Report: Houston Leads Nation in New Building Permits

Report: Houston Leads Nation in New Building Permits

This newly constructed River Oaks home on Del Monte, which sold last month for $5.8 million, was one of nearly 50,000 homes permitted for construction in the Houston area in 2020, the most of any metro region in the country, per new data.

AS IF ANY more evidence were needed that the city's real estate market is on fire, Houston leads the nation in permits for building new homes. This is according to new research from a leading property search company.


Analyzing recently released data from the U.S. Census Bureau, NeighborWho says there were 49,915 permits issued in 2020 for new homes the Houston metro area, which also includes The Woodlands and Sugar Land. That represents an increase of 26.3 percent over 2019.

"The increase in single-family building permits in Houston indicates a need for more homes," said a NeighborWho rep, who adds that an increasing number of Houstonians is financially prepared to buy homes.

The Dallas metro was second on the list with 44,005 such permits, a 25.9 percent spike over the 2019. The Austin metro also made the top 10, with 22,570 permits, for an increase of 22.5 percent over the previous year.

Beyond the Lone Star State, Phoenix posted impressive gains. Their were 31,658 permits in the metro, for a jump of 26.5 percent over 2019's stats.

While Houston and other Texas cities appear to be exceptional, the home building boom is nationwide. "While the pandemic hit a number of industries hard in 2020, new housing starts for single-family homes increased nearly 14 percent compared to 2019, adding almost 1 million new homes to the U.S. market," said NeighborWho.

Other cities posting big numbers of new permits including Atlanta, Charlotte, Tampa, Nashville, Orlando and Washington D.C.

Home + Real Estate
Pelican Builders Welcome Residents To First New Upper Kirby Condo Offering In Years;
Boutique Midrise Adds To Pedestrian Appeal Of Sought-After, Inner Loop Neighborhood

WITH ITS INAUGURAL set of residents newly moved in, Pelican Builders’ mid-rise condominium Westmore at 2323 W Main Street in Upper Kirby is already seeing the blossoming of a tight-knit community. Designed by Houston-based Mirador Group the Westmore is the first new condominium product to be introduced to the in-demand, inner loop neighborhood in more than three years. And with remaining two-bedroom homes starting at $895,000, it’s a remarkable value for this increasingly pricey area, where condos can easily climb to several million dollars and more.

Keep Reading Show less
Home + Real Estate

photo by Chris Nguyen

THE OWNERS BEHIND two of the Heights' most beloved nightlife destinations are teaming up to bring the neighborhood a new hangout.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

AN ICONIC RESTAURANT space on West Gray, once home to La Griglia and a hopping patio scene, will soon be vivacious once again. In March, Goode Company will opens the fourth outpost of its popular Tex-Mex spot Goode Co. Kitchen & Cantina on West Gray at McDuffie.

Keep Reading Show less
Food