As reported in last week’s Texas Residential Construction Report – August 2025, there were more than 5,750 new residential construction permits with a total value in excess of $1.96 billion added to the HBW database for Texas. This volume underscores the sustained strength of the state’s housing market, with steady demand fueling activity across all four major metro regions.
This week, we take a closer look at the leading home builders driving that momentum. Rankings are based on the total number of new residential construction permits pulled during August 2025 in the four metro areas of Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio.
Houston
In Houston, nearly 295 home builders were active in August. The top five by total permits reflect a mix of national giants and strong regional players:
- Lennar Homes – 445 permits | $103.6M total value | Avg. value: $232.8k
- D.R. Horton – 227 permits | $49.4M total value | Avg. value: $217.5k
- David Weekley Homes – 132 permits | $42.8M total value | Avg. value: $323.9k
- Perry Homes – 114 permits | $43.4M total value | Avg. value: $380.9k
- Taylor Morrison Homes – 84 permits | $21.1M total value | Avg. value: $251.5k
Houston continues to be dominated by high-volume production builders, with Lennar maintaining a significant lead in total permits. Perry Homes and David Weekley stand out for their higher average construction values, signaling a concentration in the mid-to-upper market segment.
Dallas
In Dallas, more than 230 builders were active. The top five reveal a competitive field where Lennar and D.R. Horton continue their leadership positions:
- Lennar Homes – 226 permits | $69.8M total value | Avg. value: $308.9k
- D.R. Horton – 203 permits | $60.6M total value | Avg. value: $298.8k
- Permit Office Withheld – 117 permits | $29.9M total value | Avg. value: $255.7k
- Texas Homes – 82 permits | $40.4M total value | Avg. value: $492.6k
- David Weekley Homes – 66 permits | $30.6M total value | Avg. value: $464.2k
Compared to Houston, Dallas builders reported higher average values, with Texas Homes and David Weekley pushing above $450k per start. The market here shows a blend of entry-level and move-up construction, balancing volume with higher-end developments.
Austin
Austin’s market activity involved nearly 110 builders, with the top five closely aligned in terms of total permit volume:
- Lennar Homes – 61 permits | $12.3M total value | Avg. value: $202.2k
- Taylor Morrison Homes – 56 permits | $41.2M total value | Avg. value: $735.7k
- KB Homes – 56 permits | $15.3M total value | Avg. value: $273.0k
- Starlight Homes Texas – 46 permits | $16.9M total value | Avg. value: $367.0k
- LCB Construction – 45 permits | $10.6M total value | Avg. value: $235.7k
Taylor Morrison’s average value of $735k clearly separates it from the field last month, reflecting luxury and high-end residential projects. Meanwhile, Lennar maintains the top spot in permit volume, reinforcing its statewide dominance.
San Antonio
In San Antonio, more than 70 builders were active, with KB Homes leading the region:
- KB Homes – 75 permits | $12.5M total value | Avg. value: $166.6k
- D.R. Horton – 69 permits | $15.3M total value | Avg. value: $222.4k
- Lennar Homes – 60 permits | $9.6M total value | Avg. value: $160.8k
- Chesmar Homes – 32 permits | $7.0M total value | Avg. value: $219.6k
- Perry Homes – 20 permits | $6.5M total value | Avg. value: $324.4k
The San Antonio market continues to skew toward entry-level and first-time homebuyer product, with average values well below those seen in Austin and Dallas. Perry Homes, however, reflects potentially a niche presence at higher price points.
In the monthly overview, it is evident that several national brands continue to dominate across all four major metro areas, with Lennar Homes standing out as the undisputed leader by ranking in the top three in every market and securing the highest permit volume statewide. D.R. Horton remains a close competitor, consistently placing within the top two in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, while KB Homes made a strong showing by leading the San Antonio market and earning a spot among Austin’s top five builders. Taylor Morrison also distinguished itself, with notable strength in both Houston and Austin. Meanwhile, David Weekley Homes continued to hold a solid mid-market position, securing rankings in Houston and Dallas and reinforcing its role as a consistent regional contender.
With more than 5,750 new residential permits and nearly $2 billion in value last month, Texas continues to be a national leader in new home construction. The performance of top builders across multiple markets not only highlights the strength of national firms like Lennar and D.R. Horton but also showcases the diversity of regional demand—from entry-level housing in San Antonio to some luxury developments in Austin.
For industry professionals, monitoring leading builders and their crossover activity provides valuable insight into both competitive dynamics and consumer demand shaping the Texas housing market.
To gain more information on the builders, homeowners and permits for the construction activity above, check out HBW for your copy of the latest construction data reports. To gain access to the HBW database and receive custom and detailed reports on the latest residential and commercial building activity in Florida, Georgia, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma, please contact HBW for details.