permits); both counties demonstrated year-over-year increases in new pool construction ranging from 9 percent (Tarrant) to 21 percent (Collin).

Houston

Behind Dallas, the Houston area ranked #2 for new swimming pool construction as there were 635 pool starts in Q1-2020. Out of the four major Texas metro areas reviewed, Houston demonstrated the greatest percentage of growth in pool construction over the previous year, as there was a 34 percent year-over-year increase in new swimming pool permits on record with HBW. Out of the five Houston area counties reviewed, Harris County carried the highest concentration and the bulk of all new pool construction activity, having 410 new permits on record for the three-month period.

Austin

In the Austin area, there were approximately 300 pool starts in the first quarter of this year, reflecting a 27 percent year-over-year increase in new swimming pool construction. Out of the four counties reviewed in the Austin metro area, nearly all new pool construction permits originated from Travis County (228 permits) where there has been a 24 percent increase (Q1-2020) in pool starts in comparison to the same time last year.

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were 180 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database in the first quarter of this year, reflecting a 27 percent year-over-year increase in pool starts. Out of the three counties reviewed in the San Antonio area, the bulk of all new pool construction took place in Bexar County where there were nearly 120 pool starts from January through March of this year.

HBW Report: Florida Residential Construction – March 2020

Posted on May 6, 2020 by Erika Carruth

A review of permit data for new home construction in Florida during the month of March 2020

During the month of March, there were more than 7,400 housing starts with a total construction value of approximately $2 billion in Florida. Based on the latest permit data available from the HBW database, out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast, Jacksonville), Southwest Florida ranked #1 for highest concentration of new residential construction (1,899 permits), while Orlando led for highest average value of new home construction (average value: $315,585).

As for builders, the major players in the Florida market remain Lennar Homes (1,024 permits) and D.R. Horton (1,018 permits), as both held the greatest total amount of housing starts in Florida in comparison to other home builders with new permits on record with HBW for the one-month period.

Here is a breakdown of total permits, leading counties and top home builders for each Florida region reviewed during the month of March 2020:

Southwest

Total permits: 1,899

Average Value of Construction: $255,567

Top County for Total Permits: Lee County – 614 permits