David Weekley Homes24 active communitiesVSHighland Homes16 active communities
Employee-Owned Architecture vs. Family-Centric LifeDesign
A marquee Texas semi-custom matchup between two builders renowned for customer satisfaction.
The Real Bottom Line
This matchup pits two customer-first builders against each other. Highland Homes wins on dramatic exterior architecture, high roof pitches, and statement kitchen islands. David Weekley Homes wins on interior livability, creative family spaces (like children’s retreats), and guaranteed energy performance.
- ✓You have school-age children and want dedicated kids’ retreats or upstairs study stations.
- ✓You value David Weekley’s heating/cooling energy usage guarantee.
- ✓You prefer an approachable transitional design with bright, flowing interior spaces.
- ✓You want dramatic exterior curb appeal with steep gables, painted brick, and black window accents.
- ✓You want an oversized kitchen island and open entertaining layout.
- ✓You prefer working with an employee-owned company where the field crew has direct equity in build quality.
Base Price vs. Real All-In Cost ($500k–$700k+)
Builder sticker prices on listing sites represent bare base floor plans on standard non-premium lots. Here is what buyers actually spend after design studio upgrades and lot selection:
Standard 55ft–65ft lots: $15,000 – $45,000; premium water/reserve lots: $50,000 – $95,000. Highland homes generally run $15k–$30k higher for comparable square footage due to heavier roof framing, brick/stone masonry volume, and en-suite secondary bathrooms.
Floor Plan Philosophy & Elevations
David Weekley Homes
Transitional modern, casual elegance, expansive front porches.
Highland Homes
Modern Texas Hill Country, Nordic farmhouse, dramatic architectural rooflines.
- Highland puts private en-suite bathrooms in secondary bedrooms on most 55ft+ plans.
- Weekley offers dedicated "Retreat" flex rooms nestled between secondary bedrooms.
- Highland’s standard kitchen island is one of the largest in production homebuilding.
Construction Standards & HERS Ratings
Both feature R-38 blown attic insulation, radiant barriers, and airtight building gaskets.
16 SEER2 high-efficiency multi-stage cooling systems with Wi-Fi smart controls.
Advanced Low-E3 vinyl windows.
Both rank among the top 5 builders in Texas for construction consistency and pre-drywall quality control.
Texas 1-2-10 Workmanship & Settlement Coverage
David Weekley Homes Warranty
1-Year comprehensive warranty with formal energy performance guarantee.
Highland Homes Warranty
1-Year comprehensive warranty backed by employee-owner responsiveness.
Customer Care Performance: Both builders enjoy exceptionally high word-of-mouth referral rates and minimal warranty disputes. Both builders back mechanical distribution for 2 years and foundation structures for 10 years.
In-House Lender Rate Buydowns & Closing Credits
Typical Promotional Concessions: $20,000 – $35,000 towards rate buydowns or design center credits. Aggressive forward commitments offering below-market 30-year fixed rates on inventory specs.
Watch Out For These 3 Cost Triggers Before You Sign:
- Lot Size Parity: Compare lot sizes carefully. Highland frequently builds on 55ft, 60ft, and 65ft lots, while Weekley may offer 50ft and 60ft footprints.
- Ceiling Beam Pricing: Adding decorative ceiling beams at the Highland design center can cost $5,000–$12,000.
- Model Home Illusion: Weekley’s model homes feature heavy built-in cabinetry that is not included in base pricing.
Tour Both Builders in 11 Same Communities
These master-planned communities have model home parks featuring both David Weekley Homes and Highland Homes side-by-side:
All David Weekley Homes Neighborhoods (24)
All Highland Homes Neighborhoods (16)
Frequently Asked Questions: David Weekley Homes vs. Highland Homes
Touring David Weekley Homes and Highland Homes this week?
Never walk into a builder model home unrepresented. We uncover hidden lot premiums, unadvertised rate buydown inventory, and structural upgrade markups before you sign.