February 2017 Reports and March Preliminary Data

New titles finished stronger than the preliminary data suggested for February, with single-section homes coming in 34% above January and multi-section homes up 22%. The increase from the first month of the year to the second is a typical seasonal change. Compared to the same month in 2016, single-section homes were down 0.6% for February and multi-section homes were down 8%, but despite those year-over-year declines, January’s totals were revised up 94 units putting 2017 ahead of 2016s pace at this point last year by 2%.

Regionally, Bexar (57.7%), Dallas (460%) and Liberty (75%) counties landed in the top five for February installs and outpaced the 28.5% seasonal increase the state as a whole saw. Looking at the annual totals for each county the top five counties are actually tracking below their 2016 totals from a year ago, but Liberty (29.8%), Tarrant (30.6%), Dallas (90.6%) and Midland (25%) have all started the year with large gains and pulled into the bottom half of the top ten.

We had previously reported that we expected to see some gains in both Dallas and Tarrant county in 2017 and while the first few months are tracking well for that prediction, the bulk of the purchasing in those two counties thus far appear to be TMHA member and Annual Sponsor Yes! Communities placing the large inventory purchases that their COO, Steve Schaub said they had not placed a year ago while on the Leadership Panel at our 2016 Convention.

The preliminary data for March looks similar to what we were seeing for February a month ago, increases over the preceding month, but tracking behind 2016.