BUILDER is taking a 50-city tour of the largest housing markets, evaluating vital housing stats, employment information, and population numbers to find out what’s good, what’s bad, and what's the bottom line for housing going forward. We'll be rolling out 10 market summaries per day for the next week, so be sure to check back daily.
Are you building in one of the country’s top 50 markets? Let us know if our analysis jibes with what you’re seeing in the field.
1: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas
Total new-home closings: 26,192
Population: 6,490,180
The good: Prices are on the increase, along with total number of
closings for 13 straight quarters.
The bad: Slumping oil prices erode confidence among some buyers, while increased
competition spurs higher material prices and labor shortages.
The bottom line: Oil and gas companies make up just 10% of the
region's job gains, and lagging inventory among resale properties make this
market an ongoing bull's-eye.
Houston's ground is producing more than just black gold lately. The city's ground also pumped out 6,383 new-home closings in the first quarter of 2015, marking the 13th quarter of steady increase for this market. As a result, sales roar at a rate that's only bested by the area's 2009 numbers (when builders discounted prices to dump inventories).
With increasingly high starts and development rates that are just now showing signs of catching up, builders spar over suitable lots and labor providers, while also contending with higher material costs. Nonetheless, with the first quarter of 2015 delivering roughly 1,000 more new lots than starts, lagging inventories among resale properties and rental rates rising in the region, builders continue to show confidence by putting up 6,655 starts in the first quarter of 2015, a slight increase over fourth quarter 2014. Add to that an unemployment rate that fell by nearly a full percentage point over the past year and this market proves it isn't phased by lower oil prices.
See complete Houston market data >
2: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas
Total new-home closings: 19,719
Population: 6,954,330
The good: One of the hottest job markets in the nation outweighs the area's lot
constraints.
The bad: Inflated prices force buyers out of choice areas, with no added
inventory in sight.
The bottom line: Lot shortages in key areas spur growth in outer submarkets,
keeping these areas on top.
While the Dallas-Fort Worth area has been plagued by new-home starts exceeding incoming lots since 2008, in mid-2014 the area posted a rebound—to the tune of a 63% increase in incoming lots over the same quarter in 2013. Unfortunately, the bulk of those newly available building sites aren't within the most desirable areas, which account for 75% of demand. But that hasn't stopped new-home buyers from pursuing homes in the area's farther out submarkets.
Increased competition for lots has forced median prices for new homes up by as much as 24% recently. That's beyond the reach of some buyers, steering them toward the resale market. However, one of the strongest job markets in the nation and unemployment levels that dropped by 1.2% year over year in March from 2014 to 2015 keeps buyers flowing into the region, making this a strong market for the foreseeable future.
See complete Dallas market data >
3: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia
Total new-home closings: 12,161
Population: 5,614,323
The good: Nearly 3% year-over-year job growth keeps starts high and vacancies low.
The bad: An expanding labor force outpaces the economy, keeping unemployment
relatively high.
The bottom line: With median new-home prices increasing year over
year for five straight years and spec houses sitting just 2.9 months on
average, this remains a good spot for breaking ground.
With net jobs increasing year over year and record employment levels striking the region, it comes as no surprise that America's eighth most populous metropolitan statistical area (and home to "the Beverly Hills of the East") boasts a strong buying stream for new homes. According to the latest available data, speculative homes sit vacant for just 2.9 months, on average, amid this robust market—well below the historical norm of 3.5 months for the region.
Atlanta ranks third highest for single-family building permits, as annual construction starts in the region increased by 18% and new-home closings jumped by 23% as of February 2014. At the same time, new-home prices marked their fifth consecutive year-over-year increase, rising 4% over a one-year period and clocking in at an average of $271,700. Those are numbers worth building on.
See complete Atlanta market data >
4: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Virginia-Maryland-West Virginia
Total new-home
closings: 11,035
Population: 6,033,737
The good: The housing market (in general) is low on inventory, while both the
number of employed and real estate prices are up.
The bad: While the number of employed people is up, ironically unemployment is
back to where it was in 2013 (above 5%); permits are down slightly.
The bottom line: With a housing market that closed out strong in
2014 and the federal government—plus 15 Fortune 500 companies—driving
employment, this market isn't expected to stall.
While the number of single-family permits dropped by 7% year over year in March 2015, gauging on the D.C.-area real estate market (in general), those numbers could rise in the face of low inventory and a market that closed out 2014 over the previous year across every indicator. Add to that median home prices reaching their highest December level ever in 2014 (at $408,000) and the number of employed people rising year over year in March 2015 to more than 3 million, and we expect a recipe that's spec home friendly, if you can find suitable lots to build on. With the federal government, defense contracting, and 15 Fortune 500 companies fueling annual mean wages of $64,930, this region should keep on trucking.
See complete Washinton D.C. market data >
5: Austin-Round Rock, Texas
Total new-home
closings: 9,724
Total
population: 1,943,299
The good: A growing population and workforce keep vacancies low and development
surging.
The bad: As developers struggle to keep pace with demand, lot prices increase,
conflicting with the sweet spot in the market that's around $200,000.
The bottom line: Even with signs of slowing in late 2014 and
builders facing labor and lot shortages, a briskly growing population and less
than two-month inventory among vacant units command attention.
Even though the Austin market displayed signs of possible slowing toward the end of 2014, a 16% year-over-year increase in permits in March 2015 proves that Austin remains a hot spot for more than just great music. Positive signs include a population that's grown by more than 200,000 since 2010, an unemployment rate that dropped by a full% year over year in March 2015, and a 1.8% increase among total civilian employees. Difficulties include a sweet spot in demand among entry-level homes (around $200,000) challenged by increasing lot prices, as developers struggle to keep pace with demand. That said, even as the number of vacant lots rose in the final months of 2014, those numbers equated to just a 1.7-month level of inventory, making this a sellers' market for spec homes.
See complete Austin market data >
6: Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona
Total new-home
closings: 9,687
Population:
4,489,109
The good: The Southeast Valley fuels 40% of total starts, which clocked in at a
26.8% increase in the first quarter of 2015 compared with the first quarter of
2014.
The bad: New streets lead to plenty of empty subdivisions, as lot production
outpaces demand.
The bottom line: Phoenix marks a prime spot to pick up lots, but it's
currently a market to enter with some trepidation, as the market is slowing.
A red flag rose over Phoenix as the real estate market showed signs of contraction in March-April 2014. In the fourth quarter of 2015, starts slowed to the tune of 14% year over year, as MLS numbers showed the average days on market among all listings slowly exceeding 90-day listing agreements. For now, a large selection of new lots, an enticing market surrounding Silicon Valley, and increases in employment in the region may be the impetus behind an increase of 25% year over year among building permits in March 2015. No doubt, the Southeast Valley remains the place to be, where starts were up by 26.8% in first quarter of 2015, compared with the first quarter of 2014, proving that by picking the right locations, this market is still plenty viable.
See complete Phoenix market data >
7: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida
Total new-home
closings: 9,210
Population:
5,929,819
The good: New home prices have climbed steadily, along with builder confidence in
the region.
The bad: Attached units are coming on strong, claiming 43.2% of the total market
as of January 2015. After what happened in the last condo boom, that's cause
for concern.
The bottom line: While the trend may be toward smaller, attached
units (the condo market is booming in Miami), if 2014 and early 2015 numbers
say anything, it's that there's still room for builders in Miami.
After a robust closing to 2014—with a 31.6% year-over-year increase among new-home closings in December—the Miami market leveled in January to levels barely above the previous year. March's permits, however, paint a different picture for mid-2015, marking a 30% year-over-year increase among single-family dwellings. Before you draw up blueprints for this region, it's worth noting that the average footprint for new homes fell 35.9% year over year in January 2015, to 1,709 square feet, which can be attributed to the increase in condos. At the same time, you may not have to draw down profits, as prices have risen steadily year over year to $180 per square foot. For builders, there's more than sunshine and nightlife to be enjoyed in Miami.
See complete Miami market data >
8: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina, South Carolina
Total new-home
closings: 8,233
Population:
2,380,314
The good: Year over year, foreclosures are clearing out,
along with REO sales.
The bad: New-home sales are under pressure from record-low lot inventories
in 2014, as well as some market gains among attached dwellings.
The bottom line: With 964 active subdivisions, there are plenty of
opportunities for building, which is proved by a 12% increase in permits year
over year in March 2015.
The year 2014 proved dynamic for new-home sales in Charlotte, with all around increases occurring in both starts and closings through the second quarter, when closings registered 19.3% higher year over year. In September, however, new-home closings registered 4.7% lower than the year prior, while October placed even more of a cool down on closings—to the tune of a 15.2% year-over-year decrease. Record-low numbers among available lots, which hit all-time lows in the first half of 2014, fueled those changes to some degree. Combined with shortages in both new and existing homes in 2014, new-home prices moved upward, with September 2014 registering a 12.9% increase year over year. Nonetheless, single-family permits that increased 12% year over year in March 2015 prove that—though a bit volatile—Charlotte's still moving.
See complete Charlotte market data >
9: San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas
Total new-home
closings: 8,005
Population: 2,328,652
The good: Job growth is at a 10-year high, steadily fueling the need for new
housing.
The bad: Builders' abilities to produce homes priced in the sweet spot (around
$200,000) have steadily plummeted from 51% to 33% market share over a three-year
period.
The bottom line: With 2014 closing out strong and the first quarter
of 2015 hinting at another great year, San Antonio remains a great place to
break ground while the job market is growing.
There's no time for river walks among San Antonio builders as the employment market sets decade-long records at an average of 28,500 new jobs per year—steadily fueling the demand for new homes. Meanwhile, single-family detached homes remain San Antonian's preference, locking down around 87% of the market. The recipe is great for builders, who posted the highest level of single-family starts since 2007 and the highest number of closings since 2008 in the third quarter of 2014. And while quarter-over-quarter annual starts flattened in the first quarter of 2015, this may be attributed partly to rainfall. That said, even with washed out lots, first quarter 2015 starts posted an 8.8% improvement year over year, to the tune of 752 additional units, with home closings also besting first quarter 2014 levels. The remainder of the year could match or beat new records, as builders dry out and play catch-up.
See complete San Antonio market data >
10: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida
Total new-home
closings: 7,705
Population: 2,321,418
The good: Larger homes push average sales prices upward.
The bad: Attached units and REO/foreclosures claim their shares of the market
and contractions linger over from 2013 and 2014.
The bottom line: Even showing declines, Orlando proves that markets
need not be in an upward trend to produce results for builders.
The brightest skies for Orlando's new single-family homes market hinge on staving off market encroachments by attached units, which grabbed 3.8% share year over year in February 2015. REOs and foreclosures, at that time, registered 46.5% share of the total market. Builders in Orlando have learned to ride the bumps, including initial signs of contraction arriving in fourth quarter of 2014, bringing on drop offs in new-home closings of 25.4% year over year in February 2015. That said, this sunny town registered 7,472 new homes sold over the following 12-month period—down from the year prior, but proving that a good market in decline still trumps those that are mediocre. In March, single-family permits rose by 10% year over year.
See complete Orlando market data >
Don't forget to also check out BUILDER'S 2015 Local Leaders