Market | Pop. (thousands) | Permits | Starts/1,000 |
1. Naples, Fla. | 266 | 8,158 | 30.7 |
2. Fort Myers, Fla. | 462 | 10,959 | 23.7 |
3. Greeley, Colo. | 195 | 4,301 | 22.1 |
4. Myrtle Beach, S.C. | 202 | 4,268 | 21.1 |
5. Las Vegas | 1,661 | 31,938 | 19.2 |
6. Wilmington, N.C. | 241 | 4,563 | 19.0 |
7. Sarasota, Fla. | 610 | 9,648 | 15.8 |
8. Raleigh, N.C. | 1,232 | 19,371 | 15.7 |
9. Atlanta | 4,263 | 65,268 | 15.3 |
10. Charlotte, N.C. | 1,545 | 22,419 | 14.5 |
11. Punta Gorda, Fla. | 147 | 2,126 | 14.5 |
12. Boise, Idaho | 452 | 6,517 | 14.4 |
13. Fort Collins, Colo. | 259 | 3,664 | 14.1 |
14. Reno, Nev. | 353 | 4,926 | 13.9 |
15. Orlando, Fla. | 1,707 | 23,319 | 13.7 |
16. Phoenix | 3,384 | 46,100 | 13.6 |
17. Greenville, S.C. | 135 | 1,838 | 13.6 |
18. Austin, Texas | 1,313 | 17,814 | 13.6 |
19. Colorado Springs, Colo. | 533 | 7,116 | 13.3 |
20. Sioux Falls, S.D. | 177 | 2,329 | 13.2 |
NAHB economists rank housing markets for hotness by comparing residential building permit data with population numbers. Among these top 20 markets based on 2001 data, the first thing that jumps out is the number of smaller markets. The boonies really are booming. Who would think of Sioux Falls or Greeley as the land of opportunity? Southwest Florida is a hotbed with three of the top seven markets and four of the top 11. Baby boomers approaching retirement could have something to do with that. Colorado markets were jumping last year, with three on the list (and Denver poised on the edge at No. 21). However, those markets have slowed considerably this year. The Carolinas also look strong with five on the list.
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