Tampa Maintains Lead in Florida Residential Construction – March 2017

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HBW Report: A monthly overview of Florida’s new residential construction permitting activity in March 2017.

Out of the more than 4,600 new residential construction permits on file with HBW last month, Tampa came out on top with close to 1,200 housing starts.  During that same period, CNBC reported on Tampa’s impressive housing market as it currently holds the title of the “healthiest housing market in the U.S” (report based on inventory, construction and unemployment rates). The CNBC article, which referenced the latest housing market report conducted by TenX also noted that Florida has been recovering nicely from an economic standpoint; here’s a closer look at residential construction activity (by region) across the Sunshine State last month:

Florida Total Resid. Permits – March 2017

Tampa

In addition to being referred to as the healthiest housing market in the US, Tampa had its best month since the start of the year during March.  Although the area’s increase in housing starts was not much higher than February, the new residential construction activity has been increasing month-over-month.  Out of the 1,194 housing starts in March, the County of Hillsborough saw the greatest concentration of starts, both in Tampa and across the state.  With 464 housing starts for the one-month period, Hillsborough County experienced just over a 15% month-over-month increase in new residential construction.  When looking at local builders, Lennar Homes took center-stage for activity, having approximately 165 new permits last month.  The average value of new construction in Tampa ranked third highest at $262,442.

Southwest

The southwestern portion of Florida was also bustling with new residential construction last month, ranking second highest across the state.  Out of the more than 1,000 housing starts, the largest amount of new construction took place in Lee County (287 permits), while the least amount was in Charlotte County (72 permits).  And while Lee County made the Top 5 List for housing starts statewide, Sarasota and Manatee counties held their own having a healthy level of new construction with 220 housing starts in each county.  Out of home builders in the area, Lennar Homes had the most starts (95 permits) on file for the month.  The average value of new residential construction in Southwest Florida ranked fourth out of five regions at $254,039.

Orlando

Orlando was our focus in January as it had top position for new residential construction at the start of the year.  While Orlando didn’t hold the lead in March, it certainly continues to flourish as there were 960 housing starts on file for the month.  Additionally, Orlando’s incremental growth in construction value since the start of the year resulted in it surpassing Southeast Florida for the month, as it held the highest average value of residential construction statewide at $302,306.  D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes led local builders for starts having 126 new permits and 122 new permits on file respectively.

Jacksonville

Tampa wasn’t the only Florida city to make the previously mentioned top healthiest cities list.  Jacksonville also made the top five based on the TenX report, and residential construction in the area has been climbing every month since the start of the year.  In March, there were more than 775 housing starts on file for Jacksonville, reflecting approximately a 4% month-over-month increase.  D.R. Horton had a strong hold on housing starts with 160 new permits for the month, and overall, the average value of construction in the area remained the lowest in the state at $234,101.

Southeast

While the average value of construction dropped in the southeast last month to $278,391, the area experienced a month-over-month increase of more than 10% in housing starts resulting in 667 new permits added to the HBW database. The southeast has seen an increase in residential construction every month since January, and the county holding the greatest concentration of housing starts last month was Miami-Dade (214 permits).  Just as in Tampa and the southwest, Lennar Homes took top spot in the southeast with 129 housing starts for the month.

Florida Top 5 Counties for Total Resid. Permits – March 2017

Florida Average Value of Resid. Construction – March 2017

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.

Safety Update: OSHA Launches Safe + Sound Week

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Looking to demonstrate your company’s commitment to safety?  Then you may want to participate in OSHA’s first-ever “Safe and Sound” Week.

While it should come as no surprise that the construction industry is one of the highest risk industries in the nation, the truth is that fatalities and injury rates in private construction far outpace the U.S. average across all industries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were approximately 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers in 2015, with the percentage of nonfatal private sector construction injuries occurring at a rate of 3.5 per 100 workers.  Fatalities in the private construction industry rose approximately 4% between 2014 and 2015, which reinforces the fact there is much room for improvement in safety programs in the construction industry.

The old proverb stating that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” goes a long way when referring to safety programs.  Being proactive is key to strengthening jobsite safety; insecure jobsites put your workers and your business in harm’s way, which can negatively impact your company’s reputation and bottom line.  By taking part in OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week, your company can commit to reviewing your current safety policies, making additions and/or revisions, or creating new policies that may be missing.

While there are a number of safety policies, programs and educational tools that you can implement, OSHA has stated that all effective programs share the following three core elements:

  1. Management Leadership – Lead managers commit to establishing a safety program, along with performing regular maintenance and improvements as necessary.
  2. Worker Participation – An ideal safety program will include input from workers, encouraging them to identify solutions to ongoing or current safety issues. By improving worker engagement and communication, crews can have higher levels of job satisfaction and be more productive on the job.
  3. Systematic “Find and Fix” Approach – Employers should work with their employees and workers to make a habit of regularly reviewing the workplace for hazards. By creating a system or routine practice for identifying potential hazards, they can be addressed before they become the cause of injury.

OSHA stresses the fact that safety programs do not need to be complicated, nor should they require expensive consultants or outside services to be developed.  On the contrary, OSHA encourages a “Do-It-Yourself” approach and offers recommended practices for safety and health programs in construction (published October 2016), employer tools, case studies and other downloadable guides.

In addition to preserving life, safety programs improve compliance with laws and regulations, reduce costs associated with workers’ compensation, engage employees and increase productivity.  To refresh your team’s awareness of the importance of your safety policies, you may choose to participate in OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week.  OSHA invites businesses of any size and industry to participate, and they provide flyers and tools to share with your clients and the public to demonstrate your commitment to safety.  To learn more and sign up to receive updates regarding the campaign, visit OSHA’s Safe + Sound Week webpage.

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.

Save the Date: Industry Conventions and Expos

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A list of upcoming conventions and expos designed for construction professionals.

Every quarter or so, we take time to review our calendars for upcoming industry events that may be of interest to our readers.  Although exhibiting in expos requires quite a bit of extra planning (and resources), attending conventions and shows can be an easy undertaking, especially if they take place nearby.  Here is a list of several upcoming conventions and expos (in chronological order) that are geared to the construction industry:

AIA Expo – Conference on Architecture

When: April 27-29, 2017

Where: Orange County Convention Center – Orlando, FL

AIA Convention 2017 is a major architecture and design event featuring an expected 800 exhibitors representing software and technology, energy efficiency, building systems, finishes, lighting, stone and tile, restoration and more.

Education:  There will be 500+ session including workshops, seminars, tours and expo credit.

For more information on the AIA Expo 2017 and online registration, visit the event website.

 

East Coast Builders Conference (ECBC 2017)

When: May 4-5, 2017

Where: Cobb Galleria Centre – Atlanta, GA

This event is geared toward the East Coast residential construction industry.  Exhibiting products include: appliances, building materials and equipment, business services, doors and windows, kitchens and countertops, electronics, lighting, flooring, roofing, siding, technology and more.

Education: A variety of educational tracks will be offered in areas including building, remodeling, design, and management. Topics range from industry technology and law to marketing and business, with the ability to earn all CU’s for the year in one event.

For more information, visit ECBC website.

 

Build Expo – Atlanta, GA

When: July 12-13, 2017

Where: Georgia World Congress Center

Exhibit times: 10:00am-3:00pm daily

Education: Seminars are offered with categories including sales and marketing, green building, construction law, business management and AIA accredited sessions.  All educational sessions are complimentary and seating is limited.

For more information on the Atlanta Expo, as well as those in Houston (August 16-17, 2017) and Dallas, visit the Build Expo website.

 

Sunbelt Builders Show

When: August 2-3, 2017

Where: Hilton Anatole – Dallas, TX

The Sunbelt Builders shows draws thousands of residential construction industry professionals from all over the U.S.  With more than 200 exhibitors and thousands of attendees, leaders from multi-family building, remodeling, land development, finance and management are expected to participate in the event.

Education: Each day offers several different educational sessions and seminars.  Topics include marketing and sales, design trends, energy code solutions, taxes and auditing.

For more information, visit the Sunbelt Builders Show website.

  

ICUEE 2017 The Demo Expo – The International Construction & Utility Equipment Exposition

When: October 3-5, 2017

Where: Kentucky Exposition Center – Louisville, KY

The International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) is also known as The Demo Expo.  Held every two years, the event is designed to address the needs of utility professionals and construction contractors in the areas of electric, sewer/water, telecommunications/cable, and natural gas. With over 950 manufacturers on display, attendees can test-drive the latest equipment, watch live demonstrations of new products and technologies, and take advantage of offerings in industry education.

For more information about the expo, visit the ICUEE website.

 

 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo

When: November 8-10, 2017 (Expo: 11/08-11/09   Conference: 11/08-11/10)

Where: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center – Boston, MA

Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building.  Thousands of construction professionals from all over the world and varying sectors of the industry join together for three days of educational sessions, networking, showcases and LEED workshops.  In 2016, more than 18,000 people attended the event, with the majority of attendees representing architecture/engineering/design firms, contractors and builders, consultants and educators.

To learn more about exhibiting and/or attending Greenbuild, visit the event website.

While the above listed events do not begin to cover all of the industry events and expos that will be happening this year, they are a good place to start if planning to get more involved in the construction industry and community.  Whether attending an educational session or simply looking for the latest tools and technologies on display, it is worth adding an event or two to your calendar to stay fresh and inspired.

For quick tips on making the most of trade shows, check out the previous post Mark Your Calendars for Trade Shows.  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.

Hot Spots for Florida Swimming Pools in February

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Last month, a few areas of Florida were booming when it came to swimming pool starts.  Here’s a monthly view of the hot spots for new swimming pools in Florida.

Out of the 1,730 new swimming pool permits and $75M in construction value on file for Florida last month, HBW is honing in on the hottest spots for new pool construction.  Overall, new pool construction is off to a slow but steady climb since the start of the year as the Sunshine State inched up in new pool permits by 3% since January.  Although Orlando took the spotlight in January, the southwest region of Florida was the one to shine in February.  Having experienced a month-over-month increase of 18%, new swimming pool construction is heating up SW Florida, especially in the counties of Lee and Collier.  In February alone, there were nearly 520 pool starts in the area and approximately $22.5M in total value.

While Orlando did not reach the same level of activity as January, it still ranked second highest out of the five major regions (Southwest, Southeast, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville) reviewed.  Out of the 362 pool starts and more than $15.2M of construction value in Orlando, the centrally-located county of Orange had the highest concentration of new permits (118 permits) and ranked third-highest statewide.

Other areas that spiked last month include Tampa and Jacksonville.  Although ranked third highest for total swimming pool starts (336 permits, total value: $15.2M), the Tampa area had a 21% month-over-month increase, and its larger county of Hillsborough ranked fourth highest in the state for total starts.  And while Jacksonville had the lowest amount of new construction, it is showing improvement since the start of the year.  With a 17% increase in pool starts, Jacksonville had 187 permits and approximately $8.4M in construction value added to the HBW database last month.

FL Total Pool Permits by Area – Feb. 2017

While new swimming pool construction has been steadily increasing since the start of the year, the average value of construction has been somewhat consistent with some fluctuations in certain areas.  Statewide, the average value of construction has remained in the $40k-$48k range since the start of the year.  Since January, Tampa and the southeast have experienced the most fluctuation in average value… Tampa’s 16% month-over-month increase resulted in an average value just over $45k, while the southeast’s 11% month-over-month decrease in average value landed it at $40.6k in February.

FL Average Value of Swimming Pool Construction – Feb. 2017

Finally, to the good stuff – the hot spots.  As previously mentioned, the southwest region was in the lead last month for total pool starts.  For this reason, it should come as no surprise that the southwest counties of Lee and Collier are ranked #1 and #2 for total new construction activity.  Lee County has been at the top since the start of the year, and it remains consistent in starts each month with 154 new permits and just about $7.2M in construction value in February.   While Collier County did not make the top five in January, it ranked second highest last month with 120 pool starts and just over $5M in total value.  Coming in a close third, Orange County in Orlando had 118 new pool permits and a total value in excess of $5.2M.  Hillsborough County (Tampa) and Miami-Dade (Southeast) closed the top five with 117 permits and 108 permits respectively.

FL Top 5 Counties for Total Permits – Feb. 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.

Texas Top Home Builders – February 2017

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HBW Report: Texas top builders for total housing starts in February 2017.

Earlier this month, we took a look at permitting activity and new residential construction across Texas in February. With the Lone Star State having experienced a month-over-month increase of 25% in housing starts, close to 5,500 new residential construction permits were added to the HBW database last month.  When looking at the top builders who were leading new construction for the given period, D.R. Horton remained a standout in areas like Dallas and Austin, while Continental Homes and Camillo Properties took top spots in San Antonio and Houston respectively.  Here is a closer look at the top builders across the four major metropolitan areas in Texas last month.

Houston

In Houston, there were some shifts in the top five since January.  Camillo Properties, Long Lake, LLC and Pulte Homes were all up one spot last month, and Camillo Properties ranked #1 with 161 housing starts and close to $24M in total construction value.  More than half of Camillo’s housing starts took place in Harris County, but there was also a strong amount of activity in Brazoria. The average value of construction for the home builder fell less than the area’s average at just over $147k. Coming in a close second was D.R. Horton with 155 housing starts and more than $23.5M in total value, and Long Lake LLC was positioned third-highest with 90 housing starts and just over $7M in construction.  Out of the top five builders in Houston, Long Lake carried the lowest average value of construction at ~$82k, while Perry Homes carried the highest average value of construction at $223k.

Houston Top Builders for Total Permits – Feb. 2017

San Antonio

Out of the 653 housing starts in San Antonio last month, Continental Homes joined the top five for the first time this year and led the way having 118 housing starts and close to $27M in total construction value.  All new residential permitting activity from the top five home builders in San Antonio took place in Bexar and Guadalupe counties.  KB Homes was down one spot since January and ranked second with 57 housing starts and nearly $13M in total value.  Close behind was Lennar Homes in third with 49 housing starts and close to $12M in construction value.  Out of the top five builders last month, the highest average value of construction was held by RSI Communities at nearly $258k, while the lowest average value of construction was held by LGI Homes at just over $173k.

San Antonio Top Builders for Total Permits – Feb. 2017

Austin

Last month, Austin experienced an 11% month-over-month increase in housing starts, and D.R. Horton was a leading builder behind the growth; having experienced a 60% month-over-month increase in new residential construction in the area, D.R. Horton had 319 starts and a total construction value in excess of $47M.  KB Homes was ranked second and came up one spot with a 40% increase in activity since January having 74 housing starts and more than $12.5M in total value.  Positioned in third, Lennar Homes was down a spot since January with 33 housing starts and more than $5M in total construction.  Out of the top five home builders listed, Pulte Homes had the highest average value of new construction at close to $280k, while Milestone Community Builders held the lowest average value at $137k.

Austin Top Builders for Total Permits – Feb. 2017

Dallas

In Dallas, D.R. Horton reigned supreme and was ahead of January by close to 40%.  The home builder had 272 housing starts and more than $50M in construction value in February, with close to half of all housing starts taking place in Tarrant County.  Coming up two spots since January, First Texas Homes ranked second-highest last month with 99 housing starts and a total value of more than $34M.  And while Pulte Homes dropped a spot, it experienced  a month-over-month increase of more than 5% in residential construction activity with 63 housing starts and more than $15M on file for the month.  Out of the top five builders, Lennar Homes had the highest average value of construction at more than $393k, and D.R. Horton carried the lowest average value of construction at close to $184k.

Dallas Top Builders for Total Permits – Feb. 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.

To Build Trust, You Must Be Real

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Want to attract more customers?  Consider enriching your content and marketing materials with less bells and whistles and more authenticity.

Although glossy brochures and high-quality images are appealing to the eye, when it comes to turning your HBW lead to a customer, your offerings must go beyond perfect lighting and photoshopped dreamscapes.  To gain the trust of a client, you should start with providing real stories of your projects and successes.  From your website to tri-folds, real content about your value proposition should be what really makes your pages “shine”.

So, how does one begin to integrate “being real” into their marketing strategy?  While building trust doesn’t happen overnight or through a few eye-catching images and videos, there are areas that you can review and revise to speak to your target audience’s needs rather than at them.

  1. Image – If you are working from a “mom and pop” or small business shop, embrace your small size rather than advertise as a power house in a penthouse office. Not all customers are looking for the exotic import, and those who are will be disappointed and lose trust when they see that the company does not match its image.  Many small design and build firms will refer to themselves as “boutique” or as offering a unique and personal touch that can’t be matched by larger firms.  Focus on how your company stands out and what makes you unique rather than how you may fit an ideal.
  2. Niche – You may be able to offer a myriad of services, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be everything to everyone. By focusing on what you and your team do best, you strengthen your value, and by tailoring those specific strengths to your audience, you strengthen your competitive advantage.  One of the first and most important steps of this process is clearly identifying and defining a segment of the population on which you are focused; you will want to identify the needs, interests and requirements that your company is positioned to address and that may be neglected by your competition.
  3. Value Proposition – What makes your business unique and valuable? If you can’t answer this question, then it may be a good time to develop a value proposition.  A value proposition will make your business more attractive to your audience, as well as define why your services will benefit and add value to your prospect’s residential or commercial space.  To begin, ask yourself these questions:
    1. How does my product or service solve a problem, improve a living space or situation?
    2. What are the direct benefits of my products/services?
    3. How are my products/services unique from the competition? (This doesn’t just refer to cost.)

Once you have boiled down the answers to the above listed questions, they should be tightened to create your value proposition, a statement that reflects the strength of services and tells a customer why they should choose your company.

By being real in your marketing efforts and approach, you begin to build a foundation of trust.   Authenticity doesn’t mean selling yourself short on high-quality images, websites and materials; rather, it means not overselling based on ideals and expectations that don’t accurately reflect or fit your business.  By embracing the qualities and aspects of your business that make you unique, you can reach your prospects in a way that resonates with them, presenting real deliverables and real results.

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 Home Builders – February 2017

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Out of the close to 4,700 housing starts last month, D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes were shining in the Sunshine State.

Earlier this week, we took a look at housing starts on file throughout Florida in February, and with an 8% month-over-month increase, home building in Florida just keeps getting better.  With the rise in total permits each month, so have builders seen an increase in their project load.  From Jacksonville to the southernmost points of Florida, D.R. Horton led new residential construction for the month, having the highest concentrations of starts in Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville.  Based on new permits added to the HBW database, the top builders for the month were as follows:

  1. D.R. Horton – Having approximately 660 permits and more than $150M in total construction value, D.R. Horton ranked #1 statewide and in 3 out of 5 major regions reviewed.
  2. Lennar Homes – Coming close to D.R. Horton, Lennar Homes had just about 555 housing starts and a total construction value in excess of $133M added to the HBW database last month. Although the home builder was active in all five major regions, Lennar Homes had the greatest amount of new residential construction in Orlando, Tampa and Southeast Florida.
  3. Pulte Homes – Ranking third highest for total housing starts across the state, Pulte Homes had close to 230 housing starts with a total value close to $61M. Pulte Homes had steady construction activity in every major region reviewed, and the highest concentration of starts for the home builder took place in the southwest region.

 

When sorting through new permits from a regional perspective, the lineup of top builders has its variations.  While D.R. Horton ranked #1 based on total permits throughout the State, builders like Neal Communities rose to the top in the southwest, and Lennar Homes led the charts in the southeast.  Here’s a closer look at leading builders by region:

Southwest

With 131 housing starts and close to $26M in construction last month, Neal Communities topped the charts in the southwest portion of Florida.  D.R. Horton was next in line with 97 starts and $22.5M in total value, and Pulte Homes was close behind with 90 housing starts and $22M in value for the one-month period.  Out of the top five builders, Pulte Homes had the highest average value of construction at approximately $244k, with the majority of construction taking place in Manatee County.

SW FL Top 5 Builders for Total Permits – Feb. 2017

Jacksonville

D.R. Horton dominated new residential construction in Jacksonville, having nearly 160 housing starts and approximately $25M in total value.  Lennar Homes came in a distant second with 65 starts and more than $17M in construction value, while KB Homes was third highest with 50 starts and just over $7M in total value for the month.  Out of the top five home builders in the area, Lennar Homes held the highest average value of construction at more than $265k, while KB Homes had the lowest average value of construction at $140.5k.

Jacksonville Top 5 Builders for Total Permits – Feb. 2017

Tampa

The mega-builder, D.R. Horton, also led residential construction in Tampa last month.  With 135 housing starts and just about $30.5M in total value, D.R. Horton was at the top of the charts.  Although the company had new construction activity in several Jacksonville counties, the highest concentration could be found in Polk County.  Coming in at a close second, Lennar Homes had 132 housing starts with a total value in excess of $35M, with the bulk of construction taking place in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.  Ranking third highest was Standard Pacific Homes; with 59 starts and nearly $18M in construction value, Standard Pacific was most active in Pasco and Hillsborough counties as well.  Out of the top five home builders listed, Taylor Morrison was the leader for average value of new construction at more than $355k.

Tampa Top 5 Builders for Total Permits – Feb. 2017

Orlando

While D.R. Horton ranked #1 in Orlando with 179 housing starts and more than $51M for the month, Lennar Homes held very close with 177 housing starts and nearly $33M in total value.  D.R. Horton’s greatest concentration of new homes was in Brevard County, while Lennar Homes was primarily active in Orange and Osceola counties.  At third highest for the month, Meritage Homes had 52 housing starts and more than $19M in construction value.  The highest average value of construction from the top five contractors was held by Taylor Morrison at just over $409k.

Orlando Top 5 Builders for Total Permits – Feb. 2017

Southeast

In the southeast region, Lennar Homes came out on top with 105 housing starts and a total value in excess of $33M.  Lennar was most active in Miami-Dade County last month, where the majority of the home builder’s new permits took place.  D.R. Horton wasn’t far behind as the company had 91 housing starts and just about $21.5M in construction.  While D.R. Horton was also active in Miami-Dade, new activity was evenly distributed between Miami-Dade and Indian River counties.  Pulte Homes pulled in at a distant third with 34 starts and close to $12M in total construction value, with the majority of construction taking place in the northernmost counties.  When reviewing the top five builders’ construction values, GL Homes was #1 for average value at $407.5k.

SE FL Top 5 Builders for Total Permits – Feb. 2017

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.

Tampa Leads New Residential Construction in February

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HBW Monthly Report: Florida New Residential Construction Update, February 2017

While Orlando was leading Florida for new residential construction in January, Tampa has been bustling and came out on top in February.  While every major region in Florida, with the exception of Orlando, experienced a month-over-month increase in housing starts, Tampa took center stage as it was up 13% since January with 1,183 new permits and approximately $316M in total construction value.  In Tampa, the counties of Hillsborough (401 permits) and Polk (369 permits) held the greatest amount of new residential construction activity, while the county of Pinellas had the fewest housing starts for the month.

FL Total Housing Starts – Feb. 2017

Statewide, residential construction throughout Florida experienced a month-over-month increase of 8%, resulting in close to 4,700 starts and approximately $1.3B in construction.  Just behind Tampa and ranking second highest for housing starts in February is the southwest region; with a 21% month-over-month increase, the southwest had just about 1,080 housing starts and a total value in excess of $293M. Most counties across the southwest had substantial new construction activity, but more than half of all HBW permit data in Tampa originated from Lee (294 permits) and Sarasota (292 permits) counties.

Next in line, and having dropped a couple of spots since January, Orlando ranked third with more than 1,050 housing starts and nearly $309M in value last month.  The city-central county of Orange continued to be on top, both in Orlando and statewide, having 421 starts and approximately $141M in construction value.  The average value of construction in Orange County was higher than Orlando as a whole, coming in at $335k for the month.

Although Jacksonville and Southeast Florida did not have as many housing starts as other regions across the state, both areas experienced the greatest month-over-month increase.  With more than a 27% increase in residential construction activity since January, Jacksonville had 750 housing starts with a total value close to $176M.  And while the southeast portion of Florida doesn’t have the highest concentration of new construction, it had both the greatest increase and greatest average value for housing starts.  Having experienced a 50% month-over-month increase in housing starts, the southeast had more than 600 new permits with a value of nearly $213M on file with HBW last month.  Nearly a third of housing starts in the southeast took place in Miami-Dade (~200 permits) where the average value of construction was $300k.

FL Average Value of New Construction – Feb. 2017

When looking at the average value of residential construction, the lineup has been consistent since the start of the year.  In February, the southeast remained on the high end of the spectrum with an average value of $352k, and Jacksonville continued to rank at the low end of the spectrum with an average value just over $234k.  The southwest region and Jacksonville have been the most consistent when it comes to construction value, as they have held just about the same average since the start of the year.  And while Orlando was down in total housing starts last month, it experienced a small 5% increase in the average value of new residential construction.

FL Top 10 Counties for Total Resid. Permits – Feb. 2017

When it comes to counties, Orange County in Orlando continues to kick out new residential construction in greater volume than other Florida counties.  Orange maintained the #1 spot in February with 421 housing starts and just about $141M in total value.  Next in line was Hillsborough County (Tampa) which jumped up four spots since January and ranked second highest with 401 housing starts and approximately $132M in value.  Polk County has remained third highest for starts with 369 new permits on file, and St. Johns (Jacksonville) jumped up three spots to come in fourth highest with 360 housing starts in February.

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.

Texas Residential Construction Report – February 2017

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New residential construction in Texas has been on the rise since the start of the year, as the Lone Star State experienced close to a 25% month-over-month increase in February.

A new report by Fitch Ratings recently suggested that the Texas housing market is so hot and overvalued that it may be unsustainable.  In 2016, Texas real estate saw tremendous highs, higher “than it’s ever been before.” (source: HousingWire)  Although this boost in the Texas real estate market is mostly centered around Dallas and its rising value, the metro areas within the Texas Triangle are certainly heating up in the HBW database when it comes to new residential construction.   In February, Texas residential construction was up nearly 25% in comparison to January, resulting in close to 5,500 housing starts and approximately $1.3B in total construction value.  The greatest amount of new construction could be found in Houston; having experienced a 16% month-over-month increase in new home construction, Houston ranked #1 for total permits with 2,230 housing starts and just about $444M in construction value.  More than half of all new residential construction activity in Houston took place in the central county of Harris (1,230 permits), which is no surprise considering it is the most populous county in Texas and third-most populous county in the U.S.

Texas New Residential Construction Permits – Feb 2017

Next in line is Dallas – Having experienced more than a 6% month-over-month increase in new residential construction, there were approximately 1,680 housing starts totaling more than $411M in value last month, and the highest concentration of activity took place in Collin and Tarrant counties. According to Dallas News, the Dallas market is considered “overheated” as home prices are 10%-14% above expectation, having one of the biggest U.S. home price gains in January.  This leaves Dallas homeowners in a pretty position as they are seeing home price appreciation at a rate far ahead of the rest of the country.  And while the Dallas/Fort Worth area’s median home values are slightly above the national average (source: Zillow), the area’s average value of new home construction has and continues to be significantly above other Texas metropolitan areas.  In February, Dallas remained at the top of the charts with an average construction value of $304,665.

Another area experiencing gains last month is Austin.  In February, Austin had 886 housing starts with a value in excess of $185M on file with HBW, reflecting an 11% increase since January.  More than half of all new construction activity took place in Travis County, while Williamson County had the highest average value of construction in the area at $232,765.  Although not significant, the average value of new home construction in Austin experienced a month-over-month decrease of 6% (avg. value: $209,312), leaving room for San Antonio to bump up to ranking #2 for average value of new construction.

In San Antonio, residential construction had a major comeback since January, having more than six times as many housing starts last month.  With 653 starts and approximately $159M in total construction value, San Antonio home builders were busy, especially in Bexar County where close to half of all activity took place (317 permits).  According to recent reports from the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, the area is expected to experience significant growth in job opportunities and population over the next year.  Also growing, and previously mentioned, is the average value of construction in San Antonio.  Moving up a spot since January, San Antonio’s average value for new home construction ranked second highest out of the four major metro areas reviewed at $242,963.

Texas Average Value of New Resid. Construction – Feb. 2017

 

Feb. 2017 – Harris County (Houston) and Collin County (Dallas) continue to lead for housing starts in Texas.

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.

Content Marketing for Contractors

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A little content can go a long way when spreading the word about your business.

As home builders and contractors running multiple construction projects, marketing your business can easily fall to the bottom of the priorities list.  With the myriad of marketing strategies, methods and options, you can feel lost before you even get started.  While grand marketing campaigns may not be in the budget this year (or next year), there are a few additions to your current marketing efforts you can make to strengthen your visibility and reputation online.

Enter content marketing.  The term “content marketing” gets tossed around quite a bit with the rise of social media, blogs and YouTube.  It really is one of the easiest ways to reach your audience but can also be one of the most difficult aspects of your marketing strategy to develop.  When boiling it down, content marketing is basically the creation and sharing of content online in a way that does not overtly promote a brand but sparks interest and steers the reader/viewer back to a company’s products or services; prime examples would be a “how-to” video or an educational blog.  By approaching your target audience from a place of education and resources rather than in-your-face sales, you can encourage more engagement, attract valuable leads and ultimately generate and increase revenue.

So, how does a home builder attempt to embark on content marketing?  While there are certainly no expectations for overnight success, home builders can begin building their content marketing cache through research and sharing current content that may already be on hand.  By collecting pertinent information, videos, tutorials and the like, you will eventually have a rich set of tools and resources that can be used for different purposes at different points in the content marketing cycle.  Here are a few simple steps to follow when creating a framework for your content marketing program:

  1. Research – Conduct research and collect data pertaining to the industry as it relates to your services/products; additionally, collect information regarding your target buyer and the locations where you will be posting your content.
  2. Plan – Chances are you will not be alone on your journey through content marketing. Make sure all active players in your marketing strategy collaborate and have open and regular communication regarding content creation opportunities, timelines for distribution and potential locations for sharing.  Together, your team should develop and have a clear understanding of your plan for content development and when and where it will be shared.
  3. Create – Although this part can seem the most overwhelming, it can really be the best part of the ride if you have conducted thorough research and are properly prepared. Your content should be created and tailored to the audience and platform. Content can and should include a variety of forms and mediums from videos and images of your latest projects to details and stories on your blog and social media profiles.  Change it up by offering a variety of content including: how-to video tutorials; informative infographics; valuable blog topics; FAQs; product videos and explainers; interactive polls and eBooks; eye-catching images of your products and projects; live blogging, presentations, interactive meetings and more.
  4. Share – Choosing where and when you will share your content is just as important as the creation process. In order to maximize the opportunity for reaching and attracting your target audience, you should have a plan for where and when you can best reach them.  For example, providing information or videos on preparing your home or landscape for winter should be shared a couple of months before the season and through outlets that reach homeowners.  Also, don’t overlook user-generated content (UGC); sometimes the most persuasive content will be created by your customers and prospects, so be sure to encourage and provide incentives for being brand advocates.

Although content marketing can be time consuming, it can also provide quite a return on your investment when effectively executed.  Sharing content simply to put something “out there” can often do more harm than good.  By staying focused and taking appropriate steps to define a clear objective and plan for creating and sharing content, you can open the door to new possibilities for marketing and customer engagement.

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.