West has most new homes

Four of the five states with the largest percentage increases in housing units between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2003, are in the West, according to a recent U.S. Census Bureau report. Nevada led all states with a 13% increase in the number of homes during the 39-month period.

Following Nevada in new-home supply were Arizona, Colorado and Georgia (all about 9%) and Utah (8%). Nevada has had the highest annual rate of population growth for 17 consecutive years.

Texas added about half a million new homes to its housing inventory from 2000 to 2003 to lead the nation in numerical growth. These gains boosted Texas’ housing inventory to 8.7 million units in 2003.

Florida was a close second, adding 485,000 housing units for the period. Rounding out the top five in this category were California, up 442,000; Georgia, 295,000; and North Carolina, 257,000.

Los Angeles County had the largest total number of housing units in 2003, 3.3 million; followed by Cook County (Chicago), Ill., 2.1 million; and Maricopa County, Ariz., 1.4 million.