If you’re looking for a home in Texas, you’ll want to know the key players in new home construction. Thanks to exclusive data from Zonda Home, Livabl is sharing the top 10 builders in Houston, The Woodlands, and Sugar Land.
The Greater Houston area is the second fastest-growing metro in the U.S. Between July 2021 and July 2022, the nine-county Houston metro area, which includes The Woodlands and Sugar Land, added 125,000 residents to its population.
The region’s population now stands at 7.34 million, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data conducted by the Greater Houston Partnership. There are plenty of options for new homes in Greater Houston, and these ten builders share nearly 56 percent of the market.
2022 closings: 5,589
2022 market share: 15.6 percent
This Arlington-based builder knows Texas well. Founded in 1978 in Fort Worth, D.R. Horton is the biggest name in new homes and is active in 45 out of 50 major U.S. markets.
On Crown Gate Drive in Houston, buyers will find D.R. Horton’s community of City Gate.
This is a gated neighborhood with eight different floor plans to choose from. Sizes range from 1,288 to 2,389 square feet. Depending on the floor plan, there are one- and two-story models, with three to four bedrooms and two- to two-and-a-half bathrooms.
Check out Park’s Edge in Missouri City, just southeast of Sugar Land. This is a 300-acre master-planned community that will include six miles of walking trails, an activity room, meeting spaces, a recreation complex with a lap pool, waterslides, playscapes, and much more. Park’s Edge has 12 floor plans for home buyers to explore, ranging from 2,045 to 2,936 square feet.
You’ll find Spring and the D.R. Horton community of Breckenridge Forest, north of The Woodlands. A new phase is now open in this neighborhood. Breckenridge Forest offers a variety of single- and two-story floor plans ranging from 1,296 – 2.482 square feet, top-of-the-line standard features, stainless steel appliances, home automation, and many family-friendly amenities.
2. Lennar Corp.
2022 closings: 4,147
2022 market share: 11.6 percent
Lennar was founded in 1954 in Miami and is one of the biggest builders in the country.
To experience a luxury oasis in Houston, check out Lennar’s Balmoral. There are 14 floor plans to choose from in this master-planned community. Balmoral includes major vacation vibes with luxury amenities such as several beaches, an Olympic swimming pool, a 7,500 square-foot clubhouse, a lagoon equipped with cabanas, lounge chairs, and more, creating the ultimate residential getaway.
Harvest Green is Lennar’s community near Sugar Land. This is a single-family community located in Richmond with a swimming pool, community center, park, playground, and picnic area. Seven floor plans are available with sizes ranging from 2,386 to 3,126 square feet.
If you want to be near The Woodlands, try The Highlands in Porter. This is a master-planned community encompassing 3,200 acres. There are three neighborhoods to choose from: the Vista Collection, Wildflower IV and Brookstone Collections, and the Pinnacle Collection.
Homeowners will enjoy great onsite amenities in the community. The Highlands has a golf course, swimming pool, clubhouse, splash park, playground, and tennis court. There are 14 different floor plans ranging from 1,830 to 2,792 square feet.
3. Perry Homes
2022 closings: 1,655
2022 market share: 4.6 percent
If you’re looking for a local builder, check out Houston-based Perry Homes. This builder has been active since 1967, with over 90 communities and 65,000 homes constructed.
Thirteen miles north of The Woodlands, buyers will find The Woodlands Hills. This is a master-planned community with a wide array of amenities. Residents can enjoy Founders Park, a 17-acre park with leisure and fitness pools, a lazy river, a playground, a dog park, a fitness center, and tennis courts. The Woodland Hills will also have 20 neighborhood parks, an extensive trail system, and a dedicated bike lane.
Stonecreek Estates is located near Sugar Land in Richmond. This is a 500-acre master-planned community filled with outdoor family-fun amenities, including a resort-style swimming pool, playground, and scenic walking/biking trails. There are 19 floor plans available, ranging from 2,500 to 3,800 square feet.
If you want to be near Houston, check out The Groves in Humble. This community is close to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Lake Houston, and many shopping, dining, recreational, and employment opportunities. These new homes for sale in the Humble Independent School District will have an onsite elementary school and onsite middle school. Community amenities include a resort-style pool, parks, playgrounds, and natural reserves.
2022 closings: 1,543
2022 market share: 4.3 percent
Meritage Homes is based out of Scottsdale, Arizona, and is active in ten states. Meritage has plenty of options throughout its 30 communities in the Greater Houston area.
Webercrest Heights is one of Meritage Home’s options in Houston. This is a single-family community made up of two-story homes. Floor plans range from three- to four-bedroom options with two-and-a-half bathrooms and two-car garages.
For an option near Sugar Land, try Mandola Farms in Richmond. Seven floor plans are available, with sizes from 1,831 to 2,991 square feet. Depending on the model, there are three to five bedrooms and two to four bathrooms.
As for The Woodlands, Meritage has plenty of choices in the area. Harper’s Preserve – Traditional Series is in Conroe. Harper’s Preserve is a gated master-planned community that features an onsite local elementary school, grocery store, nearby restaurants, and shopping.
2022 closings: 1.277
2022 market share: 3.6 percent
Taylor Morrison is another Scottsdale-based builder with a significant presence in greater Houston.
In East Houston, buyers will find Morgan’s Landing in La Porte. Sizes range from 1,532 to 2,541 square feet with three to five bedrooms and two to four bathrooms, depending on the floor plan. Residents can enjoy a resort-style pool with a cabana, playground, two dog parks, a fitness center, and much more.
West of The Woodlands, Taylor Morrison is building Raburn Reserve in Tomball. This is a community of single-family homes. These one- and two-story homes have open-concept designs and flexible space so homeowners can maximize their use of the square footage.
In Sugar Land, Taylor Morrison has three different communities to choose from. Arcadia is coming soon to the area. Located in Missouri City, Arcadia will have lots of shopping, dining, and entertainment options only minutes away.
5. PulteGroup
2022 closings: 1,277
2022 market share: 3.6 percent
Tied with Taylor Morrison in the greater Houston market is PulteGroup. The Atlanta-based builder also has plenty of options in the area.
Forbes Crossing is in south Houston. There are two different neighborhoods in this single-family community: Villages and Arbors. Depending on the model, floor plans range from three to four bedrooms with two to three bathrooms. Neighborhood features include quick access to downtown and the Port of Houston, green spaces, and nearby parks and recreation.
If you want to be near The Woodlands, try Mavera in Conroe. Mavera is a vibrant master-planned community with great amenities, such as a resort-style pool, community pavilion, walking trails, and pocket parks. These single-family homes range in size from 1,628 to 3,265 square feet.
Just southwest of Sugar Land is Arabella on the Prairie. This new community will have 18 home designs and resort-style amenities, such as a pool, splash pad, sports courts, and event lawn. Sizes will range from 1,532 to 2,911 square feet.
7. Legend Homes
2022 closings: 1,180
2022 market share: 3.3 percent
Another local builder to make the list is Houston-based Legend Homes.
For a location in The Woodlands, Legend Homes is building Walden on Lake Conroe in Montgomery. This community is less than a minute’s drive from the 21,000-acre lake. Plus, residents will have access to a privately owned golf course, tennis facility, swimming pools, bike trails, children’s playgrounds, and more.
Charleston Heights is located south of Sugar Land. You’ll find this community near Pearland, with eight floor plans to explore. This neighborhood has everything homebuyers need to be comfortable in the Houston metro, featuring modern craftsman-designed homes, quick access to 288, easy commutes to Texas Medical Center, and proximity to Pearland Town Center.
West of Houston in the city of Katy is Camillo Lakes. Depending on the model, this community has four different floor plans, with three to four bedrooms and two to two-and-a-half bathrooms. There are lakes located throughout the neighborhood, and Camillo Lakes has its resort-style pool.
2022 closings: 1,085
2022 market share: 3 percent
Century Communities is based out of Englewood, Colorado. While it doesn’t have any communities near Houston or Sugar Land, it has plenty of options in The Woodlands for homebuyers.
Fairway Farms is in Tomball, and there are a total of 120 homes making up this single-family neighborhood. There are six floor plans ranging from 1,582 to 3,075 square feet. Conveniently situated northwest of Houston—near Highway 99 and Highway 249—Fairway Farms provides easy access to regional economic and cultural hotspots across the Houston metro area.
You’ll find Lakes at Black Oak in Magnolia. Amenities in this single-family neighborhood include walking trails around the lake, a year-round splash pad, a playground, a mini-soccer field, and an open-air pavilion with seating. There are six floor plans ranging from 1,388 to 2,439 square feet.
Crown Point is Century Communities’ most northern neighborhood. Buyers can find this community in Huntsville. Residents will enjoy all the outdoor recreation opportunities at the popular Huntsville State Park—including a 210-acre lake, fishing, water sports, horseback riding, and miles of trails. Crown Point has seven floor plans ranging from 1,200 to 2,014 square feet.
2022 closings: 1,014
2022 market share: 2.8 percent
The third local builder on the list has been active since 1997 and has communities scattered throughout greater Houston.
If you want to live in the city, explore Grand Oaks – The Crossing. Located in West Houston, the new community of Grand Oaks – The Crossing is an exclusive section of the master-planned neighborhood. Surrounded by green spaces, Grand Oaks features walking trails, an Olympic-size swimming pool with water slides, a pool for children, and an excellent playground.
For homes near The Woodlands, there’s Bradbury Forest in Spring. There are 17 floor plans ranging from 2,046 to 4,023 square feet. Spring is home to over 50,000 residents who enjoy easy access to plenty of popular bars, cafes and restaurants, major shopping centers, local parks, dog parks, and entertainment venues. Local amenities include Cypresswood Golf Club, the Spring Creek Greenway, and The Spring Trails Preserve.
Fresno is close to Sugar Land, where you’ll find Winfield Lakes. This single-family neighborhood has lots to offer, with lakes, trails, gazebos, a clubhouse, a pool, and much more. There are seven floor plans, and depending on the model, there are three or four bedrooms and two or two-and-a-half bathrooms.
10. KB Home
2022 closings: 1,007
2022 market share: 2.8 percent
KB Home is based in Los Angeles and has been building for 65 years. The company is active in nine states, including Texas.
If you want to live in Houston, you should check out Lakewood Pines Reserve, located on the western shores of Lake Houston. There are 12 floor plans in this single-family neighborhood. There’s a community park, pavilion, pond, lake fountain, pool, and recreation center.
Like D.R. Horton, KB Homes is also building in Breckenridge Forest in Spring. This is the perfect place to be close to The Woodlands. Breckenridge Forest has nine different floor plans and a wealth of amenities, including a splash pool, community park, playground, and community pool.
KB Homes’ Olympia Falls should fit the bill for buyers looking to live near Sugar Land. This family-friendly community is zoned for the highly-rated Fort Bend independent school district. Find plenty of shopping and entertainment nearby at Riverstone Shopping Center, Missouri City Shopping Center, First Colony Mall, and the Pearland Town Center.
