Data compiled from city and county building departments by the Northeast Florida Builders Association for Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties show the greater Jacksonville area on track for another year of growth.
“Historically, we experience a dip at this time of the year,” said Jerry Linder, president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association and president of The Vintage Group. “We are just about even with last year, which turned out to be phenomenal in terms of growth.”
Linder said year-end 2005 total of 17,753 permits was more than double the total in 2000, when the area reported 7,487 permits for the year.
Clay and Nassau counties reported an increase in residential permits for single-family attached and detached products over January. Clay reported 134 permits issued in February compared to 115 in January, and Nassau reported 85 in February compared to 78 in January. Small declines were reported in Duval and St. Johns counties: Duval had 674 in February, 708 in January, and St. Johns issued 234 permits in February, 341 in January.
Overall, the permits were down slightly, 1,127 in February compared to 1,242 in January. Compared to last year, there was a difference of four permits fewer in February this year than in February 2005. With few exceptions, February has been the low point in the year for permits issued in the greater Jacksonville area.
Local analysts continue to have confidence in the Jacksonville market.
“Jacksonville is not like some of the markets where there is concern prices and demand will drop,” Linder said. “Demand for new homes is the dominant force in this market, and as the population grows, so will the need for more homes.”
Linder said he believes builders in the area have the diversity in their products required to meet the demand for housing in all price ranges, from affordable, entry-level homes to the high-end luxury homes. He also said single-family attached homes (condominiums and townhomes) are making strides in capturing first-time buyers.