Sunbelt Trio Leads the Way in New Housing

Three states -- Florida, Texas, and California -- were responsible for nearly a third of all the new dwellings built in 2005, according to the California Building Industry Association.Builders in the Sunshine State produced 287,250 units, including 209,162 single-family houses. Texas builders put up 210,611 units, of which 166,178 were single-family. In California, builders started 208,804 units, including 154,961 one-family dwellings. But it wasn't enough to meet the state's needs, the CBIA said, which is why California's ownership rate is the second-lowest in the country. Production in the Golden State wasn't evenly distributed, either. Of the 535 cities and counties in California that issued building permits in 2005, 6% accounted for half the approvals. Sixteen jurisdictions issued no building permits at all in 2005 for homes, condominiums, or apartments, the builder group reported. Fifteen places issued just one permit, and a handful of others issued five or less.