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
What’s the Secret to Biz Success? ‘Show Up with Kindness,’ Says Bianca Bucaram

How did you get to where you are today? Passion, persistence, and faith, and a little bit of luck. I graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Political Science and Spanish, on the track to be pre-med. Little did I know that a journey to help my younger sister would set my course to sail in PR. I had no background in communication, except my raw talent, and was fortunate enough to have a family member who needed her story to be told! I was helping tell my younger sister (one of the most recognized influencers in the online vegan community) @fullyrawkristina’s story, and it all blossomed from there.

Keep Reading Show less

The shiny new Dr. Jack Express electric locomotive

JUST IN TIME for a long weekend — and a teeny reprieve from triple-digit temps — Hermann Park Conservancy has announced it will offer free train rides from Aug. 31-Sept. 6 to celebrate a pair of new locomotives.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places

Refreshing bites at Bloom & Bee; the famous French onion soup at Artisans (photo by Shane Dante)

THIS SUMMER HAS been uniquely brutal for the hospitality industry, with devastating losses from the derecho and Beryl. But a bright spot for many has been Houston Restaurant Weeks, the annual August event that gives foodies and restaurants alike a jolt of energy.

Keep Reading Show less
Food