There were 12,555 single-family residential building permits issued in Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties last year, up 21.4% from 2019, according to data from the Northeast Florida Builders Association. NEFBA President Keith Ward of Thomas May Construction said despite the pandemic, builders were as busy as ever in 2020. “COVID did not really slow down the construction business, commercial or residential, in Northeast Florida,” Ward said. NEFBA President Keith Ward “I think there is such a high demand for housing, especially in Northeast Florida, right now that we were able to keep moving forward.” With an influx of new residents to Northeast Florida during the pandemic, demand for housing is causing a low-inventory market. Homebuilders are helping to put new properties on the market.