How the Acres Home Builder Index Helps Retailers Choose the Right Markets

Traditional site selection, once based on word of mouth, foot traffic, or simple demographic data, is no longer enough. A single poor decision can drain millions from your balance sheet. But waiting too long means competitors will capture the best growth corridors first.

That’s why leading retailers are turning to the Acres Home Builder Index—a predictive tool that shows you where tomorrow’s consumers are moving before the market catches up.

The Risks of Outdated Retail Expansion Models

Retail expansion teams today grapple with multiple hurdles:

• Demographic uncertainty. Population shifts don’t follow old patterns. Growth is exploding in secondary markets, leaving traditional models blind.
  
  
• Market saturation. Expanding into the wrong neighborhood can mean competing for the same wallet share as half a dozen similar stores.
  
  
• Slow, costly permitting. Regulatory delays can stall store openings by months, costing hundreds of thousands in lost revenue.
  
  
• E-commerce disruption. Physical stores are starting to serve new roles, as fulfillment hubs and brand experiences, requiring smarter location planning.

The result? Many retailers expand reactively, chasing yesterday’s signals. That leaves them vulnerable to overpaying for sites, entering overserved markets, or missing out on new growth corridors entirely.

Get Ahead of Retail Demand—Years Before It Hits

Instead of waiting for census updates or retail demand studies, the Acres Home Builder Index gives retailers a forward-looking view into where the next wave of neighborhoods, infrastructure, and customers will be.

Here’s how it works:

• Early land signals. Track builder land buys years before homes are built, giving you advance visibility into future consumer bases.
  
  
• Entity unmasking. See through shell LLCs to identify which major builders are shaping growth in each region.
  
  
• Verified builder activity. Every land sale is tied to a builder, so you know demand isn’t rumored—it’s coming.
  
  
• Monthly expansion reports. Stay up to date on shifts in builder strategy, new market entries, and pinpoint emerging corridors before competitors move in.
  
  
• Layered site insights. Access zoning, utilities, infrastructure, and environmental overlays in one map-based platform.
  
  
• Reduce risk of oversaturation by avoiding stagnant or declining markets.

Builder Data That Puts Retailers Ahead of the Curve

Retail expansion is no longer just about finding a busy corner. It’s about predicting where demand will grow and positioning yourself ahead of competitors.

The Acres Home Builder Index turns land transactions into actionable market intelligence, giving retailers the clarity and foresight they need to expand with confidence.

See what others miss. Outsmart your competitors. Request a demo today.