Green Brick Partners' Blueprint for Dominating Hot Housing Markets

PLANO, TX – January 16, 2026 – While the national housing market navigates a complex landscape of fluctuating interest rates and affordability concerns, Plano-based Green Brick Partners, Inc. (NYSE: GRBK) is solidifying its position as a dominant force, particularly in the hyper-competitive North Texas region. The diversified homebuilding and land development company recently celebrated a cascade of accolades, with several of its master-planned communities earning top spots on prestigious national and regional rankings for 2025.

The recognition includes placements on both the John Burns Research and Consulting (JBREC) and RCLCO Real Estate Advisors “Top 50 Master-Planned Communities” lists, two of the industry’s most respected benchmarks for new home sales. Furthermore, the company boasts an impressive nine communities on the Dallas Business Journal’s “Top 40 Master-Planned Communities in North Texas,” underscoring its significant regional impact. This string of awards is not a stroke of luck but the result of a meticulously executed, long-term strategy that is reshaping expectations for community development.

A Strategy of Precision and Value

At the core of Green Brick's success is a dual-pronged approach: strategic land acquisition in high-growth corridors and a commitment to delivering a unique blend of affordability and premium amenities. The company has proven adept at identifying and developing in desirable submarkets where buyer demand is strong, a strategy that has allowed it to maintain impressive sales velocity.

Two communities, Eastridge and Lakehaven, serve as national showcases for this model. In the JBREC rankings, Eastridge placed 36th and Lakehaven ranked 45th. On the RCLCO list, which bases its rankings on total new home sales, Eastridge came in at 39th, with Lakehaven tied for 47th. Notably, this marks the second consecutive year both communities have appeared on the RCLCO Top 50, a testament to their sustained market appeal and strong consumer demand.

"We are incredibly proud to see our communities recognized both locally and nationally," said Bobby Samuel, Executive Vice President of Land at Green Brick Partners, in a statement. "By focusing on high-growth submarkets and leveraging our subsidiary builders like Trophy Signature Homes, we’ve been able to meet the specific demands of today’s buyers, balancing affordability with premium lifestyle amenities."

This operational synergy is a critical component. By utilizing its portfolio of subsidiary builders, including the rapidly growing Trophy Signature Homes, Green Brick can effectively target different market segments within its own master-planned developments, maximizing absorption rates and creating vibrant, diverse neighborhoods.

The Advantage of Owning the Land

While many national homebuilders have shifted to a "land-light" model—controlling lots through options and third-party developers to reduce balance sheet risk—Green Brick has deliberately charted a different course. The company’s foundational strategy involves buying high-quality raw land and self-developing it into finished lots. As of the end of 2024, the company owned over 86% of its lots and planned to self-develop a remarkable 98% of its total owned and controlled land portfolio.

This "land-heavy" approach provides a significant competitive moat. By managing the entire development process from acquisition to home construction, Green Brick gains substantial control over costs and timelines. These efficiencies, in turn, are passed on to homebuyers in the form of value—either through more competitive pricing or, more often, through an enhanced amenity package that would be unfeasible for many competitors. The company's deep-rooted relationships with landowners and municipalities, cultivated over decades, give it preferential access to prime land opportunities in sought-after locations.

This strategy is backed by a robust financial position. With a low debt-to-total-capitalization ratio of just 17.2% and a low weighted average cost of debt, Green Brick possesses the financial flexibility to invest heavily in its future. In 2025, the company projected an investment of approximately $300 million in land development alone, a 50% increase from the previous year, signaling a strong belief in its model and a clear path for sustained growth.

More Than a House: Building a Lifestyle

The abstract strategy translates into tangible, desirable living experiences for residents. The Lakehaven community in Farmersville, Texas, is a prime example of Green Brick's vision brought to life. Designed to offer a tranquil, connected lifestyle, the community features an extensive network of amenities often reserved for higher-priced developments. These include walking trails, expansive green spaces, pickleball courts, and a central clubhouse complete with a media room, kitchen, resort-style pool, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

Yet, this lifestyle is not exclusively for the luxury market. Trophy Signature Homes, a key builder in Lakehaven, offered initial home prices starting in the low $300,000s, hitting a critical sweet spot for buyers seeking value without sacrificing quality of life. This successful blend of attainable pricing and rich amenities is a direct result of the cost efficiencies gained from the company’s self-development model. It's this formula that consistently attracts homebuyers and drives the sales figures that land communities like Lakehaven and Eastridge on national bestseller lists.

Shaping the North Texas Landscape

Nowhere is Green Brick's impact more apparent than in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, one of the nation's most dynamic and competitive housing markets. The company was ranked the #3 Homebuilder in North Texas based on local new home closings, a significant achievement in a market populated by the industry’s largest public builders like D.R. Horton and Lennar.

The Dallas Business Journal’s rankings further illustrate this deep market penetration. Nine Green Brick communities made the top 40 list for the region, based on 12-month closings: Eastridge (#9), Devonshire (#12), Madero (#14), Trails of Lavon (#20), Cross Creek Meadows (#26), Lakehaven (#28), Chisholm Trail (#36), Southridge (#38), and Stonehaven (#40). This widespread success across multiple projects demonstrates that the company's model is not just effective, but scalable and repeatable.

With a proven blueprint for success, Green Brick Partners is not standing still. The company continues to expand its footprint across Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Its subsidiary, Trophy Signature Homes, after expanding into Austin in 2023, is now setting its sights on the Houston market for the 2026 spring selling season, aiming to bring its successful model of value and design to another one of the nation's largest housing arenas. This strategic expansion, fueled by a disciplined land strategy and a clear understanding of buyer demand, positions Green Brick to continue shaping skylines and building top-selling communities for years to come.