Houston ranked first in the nation for single-family building permits in 2024, said Lawrence Dean, president of Community Builders Advisory Services, at the Greater Houston Builder Association’s Annual Economic Forecast on Jan. 28.

The gist

The Greater Houston Builder’s Association hosted the economic forecast, where Dean was featured as the keynote speaker and introduced by Houston Mayor John Whitmire. The GHBA is a Houston organization that advocates and provides services for home builders in the area, according to its website.

Other Texas cities also ranked high for single-family building permits, Dean said, as:

• the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area ranked second
• the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area ranked sixth
• the San Antonio-New Braunfels area ranked 17th

Dean said he believes the 2025 housing market will remain competitive. He said 42% of Houston’s population is between the ages of 25-54—the age group most likely to buy homes—and that percentage will continue to grow.

Also of note

Dean said builders are increasingly moving further and further out for more affordable opportunities as well as land availability.

Last October at a Katy Area Economic Development Council meeting, Houston-area developers said they were focusing on Waller County, located near the outskirts of Katy, as that area continues to grow, Community Impact previously reported.

Quote of note

“[Houston is] open to business,” Whitmire said. “We have a great city, and we’re moving in the right direction.”