According to the latest HBW residential construction permit data, there were 5,468 new permits recorded for the Lone Star State last month—representing nearly $1.8 billion in total construction value. For anyone in the industry, that’s not just arbitrary numbers; rather it is a pulse check on demand, competition, and where the big players are flexing their market muscle.
Today, we will be drilling into the top builders across Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio, focusing on the top five performers in each region. Here’s a brief tour through the July 2026 leaderboard:
Houston
Houston continues to behave like the overachiever of Texas metros, posting the highest permit totals and showcasing a familiar trio of statewide titans.
Top 5 Builders – Houston
- Lennar Homes – 317 permits | $79.1M total value | Avg. $249.6K
- D.R. Horton – 238 permits | $69.8M total value | Avg. $293.1K
- Perry Homes – 182 permits | $55.2M total value | Avg. $303.5K
- David Weekley Homes – 110 permits | $33.7M total value | Avg. $306.4K
- Westin Homes – 94 permits | $28.3M total value | Avg. $300.7K
Houston’s top three—Lennar Homes, D.R. Horton, and Perry Homes—mirror the statewide ranking, and each posted triple‑digit permit counts. Lennar led the pack with a commanding 317 permits, while Perry Homes edged out the top three competitors with a higher average construction value.
Dallas
Dallas is where the permit counts tighten a bit and the average values climb. It is also where Bloomfield Homes casually drops an average value north of $465K, proving once again that the Metroplex operates with its own unique market cadence.
Top 5 Builders – Dallas
- D.R. Horton – 173 permits | $50.3M total value | Avg. $290.8K
- Trophy Signature Homes – 102 permits | $31.9M total value | Avg. $312.9K
- LGI Homes – 99 permits | $28.7M total value | Avg. $289.9K
- Lennar Homes – 97 permits | $29.6M total value | Avg. $305.0K
- Bloomfield Homes – 83 permits | $38.7M total value | Avg. $465.8K
Although Perry Homes didn’t crack the top five here, their 44 permits still contribute meaningfully to their statewide footprint. Dallas is also the only region where Lennar Homes didn’t take the top spot; instead, D.R. Horton claimed it with 173 permits, reinforcing their statewide strength.
Austin
In the Austin area permit volume was lower than Houston or Dallas, but the competition is no less fierce. Lennar Homes led again, while Taylor Morrison posted one of the higher average values of statewide leaders.
Top 5 Builders – Austin
- Lennar Homes – 67 permits | $16.5M total value | Avg. $246.1K
- Taylor Morrison Homes – 64 permits | $24.2M total value | Avg. $378.6K
- Starlight Homes Texas – 45 permits | $13.0M total value | Avg. $288.1K
- David Weekley Homes – 37 permits | $11.5M total value | Avg. $310.8K
- Perry Homes – 36 permits | $13.7M total value | Avg. $381.4K
Worth noting: D.R. Horton, despite not landing in the top five, still added 33 permits to its statewide total.
San Antonio
San Antonio’s top builders show a mix of national giants and regional players, with Lennar Homes once again leading the charge.
Top 5 Builders – San Antonio
- Lennar Homes – 101 permits | $26.8M total value | Avg. $265.8K
- Perry Homes – 58 permits | $18.2M total value | Avg. $314.4K
- Continental Homes of Texas – 31 permits | $8.5M total value | Avg. $274.3K
- First American Homes – 21 permits | $5.7M total value | Avg. $272.1K
- D.R. Horton – 18 permits | $4.0M total value | Avg. $222.8K
San Antonio is the only region where D.R. Horton landed in fifth place—an unusual sight, but a reminder that even the biggest builders have markets where they play a more modest hand.
Statewide Leaders: The Big Three
When you combine all four metros, the statewide podium is clear:
- Lennar Homes (582 permits) is the undisputed leader, appearing in the top five in every metro and leading three of the four.
- D.R. Horton (462 permits) remains a powerhouse, topping Dallas and contributing strong numbers across the state.
- Perry Homes (320 permits) continues to shine in the higher‑value segment, landing in the top five in three metros and posting some of the strongest average values of the leading builders statewide.
Highest average values (regional standouts):
- Bloomfield Homes (Dallas) – Avg. $465.8K
- Perry Homes (Austin) – Avg. $381.4K
- Taylor Morrison (Austin) – Avg. $378.6K
These leading builders are operating at higher price points than some of the other builders in the top five, signaling strong demand for mid‑to‑upper‑tier homes in their respective markets.
When properly applied, permit data is the construction industry’s version of a crystal ball — except it actually works. The latest figures for July point to strong statewide demand, with Houston and Dallas leading the charge, while higher‑value construction continues to cluster in Austin and parts of the Dallas metro. Lennar Homes, D.R. Horton, and Perry Homes remain the dominant forces across Texas, but mid‑tier builders like Trophy Signature, LGI, Bloomfield, and Continental Homes are keeping the competition lively and the market dynamic.
For builders, subcontractors, suppliers, and land developers, this level of data is invaluable. It can assist in forecasting labor needs, anticipating price shifts, and understanding where competitive pressure is likely to intensify. And for anyone bidding against Lennar Homes or D.R. Horton, it is a clear signal to bring your A‑game.
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.