Highland Homes vs Perry Homes vs Drees Custom Homes: Which DFW Builder Is Right for You? (2026 Comparison)

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Highland Homes vs Perry Homes vs Drees Custom Homes: Which DFW Builder Is Right for You? (2026 Comparison)

Highland, Perry, and Drees are the three most popular semi-custom builders in DFW's Collin County corridor — and the three builders my buyers most frequently compare. After closing transactions with all three dozens of times each, here is the honest, side-by-side comparison that no builder's marketing department will ever produce.

The Quick Comparison

Factor	Highland Homes	Perry Homes	Drees Custom Homes
Price range	$500K–$1.2M+	$450K–$900K+	$550K–$1.3M+
Price per sq ft	$175–$225	$150–$195	$190–$240
Sq ft range	2,400–5,000+	2,600–5,500+	2,400–5,000+
Standard inclusions	Above average	Average	Above average
Customization	Moderate (finishes)	Limited (finishes)	High (structural + finishes)
Build time	8–12 months	7–10 months	10–14 months
Design center depth	Excellent	Good	Excellent
Communities (DFW)	15+ active	10+ active	6–8 active
Best for	Quality-to-value balance	Maximum sq ft per dollar	True customization

Construction Quality Comparison

Framing and Structure

Highland: Consistent framing quality with standard 2x4 exterior walls, engineered trusses, and post-tension slab foundation. Framing crews are among the most experienced in DFW's semi-custom tier — fewer callbacks on framing issues than most competitors.

Perry: Solid framing with standard specifications. Perry builds larger floor plans, meaning more linear feet of framing per home — the sheer scale sometimes leads to minor framing inconsistencies that show up as drywall nail pops in year 1–2. Normal but worth noting.

Drees: Premium framing quality. Drees allows structural modifications (removing walls, adding rooms, changing ceiling configurations) that Highland and Perry do not — meaning the framing is engineered per-home rather than repeated from a standard template. This customization adds cost and time but produces a genuinely unique structure.

Winner: Drees (for customization) | Highland (for consistency)

Standard Inclusions (What You Get Before Design Center)

Feature	Highland	Perry	Drees
Cabinet height	42" upper standard	36" upper standard (42" upgrade)	42" upper standard
Countertops	Granite standard	Granite standard	Granite/quartz standard
Flooring (main living)	Tile/LVP standard	Tile standard (LVP upgrade)	Tile/LVP standard
Ceiling height (1st floor)	10' standard	9–10' (varies by plan)	10' standard
Covered patio	Included	Included (smaller)	Included
Tankless water heater	Standard	Upgrade	Standard
Smart home pre-wire	Basic included	Upgrade	Included
Garage	2-car standard, 3-car avail	3-car standard on many plans	2-car standard, 3-car avail

Winner: Highland and Drees (tied — both deliver above-average standard inclusions)

Design Center Experience

Highland: One of DFW's best design center experiences. Wide selection, organized process, and design consultants who genuinely help (rather than just upsell). The danger: Highland's model homes are heavily upgraded, creating a "model vs base" gap that can lead to $40K–$80K in design center spending if you are not disciplined.

Perry: Good design center with solid options but narrower selection than Highland or Drees. Perry's strength is that the base product is intentionally large — you are buying square footage first and upgrading finishes second. Design center spending is typically $20K–$50K.

Drees: Extensive design center with the most structural customization options. Drees allows modifications that Highland and Perry will not — room additions, layout changes, ceiling treatments, window configurations. Design center spending is typically $30K–$80K+ because of the structural options available.

Winner: Drees (for structural customization) | Highland (for finish selection and experience)

Floor Plan Philosophy

Highland Homes

Highland's floor plans prioritize architectural proportion — rooms feel right-sized, hallways flow naturally, and the relationship between kitchen, living, and outdoor space is consistently thoughtful. Highland plans tend to be 2,400–4,500 sq ft with efficient layouts that live larger than their square footage suggests.

Best Highland plans to consider: 272 Plan (4-bed, ~3,200 sq ft — the best-seller for a reason), 216 Plan (~2,700 sq ft — excellent starter semi-custom), 292 Plan (~3,500 sq ft — ideal for families wanting game room + study).

Perry Homes

Perry's philosophy is space — their plans are among the largest in the semi-custom tier. Where Highland builds a 3,200 sq ft home, Perry builds 3,800 sq ft at a similar price point. Perry plans feature large mudrooms, oversized pantries, and 3-car garages as standard on many models. The trade-off: rooms may feel slightly less proportioned than Highland's architectural precision.

Best Perry plans to consider: 3546W (~3,500 sq ft — the value champion), 4098W (~4,100 sq ft — maximum family space), 2895W (~2,900 sq ft — efficient family layout).

Drees Custom Homes

Drees plans are starting points, not finished products. The "Design Your Drees Home" process allows buyers to modify the floor plan structurally — add a bedroom, extend the living room, change the ceiling configuration, move walls. This flexibility means no two Drees homes in the same community look identical inside.

Best Drees plans to consider: Monterey (~3,200 sq ft — flexible main-floor layout), Bridgeport (~3,600 sq ft — popular family plan), Custom configurations starting from any base plan.

Where They Build: Community Overlap

Several DFW communities offer all three builders — allowing direct comparison:

Community	Highland	Perry	Drees	City	ISD
Fields	✅	✅	✅	Frisco	FISD
Star Trail	✅	❌	✅	Prosper	PISD
Windsong Ranch	✅	❌	✅	Prosper	PISD
Light Farms	✅	✅	❌	Celina	PISD/Celina
Walsh Ranch	✅	✅	❌	Fort Worth	Aledo
Canyon Falls	✅	❌	❌	Flower Mound	NWISD

If you want to compare all three in one trip: Visit Fields in Frisco — all three builders have active model homes within the same community. Walk Highland, Perry, and Drees back-to-back and the differences become immediately obvious.

The Decision Framework

Choose Highland If:

You want the best balance of quality, design, and value
Floor plan proportion and architectural feel matter more than raw square footage
You prefer an established, consistent builder with the widest community selection
Your budget is $500K–$900K and you want to feel like you got $700K–$1.1M quality

Choose Perry If:

Square footage per dollar is your top priority
You have a large family and need 4+ bedrooms, game room, and 3-car garage
Your budget is $450K–$700K and you want maximum space
You plan to upgrade finishes after closing (Perry's base is a good canvas for DIY upgrades)

Choose Drees If:

You want to customize the floor plan structurally (not just pick finishes)
You have a specific vision for your home that no standard plan delivers
You are willing to pay 10–15% more per sq ft for genuine customization
Your budget is $600K–$1M+ and you value uniqueness over speed

What I Tell My Clients

After closing with all three builders dozens of times: Highland is the safe choice — consistently excellent, rarely disappointing. Perry is the smart choice for buyers who prioritize space and value. Drees is the right choice for buyers who know exactly what they want and are willing to invest the time and money to get it.

None of them is the wrong choice. The wrong choice is buying from any builder without a buyer's agent who has closed with that builder before and knows their contract terms, design center pricing, inspection patterns, and warranty responsiveness.

Contact: 469-269-6541 | nitinguptadfw.com/contact-us

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highland Homes better than Perry Homes? Different, not better. Highland delivers superior standard inclusions and architectural proportion at $175–$225/sq ft. Perry delivers more square footage at $150–$195/sq ft. Highland is the quality choice; Perry is the value choice. Both are excellent semi-custom builders.

Is Drees worth the higher price? If you want structural customization — yes. Drees allows floor plan modifications that Highland and Perry will not offer. If you are happy selecting finishes on a standard plan, Highland delivers comparable quality at a lower price per square foot.

Can I see all three builders in one community? Yes — Fields in Frisco has active model homes for Highland, Perry, and Drees. Walking all three back-to-back is the most efficient way to compare quality, floor plans, and pricing.

Which builder has the best warranty? All three offer standard 1-year workmanship, 2-year mechanical, and 10-year structural warranties. Responsiveness varies more by community superintendent than by builder brand. Your buyer's agent should document every warranty item at the 11-month inspection to ensure completion before the warranty expires.

Contact: 469-269-6541 | nitin@NitinGuptaDFW.com | NitinGuptaDFW.com

About us: Northlake New Construction Expert Real Estate Agent

As a Top Real Estate Professional in Northlake & Dallas area, I understand the challenges that arise when buying a new construction home. There are over 50 builders in the Dallas area. I work with most of the new home builders in Dallas and understand how various builders operate. I am familiar with the options they offer, current incentives and I frequently visit the upcoming communities they are building. I guide my clients through all steps of the new home construction process and aggressively protect their interests in the transaction.

As a holder of top real estate industry certifications and designations like CRS, ABR & GRI, I can offer my clients experience as a Buyer's Agent in Northlake and REALTOR®, top Industry Customer Service, in-depth, up-to-the-minute and comprehensive market knowledge; honesty, integrity, dedication, and professionalism in my business.

Whether you are a first time buyer in Northlake looking to buy a home in Dallas or Northlake or whether you are relocating to Northlake from California or moving your entire family from areas like San Francisco, Fremont, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, San Diego in California due to job transfer with your company, I can help you find a new construction home in Northlake. Our relocation team eases the transition - whether you are moving across town or across the globe. We will work with you to find an area that best suits your professional, family and lifestyle needs. We have all the tools you need to help your home search. Whether it is video previews of homes, extended work hours, digital signatures for documents or more, we can make this process as comfortable as possible no matter where you are located.

What is most important to you in your new construction home in Northlake? Send us an email at info@NitinGuptaDFW.com or give us a call at (469) 269-6541 to schedule a no obligation consultation. We’ll give you honest advice about Northlake community that you can use to help make your home buying decision.