Inside the Award Winning Builder Quietly Taking Over South Austin
Inside the Award-Winning Builder Quietly Taking Over South Austin
Quick Answer: The award-winning builder taking over South Austin right now is Highland Homes, a Texas-founded, employee-owned builder operating in Easton Park (78744) and 6 Creeks in Kyle (78640). They have won People's Choice Builder of the Year ten times, currently rank as the sixth-largest private builder in the country, and are known for semicustom design, responsive warranty service, and strong resale value.
By Brandon Holley, Broker/Owner, Holley Homes Realty
If you would rather watch than read, the full video is right above.
Why I Keep Recommending This Award-Winning Builder to Relocators
Next week, I am sitting at a closing table in South Austin with a family who started out renting in Easton Park after moving from California. After a few months walking the trails, hitting food truck nights, and watching the neighborhood happen around them, they decided they were never leaving.
The builder they chose is one almost no out-of-state relocator has heard of, even though they have won People's Choice Builder of the Year 10 times right here in Texas. That builder is Highland Homes, and they are quietly taking over South Austin, Buda, Kyle, and Bastrop.
After working with relocation buyers for years across Central Texas, I have watched builders rise and fall on one thing. It is not the model home or the brochure. It is how they show up when something actually goes wrong. Highland's track record in that area is why its name keeps showing up on my short list.
Who Is Highland Homes and Why Does It Matter?
Highland Homes was founded in Texas in 1985 by a brother-and-sister team. They now build close to 4,000 homes a year across Austin, DFW, Houston, and San Antonio. Since 2016, they have been 100 percent employee-owned, which means the person walking you through the model home, the person managing your build, and the person handling your warranty calls all have skin in the game.
That ownership structure is rare in this industry, and you can feel it in the day-to-day experience.
The credentials back it up. Highland has taken home People's Choice Builder of the Year ten different times and Home of the Year more than once. They consistently sit at the top of JD Power's customer satisfaction rankings. The Dallas Morning News has named them the best builder and the best luxury builder. And in 2025, they were ranked the sixth-largest private home builder in the entire United States.
Outside of Texas, almost nobody knows the name. They do not run Super Bowl ads. They do not sponsor stadiums. They just keep building homes and quietly winning awards.
Where Is Highland Homes Building in South Austin Right Now?
Two master-planned communities matter most to relocators looking at Highland in our area, and each has a very different feel. The first is Easton Park in 78744 in Southeast Austin. The second is 6 Creeks in Kyle in 78640. Both offer real amenities, on-site or nearby schools, and floor plans you can semicustom from the design center.
Easton Park is a 2,700-acre master planned community about 12 miles from downtown Austin and a quick run to the airport. You get miles of hike and bike trails, an amenity center, a community fitness center, and Newton Collins Elementary sitting right inside the community. Highland is building there right now from around the $500,000 mark, with floor plans ranging from under 2,000 square feet to almost 2,800 square feet.
6 Creeks in Kyle is a different feel entirely. It is one of the most amenity-rich communities in Kyle, with a resort-style pool, miles of trails, and quick access to I-35 back into downtown Austin. Highland shares 6 Creeks with a couple of other builders, but their floor plans and quality stand out.
Easton Park vs 6 Creeks: How Do They Compare?
Feature | Easton Park (78744) | 6 Creeks Kyle (78640) |
|---|---|---|
Distance to downtown Austin | ~12 miles | ~25 miles via I-35 |
Vibe | Urban, event-driven | Suburban, family-anchored |
On-site elementary | Newton Collins inside the community | Negley and Cullen are nearby |
Highland starting price | Mid $500K | Mid $400K |
Lot size expectation | Small to mid | Mid, with a little more breathing room |
Best for | Walkability, food trucks, downtown access | Small-town feel with resort amenities |
If you are choosing between the two, Easton Park is more urban, closer to downtown and the airport, and built around an outdoor event lifestyle. 6 Creeks gives you more of a suburban, family-anchored feel and a little more breathing room for the money.
What Happens When Something Goes Wrong During the Build?
This is where Highland separates from the pack. On my client's Matisse plan in Easton Park, a four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath single-story home right around $540,000, the inspector found a few things. Nothing major, but real items that needed to be addressed.
Highland did not push back. They did not argue. They did not tell us those items were cosmetic and not their problem. They fixed everything quickly. That is what an award-winning builder actually looks like in real life. Not the trophy on the wall. The way they show up when something is wrong.
What Do You Actually Get Inside a Highland Home?
Most of what Highland builds in our area is semicustom. You are not just picking from three preset design packages. You are making real choices at their design center on cabinet finishes, hardware, countertops, flooring, lighting, and tile.
When you walk into one of their model homes, you notice the built-in cabinetry, the trim work, and the way the kitchens are laid out. A lot of that is included or available as part of the actual build, not just dressed up on an $850,000 model that you could not actually replicate at the base price.
Highland has an internal line about its model homes. They should feel like a home, not a sales office. Once you walk a couple of them, you will see what they mean.
If you would like to see a related video on this topic, the Easton Park community tour linked in this article is a great next watch. - https://youtu.be/wwDrt87K3gQ
Who Should Choose Highland Homes?
Highland is a strong fit if you check most of these boxes:
- You care more about build quality than the absolute lowest price per square foot
- You want a builder who actually responds when something needs fixing
- You value semicustom design choices over preset packages
- You want strong long-term resale appeal in Central Texas
- You prefer a master planned community with real on-site amenities
Who Should Look Elsewhere?
Highland is probably not the right call if:
- You need to maximize square footage at the lowest possible monthly payment
- Your priority is the absolute lowest price per square foot
- You are hoping for a half-acre lot in a master-planned community. Most lots in Easton Park and 6 Creeks run small, with exceptions you have to ask about specifically
- You want a fully custom build from the ground up, rather than a semi-custom production process
Planning a move to South Austin, Buda, or Kyle? Grab my free South Austin Relocation Guide for community breakdowns, school info, and what your money actually buys in 78744, 78747, 78610, and 78640:
https://holleyhomesrealty.com/south-austin-home-guide
https://holleyhomesrealty.com/central-texas-relocation-guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highland Homes more expensive than other builders in Austin? Yes, usually. You will typically pay a little more per square foot compared to entry-level production builders. What buyers feel they get in return is a stronger design, higher-end finishes, a more polished building process, responsive warranty service, and historically solid resale appeal in Central Texas. For some buyers, that tradeoff is worth it, for others it is not.
What ZIP codes does Highland Homes build in around South Austin? Around South Austin, Highland is most active in 78744, inside Easton Park, and in 78640, inside 6 Creeks in Kyle. They build throughout the broader Austin metro and across DFW, Houston, and San Antonio. If you are looking at suburbs like Buda (78610) or Bastrop, ask which active sections they have right now, since inventory shifts often.
How long does a Highland Home take to build in Central Texas? Build timelines vary by community, plan, and design center selections, but a typical Highland semicustom build in Central Texas runs in line with other production builders in the area. The bigger variable is the design center process, since you are making real selections rather than picking from preset packages. Ask your sales counselor for the current timeline on the exact plan and section you are considering.
Can I buy a Highland Home as a relocation buyer from out of state? Yes, and many do. A real share of my Highland Homes buyers in Easton Park and 6 Creeks are relocators coming from California, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest. The semicustom design process can be handled remotely with a local agent representing you on the ground for design center visits, inspections, walkthroughs, and warranty follow-up after closing.
Are Highland Homes a good investment in Central Texas? Highland homes have historically held strong resale value in Central Texas because of their build quality and finish level. As with any home, resale value is influenced by location, school zoning, community amenities, and broader market conditions. Buying in well-established master-planned communities like Easton Park and 6 Creeks tends to support long-term value through full neighborhood build-out.
About the Author
Brandon Holley is the Broker and Owner of Holley Homes Realty in Austin, Texas. He works with first-time homebuyers, new construction clients, and relocation buyers moving to Central Texas from across the country. Brandon hosts a recurring segment on American Dream TV and runs the YouTube channel Your Austin Home Guide, where he breaks down communities, builders, and neighborhoods across Austin, Buda, Kyle, Bastrop, and the surrounding suburbs.
Have a question or thinking about a move to Central Texas? Reach out anytime.
Get in touch: https://holleyhomesrealty.com/contact
Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/@brandonholleyhomes
About me: https://holleyhomesrealty.com/agents/brandon-holley
If you are weighing your options on new construction in our area, having an award-winning builder like Highland Homes on your short list is a smart starting point. Tour the model homes in Easton Park and 6 Creeks, ask about the warranty process, talk to homeowners who have already closed, and see whether their semicustom approach aligns with what you actually need in a home.
I understand now may not be the right time and I never want to be pushy, just know that I am here if you have questions, would like to start planning, or need anything.
