Texas Residential Construction from the Top

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From top builders to top counties for housing starts, here’s a quick look at Texas residential construction for the month of May.

Texas Total New Resid. Permits – May 2017

May was an exceptional month for new residential construction in Texas.  Out of the four major metropolitan areas reviewed (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), there were close to 7,500 housing starts and a total of approximately $1.8B in construction value last month.  As per its usual pace, Houston took the top spot for total housing starts with nearly 3,500 new residential construction permits for the one-month period. While the lineup of top builders varied per area, D.R. Horton continued to dominate the Lone Star State’s new residential construction market landing the top spot for total permits in three out of four areas reviewed (Houston, Austin, Dallas).

Houston

Hello Houston!  Houston is not just experiencing heat in the rising temperatures this time of year… The residential construction market is also heating up.  With nearly 3,500 housing starts and more than $676M in total value, Houston experienced a massive month-over-month increase of 68% in new residential construction.  In fact, May is the best month on record so far this year.  While Harris County held more than half of all new construction (1,915 permits), Fort Bend also saw its fair share of housing starts last month, having nearly 650 new permits and more than $110M in construction value on file with HBW.

Dallas

Last month, Dallas experienced a 21% month-over-month increase in housing starts and ranked second highest for total permits.  During the month of May there were close to 2,350 housing starts and more than $701M in construction value.  The average value of construction still reigns supreme in Dallas as it had the highest average value out of the four areas reviewed at nearly $300k.  Tarrant and Collin counties both had the highest concentration of new residential construction permits for the month with 706 and 720 housing starts respectively.  As previously mentioned, D.R. Horton was the leading builder in the area with nearly 450 starts for the month.  Lennar Homes and First Texas Homes were next in line with less than 100 housing starts each.

TX Avg. Value of Resid. Construction – May 2017

Austin

With a 38% month-over-month increase in housing starts, Austin had nearly 1,150 new residential construction permits and approximately $261.4M in total construction value last month.  The majority of new home construction took place in the counties of Travis and Williamson, and the average value of new construction across Austin landed it second highest at nearly $229k.  D.R. Horton was the leading builder having the most housing starts on file for the month (174 permits), and KB Homes and Calatlantic Homes landed second and third for total new permits.

San Antonio

While most areas experienced increases since April, San Antonio had just about a 20% month-over-month drop in new residential construction activity.  In May, there were more than 500 housing starts and approximately $112M in total construction value.  While Bexar County carried more than half of all housing starts (267 permits), there was a healthy dose of new construction in all areas reviewed.  Out of nearly 130 active builders in the area last month, KB Homes was the leading home builder in the area with 42 housing starts for the given period.

TX Top 5 Counties for Total Resid. Permits – May 2017

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Texas 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.

Safety Update: The Heat is On!

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Along with the heat comes the need for safety on the job.  Check out OSHA’s “Water. Rest. Shade.” campaign to bring safety to the forefront of your workers and outdoor construction projects.

Record highs are challenging construction workers and contractors all over the country, and summer has just begun.  From the 115 degree heat in Tuscon, AZ this week to even higher temps in Las Vegas and across the West, extreme heat puts workers and crews at high risk for heat stroke, exhaustion and dehydration.  According to OSHA, thousands of workers become ill every year due to extreme heat conditions, and more than 40% of heat-related worker death occurs within the construction industry (source: OSHA.gov).  This type of data is just enough to wake up contractors to safety precautions they can take to protect workers, as well as review business owners’ responsibilities as they pertain to the safety and protection of their crews.

So, where do you get started on heat safety?  A good place to begin is OSHA’s updated webpage for their “Water. Rest. Shade.” campaign.  Through the campaign, OSHA aims to educate employers and their workers about the dangers of working in high heat conditions, as well as provide tools and resources to stay safe during the hot summer months.  The website provides information on what other contractors are doing throughout the country, as well as useful guidelines and apps to get you started.  Here is a quick list of highlights and links to set in you in the safe and right direction:

  1. Occupational Exposure to Heat Webpage – OSHA launched a very useful page that provides need-to-know information and easily explains safety measures employers can take to keep workers safe.  The page breaks down heat-related illnesses and first aid, preventative measures to be taken by crews, a list of industry-specific resources and more.
  2. OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool Smartphone App – Available for both Apple and Adroid devices, the Heat Safety App provides a real-time heat index and hourly forecast.  Based on your location and weather conditions, the app offers occupational safety and health recommendations. Useful for assessing risk level and planning outdoor projects in advance, the Heat Safety app provides valuable information on-demand for recognizing signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and proper steps for first aid.
  3. Education – From training guides to printable posters, OSHA has a variety of materials free to download and share with your team.  Training modules are available in English and Spanish.  Even if you think your team is already aware of risks and takes the proper precautions, a little refresher never hurt anyone.  In your next weekly meeting, consider going over important points from the guide or reviewing proper steps for staying protected from the sun.  You may have new crew members or some that missed the last heat safety training; gear your training materials and resources around your crews’ needs and information that they need most on the job.
  4. National Integrated Heat Health Information System – What happens when a multitude of federal agencies come together to develop heat safety resources? Answer: An easy to use online tool kit covering heat warnings in specific areas, forecasts, detailed reports and articles, and safety tips for everyone from outdoor workers to athletes.  No matter your training needs, this website will have something, or everything, you need to get the ball rolling.
  5. Get In on the “Hot” Discussion – Be part of the heat safety movement.   Use your power on social media to spread the word about safety and demonstrate your company’s commitment to protecting workers from the heat.  You can use #WaterRestShade to be part of OSHA’s latest campaign tweets, as well as submit your ideas (email: HeatSafetyTips@dol.gov ) for how your company protects workers from heat illness.

To get the latest on industry updates, business and marketing tips, stay connected with the HBW Blog.  If you would like 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.

Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About

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From direct mail to email blasts, here are a few ways to engage your audience and get them talking about your products and services

How do you make someone open and email? How do you get them to read your postcard?  While there is no one way to ensure 100% audience engagement, you most certainly can increase your conversion rate by giving them a little more than just a flashy peek into your business.  Here are few quick tips for getting your audience to click or read your next communication:

Target – It’s easy to talk about and describe your target audience. You may have great data on their preferences, age range and more, but are you really reaching them?  Targeted ads are one way, but that doesn’t provide an answer to your telemarketing and direct mail efforts.  How accurate are your lists and are they reflective of your core target market?  Whether you use permitting data from HBW or create your own list of prospects based on emails and inquires, knowing and reaching your target is the key to your marketing success.

Create Valuable Content – Sure, your glossy tri-fold and mammoth postcard may catch a few eyes, but will it capture your audience? The wow-worthy images and high-quality designs are great to lure customers in, but your content will be what keeps them there.  Sending the same slogan, same message and same stale call to action will lead to the same results every time.  Create new content and opportunities to learn about your business.  Consider offering a lunch and learn at a local hot spot.  Spread the word about your newest location, product or service.  Offer new customer discounts or complimentary add-ons when they mention a mailer or email.  Seasonal discount codes and exclusive deals for a specific zip code can also be useful in sparking interest any time of year.

Show Results – While testimonials are great for proving success with customers, don’t overlook the power of real data. In addition to your portfolio and design showcase that you may have online, consider using infographics and other methods for displaying the benefits of your services.  Years in business, client volume and number of installs or product sales totals can be a powerful tool for showing your company’s impact.

Make it Easy – In a blog or website, you have room to get a little “wordy”, especially for the purpose of SEO. When it comes to your calls and mailings, usually less is more.  Too much text on a postcard, in an email or on the phone can be cause for losing attention quickly.  Try using powerful images and even infographics to tell your story.  More importantly, where there is text, make it count –  Make sure there is an easy call to action and a couple of ways for the reader to learn more and get in touch with you.  Some prefer the phone, some prefer email and even texting, so make sure you have all areas covered and that contacting you is no more than one step away.

By focusing on your target and providing them with valuable and new information, your next email or mailer will have a better chance of making it to your prospects’ hands, rather than the trash.

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.

Tips to Amp Up Your Sales Force

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Are your sales feeling a little dull, or even worse, experiencing a lull?  There are number of factors that can contribute to slowed sales.  Industry fluctuations and seasons aside, sometimes your sales team requires someone to press “refresh” and reset their focus and tools.  Often, a sales team can have the right players, but may be overwhelmed with not having enough information available or enough qualified leads with which to work.  Whatever the malady, here are some tips that may be just what the doctor ordered:

  1. Get them “Onboard” – When building, or rebuilding, a sales team, the onboarding process is vital to their success. It can take six months or more to properly train and onboard a sales rep; that’s a major investment of your company’s time and resources.  Depending on the complexity of your products or services, your team must be prepared for any question and any situation, having comprehensive knowledge of your services and options available to clients. Take the proper amount of time to set your sales reps up for success, teaching them the ins and outs of your business model, sales strategies and service and product developments.
  2. Keep them On Board – Once you have run your team through a solid onboarding process, it is your job to keep them on board. To keep your team engaged, maintain regular communication between the group.  Weekly sales meetings, group announcements and regular check-ins are all a part of unifying a sales team that probably spends 80% of its time physically separated and in the field.
  3. Give them the Tools – No matter how well-trained and skilled a salesperson may be, without the proper tools, they won’t get far. In the case of home builders and contractors, new and qualified leads are the fuel to the revenue fire.  By using a service like HBW, your team will have the latest information on new residential and commercial permits in their area, contacts and job details right at their fingertips.  By providing easy access to new customers, you will keep your database, and team, from going stale.  Along with fresh and valuable leads, make sure to keep your marketing tools updated and at the ready so that sales representatives can get the information they need to live leads quickly.
  4. Provide Opportunities for Learning – An educated salesperson is a one that you want on your team. By providing educational opportunities throughout the year, you can inspire and empower your sales force with new strategies and technology.  With technology today, customers are able to make informed and educated decisions when choosing to build a new home or remodel an existing structure.  Your sales force should be on top of industry trends, as well as given an opportunity to sharpen their sales tools.  More than just attending an annual convention or meeting license requirements, consider implementing an in-house educational program.  Even if just a quarterly working lunch, a little workshop or two can give a lot of perspective and inspiration to your team.
  5. Motivate – One of the most effective ways to motivate a team is to create a little healthy competition. If you create a supportive environment that lifts those who may be on the slower end and recognizes those who are leading, even the least competitive of spirits can be part of cooperative competition.   While applauding and rewarding top producers is important, it is equally as important to have everyone in the loop on those rewards.  It doesn’t have to be a large display; rather, having a shared and cloud-based dashboard for your sales team is enough for everyone to see where they stand in comparison to those on their team.  Encourage veterans and rookies to share some of the larger clients on occasion so that they can work together and learn from each other.
  6. Keep it Professional – Sometimes, your sales force may just need a little “perking up”. Everyone can use a reminder from time to time about maintaining a professional appearance.  Rather than entering the realm of awkward or personal conversation on the matter, set a clear standard for the appearance and conduct of your sales team on, and off, the clock.  It can be as simple as providing a logo-adorned oxford that is a must-wear item, or including a basic dress code in your policy.  Keeping up appearances isn’t limited to dress code alone.  Setting clear work hours and holding employees accountable for attending meetings on time is also important for running a professional team.  Be sure to hold members accountable and follow through with appropriate actions.
  7. Be Social – When we think of social, we think of social media. And while it is important to train and empower your team to leverage social media throughout the sales process, we are referring to a completely different type of socializing… interdepartmental socializing.  Your sales force must work with other departments to gain access to everything from job schedules to marketing materials.  The marketing department should be “social” and communicating regularly with your sales team.  To be effective, they must work together, so it is important that you have a structure in place that facilitates communication.

From the newbie on the block to your veterans, your sales team can use a little motivation and refreshing now and again.  Being at the heart of your business, it is important to keep your sales force healthy and thriving.  Regular maintenance and check-ins now will pay off on the bottom line later.

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.

Florida Top Builders Report – April 2017

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Out of the nearly 4,900 housing starts in Florida during the month of April, D.R. Horton was #1 in three out of five regions.

FL New Resid. Construction Permits – April 2017

From Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and the southeast and southwest portions of the Sunshine State, there were just about 4,900 housing starts and more than $1.3B in construction value in April.  New residential construction has been holding somewhat steady over the last couple of months, with slight fluctuations in each major region.  Tampa, Jacksonville, Orlando and the southwest each saw small month-over-month increases in residential construction activity, while the southeast held steady and on track with the previous month.

When looking at the average value of construction, the southeast reclaimed its top spot with the highest average value out of five regions at $311,815.  Orlando dropped to second highest since March with an average value of $295,966, and the southwest region bumped up one spot to third highest with an average value of $272,273.

FL Average Value of New Resid. Construction – April 2017

Now for the good part (cue the drum roll)… The top builders who have the most housing starts on file in Florida for April are as follows:

Tampa

In April, Tampa had 1,236 housing starts and approximately $317.5M in total construction value.  While Hillsborough County had the most new permits for the month with more than 400 housing starts and $134M in total value, the counties of Polk and Pasco were active with more than 300 starts in each area.

D.R. Horton took top spot in Tampa as it had nearly 150 new residential construction permits on file for the one-month period.  The top three builders for total housing starts in April are as follows:

#1 – D.R. Horton

#2 – Lennar Homes

#3 – Standard Pacific Homes

Southwest Florida

Out of the 1,150 housing starts and more than $313M in construction in the southwest region, more than half of all new residential permits during April took place in the counties of Lee (301 permits) and Collier (275 permits).  Lennar Homes led for total starts as the home builder had 128 new permits on file, with nearly half of all new construction taking place in Sarasota County.  The top three builders in the southwest for the month are as follows:

#1 – Lennar Homes

#2 – Pulte Homes

#3 – Taylor Morrison

Orlando

The central Orlando area was ahead of March with 1,055 housing starts and more than $312M in new construction. The larger county of Orange held nearly half of all Central Florida housing starts with 466 new permits on file with HBW.  D.R. Horton had a healthy lead in new home construction with 131 starts for the one-month period.  The top three builders for the month are as follows:

#1 – D.R. Horton

#2 – Lennar Homes

#3 – Pulte Homes

Jacksonville

Jacksonville was slightly ahead of March with 824 housing starts and approximately $198M in construction value.  The highest concentration of new residential construction took place in St. Johns (312 permits) and Duval (257 permits) counties.  Just as in Orlando, D.R. Horton reigned supreme and had a sizeable lead over other local builders with 161 housing starts for the month.  The top three home builders for total new permits in April are as follows:

#1 – D.R. Horton

#2 – Lennar Homes

#3 – KB Homes

Southeast Florida

While the value of residential construction in Southeast Florida is always on a high in comparison to rest of the state, the region had the least housing starts on file for the month of April.  With 633 housing starts and more than $197M in construction value, the southeast remained at the #5 spot for the month.  The counties holding the majority of new residential construction include St. Lucie, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade, as each area had just about 170 housing starts for the month.  Top builders for total new residential permitting activity are as follows:

#1 – Lennar Homes

#2 – D.R. Horton

#3 – GL Homes

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Florida 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.

Building a Top-Notch Management Team

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As home builders, building a solid management team is just as important as constructing a solid building. Your management team defines and directs the core of your business activity.  Whether you are a start-up or have been in the game for a few decades, chances are your management team, and style, has seen its fair share of evolutionary stages.

While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to building a solid management team, there are a few areas to address when choosing who will lead and how they will be most effective.  As a business owner, one of the most challenging lessons to learn is that of delegation.  Handing over your “baby” to a new manager requires trust and confidence in your leaders’ skills and experience.  Here are a few areas to consider at any stage of the management team building process:

  1. Take Your Time

Usually, when a company is in position to add new team members to management, it is out of necessity.  Often increased demands, growth and sometimes turnover are cause for seeking the next leader.  While time constraints and pressure can add to a sense of urgency, do not rush the search process.  Whether choosing to work with a recruiter or executive search firm or running a search in house, take your time finding the right candidate.  It may take two or three interviews and several rounds of filtering, but it will cost your business more in the end if the final candidate isn’t the right one for the job.

  1. Be Realistic

In addition to having realistic expectations for performance, your business structure and leadership responsibilities must be balanced and accurate.  It is easy to sugarcoat the company when trying to attract top-notch talent, but if you do not portray a realistic state of your business and responsibilities at hand, you may find yourself licking wounds later.  By being upfront from the get-go, you will have leaders who are better prepared and informed of the road ahead and focused on developing clear strategies to meet your business goals and objectives.

  1. Motivate

Motivation doesn’t necessarily come in the form of a company huddle or a pat on the back.  Motivation must be built in the structure of your company culture.  For leaders to take ownership of their role and a business, they must feel a part of something greater than the next task at hand.  Incentives and performance bonuses are the easy go-to answer, but don’t overlook the power of recognition.  Recognizing employees’ successes, goals achieved and new acquisitions in a meaningful way can keep the embers burning.  Creating a culture where team members recognize and applaud each other creates a level of motivation that is contagious.  From internal newsletters highlighting the employee of the month to awards and team luncheons to honor top leaders, announcing and sharing team achievements can assist in building a sense of worth and purpose.

  1. Get Fitted

Along with a great team comes a proper fitting.  We’re not talking about suits and ties; rather, getting “fitted” refers to your leadership lineup and their duties.  Depending on the size of your business, you will need to have leaders who fit the role of the CEO, COO, CFO and other executive seats within marketing, technology, human resources and more.  The responsibilities for each position should fit the title, and the title should fit the experience and expertise of the individual.  In a sense, every new leader should have a proper “fitting” so that you maximize each person’s skills and talents.

Building a team of solid leaders takes time and will need to be adjusted and expanded as your business grows and evolves.  By conducting thorough searches, setting realistic expectations and keeping motivation up, your leadership team will set a high standard for achieving goals at any (and every) stage of your business.

To get the latest on industry updates, business and marketing tips, stay connected with the HBW Blog.  If you would like 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.

Texas Home Builders Review – April 2017

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Out of the nearly 5,500 housing starts in Texas last April, D.R. Horton remained at the top in the Lone Star State.

TX Total Residential Permits by Area – April 2017

During the month of April, the four major metro areas of Texas had a combined total of nearly 5,500 housing starts and a total construction value in excess of $1.3B on file with HBW.  From Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, the mega-builder, D.R. Horton, led the state having more than 615 new residential construction permits for the one-month period.  While D.R. Horton had the most new home building activity of any builder on file and was #1 in three out of four metro areas, there were other notable and solid builders active during the month of April.  Here’s a closer look at leading builders by region:

HOUSTON

As per usual, Houston had the greatest number of housing starts for the one-month period in comparison to other metro areas.  Out of the 2,065 new residential permits and more than $412M in total construction value, nearly half of all housing starts took place in the most populous county of Texas, Harris County (1,113 permits).  And while D.R. Horton was on top with 140 housing starts, Perry Homes had the highest average value for starts at $234k, 17% above the average value for the area.

Houston Top 5 Builders – April 2017

DALLAS

Dallas ranked a close second for total housing starts in April.  The growing city had just about 1,930 starts and more than $597M in new residential construction for the month.  And while the highest concentration of new permitting activity took place in Tarrant County (584 permits), there was a healthy level of activity ranging from 350-400 housing starts each in counties including Dallas, Denton and Collin.  As property value maintains its high in the Dallas area, so does the value of new construction.  Dallas held the highest average value of construction out of the four major metro areas for the month at nearly $310k.  Out of the top builders, K. Hovnanian Homes held the highest value of construction at more than $414k, nearly 35% above the area’s average.  As for total permits, D.R. Horton maintained its lead; the prominent builder had more than 300 housing starts, and more than half of all new activity took place in Tarrant County.

Dallas Top 5 Builders – April 2017

AUSTIN

Austin area builders contributed to the more than 820 housing starts and $180M of construction value on file for the month.  Nearly 75% of all new residential permits for the month of April took place in Travis County.  D.R. Horton had the majority of its 174 housing starts taking place in Travis County as well, resulting in it ranking #1 in Austin for total new residential permits.  Gehan Homes was also notable in April; while it ranked fourth highest for total permits, it carried the highest average value of new construction.  With an average value just over $311k, Gehan Homes ran approximately 43% above the average value of new construction in Austin for the month.

Austin Top 5 Builders – April 2017

SAN ANTONIO

Out of the 627 housing starts and nearly $148M in construction value in San Antonio, Continental Homes took the top spot with 74 new permits on file for the month of April.  While the builder’s construction activity was widespread across all counties reviewed, the greatest amount of new permitting activity took place in Comal County.  KB Homes held a close second with 71 housing starts for the month, and while David Weekley Homes ranked fifth, it had the highest average value of construction ($275k+) landing it approximately 17% above the average value for the area.

San Antonio Top 5 Builders – April 2017

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Texas 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.

Atlanta Q1 Pool Construction Update

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Pool construction is on a high for the start of the year in the Metro Atlanta area.

 

When you think of Atlanta, chances are swimming pool are not at the top of the list, especially during the cold winter months.  Well, things may be changing a bit, as swimming pool construction has consistently been on the rise in Atlanta and surrounding areas over the last four years, and the first quarter of 2017 was no exception.  From the start of this year, swimming pool construction is up 15% in comparison to the same time last year.  Counties across Georgia had spikes in pool construction ranging from 3% to more than 300% in the first quarter alone!

Out of the nearly 440 new permits on file with HBW for the first quarter, Fulton County was a standout for total pool starts.  With more than 90 new permits, Fulton County experienced a year-over-year increase of 22% in Q1 2017.

Next in line, Cobb County had nearly 60 swimming pool starts in the first quarter of this year, reflecting a 12% year-over-year increase in pool construction.  Not far behind and ahead of last year by 14%, Gwinnett County ranked third for new pool permitting activity in the first quarter.  Gwinnett has experienced slow but incremental growth in swimming pool construction for more than five years and had 42 pool starts in Q1 of this year.

Just behind Gwinnett County, Cherokee ranked fourth highest for total pool starts.  While new pool construction has fluctuated in Cherokee County over the last five years, this northern area is ahead of last year by 17%, having just over 40 new pool permits on file in the first quarter.

Rounding out the top five counties for total new pool permits, Forsyth County had a small year-over-year increase of 3% in the first quarter.  Just north of Atlanta and one of Georgia’s fastest growing counties, Forsyth has shown growth across the board over the last five years and had approximately 40 pool starts in the first quarter of this year.

ATL Top 5 Counties for New Pool Construction – Q1 2017

Information utilized for the graphs and 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.

Texas Swimming Pool Construction Quarterly Review Q1 2017

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Across Texas, new swimming pool construction appears to be slow for the start of the year, but with permits on the rise in Houston, it is clear that some areas are on their way up.

In the first quarter of this year, construction of new swimming pools across the Lone Star State was down 6% in comparison to Q1 2016.  Out of the more than 1,600 swimming pool starts from the metro areas of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin combined, Houston was the only area that saw a significant increase in new pool construction.  With a 15% year-over-year spike in pool construction, there were more than 500 new pool permits from the Houston area added to the HBW database in the first quarter.

TX Pool Permits by Area – Q1 2016 vs. 2017

And while Dallas is down 13% in comparison to 2016, it reigned supreme for total swimming pool starts.  In the first quarter, there were nearly 800 new swimming pool construction permits pulled in Dallas, with three out of five counties ranking in the top five for total starts across the state.

Over the past five years or so, the metro areas of Austin and San Antonio rarely, if ever, surpassed the two hundred mark for pool permits each quarter.  Both areas had dips in new pool construction ranging from 12%-18%, with total permits in each area varying between 125 to 170 starts for the period.  In Austin, there were nearly 170 new swimming pool permits on file for the first quarter, positioning it third for total starts.  San Antonio had the fewest total starts on file for the period; with just over 125 total permits, San Antonio experienced the greatest decrease of 18% in comparison to last year.

When narrowing our attention to top counties for total new pool construction, Harris County in Houston was in the lead.  Despite the 13% year-over-year decrease, Harris County had the highest concentration of pool starts with 266 new and active permits at the start of this year.  Not far behind, Collin County (Dallas) ranked second highest with more than 250 new swimming pool permits, and while it is significantly behind figures from 2016 (-28%), it still carries more new construction activity than most Texas counties.

TX Top 5 Counties for New Pool Construction – Q1 2017

The top third and fourth ranking counties are also from the Dallas area…  The counties of Tarrant and Dallas each had approximately 180 pool starts in the first quarter; while behind Q1 2016, both counties have exhibited quarterly fluctuations in pool construction in recent years and have ample time to close the gap this year.

Next in line and closing the top five, Travis County in Austin ranked fifth for total new pool construction permits in the first quarter.  With more than 125 pool starts, Travis County remains consistent with the last couple of years, reflecting a steady decline in pool starts in the area.

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Texas 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.

Florida Quarterly Swimming Pool Construction Review Q1 2017

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In the first quarter of this year, the HBW database was replenished with nearly 8,000 new swimming pool permits from Florida, Texas and the Metro Atlanta areas combined.  Here’s a look at Florida’s jumpstart on 2017.

The Sunshine State is off to a sunny start for new pool construction in 2017.  With more than 5,700 pool starts in the first quarter of the year, Florida is ahead of last year by 6%.  Out of the six major regions reviewed, the southwest had the highest concentration of swimming pool starts (1,434 permits).  Even with the 5% dip in new pool construction in comparison to Q1 2016, the southwest is leading the market.  The southwestern county of Lee is also leading the state and ranked #1 for new pool construction.  With close to 460 new swimming pool permits on file with HBW, Lee County is just about 2% ahead of Q1 2016.

Coming in at a not so distant second, Central Florida continues to boom in residential construction and swimming pools.  Already more than 15% ahead of last year, there were approximately 1,170 pool starts in Central Florida during the first quarter of 2017.  The city-central county of Orange ranked second highest in the state with more than 360 pool starts, a 2% increase over the previous year.

Southeast Florida is holding steady and consistent with last year as there were just over 1,060 new pool permits added to the HBW database in the first quarter.  While Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties account for more than 50% of new pool construction, areas like Indian River and St. Lucie are showing healthy signs of growth as they are well ahead of last year’s figures.

The Tampa area and surrounding counties that make up the West portion of the state have seen the greatest increases in new swimming pool construction at the start of the year.  With a 16% year-over-year increase in new pool construction, the western region of Florida had 1,000 swimming pool starts, with more than 300 taking place in Hillsborough County.  The counties of Polk and Citrus had their best quarter on record over the last year with year-over-year increases up to 41%; on the other end of the spectrum, Sumter County has maintained its decline in swimming pool construction as it had a 23% decrease in new pools in comparison to last year.

FL New Pool Permit Totals – Q1 2016 vs. 2017

While Northeast Florida does not have the highest number of pool starts, it is the area with the greatest increase in pool construction (+22%).  With nearly 620 new swimming pool permits, all northeastern counties, with the exception of Marion, are ahead of or on target with Q1 2016.  The greatest amount of new construction could be found in St. Johns County where there were more than 210 pool starts in the first quarter of this year, reflective of a 34% increase over last year.

Finally, we took a gander at the northwestern portion of the state, including a couple of bordering counties from Alabama.  In the northwest, while pool construction has not been abundant, it has been on the rise over the last five years.  In the first quarter, the NW region exhibited a 4% year-over-year increase and has more than 420 new swimming pool permits on file for the period.  Baldwin County in Alabama saw the greatest gains in pool construction with a 43% year-over-year increase, and in Florida, Walton County is holding steady and experiencing the greatest amount of new pool construction out of all northwestern counties reviewed.

FL Top 10 Counties for Pool Permits – Q1 2017

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for swimming pool construction in Florida 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.