HBWeekly

Florida Residential Construction Quarterly Review

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Erika Carruth

New residential construction in Florida is strong and growing with five out of six regions having their best quarter of this year in Q3.

fl hbw report

With nearly 49,500 housing starts in Florida through the third quarter of 2016, it is no surprise that approximately 1,000 people move to the Sunshine State every day. With the steady growth in population, residential construction must meet the demand. Through the third quarter of this year, the demand is being met with year-over-year growth of 14% in housing starts throughout the state. From the northwest down to the southeast, every major region reflects an increase in residential construction permits starting at 6% and going as high as 25%.

Northeast Florida had the highest year-over-year increase (25%) in housing starts; as of the closing of the third quarter, there were more than 7,850 new permits on file for the northeast region, and there has been quarter-over-quarter growth since the start of 2016. The area experiencing the greatest concentration of housing starts through Q3 is Central Florida. With a year-over-year increase of 14%, Central Florida tops the list with close to 11,000 housing starts; the Central Florida county of Orange is also on top in comparison to other counties throughout the state with 4,670 new residential construction permits on file with HBW (thru Q3).

Florida Total Permits - Q3 2015 vs. 2016

Florida Residential Permit Totals – Q3 2015 vs. 2016

The third quarter was the best quarter so far this year for the five major regions of central, west, southeast, southwest and northeast Florida. With a 16% increase in new residential construction since 2015, West Florida bumped up one spot since Q2 to rank second highest for total housing starts with more than 9,900 new permits through Q3. Not far behind, the southwest region was third highest with 9,478 new permits through the third quarter.

When reviewing the counties with the greatest amount of new residential construction on file, the lineup for Q3 has remained consistent with Q2, as the top counties have sustained their momentum. The only exception is that Collier County (SW) bumped up on spot, and Pasco County has now joined the top ten list. As previously mentioned, Orange County was on top for total housing starts through the third quarter. Next in line, Hillsborough County in the Tampa area held on to the #2 spot with 3,433 housing starts, a 23% increase in comparison to the same time last year. Another county exhibiting significant growth is St. Johns County in the Jacksonville area; St. Johns ranked third highest with 2,707 housing starts, having an impressive year-over-year increase of 32%.

FL Top 10 Counties for Total Permits – 2015 vs. 2016

Higher value residential construction (>$500k) has been steady throughout the state. With 3,445 housing starts valued above $500k through the third quarter, Florida is tracking to exceed totals from 2015 before the end of this year. Although southeast Florida did not have the highest concentration of housing starts, the tourist destination came out on top for higher value construction. Through the third quarter of this year, there were 930 housing starts valued greater than $500k in sunny southeast Florida, with Palm Beach and Miami leading the way. Not far behind, Central Florida ranked second highest for residential construction greater than $500k with 829 new permits through Q3; more than half of the higher value construction activity of Central Florida took place in Orange County.

FL Housing Starts >$500k thru Q3-2016

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.

Upcoming Industry Conventions and Trade Shows

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Industry trade shows are happening year-round. To help you plan, here is a list of some of the industry expos happening in the near future.

tshows by hbweekly

Trade shows and conventions are in abundance in our industry. There may be a local expo that you attend every year, or perhaps you are looking to check out a new event in another city. Whether you are an exhibitor or an attendee, trade shows will take a toll on your time and budget. For this reason, it is important to choose shows and conventions that are the best match for your business and provide the most opportunities for education, exposure and/or networking.

Here is a quick look at some industry events on the calendar that are coming soon and may be of interest to you and your business:

2016 Design-Build Conference & Expo

When: November 4-6, 2016

Where: Caesar’s Palace – Las Vegas, Nevada

Although it may be a little late to add this one to your schedule, if you are in the Las Vegas area, the 2016 Design-Build Conference is just a few weeks away. The event caters to Sr. Vice Presidents and higher level positions. The website states that it expects more than 2,000 industry professionals from the entire A/E/C community, from owners who are new to experienced in design-build project delivery.

International Builders Show (IBS)

When: January 10-12, 2017

Where: Orange County Convention Center – Orlando, Florida

International Builders’ Show is held by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and is the largest light construction building industry trade show in the United States. Every year it attracts more than 60,000 visitors representing 100 different countries. Exhibitors include global manufacturers and suppliers offering a look at latest in materials and technology for all types of building (wood, concrete, stone and brick).

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

When: January 10-12, 2017

Where: Orange County Convention Center – Orlando, Florida

KBIS is happening at the same time as IBS next year, but if kitchen and bath is your specialty, it is worth checking out. The event will host 500+ products in the industry through an interactive platform showcasing the latest materials, trends and technology.

World of Concrete

When: January 16-20, 2017

Where: Las Vegas Convention Center – Las Vegas, Nevada

An international event, WOC represents the concrete and masonry industries. The event offers a wide variety of options in products and education from material handling and construction technology to concrete repair and decorative surfaces.

The International Surface Event (TISE)

When: January 17-20, 2017

Where: Mandalay Bay Convention Center – Las Vegas, NV

This annual event serves the floorcovering, stone and tile industries. It is a combination of three international trade shows (SURFACES, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas and TileExpo) in one 4-day event, including products, demos, manufacturers, suppliers, education and more.

The list could go on, but this is just a short list to get you started as the events above are fast-approaching. It is always best to plan in advance, not just for the purpose of budget, but to make sure you and your team make the most of the opportunity. Take advantage of the networking events, early registration, hotel and partner discounts. Prepare your team with objectives and expected outcomes so that everyone has realistic expectations and a purpose for their attendance.

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.

The Highs and Lows of Texas Residential Construction – Third Quarter Report

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Although Texas has experienced a 6% dip in new residential construction through Q3, areas like San Antonio and Austin are ahead of 2015 figures so far this year.

tx construct hbw_edited

When looking at the metropolitan areas of Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Austin, the rate of housing starts varies across the board. As the title of this post promises, we will take a look at both the highs and the lows through the third quarter, gaining a comprehensive perspective of the new permit data available in the HBW database.

From the start of this year through September, more than 50,400 new residential construction permits in Texas have been added to the HBW database. Combining data from all four major metropolitan areas (Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin), we find a year-over-year decrease of 6% in housing starts. That being stated, there are a couple of metro areas that reflect increases in comparison to last year.

Austin is at the top of the list when it comes to growth in housing starts. Through the third quarter, Austin has experienced a year-over-year increase of 17%, with Travis County showing the greatest growth in new residential construction (>29%). Also on an upswing, San Antonio has experienced a 3% year-over-year increase in housing starts through the third quarter, and Comal County is leading the area with close to a 24% increase in new residential construction in comparison to last year.

Although Dallas isn’t ahead of 2015 at the current rate, it is not far behind with a slight 1% decrease in residential construction activity. We will have to wait to see what the fourth quarter brings for Dallas; at this point, there is more than a 7% increase in housing starts in the primary county of Dallas, and homes valued over $500k are also on the rise. Although both Dallas and Houston are on the lower side as of the closing of Q3, both metro areas have inched up 1% since the second quarter of this year, and we will watch for progress over the next few months.

Texas Total New Residential Permits - thru Q3-2016

Texas Total New Residential Permits thru Q3 – 2015 vs. 2016

Just from the perspective of growth in new residential construction, a few counties are on a high since 2015. Travis County in the Austin area is on top with a year-over-year increase of 29.3% and more than 4,600 housing starts thru Q3. Another county on our radar for growth is Comal County in the San Antonio area; Comal has nearly 2,000 housing starts on file, a 23.5% increase in comparison to 2015.

When reviewing housing starts with values exceeding $500k, we have found more than 2,500 new permits on file for the combined metro areas. Dallas takes the cake with higher-value residential construction as there are 1,455 permits on file so far this year; at the current average quarterly rate of construction for higher-value homes, Dallas is well positioned to exceed 2015 figures by December. On the flipside, Houston has experienced a significant decline in higher-value residential construction. Although there are nearly 600 high-value (>$500k) housing starts in Houston through Q3, based on the quarterly average, the area will be at least 10% behind the previous year. As for Austin and San Antonio, both areas are slated for meeting or maybe even exceeding the previous year. They are consistent and on course from a year-to-year perspective with Austin having more than 320 housing starts and San Antonio having nearly 150 housing starts with values in excess of $500k.

Texas Top Counties for Residential Permits >$500k

When looking at top counties for total housing starts through Q3, the counties with the highest concentration of new construction are mostly in Dallas and Houston and consistent with the second quarter of this year. Although both areas are on a low in comparison to Q3-2015, the areas are expansive and new construction is certainly plentiful in specific counties. Despite the 12%+ year-over-year decrease in housing starts through Q3, Harris County of Houston had the most housing starts on file for all counties reviewed throughout the state with 10,790 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database. Collin County of Dallas came in at second highest statewide with 5,424 housing starts, a nearly 5% increase in comparison to 2015. Since the start of this year, Collin County has exhibited incremental growth in new permits each quarter, and if the fourth quarter follows suit, it should have an even greater gain on 2015 by the end of the year. In at the third top spot, the previously mentioned county of Travis in Austin has 4,621 housing starts on file through Q3 and is already well ahead of last year.

Texas Top 5 Counties for Total New Permits – Q3-2016

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 Residential Construction Third Quarter Review

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Erika Carruth

With more than 16,800 new residential construction permits, housing starts in Atlanta are up by 15% in comparison to 2015.

Image courtesy of: CarruthPhoto.com

The Metro Atlanta area is teeming with housing starts and on track for having its best year yet. At the current average rate, Atlanta will have the most housing starts in a given year based on records over the last five years. Through the third quarter of this year, HBW has 16,829 new residential construction permits on file for Atlanta, a 15% increase in comparison to YTD 2015.

County-by-county, there are some areas that have seen tremendous growth since the start of the year. The majority of counties reviewed have experienced growth (ranging from 3% to 157%) in comparison to the same period last year; only three out of twenty-four counties experienced a dip in activity.

Gwinnett County continues to boom with housing starts. Through the third quarter of this year, there have been more than 2,660 housing starts in Gwinnett, a 9% increase in comparison to 2015. Next in line, Forsyth County is second highest for total housing starts with nearly 2,200 new permits so far this year. Although down by 6% in comparison to reports thru Q3 of last year, Fulton County is third highest for total housing starts with 1,914 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database. Additionally, Fulton County is the area with the highest concentration of housing starts valued over $500k, as it has close to 300 higher-value residential permits on file for YTD 2016.

Another area that has seen year-over-year growth is the County of Cherokee. Cherokee County is up 8% in comparison to 2015 with 1,539 starts on file. When looking at higher-value residential construction, Cherokee was third highest for total permits (53 permits) and positioned to exceed 2015 totals before the closing of this year.

The county on the top five list that experienced the most growth so far is Cobb County. Cobb County ranked fifth highest for total housing starts with 1,243 new permits, a 61% increase in comparison to Q3 YTD-2015. Cobb County is also on top when looking at residential construction valued in excess of $500k. Through Q3, Cobb County ranks second highest for higher-value construction with more than 60 new high value permits to date.

Atlanta Top Counties for Resid. Permit Totals thru Q3 – 2015 vs. 2016

Atlanta Top 5 Counties for Total Resid. Permits – Q3 2016

Throughout the Metro Atlanta area, there are several counties that have experienced remarkable growth so far this year. As previously published in the second quarter report for Atlanta, Jackson County was slated to surpass totals for 2015 housing starts by the 3^rd quarter of this year; as predicted, Jackson has continued to show marked growth (+61% YTD – 326 permits) and has surpassed totals from the previous year. Another county that has exhibited consistent growth over the last five years is Clayton County. Along with increases in housing starts each year, Clayton has nearly 600 new permits on file through Q3 and is ahead of 2015 by 79%. An area that continues to be “one to watch” is Carroll County. As stated in HBW’s Q2 report, Carroll County has experienced year-over-year increases in housing starts since 2012. In 2016, increased volume for new residential construction continues in Carroll County as there has been a 90% increase in housing starts through the third quarter in comparison to 2015.

Information utilized for the graphs and above listed figures for Metro Atlanta was directly derived from HBW construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest building activity in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.

Texas Residential Construction Review – September 2016

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Erika Carruth

In Texas, there were more than 5,000 new residential construction permits added to the HBW database last month, and Houston was on top for total housing starts.

Although Texas experienced a dip in housing starts in comparison to August, the Lone Star State had ample new residential permits on file with HBW. In September alone, there were 5,025 housing starts having a total construction value of nearly $1.2B.

Texas Residential Construction Permits – September 2016

According to the Associated General Contractors of America’s 2016 workforce survey, Texas construction companies are still reporting difficulty filling positions. Of the companies surveyed, nearly 75% of Texas-based companies reported that they are having difficulty filling hourly trade and craft positions, especially carpenters and concrete workers. Despite this struggle, and out of the four metropolitan areas reviewed (Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio), Houston home builders had 1,958 housing starts last month with a total value of nearly $354M. More than half of all new residential construction permits in the Houston area were from Harris County.

The Dallas area was not far behind for housing starts as there were more than 1,700 starts with a construction value in excess of $535M, the highest total construction value of the four major metropolitan areas. Dallas is also no stranger to the labor pool struggle. According to a recent post by Dallas Business Journal, the labor shortage in Dallas “has added at least $4,000 to the cost of buying a home at a time when builders say they can’t keep up with the region’s demand for housing.” (source: Dallas Business Journal) The higher cost of a home is directly reflected when we compare the average value of construction for homes in Dallas to those across Texas. The average value of residential construction in Dallas is far ahead of the other major cities as it was $312,616 last month. Nearly half of all housing starts in Dallas took place in Collin County.

Austin and its surrounding areas ranked third highest for total housing starts. Last month, there were 969 housing starts in Austin with a total construction value of more than $218M. More than half of all new residential construction activity took place in Travis County (574 permits), while Bastrop County saw the least new residential construction activity for the month.

Although it saw the least new residential construction in September with 385 housing starts and close to $92M in total value, San Antonio was ranked second highest for average value. The average value of housing starts in San Antonio was $237,873, an increase of nearly 15% in comparison to August.

Texas Average Value of Residential Construction – September 2016

As previously mentioned, the counties of Harris (Houston) and Collin (Dallas) were standouts in their given areas for holding the highest concentration of housing starts last month. Statewide, Harris County was ranked #1 for total housing starts with nearly 1,100 new permits and more than $184M in construction value. Collin County ranked second highest with 819 housing starts and nearly $260M in total value, the highest total value of any county reviewed. Travis County in Austin ranked third highest last month for total housing starts with 574 new permits and more than $122M in construction value on file with HBW. Fort Bend County in Houston and Tarrant County in Dallas came in at fourth and fifth highest for total housing starts last month with each area having just over 300 new residential construction permits for the period.

Texas Top Counties for New Resid. Permits – September 2016

Prioritizing Clients During a Natural Disaster

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Erika Carruth

As a construction professional, your services are in demand during a natural disaster. Here are few tips for prioritizing your clients.

HBWeekly.com priority article

As soon as Hurricane Matthew made its way to the U.S. earlier this week, panic sunk in for many home and business owners. Roofing and general contractors have been inundated with calls, covering everything from the concerned clients in the middle of a project to the concerned citizen who wants to make sure their property is safe. And that’s just the beginning. Once the Hurricane has rolled through, repairs and reconstruction will be in order for much of the southeastern coastal areas of U.S.

With the high demand and clients being in desperate need, it can be nearly impossible to get to everyone at once. Unless you have idle crews waiting around (not in this labor pool), you are bound to have a few anxious clients, many of which you will need to put on hold. This is not only a challenging process, but it can be stressful for both the contractor and client.

Here are few simple ways to help prioritize customers in high-demand and desperate times such as natural disasters, while still maintaining professional and courteous customer service:

Listen – In many cases, the customer just wants to be heard. Take the time to listen to all of their concerns prior to attempting to alleviate them. Validating their concerns and expressing that you understand their perspective is important in building communication and having their understanding when you explain your services and the projected timeline.
Know Your Clients – In an ideal world, all clients would be created equal. The truth is that some of your clients will be higher maintenance or have certain expectations based on the services you have provided in the past. Additionally, some clients have larger projects, histories, referrals and billings with your company. Create a list of the top ten clients that your team should know of proper response time and how they should be worked into the schedule.
Be Proactive – Don’t wait for the calls to come to you. Maintaining healthy and regular communication with your clients will go a long way in situations where demand is high. Getting ahead of the storm and contacting clients in advance will allow you to alleviate anxiety, as well as supply realistic expectations should an immediate need arise as anticipated.
Get Your SOP Ready – Natural disaster or not, your business should have Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in place for everything from evaluating job sites to handling clients. Don’t leave it up to your employees to figure out the best way to handle an irate or angry client. Have an accessible SOP to which they can refer; it will give your team the confidence needed to work with clients in stressful situations knowing that they are following company guidelines.
Know Your Value – Your time is valuable, and you must be realistic with what you can provide a client and how effectively you can help them in a given situation. In intense situations such as natural disasters, anxiety is high and can lead to receiving unrealistic and even irrational requests. Hold your ground and be a steady resource for customers. Do not expend too much energy or time with a customer with whom you are not seeing eye-to-eye. Remember that your time is valuable and should be used with customers and situations where you can effectively and professionally provide your services.

Having more requests and open jobs scheduled than you can handle will be overwhelming. By setting realistic expectations for clients and organized timelines that can be effectively met, you will have both satisfied clients and productive crews. By hearing your clients out and prioritizing them based on how you can best meet their needs, you will ride out the storm surge of business and come out better on the other side.

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.

7 Website Essentials for Home Builders

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Almost anyone can secure a domain name and get their business online, but there are a few basic “must-haves” for getting the most out of your website.

More consumers go online to get information about, well, pretty much everything. The word “Google” has become a verb, and online listings and reviews can drive or deter traffic to and from your site. In fact, the number of consumers researching products and services prior to making a purchase is on the rise. According to Ad Week, 81% of shoppers conduct online research before making a purchase

When you reach out to a prospective client or HBW lead, chances are they are “googling” you as you speak. Your website will often do the talking, and along with making sure it is updated and accessible, you will need to have a site that is engaging and easy to navigate. To make that happen, you will need to cover the basics… Here are 7 basic website essentials to get you started:

Contact Information – Sounds basic enough, but we are not referring to just a “contact us” tab/page. Your business name and contact information should be on every page of your website. Whether you choose to add it to the footer of each page or make your phone number prominent and displayed adjacent to your logo, it is important to make it easy to locate and contact your business.
Social Links – You may have an active following on Twitter or an informative Facebook page. That’s great, but your website visitors may never know about it without links to your profiles. Often, adding the social widgets to the header or top of every page will cover it. Also, make sure that your site is listed and linked on your social profile as well.
Gallery – Your designs and projects are a must-see for your prospects. Having a clear and high-quality gallery on your website allows you a place to showcase your top projects. Don’t rely on Instagram alone. Potential clients who are not connected to those social networks may not get the chance to see your newest kitchen remodel, recent swimming pool design or elaborate landscaping project if you don’t have it front and center on your website.
FAQs – As an experienced construction professional, you have probably received your fair share of the same questions from various prospects. Save time in future conversations by offering clear and concise answers to the most frequently asked questions online. Having answers readily available can assist in building confidence in your expertise, as well as putting any initial concerns at ease for the consumer.
Desktop and Mobile Versions – If you don’t have a mobile version of your website, you may be losing visitors. The number of people viewing websites from mobile devices is significantly higher (51%) in comparison to the 42% of users who are viewing from a desktop (source: SmartInsights). By having a mobile version, you can make the user’s experience from a mobile device or smart phone easy, as well as provide links to the most “wanted” content of your site.
Keyword Content – Along with the content on your website being up-to-date and relevant, your text and titles should have keywords that you use for your business and search engines. What are the most common phrases or words that a consumer might use when looking for your business? Make sure those terms and phrases are included on the front-end of your site, as well as the back-end.
Dynamic Content – In previous articles, we have explored the importance of video and high-quality images that are vital to your marketing efforts. Dynamic content such as videos should also be embedded and available for viewing on your website. Don’t just keep them on your YouTube channel alone. Including video on a landing page can increase conversion by 80%. (source: Hubspot)

Now that you have some of the fundamentals, remember to keep your website current and updated. Add new and key projects to your gallery; update your services, and refresh your content as needed. A well-maintained website may take a little time but will make a difference in converting a visitor to a client.

Florida Home Builder Spotlight – August 2016

Posted on September 30, 2016 by Erika Carruth

With Florida housing starts on a high in August, here’s a look at the builders leading new residential construction for the month.

Readers who have been following the HBW Blog are already aware of the fact that housing starts in Florida were on a high last month. The total number of new residential construction permits for housings starts spiked 27% from July to August in the HBW database. From the approximately 5,600 new permits and close to $1.6B in construction value, there were hundreds of active home builders leading housing starts in the areas of Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and the southwestern and southeastern regions of the state. While D.R. Horton was on top of new residential construction in Orlando and Jacksonville, Lennar Homes, GL Homes and Pulte Homes also made their mark in other areas last month. Here’s a closer look at the five major regions and the home builders who had the most housing starts in each area.

Orlando

In August, more than 170 builders were active with housing starts in the Orlando area. As previously mentioned, D.R. Horton stood out on top with 153 permits and more than $41M in total value. The bulk of D.R. Horton’s housing starts took place in the counties of Orange and Brevard, with the average value of new construction being nearly $270K. Lennar Homes was also active in the area with 112 housing starts and a total construction value in excess of $22.5M. Ranked third highest for the month, Pulte Homes had 101 new residential construction permits (total value > $31.8M) in the area, with the bulk of activity taking place in Orange and Osceola counties. Out of Orlando’s top five home builders, Meritage Homes (ranked #4) had the highest average value of construction ($402,439).

Orlando Top Builders by Total Permits – August 2016

Tampa

The Tampa area experienced a month-over-month increase of 21% in housing starts last month. Out of the more than 180 home builders with starts in Tampa, Lennar Homes had the most residential permits on file with 215 housing starts and a total value exceeding $61.2M. The majority of new construction led by Lennar took place in Hillsborough and Pasco counties. D.R. Horton was next highest for new residential construction for the period; coming in at #2, D.R. Horton has 137 new permits on file in the HBW database with a total construction value of nearly $30M. Next in line, Highland Homes ranked third highest with 76 housing starts and a total value exceeding $9.6M. Out of the top five home builders in the area, Taylor Morrison had the greatest average value of new construction which was close to $309K.

Tampa Top Builders by Total Permits – August 2016

Southwest

The southwestern region of Florida had the greatest number of active contractors of any given area. More than 215 home builders led the nearly 1,200 housing starts in the area. Pulte Homes had the most housing starts for the month with 114 new residential permits and a total value of nearly $32M. The builder was most active in Manatee and Collier counties. Not far behind, D.R. Horton had 108 housing starts in the area last month with a total value greater than $26.1M, while WCI Communities came in third highest with 90 starts and more than $22.3M in construction value. Out of the area’s top five home builders, Pulte Homes held the highest average construction value of just over $280k.

SW Florida Top Builders by Total Permits – August 2016

Jacksonville

Just as in Orlando, D.R. Horton led new residential construction in Jacksonville. Out of the nearly 150 active home builders on record for housing starts in August, D.R. Horton had 152 new permits and close to $28M in construction value. The majority of new construction from D.R. Horton took place in St. Johns County. Dream Finders Construction was also active with new residential construction last month; the home builder had 82 housing starts and more than $20M in value. Unlike D.R. Horton, Dream Finders Construction’s building activity could be found somewhat evenly distributed over four counties, with the most starts taking place in Clay and Duval. Dream Finders Construction also carried the highest average value of construction (~$245k) of the companies on the top five list. Ranked third highest for the month, KB Homes had 63 housing starts carrying a total construction value of nearly $10M. KB Homes was most active in Duval County.

Jacksonville Top Builders by Total Permits – August 2016

Southeast

Southeast Florida saw the greatest spike in housing starts since July having a month-over-month increase of approximately 40%. Out of the 169 builders with starts in the area, GL Homes stood out on top with 92 new residential construction permits and a total construction value in excess of $32.3M. GL Homes also had the highest average value of construction out of the companies making the top five list; with an average value of over $351k, all of GL Home’s housing starts took place in Palm Beach County. Next in line, Lennar Homes came up second highest for total new permits last month with 55 housing starts and close to $19M in total value. New construction for Lennar Homes took place in the counties of Palm Beach and Miami-Dade. Close behind and at #3, D.R. Horton had 53 housing starts with a total value close to $17.4M. The bulk of D.R. Horton’s starts took place in Miami-Dade with some activity in Palm Beach and several starts in Indian and St. Lucie counties.

SE Florida Top Builders by Total Permits – August 2016

TEXAS TOP HOME BUILDERS – AUGUST 2016

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Texas housing starts saw a month-over-month increase of 19% in August. Here is a look at the home builders that were leading new residential construction in the Lone Star State.

tx-top-builders

As reported in the most recent Texas HBW report (Texas Residential Construction – August 2016), the HBW database saw an influx of new residential construction permits for the Texas metro areas of Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. There were more than 6,100 new permits added to HBW data reports last month and nearly $1.5B in construction value.

Consistent with recent months, the lineup for the top builders has remained the same. D.R. Horton has maintained a strong hold on housing starts in Texas and was #1 in three out of four metro areas. Lennar Homes and KB Homes have maintained their spots as the top second and third for total new permits each month.

#1 D.R. Horton – In August, D.R. Horton had 542 housing starts in Texas with a total construction value in excess of $99M. The builder’s greatest number of housing starts were in Dallas, and more than half in Dallas were from Collin County.

#2 Lennar Homes – Lennar Homes ranked second highest for total permits last month in both Dallas and Houston, having close to 150 housing starts in each area. Statewide, the home builder had just over 330 housing starts last month with a total construction value of more than $72M.

#3 KB Homes – Last month, KB Homes had approximately 300 housing starts statewide with a total construction value of nearly $49M. A large portion of new permits (122 permits) were from the Austin area where the builder also had its highest average value of construction (~ $187k).

Although the leaderboard for new residential construction statewide has carried the same familiar names each month, when we take a closer look at each metro area, we find some shifts in ranking and newcomers each month to the “top 5” charts.

HOUSTON

In Houston, the top three builders have been consistent throughout July and August. Out of more than 300 active builders in Houston last month, D.R. Horton led with 170 permits and a total construction value of nearly $24M. Lennar Homes ranked second highest with 147 new permits and close to $24M in total value on file with HBW, while KB Homes held on in third with 113 housing starts and nearly $14M in value.

Houston Top Builders for Total New Permits – August 2016

DALLAS

Out of nearly 270 active home builders in Dallas last month, D.R. Horton and Lennar Homes continued to make their mark as they maintained their leads at the #1 and #2 spots for total new residential construction permits. D.R. Horton had the most housing starts in the area with nearly 250 new permits and more than $57M in construction value, while Lennar Homes was second highest with 146 new permits and close to $42M in value. Although Pulte Homes was not on the top five for Dallas in July, they jumped up and ranked third highest for housing starts in August with 106 new permits and a total construction value in excess of $23M.

Dallas Top Builders for Total New Permits – August 2016

AUSTIN

Nearly 100 home builders were active with housing starts in Austin last month. D.R. Horton jumped two spots from July to the lead in August as it more than doubled its activity in one month’s time with 124 housing starts and more than $18M in construction value. Although KB Homes saw a month-to-month increase in total housing starts it slipped to the #2 spot with 122 new residential construction permits and close to $23M in total value. Gehan Homes was a newcomer to the top three in Austin last month and ranked third highest with 58 housing starts and nearly $16M in construction value.

Austin Top Builders for Total New Permits – August 2016

SAN ANTONIO

While San Antonio experienced a dip in housing starts in comparison to July, there were nearly 125 active home builders breaking ground in the area last month. KB Homes moved up one spot from July to the lead in August with 53 housing starts and more than $9M in total construction value. While Continental Homes was consistent in total new permits from July to August, it dropped one spot in the ranks to second with 48 housing starts and more than $11M in value for the month. Although Armadillo Homes didn’t make the top five in July, it jumped to rank third highest in August with 20 housing starts and nearly $4M in construction value.

San Antonio Top Builders for Total New Permits – August 2016

10 Tips for Home Builders on YouTube

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Erika Carruth

Anyone can create a YouTube Channel, but it takes a little extra effort to make it more than just a repository for video content.

In previous posts, we have explored ways for improving video marketing and how to maximize exposure through social media. Although social media outlets can be an effective way for today’s home builders to reach their target audience, to really make the most out of it, a proper profile and content need to be developed.

In the world of YouTube, a video is born faster than every second. Seriously. According to their website, YouTube has a new video added at a rate of one hour of video uploads every second. With so many videos and so little time to view them all, here are some quick and easy tips to make the most out of your company’s content on YouTube:

Create a Channel – When you set up your YouTube account, make sure to create a channel. Your channel name and information should mirror all other company materials and accounts.
Create a Profile – Beyond your channel name, YouTube provides room for your business to add details and contact information for business inquiries. You can add/edit this information in the “About” section of your channel. Under “Details” you will have the option to share your email address. Make use of these sections to add information about your business, links and appropriate contact information.
Name Your Video – When you upload a video, don’t overlook the title. The name of your video is a vital component for being discovered in related searches. Often, when we upload a video, it is easy to forget that the file name will automatically be the default title of the video once posted; be sure to change the name and add keywords before making the video public.
Get Descriptive – You may have a great video, but if you don’t add an interesting description, viewers won’t always be moved to watch it. When describing the video, be sure to provide a summary, as well as how it is useful and ways viewers can learn more and contact your business.
Know Your Settings – Settings are important when it comes to security of your account, as well as when deciding how and who can view your videos. When adding a video to your channel, make sure you are clear on who can view it. If a video is public, be aware that it can be viewed and shared by anyone with or without a YouTube account. This may be desirable for promotional purposes, but what about client-specific videos or tutorials? For the more customized or private content, you can provide a link to clients without making the video open to any and all viewers of YouTube.
Keep Business and Personal Separate – You may have just recorded the first steps of your granddaughter or a tropical family vacation. What better way to share these exciting moments than to have a video link to send to family – Right? Yes and no. Although YouTube is a great place to add private family footage to share with distant relatives, you should not choose to do it on your business account. It is simply too easy to accidently make it public or viewable by your prospects and clients. Keep personal videos private and simply upload and share them through a different YouTube account.
Monitor Comments – As with anything online, you open you and your business to feedback, some positive and some negative. On YouTube, a few too many thumbs down or a negative comment here and there can quickly take the wind out of your sails. Decide on whether or not you will enable comments, and if so, be prepared and ready to respond in a professional and timely manner.
Have a Trailer – YouTube allows users to create introductory videos in the form of channel trailers. As soon as visitors land on your channel, a trailer video will give them a picture of the type of content you post and entice them to want to subscribe and view your videos. Keeping this type of video brief, direct and engaging is important. Although trailers won’t appear for your current subscribers, an attention-grabbing intro video is an easy way to welcome new viewers to your channel.
Share it – Having a video on YouTube doesn’t mean that instant viewers will soon follow. You must share the link on your website, in email blasts, on social media and partner sites. An intro or latest promotional video can be useful when making contact with your new leads from HBW. Videos can also be a great way to answer common questions about your team or how one can get started with your services.
Get Artsy – As a home builder, you probably have numerous images stored in your portfolio, galleries, brochures and website. Don’t leave your YouTube channel bare. YouTube channel art is akin to a cover photo on Facebook. It is displayed prominently on your channel and provides an opportunity to share your brand and add a personal touch to your profile. Be sure to properly format/size the images and make use of the section for links to be added to the space.

Although almost anyone can upload a video to YouTube, you can optimize your channel to be a standout. In just a few simple steps, your channel can become a place to send leads and clients for easy access to information on your services, tutorials and latest projects.