Tulsa, Okla., September 14, 2026 – After a slower start to the year, Tulsa-area homebuilding is showing renewed momentum as 2026 moves into its final months.

Builders started 205 new homes across the Tulsa area in August, bringing the region’s year-to-date total to 1,800 housing starts, according to the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa.

While the year-to-date pace remains below 2025, recent activity points to a stronger second half of the year. Builders started 572 homes in July and August combined, an increase of about 17% from the same two-month period in 2025.

August’s 205 starts were just 4.2% below the 214 homes started in August 2025, a significant improvement from the larger year-over-year declines recorded during several months earlier in 2026.

“The first half of the year was slower than we would have liked, but we’re seeing encouraging signs in the most recent numbers,” said Jeffrey Smith, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater Tulsa.  “Builders continue to respond to the needs of our growing region, and the strength we’ve seen in July and August gives us reason to be encouraged as we head into the final months of the year.”

Broken Arrow Leads August Activity

Broken Arrow continued to lead the region in new-home construction, with 65 housing starts in August and 447 starts year-to-date.

Tulsa followed with 30 August starts, while Bixby recorded 22 and Coweta recorded 19.

Other communities reporting August activity included Sapulpa with 12 starts, Jenks with six, Rogers County with seven, Wagoner County with five, Owasso with four, and Sand Springs with three.

Activity in several key communities continues to reflect demand for new housing throughout the Tulsa metropolitan area.

A Stronger Second Half

The August numbers are particularly notable when viewed alongside July’s activity.

Builders recorded 367 starts in July 2026, compared with 275 in July 2025. Combined with August’s 205 starts, the region recorded 572 starts during July and August, compared with 489 during the same period last year.

That improvement follows a slower first half of 2026.

Through August, the Tulsa area has recorded 1,800 new housing starts, compared with 2,303 during the same period in 2025 and 2,058 in 2024.

The latest figures suggest that while the region’s overall construction pace has not yet returned to previous-year levels, the most recent months are showing a stronger pace of activity heading into fall.