The Honest Comparison
Best New Home Builders in Austin
A buyer-side comparison of the metro's new-home builders by what actually matters: value, included features, design, luxury, energy efficiency, and who they are really for. Not a builder brochure, and not paid placement. Every pick links to a full, honest profile.
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How we compare them
There is no single best builder, only the best builder for your priority. These picks are grouped the way a buyer’s agent thinks about them: what each builder is genuinely good at, who they fit, and the honest watch-fors that builder brochures and portal lists leave out. Every builder here is a production builder, so an independent inspection and a check of the community’s all-in MUD or PID tax rate always apply. The full side-by-side is further down.
Best for value
The lowest all-in price on a brand-new home
D.R. Horton
Volume leaderAmerica's largest builder, and through its Express line, some of the lowest sticker prices in the metro. The give is standing inventory and DHI Mortgage financing, not the base price, so push on the spec home and the lender, inspect, and check the MUD rate in the farther-out communities.
Read the full profileLGI Homes
Turnkey entryFlat, non-negotiable pricing with appliances, landscaping, and blinds included, built to turn renters into owners at the lowest all-in cost. The tradeoff is zero customization, and the after-sale warranty service is worth vetting before you commit.
Read the full profileBest for included features
More home for the money in the move-up range
Perry Homes
Texas, family-ownedA Texas fixture since 1967, known for a higher standard-features baseline, so buyers reach the home they wanted with fewer paid upgrades. Base price holds firm; a represented buyer finds the give in the lot premium and the design center.
Read the full profileHighland Homes
Texas-onlyWell-liked floor plans and a polished design center, consistently in strong-school communities. A clear premium to the volume builders, but a reputation for consistent quality in the move-up tier.
Read the full profileBest for design and service
Flexibility and the follow-through after closing
Best for luxury
Personalization and premier lots
Toll Brothers
Luxury leaderThe country's best-known luxury builder, with deep design-studio personalization and dramatic Hill Country view lots, most visibly in Travisso. At this level the base price is only a starting point, so budget for the studio.
Read the full profileTaylor Morrison
Most trustedNamed America's Most Trusted homebuilder in buyer surveys for several years running, spanning move-up to genuine luxury with a design-led experience and its Canvas collections.
Read the full profileBest for energy efficiency
Lower monthly bills, not just a lower sticker
Best for multigenerational living
A home within the home
Best for 55-plus living
Active-adult, amenity-first communities
Best local Texas builder
Austin-focused, with local market knowledge
Pacesetter Homes
Austin-foundedLaunched in Austin in 2007 with more than 5,300 metro homes built, a dependable local option in flagship master plans like Easton Park and the net-zero Whisper Valley.
Read the full profileBrohn Homes
Value, regionalA Texas value builder focused on Austin and San Antonio, delivering attainable, move-in-ready homes in the fast-growing eastern and southern suburbs.
Read the full profileSide by side
Every major Austin builder, compared
Market tier, typical Austin price, what each is best known for, and the honest watch-for. Each links to the full buyer-side profile.
| Builder | Tier | Typical Austin price | Best known for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MileStone Community Builders | Local, entry level through luxury | high $200s to over $5 million | The widest price range of any builder working this metro, from the high $200,000s to above $5 million | The range is so wide that reviews and reputation from one price tier tell you very little about another; judge the community you are actually buying in |
| D.R. Horton | Volume / value | high $200s to mid $400s for Express and the core line, more for Emerald | Some of the lowest entry prices for brand-new homes anywhere in the metro | Value engineering shows: standardized finishes and limited structural flexibility versus a semi-custom builder |
| Perry Homes | Move-up | high $300s to $700s and up | Generous standard features, so buyers often report fewer must-have upgrades to reach the home they wanted | A fixed plan library means limited structural flexibility if you want to move walls |
| David Weekley Homes | Move-up / design | $400s to $900s and up | Flexible floor plans with genuine structural options, not just finish choices | Priced at a clear premium to the volume builders, so it is not the pick if lowest sticker is the goal |
| Highland Homes | Move-up | $350s to $700s and up | Attractive, functional floor plans that photograph and live well | Premium pricing relative to value and volume builders |
| Taylor Morrison | Move-up to luxury | $400s to well over $1M | A wide price and product range, from move-up to genuine luxury | Premium pricing at the upper lines, where options escalate quickly |
| Toll Brothers | Luxury | $700s to $2.5M and up | Extensive structural and finish personalization through the design studio | Luxury pricing where options and upgrades escalate fast; the base price is only a starting point |
| Lennar | Volume, value to move-up | high $200s to $500s, more in luxury sections | Everything's Included: popular features and appliances bundled as standard, not sold as upgrades | The flip side of Everything's Included is limited personalization; you take the package more than you shape it |
| Pulte Homes | Value, move-up, and 55-plus | high $200s (Centex) to $600s and up (Pulte), varies by brand | Three brands covering entry value, move-up, and 55-plus under one builder | Del Webb communities are age-restricted, so at least one resident must be 55 or older |
| Meritage Homes | Value to move-up, energy-focused | high $200s to $500s | Industry-leading standard energy efficiency: spray foam, efficient HVAC, and low HERS scores | It is still a volume builder, so construction quality tracks the local crew; inspect |
| Brohn Homes | Value | high $200s to low $400s | Attainable pricing at some of the lower new-construction price points in the metro | Value engineering at this price point, so compare finishes and inspect |
| Coventry Homes | Move-up | roughly $250s to $900s in Austin, more for custom | A wide Austin range under one brand, from value cottages to near-luxury move-up homes | As a high-volume production builder, quality tracks the local crew, so inspect |
| Dream Finders Homes | Value to move-up | roughly $250s to $600s in Austin | Explosive growth into a top national builder, named 2025 National Builder of the Year | A fast-growing, acquisitive builder, so the local team and service can vary; check recent buyer reviews for the specific community |
| DRB Homes | Value / first move-up | high $200s to low $400s in the Austin metro | Among the lowest new-home prices in the metro, concentrated in the value growth suburbs | A relatively new entrant to Austin, so its local track record here is shorter than the established Texas builders |
| LGI Homes | Entry-level / value | low $200s to low $400s in the Austin metro | Some of the lowest all-in entry prices in the metro, with appliances and landscaping included | No customization at all: you accept the builder's finishes, appliances, and floor plan as-is |
| Chesmar Homes | Move-up | high $200s to $600s in the Austin metro | A wide range of floor plans and sizes, from the high $200s to large move-up homes | A broad, value-oriented base finish, so design-center upgrades add up to reach a higher-end look |
| Pacesetter Homes | Value / move-up | high $250s to the $600s in the Austin metro | A deep Austin track record, with more than 5,300 metro homes built since 2007 | A value-oriented base finish, so upgrades add up to reach a higher-end look |
One agent’s buyer-side read of the current market; confirm today’s prices and offers with the builder. See the current builder incentives and the live market report.
Good to know
Best Austin builders, answered
- Who is the best home builder in Austin?
- There is no single best builder; it depends on your priority. For value, D.R. Horton and LGI Homes; for included features and quality in the move-up range, Perry Homes and Highland Homes; for design flexibility and service, David Weekley; for luxury, Toll Brothers and Taylor Morrison; for energy efficiency, Meritage; for multigenerational living, Lennar; and for 55-plus, Del Webb. The honest answer is the builder whose strengths match your budget, community, and how much you want to customize.
- What is the best value new home builder in Austin?
- For the lowest all-in price on a brand-new home, D.R. Horton (especially its Express line) and LGI Homes lead, with Brohn and DRB strong in the value suburbs. Just compare the true cost: value communities are often farther out with higher MUD tax rates, in-house lender incentives can hide a higher rate, and an independent inspection matters most at the value tier.
- Who builds the best luxury homes in Austin?
- Toll Brothers is the metro's marquee luxury builder, with deep personalization and premier Hill Country lots, and Taylor Morrison's upper lines compete closely. For fully custom lake and Hill Country estates, look to Lakeway, Lake Travis, and Dripping Springs builders.
- Which Austin builder is best for energy efficiency?
- Meritage Homes stakes its brand on energy efficiency more than any peer, with spray-foam insulation, efficient systems, and low HERS scores standard, and some homes solar and net-zero ready. Pacesetter's Whisper Valley homes and Highland's smart-home options are also worth a look. Always ask for the specific home's HERS score in writing.
- Are national or local builders better in Austin?
- Both can be good; the tradeoffs differ. National builders (D.R. Horton, Lennar, Pulte, Toll Brothers) bring scale, deep inventory, and in-house financing. Texas and Austin-focused builders (Perry, Highland, Pacesetter, Brohn, Chesmar) bring climate-tuned plans and local knowledge. With any production builder, an independent inspection and a check of the community's all-in tax rate matter.
- Does the builder pay my real estate agent?
- Yes, on new construction the builder pays the buyer-agent fee in most cases, disclosed in writing before you tour. The one rule that protects it is registering your agent on your first contact with the builder, so bring your representation before you visit a model or fill out an online form.
Related
Keep exploring
- 01Austin Home BuildersBuyer-side profiles of the metro's builders: who they fit, what to watch for, how to negotiate.
- 02Best New Construction CommunitiesAn honest, buyer-side ranking by value, schools, amenities, luxury, and commute.
- 03Austin New Construction Market ReportLive from the MLS: how many new homes are for sale, the median price and price per square foot, and the breakdown by suburb.
- 04New Homes by SuburbCompare new construction by Austin suburb: price, commute, taxes, and schools.
- 05Do You Need a Buyer's Agent?Why the builder's on-site agent is not on your side, and why the builder pays for your agent.
Builder-paid representation
Not sure which builder fits you?
Tell Luke your budget, must-haves, and how much you want to customize, and he will point you to the builders and communities that actually fit, with the honest tradeoffs, and represent you with the builder covering my fee in most cases (in writing before you tour).
Luke Allen
Licensed Texas REALTOR, TREC #788149
Austin Marketing + Development Group