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Texas Residential Construction Report – February 2019

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW review of new residential construction permits on file in Texas for the month of February 2019

Last month, there were approximately 5,070 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database for Texas, reflecting a month-over-month decrease in new residential construction of nearly 3%. Out of the four major metro areas reviewed (Dallas, Austin, Houston, San Antonio), Houston ranked #1 for total new permits (2,111 permits), while Dallas continued to hold the highest average construction value ($311,820).

The metro area that experienced monthly gains in new construction include San Antonio with a 30% month-over-month increase in new permits, and Austin with a 2% month-over-month increase in permits. As per usual, when it comes to home builders, D.R. Horton ranked high on the charts and listed as the top builder for total housing starts in three out of four areas reviewed. Here is a closer look at the latest figures for new residential construction permits in Texas last month:

Houston

Total Permits: 2,111 permits (↓5% month-over-month decrease)

Total Construction Value: $425+ million

Average Value of Construction: $201,371

Top County for Total Permits: Harris County (1,018 permits)

Top Builder for Total Permits: D.R. Horton (385 permits)

Dallas

Total Permits: 1,649 (↓8% month-over-month decrease)

Total Construction Value: $514+ million

Average Value of Construction: $ 311,820 (ranked #1 for highest average value of construction)

Top County for Total Permits: Tarrant County (509 permits)

Top Builder for Total Permits: D.R. Horton (268 permits)

Austin

Total Permits: 832 permits (↑2% month-over-month increase)

Total Construction Value: $203+ million

Average Value of Construction: $ 244,098

Top County for Total Permits: Travis County (558 permits)

Top Builder for Total Permits: D.R. Horton (167 permits)

San Antonio

Total Permits: 477 (↑30% month-over-month increase)

Total Construction Value: $95.5 million

Average Value of Construction: $200,136 (lowest average value)

Top County for Total Permits: Bexar County (352 permits)

Top Builder for Total Permits: Continental Homes of Texas (69 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.

Take Five: A Quick Tip Marketing Fix

Posted on March 2, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A couple of months have passed since we posted some fresh new marketing tips for 2019. Since the last post: “Upgrade Your Online Marketing in 2019”, we have come up with a few more tips for HBW subscribers that are sure to keep your brand visible and in front of your target audience. Here are a few more must-haves and refreshers to keep your online marketing momentum going:

Get Mapped – While your contact page and social media profiles probably have your address listed on a visible map, you want to make sure that you are present on “Maps”. When consumers are looking for your business on the go, they often go to apps like Google and Apple “Maps”. By claiming your local listing and ensuring that the information (address, phone number) is current and accurate, you will be secure in knowing that customers can easily locate you.
Claim Your Google+ Page– Claiming and optimizing a Google+ Local page is vital for your business to show up in Google Maps and Google’s local search results. Additionally, this is where users will be able to view important information such as your hours and contact details, as well as list ratings and reviews. It is important that after you claim your page, you manage it (and the ratings) as well.
Play the Backlinks – High-quality links to your website, landing pages and social profiles are important, especially those that you develop through and with partners and third-parties. Backlinks, such as those from influencers, are great for building your online identity and credibility. Along with expanding your presence and positive reputation, they signal search engines that your online profiles and pages are credible and can lead to higher ranking of your website and related links.
Start Yelping – Yelp isn’t just for disgruntled workers or dissatisfied customers (not that you have either) to post subpar reviews; it can actually serve as a great hub for hosting information about your business. Yelp can house information including your operating hours and industry to preferred payment methods and positive reviews. A good place to start is to see what may already be on there for your business. Once you have your business listed, it can serve as a solid way for consumers to find you, as well as a place to send happy customers to post a review.
Start Blogging – You don’t need to be a published author to blog about your own business. We are not talking about writing a novel; short summaries of current projects, industry expos attended or new team members can easily be posted on a blog to reflect important business activity and updates. By maintaining a blog with one or two stories per month (minimum), you can boost your site’s SEO, and from the content end you can showcase your expertise and industry knowledge. Blogs can make companies relatable, as well as build their reputation. Just remember to have a system in place for proofreading and approval prior to publishing; this is especially important if you have more than one blogger on board.

Your business and its online presence provide a “first impression” experience with every new hit or visitor. For this reason, it is important to give time to review websites and profiles and make some quick fixes that can strengthen your marketing efforts and your authority online.

For more information on construction business and 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.

Top Florida Home Builders – January 2019

Posted on February 28, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW Report on the leading home builders in Florida based on new residential construction permit reports.

You simply cannot look at new residential construction in Florida without seeing D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes. Out of the five major Florida regions reviewed last month (Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Southwest, Southeast), both mega-builders made the top three list for total new residential construction permits on file with HBW. Across the state, there were approximately 5,380 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $1.5 billion. Here is a closer look at new home construction permitting activity by area and the home builders leading the way for the month:

Tampa

Last month, Tampa ranked #1 for new home construction having 1,322 new permits on file with HBW. The average value of new residential construction in the area was $264,170, and out of the counties reviewed, Polk held the highest concentration of new permits (386 permits).

Out of the more than 190 active home builders in the Tampa area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on file with HBW:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	181
Lennar Homes	178
The Villages of Lake Sumter	131
Pulte Homes	43
Ryan Homes	40

Southwest

Coming in close to Tampa, Southwest Florida ranked #2 for new residential construction activity last month as there were approximately 1,315 new permits in the area. The average value of new construction was moderate in comparison to other regions (average value: $265,722), and Lee County held the highest concentration of housing starts (412 permits) for the one-month period.

Out of the nearly 260 active home builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new residential construction permits:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	228
D.R. Horton	177
Pulte Homes	132
Neal Communities of SW FL	56
Taylor Morrison	51

Southeast

In the southeastern region of Florida, there were 922 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database for January. The average value of new home construction was highest in the southeast (average value: $311,232) in comparison to other regions reviewed, and the county with the greatest amount of new construction activity was Palm Beach (326 permits).

Out of the 200 active home builders on file for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new residential construction permits:

Builder	Total Permit
Lennar Homes	149
GL Homes	62
D.R. Horton	51
GL Building Corp	42
Standard Pacific Homes	40

Jacksonville

Last month, Jacksonville started the year off strong with approximately 920 housing starts. The average value of construction was lower in Jacksonville than the other regions reviewed (average value: $243,750), and the county with the highest concentration of new permits was St. Johns (327 permits).

Out of the nearly 150 active builders on file for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new residential construction permits:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	189
Lennar Homes	118
American Classic Homes	64
Dream Finders Home	57
Richmond American Homes	33

Orlando

Just behind Jacksonville, the Orlando area had just over 900 housing starts added to the HBW database last month. The average value of new home construction was $301,449, and the highest concentration of new residential construction permits originated from Orange County (350 permits).

Out of the 150 active home builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
Lennar Homes	131
D.R. Horton	100
Minto Builders	62
Pulte Homes	39
Mattamy Homes	39

The Home Buyer’s Wish List for 2019

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Erika Carruth

As a home builder, it is important to know what home buyers are looking for in their dream home, and a good place to start is the latest survey from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The most recent survey results from NAHB, “What Home Buyers Really Want (2019 edition)”, were released in a press conference at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas. The survey collected information from approximately 4,000 home buyers; home buyers included individuals and families who had either recently purchased a home or are planning to within three years, and the survey had them rank 175 home features to decipher which ones were most important when making a decision to purchase a home.

The results? There is a 300-page full report accessible on NAHB’s website, but the top highlights were as follows:

Downsizing – Across the board, downsizing continues to be a trend. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average home size started to decline from its peak in 2015 (2,689 square feet) to the smaller average size in 2018 (2,576 square feet). More new homes have three bedrooms/three bathrooms or less, and it was reported that there has been a decrease in demand for more upscale features including three-car garages and larger. The increase in townhomes appears to have driven the decrease in average home size as townhomes made up about 14% of housing starts in 2018.
Location – The survey also revealed important information regarding the most desired locations and the type of buyer seeking those locations. Coming out on top was the suburbs as approximately 64% of those surveyed listed it as their #1 most desirable home location; second was rural (24%) and third was the central city (11%). The survey further detailed the type of buyer who would choose those locations, and millennials (23%) were the most likely to purchase a home in central city while baby boomers (8%) and seniors (3%) were less likely to seek property in an urban location.
Kitchen – The kitchen and bath areas are rooms where we continually see a high demand for upgrades and new and preferred design trends and layouts each year. Based on NAHB’s survey, 86% of home buyers prefer a completely or partially open kitchen. The top choice for countertops was granite or natural stone (57%), and the dominate preference for kitchen cabinet finishes was white (32%) and even gray on white. Storage space also topped the list with walk-in pantries making the top ten.
Bathroom – Just as in the kitchen, white cabinetry (and gray on white) topped the list of preferences in the bathroom. Additionally, higher-end fixtures such as wall-mounted sinks, toilets and faucets appear to be trends on the rise.
Energy Efficiency – Energy efficiency is more than just a trend – it is a necessity. Along with reducing one’s carbon footprint, it saves home owners money on their utility bills. Popular energy-saving features that are in-demand include installation of Energy Star appliances, energy-efficient windows and whole house green certification.

By staying ahead of the trends and knowing what is popular for home buyers today, construction pros can be proactive in their designs and marketing efforts to speak to their target audience about the home features that may be at the top of their wish lists.

For more information on construction industry trends 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.

HBW Report: Florida Swimming Pool Construction – January 2019

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW report on new swimming pool construction permitting activity during the month of January 2019

Last month, there were more than 1,680 new swimming pool construction permits added to the HBW database for Florida. Out of the five major regions reviewed (Southwest, Tampa, Orlando, Southeast and Jacksonville), the highest concentration of new pool construction could be found in the southwestern portion of the state (489 permits), and the highest average value of new construction could be found in Jacksonville (average value: ~$51,400). Here is a breakdown of the new swimming pool permits on file with HBW for the month of January 2019:

Southwest

The Southwest ranked #1 for new pool construction last month, having approximately 490 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $21.8 million. The average value of construction was $44,644, and the highest concentration of new permitting activity took place in the counties of Lee (151 permits) and Collier (139 permits).

Out of the more than 110 active pool builders on file for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

#1 – Aragon Pools & Spas LLC

#2 – Pinnacle USA

#3 – Coast to Coast Pools

Tampa

Tampa ranked second-highest for new pool construction activity, having 375 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $18 million last month. The average value of new pool construction was $48,214, and the highest concentration of new permits originated from Hillsborough County (148 permits).

Out of the approximately 105 active pool builders on file for the month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

#1 – Olympus Pools

#2 – Tampa Bay Pools, Inc.

#3 – Challenger Pools

Southeast

Last month, the southeast ranked #3 for new pool construction, having 360 swimming pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $15.7 million. The average value of new construction was $43,623, and the county with the highest concentration of swimming pool starts was Palm Beach (157 permits).

Out of the approximately 120 active builders in the southeast last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits on file with HBW:

#1 – Pools by Greg, Inc.

#2 – Treasure Pools & Service Inc

#3 – A & G Concrete Pools

Orlando

In the Orlando area, there were nearly 290 pool starts with a total construction value of approximately $11.5 million last month. The average value of new pool construction was on the lower end of the spectrum (average value: $39,823) in comparison to other areas reviewed, and the majority of new permits originated from the counties of Osceola (99 permits) and Orange (71 permits).

There were more than 70 active pool builders with swimming pool starts on file last month, and the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

#1 – Dreamscapes Pools & Spas LLC

#2 – All Seasons

#3 – Bobs Pool Service, Inc.

Jacksonville

In Jacksonville, there were more than 170 pool starts last month with a total construction value nearing $8.8 million. The average value of new pool construction was on the higher end of the spectrum in comparison to other regions reviewed (average value: ~ $51,400), and nearly half of all new permits originated from St. Johns County (76 permits).

Out of the 60 active pool builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits on file:

#1 – Stanley Pools Inc

#2 – Pools by John Clarkson

#3 – Surfside Pools & Spas

Texas Swimming Pool Construction Review – January 2019

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW report on the latest swimming pool permitting data for Texas during the month of January 2019

On a daily basis, HBW is collecting the latest construction permitting data across the South. From swimming pools and residential construction to commercial projects, there is always a fresh influx of new permits (and leads). In addition to the data serving as a solid source for leads, it provides a chance to track monthly, quarterly and annual patterns in the various markets.

Based on the new permit data collected during the month of January 2019, here is a look at new swimming pool construction activity in the four major metro areas of the Lone Star State:

Dallas

Last month, Dallas ranked #1 for total new swimming pool permits as there were nearly 310 pool starts with a total construction value in excess of $16.5 million. The average value of new pool construction landed close to $54k, and the greatest concentration of new permits originated from the counties of Tarrant (85 permits) and Collin (76 permits).

Out of the approximately 110 active pool builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits on file with HBW:

#1 – Riverbend Pools

#2 – Gold Medal Pools

#3 – Premier Pools

Houston

Last month, Houston ranked second for new pool construction as there were nearly 130 new permits with a total construction value in excess of $7.8 million on file. The average value of new construction was on the higher end of the spectrum (average value: ~$61.5k), and the bulk of all new permits originated from Harris County (80 permits).

Out of the 85 active pool builders on file for the month, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

#1 – Platinum Pools

#2 – Backyard Oasis

#3 – C3 Building Solutions

Austin

In Austin, there were nearly 70 pool starts last month, and the majority of all new construction originated from Travis County (46 permits). Due to several higher value starts, the average value of new pool construction was highest in Austin out of the four areas reviewed, coming in at $78,303.

Out of the 45+ active pool builders on file with HBW for the month, the following ranked as the top three for total permits:

#1 – Cody Pools

#2 – Anthony & Sylvan Pools

#3 – Premier Pools & Spas of Austin

San Antonio

New swimming pool construction was slowest in San Antonio last month as there were 30 pool starts with a total value just over $1.3 million. The average value of new pool construction was lowest in San Antonio (average value: ~$45k), and nearly all new construction activity took place in Bexar County (25 permits).

Out of the approximately 20 active builders in the area, the following ranked as the top three for total new permits:

#1 – Keith Zars Pools

#2 – Cody Pools

#3 – Blue Haven Pools

Texas Top Home Builders – January 2019

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW Report on new residential construction permits in Texas during the month of January 2019

When it comes to new home construction, Texas has started the new year off with a healthy dose of new residential construction permits in the HBW database. Last month, there were more than 5,200 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $1.2 billion in the combined areas of Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Houston continued to kick out the greatest volume of permits in comparison to other areas reviewed with nearly 2,220 housing starts, and Dallas maintained its top position in construction value, having the highest average value (~$286k) of new residential construction permits for the month.

When looking at the top builders for total permits statewide, D.R. Horton continued to hold its ranking as the #1 home builder, as it held the most active permits in the areas of Houston, Dallas and Austin. Here is a closer look at the top builders and residential construction activity in the leading metro areas of Texas during the month of January 2019:

Houston

Houston ranked #1 for total new residential construction permits; last month, there were nearly 2,220 new permits with a total value of nearly $454 million in the Houston area. The average value of construction was on the lower end (average value: $204.5k), and more than half of all new construction took place in Harris County (1,134 permits).

Out of the nearly 300 active home builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	363
Lennar Homes	233
K Hovnanian Homes	120
Perry Homes	104
KB Homes	74

Dallas

Next in line, Dallas ranked second-highest for total housing starts; last month, there were just over 1,800 housing starts with a total construction value in excess of $516 million on file for Dallas and surrounding counties. As previously mentioned, the average value of construction was higher in Dallas than other metro areas reviewed (average value: $285,922), and the highest concentration of new home construction could be found in Tarrant County (654 permits).

Out of the approximately 235 active builders on file for the month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	334
Lennar Homes	198
First Texas Homes	74
Highland Homes	67
Beazer Homes	47

Austin

Last month, there were approximately 815 housing starts with a total construction value of $195 million in Austin. The average value of new construction was just over $239K, and the majority of permits originated from Travis County (517 permits).

Out of the more than 130 active builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits:

Builder	Total Permits
D.R. Horton	140
Pulte Homes	59
Urbana Homes	47
Gehan Homes	41
KB Homes	36

San Antonio

In San Antonio, there were 365 housing starts with a total construction value of nearly $74.5 million. The average value of construction was lowest in San Antonio (average value: ~$204k) in comparison to other areas reviewed, and the majority of new home construction took place in Bexar County (205 permits).

Out of the 80 active home builders in the area last month, the following ranked as the top five for total new permits on file with HBW:

Builder	Total Permits
Continental Homes of Texas	59
Lennar Homes	49
Meritage Homes	25
Pulte Homes	23
KB Homes	20

Florida Annual Residential Construction Review – 2018

Posted on February 9, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW report on new residential construction permits in the Sunshine State from January through December 2018

FL Residential Construction Permits 2018

Residential construction in Florida is on a high, and every year it just keeps getting better. Considering the fact that Florida’s population grows by nearly 1,000 people every day (source: StateofFlorida.com), it is no wonder that last year housing starts reflected a year-over-year increase of 14%, resulting in more than 83,000 new permits on file with HBW.

The regions that experienced the greatest growth in new residential construction last year include the eastern and southwestern portions of the state: Northeast Florida experienced a massive 27% year-over-year increase in housing starts last year, resulting in nearly 14,600 new permits; Southeast Florida had a year-over-year spike of 25% (9,911 permits); and the southwestern region experienced a 19% year-over-year increase in housing starts that resulted in approximately 15,700 new residential construction permits.

Areas that held higher concentrations of new residential construction activity include the west, southwest and central areas of the state. West Florida ranked #1 for total new permits having more than 17,300 housing starts, reflecting a 9% year-over-year increase in new home construction. Southwest Florida ranked second-highest with 15,700 new permits, and Central Florida was not far behind with a 2% year-over-year increase that resulted in approximately 15,280 new residential construction permits for the year.

From a county perspective, there were a few counties that caught our attention due to high levels of new construction activity. In Central Florida, Orange County held the highest concentration of new residential construction in comparison to all counties reviewed statewide. Last year, Orange County experienced a 9% year-over-year increase in new home construction, resulting in nearly 6,530 permits in 2018. In the western region, Hillsborough County ranked second-highest out of the Florida counties reviewed with more than 5,300 housing starts (10% annual increase). In the southwest, Lee County demonstrated an impressive 20% year-over-year increase in housing starts, resulting in more than 5,000 new residential construction permits on file with HBW.

When breaking down the annual permitting data further and isolating higher value (>$500k) construction projects, the greatest amount of higher value housing starts could be found in Central and Southeast Florida. Central Florida had the highest concentration of residential construction permits valued above $500k; with a 5% year-over-year increase, there were nearly 1,270 higher value housing starts in Central Florida last year. In the southeast, there was a 15% annual surge in residential construction valued above $500k, resulting in approximately 1,200 new higher value permits on file with HBW in 2018.

Year in Review: Florida Swimming Pool Construction 2018

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Erika Carruth

An HBW review of new swimming pool construction permits in Florida from January thru December 2018

FL Swimming Pool Permits 2011-2018

New swimming pool construction continues to rise annually in the Sunshine State. Since 2013, new pool construction has been producing more permits in the HBW database every year, and in 2018 Florida experienced a 4% year-over-year increase in swimming pool starts, resulting in nearly 25,000 new permits on file with HBW.

Out of the six major regions reviewed (Central, West, Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest), the southwestern region held the greatest amount of new pool construction activity. With a 4% year-over-year increase in new permits, there were nearly 6,600 swimming pool starts in Southwest Florida last year. Southwest counties that held the highest concentration of new permits include Lee (2,098 permits), Collier (1,388 permits) and Manatee (1,273). When looking at the greatest annual spikes of new construction in the area, Charlotte County was a standout having exhibited a 19% year-over-year increase in swimming pool starts.

The area that ranked second-highest for total new pool permits is Southeast Florida. The southeast has officially climbed out of the minor dip in swimming pool construction it experienced in 2017 to having rebounded with a 10% year-over-year increase in 2018. Out of the 4,940 new pool permits in the southeast, more than half originated from Miami (1,310 permits) and Palm Beach (1,689).

Another area that experienced a 10% year-over-year increase in new pool construction was West Florida. In the west, there were approximately 4,480 pool starts last year. Hillsborough County led over all others for new construction having exhibited a 13% year-over-year increase in new pool construction that resulted in 1,485 new permits. The western county that experienced the highest level of growth in new pool construction is Pasco County. In Pasco, pool construction has been on the rise since 2013, and last year the area exhibited a 15% year-over-year increase in pool starts, resulting in 837 permits for the year.

When moving our focus to the northwest, we found the greatest increase in new pool construction. Since 2013, swimming pool construction has been greatly increasing on an annual basis in the northwestern region of Florida, and last year was no exception. In 2018, the northwest demonstrated a 13% year-over-year increase in new pool construction, resulting in 2,273 total permits for the year.

Areas that were either on par with the previous year or fell just below on new pool construction included Central and Northeast Florida. After a five-year growth pattern in Central Florida, last year swimming pool construction experienced a year-over-year decline of 7%, resulting in 4,215 total permits; that being stated, the central County of Osceola did not reflect the area’s pattern as it exhibited a 9% year-over-year increase in new pool construction, resulting in 1,165 new permits. In the northeastern region, new pool construction appears to have held steady and leveled off in 2018 as there were just over 2,432 new permits added to the HBW database – approximately the same amount as 2017. The bulk of new pool construction in the northeast took place in the counties of St. Johns (841 permits, +3%) and Duval (709 permits, +19%).

Texas Swimming Pool Construction on a High in 2018

Posted on February 2, 2019 by Erika Carruth

A review of swimming pool construction permit activity in Texas during 2018

Texas New Swimming Pool Permits by Area 2017 vs. 2018

Last year, Texas experienced its best year on record in more than five years for total swimming pool permits on file with HBW. Based on the HBW database, swimming pool construction in the Lone Star State finally climbed out of its three-year decline. In the combined metro areas of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Texas experienced a 12% year-over-year increase in new swimming pool construction, resulting in 8,558 new permits on record. Every major metro area exhibited annual increases in new pool construction activity ranging from 8% to 26%.

With a 9% year-over-year increase in new permits, the Dallas area had approximately 4,450 swimming pool starts – ranking it #1 for total new swimming pool permits on file for the year. Next in line, Houston ranked second-highest for new permits; with a 14% year-over-year increase in swimming pool starts, the Houston area had 2,450 permits added to the HBW database last year.

The Austin area demonstrated significant growth in swimming pool construction last year, having a 26% year-over-year increase in new construction that resulted in nearly 1,000 new permits. Finally, San Antonio and its surrounding areas experienced an annual boost of 8% that resulted in nearly 670 new permits on file for the area.

When reviewing new permits from a county-by-county perspective, Harris County (Houston) ranked #1 for total new permits on file last year; with a 13.5% year-over-year increase in pool starts, there were 1,420 pool permits added to the HBW database for Harris County last year. Other counties where swimming pool construction is on a high include: Collin County (1,139 permits) and Tarrant County (1,101 permits) in the Dallas area. Counties that demonstrated the greatest annual increases in new pool construction include: Williamson (+45%), Brazoria (+36%) and Galveston (+31%).