Hillwood Communities

What Hillwood Communities does

Hillwood Communities is a privately held master-planned community developer owned by the Perot family (Ross Perot Jr., under The Perot Group) and operated as a Perot Company. Founded in 1988 and headquartered at 3000 Turtle Creek Blvd in Dallas, Texas, the firm develops entitled, finished residential lots in Texas's three primary metros — Dallas-Fort Worth (10 communities including Pecan Square, Harvest, Union Park, Landmark), Houston (3 communities including Pomona, Legacy, Valencia), and Austin/Central Texas (4 communities including Wolf Ranch, Melina, Treeline). Across its history, the firm has delivered more than 40,000 residential lots across 100+ communities in Texas, additional U.S. states, and internationally (Costa Rica, Hawaii, Wyoming), with current operations centered on 17 active communities.

The firm operates a hybrid B2B/B2C model: it sells finished residential lots on a multi-year horizon to a curated network of 25+ homebuilder partners — including Lennar, Pulte Homes, Taylor Morrison, Toll Brothers, D.R. Horton, Drees Homes, Shea Homes, and David Weekley Homes — who then sell homes to end consumers through their own sales channels and at Hillwood community sales offices. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. A complementary mixed-use commercial development business develops and leases retail, office, and pad sites within communities (Harvest Town Center, Wolf Ranch commercial, Pomona mixed-use, Union Park retail). Joint-venture capital partnerships with landowners (e.g., Wolf Legacy, LP) and inbound/outbound equity investors (typically $5M+ minimums) layer additional revenue mechanics.

The company's differentiator is its "Lifestyle by Hillwood" placemaking system — organized around five guiding principles (Sense of Community, Well-being, Enrichment, Stewardship, Innovation) — which deploys dedicated lifestyle directors, signature amenities (River Camp, Town Square, Fitness Park, Farmhouse Coffee), hundreds of annual community events, and brand-building marketing (NAHB Nationals award-winning website and digital campaigns). Marketed technology includes VR/AR-enabled model home tours (Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest 3), fiber-to-home internet (Frontier Communications), and the Hillwood Loves Realtors broker program. The firm is part of the broader Hillwood family of companies (Hillwood Properties/AllianceTexas, Hillwood Urban, Hillwood Multifamily, Hillwood Investment Properties) and is led by Ross Perot Jr. (Founder & Chairman) and Fred Balda (President since 1992), with deep tenured VP-level leadership across all three Texas metros.

Name

Hillwood Communities

Legal name

Hillwood Development Company, LLC

Website

https://hillwoodcommunities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hillwood Communities is a privately held, Perot family-owned master-planned community developer founded in 1988 that builds and sells finished residential lots to a curated network of 25+ homebuilder partners across 17 active lifestyle communities in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin, Texas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Finished Residential Lot Sales: Hillwood Communities' primary revenue comes from developing raw land into finished residential lots and selling those lots to a curated network of homebuilder partners (Lennar, Pulte, Toll Brothers, Taylor Morrison, D.R. Horton, and 20+ others). The company retains ownership of amenity infrastructure and common areas while selling individual lots to builders. Development horizons span 10-20 years per community, with phased releases of lots over time.
2. Mixed-Use Commercial Development: Hillwood develops and leases retail, office, and mixed-use commercial spaces within its master-planned communities. Available retail/mixed-use opportunities include Harvest Town Center (Argyle, TX), Union Park (Little Elm, TX), Wolf Ranch (Georgetown, TX), and Pomona (Manvel, TX). Pad sites are also available for ground lease or sale. This revenue stream complements residential lot sales and enhances community amenity value.
3. Joint Venture Investments: Hillwood invests capital alongside third-party developers in joint venture arrangements, typically requiring a minimum $5M investment, with a focus on single-family developments for primary homes in growing metropolitan areas. The company also co-invests in its own communities with landowners and equity partners, sharing development risk and returns. Recent example: Wolf Legacy, LP partnership for Wolf Ranch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hillwood Communities is a master-planned community developer that acquires raw land, entitles and develops it into fully finished residential lots with resort-style amenities (pools, fitness centers, trails, parks, co-working space), and sells those lots to a curated network of homebuilder partners (Lennar, Pulte, Toll Brothers, D.R. Horton, Taylor Morrison, and 20+ others). The company operates under its proprietary Lifestyle by Hillwood placemaking approach, which combines five guiding design principles with year-round lifestyle programming (events, clubs, festivals) to create amenity-rich residential communities across the Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin metros.

Product overview

Hillwood Communities, a Perot Company, is a privately owned master-planned community developer with 35+ years of experience developing over 100 communities across Texas and beyond. The company specializes in creating award-winning lifestyle communities that combine residential development with resort-style amenities, parks, trails, and comprehensive lifestyle programming. The core product offering consists of individual master-planned communities (Harvest, Pecan Square, Union Park, Wolf Ranch, Pomona, Lilyana, Treeline, Liberty, Bluewood, Landmark, Legacy, Valencia, Ramble, and Melina), each supported by the Lifestyle by Hillwood℠ program. Additionally, Hillwood offers mixed-use commercial development opportunities within these communities, providing retail and office spaces alongside residential offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lifestyle by Hillwood: The company's signature approach to placemaking and community development focused on creating vibrant, enriching communities with resort-style amenities and lifestyle programming.

Products and services

• Harvest A 1,200-acre award-winning agrihood community in Argyle and Northlake, TX, featuring farm-to-table living with community gardens, farmhouses, and a distinctive agricultural-focused lifestyle program. Named Community of the Year three times by Dallas Builders Association.
• Pecan Square An award-winning master-planned community in Northlake, TX designed around a central town square. Features a 22,000-square-foot multipurpose event space, two swimming pools, fitness center, co-working space, and Amazon Hub lockers in homes.
• Union Park A master-planned community in Little Elm, TX centered around a wooded 30-acre Central Park. Features a trail network, indoor/outdoor fitness park, on-site elementary school, and innovative amenities for healthy living.
• Wolf Ranch A riverside retreat in Georgetown, TX in the Texas Hill Country with sweeping views of the San Gabriel River and direct access to an extensive trail network. Features an award-winning lifestyle program and River Camp amenity center.
• Pomona A master-planned community in Manvel, TX featuring natural marshland and 100-year-old oak trees with resort-style amenities. Located in Brazoria County near Houston.
• Lilyana A master-planned community in Celina, TX offering proximity to Frisco with access to Celina ISD schools and family amenities.
• Treeline A nature-inspired master-planned community in Justin, TX featuring a creek setting with outdoor amenities supporting the Lifestyle by Hillwood approach.
• Liberty A master-planned community in Melissa, TX inspired by small-town spirit, offering the freedom to live simply and richly.
• Bluewood A master-planned community in Celina, TX within Celina ISD offering community amenities.
• Landmark Hillwood's largest community spanning 3,200 acres in Denton, TX with 6,000 planned single-family residences, 1,100 acres of parks and open space, and 5 million square feet of mixed-use commercial development.
• Legacy A master-planned community in League City, TX where home is not just where you live, but how you live.
• Valencia A master-planned community in Manvel, TX offering a life as delicious and nourishing as the community's namesake fruit.
• Lifestyle by Hillwood Hillwood's signature placemaking approach and proprietary community lifestyle program that creates vibrant communities through hundreds of annual events, activities, clubs, and community gatherings designed for ease, connection, and joy.
• Mixed-Use Commercial Development Retail, office, and pad site opportunities within Hillwood's master-planned communities, including Harvest Town Center, Union Park, Wolf Ranch, and Pomona retail/mixed-use spaces, available for lease or sale.
• Ramble A 1,380-acre community in Celina, TX rooted in rolling North Texas prairie designed to capture small-town spirit with creekside trails, thoughtfully crafted homes, and nature immersion. Opening Spring 2026.
• Melina A community on 200 acres in southeastern Georgetown, TX featuring over 800 homes with top-notch amenities, quick access to excellent schools, and blooming natural beauty. Opening Spring 2027.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pecan Square ranked #1 in JBREC Top 50 Master-Planned Communities of 2025 and #1 in RCLCO Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

38 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Reader CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReader Communities is a joint venture development partner of Hillwood Communities. Dean Barbarree, CEO of Reader Communities, described Hillwood as 'more than just a financial partner' — one that brings insight, discipline, and a collaborative team approach to collective investments, with long-term perspective essential for making right business decisions to serve customers and maximize shared returns.
• Wolf Legacy, LPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWolf Legacy, LP partnered with Hillwood Communities to develop Wolf Ranch in Georgetown, Texas on legacy land that had been in the Wolf family for over 70 years. Iva Wolf McLachlan, President of Wolf Legacy, LP, stated that Hillwood 'met and consistently exceeded our expectations in creating a first-class residential community that is beautiful in appearance and successful in financial performance.' This is a landmark partnership for Hillwood's Austin market expansion.
• Hillwood Properties | AllianceTexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillwood Communities is a member of the Hillwood family of companies, one of the nation's largest independent real estate development firms. Hillwood Properties operates AllianceTexas, a 27,000-acre public/private partnership in Fort Worth that includes the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ) for next-generation mobility. Hillwood Communities leverages this ecosystem for land development expertise and long-term capital access.
• Hillwood UrbanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillwood Urban is the urban-focused commercial real estate division of the Hillwood family of companies, based in Dallas. It develops customized office solutions for clients. Hillwood Communities can integrate Hillwood Urban's capabilities into its master-planned communities to deliver mixed-use commercial components.
• Hillwood MultifamilyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillwood Multifamily, a division of Hillwood Properties within AllianceTexas, answers North Texas' growing housing demand with urban living multifamily options ranging from traditional flats to townhome-style apartments. Hillwood Communities incorporates multifamily components in its master-planned communities through this sister division.
• Hillwood Investment PropertiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillwood Investment Properties is a real estate developer, investor, and advisor focusing on institutional-grade industrial properties across North America and Europe. It specializes in industrial-logistics development, acquisitions, joint ventures, construction services, and property management. While not directly involved in Hillwood Communities' residential operations, it is part of the broader Hillwood ecosystem.
• LennarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLennar is one of Hillwood's primary homebuilder partners, purchasing finished lots across multiple Hillwood communities to construct and sell single-family homes. Lennar is America's largest homebuilder by volume and a key channel partner for Hillwood's lot sales.
• Pulte HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPulte Homes is a key homebuilder partner of Hillwood Communities, purchasing finished lots at Hillwood communities to construct and sell single-family homes. Pulte is one of the nation's largest homebuilders.
• Taylor MorrisoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaylor Morrison is a national homebuilder partner purchasing lots at Hillwood communities to build and sell homes.
• D.R. HortoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorD.R. Horton is America's largest homebuilder by volume and a key homebuilder partner at multiple Hillwood communities, purchasing lots to construct and sell entry-level and move-up homes.
• Del WebbcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDel Webb (PulteGroup brand) is a 55+ active adult homebuilder partner at Union Park and other Hillwood communities, targeting retirees with resort-style communities. Del Webb has partnered with Hillwood at Union Park since 2012.
• David Weekley HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDavid Weekley Homes is a national homebuilder partner across multiple Hillwood communities, constructing and selling single-family homes.
• Drees HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDrees Homes is a national homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities, building and selling single-family homes.
• K Hovnanian HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorK Hovnanian Homes is a national homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities, purchasing lots to construct and sell homes.
• M/I HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorM/I Homes is a national homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities, building and selling single-family homes.
• Perry HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPerry Homes is a Texas-based homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Shea HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShea Homes is a national homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Tri Pointe HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTri Pointe Homes is a national homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Bloomfield HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBloomfield Homes is a Texas-based homebuilder partner constructing homes at Hillwood DFW communities.
• Highland HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHighland Homes is a Texas-based homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• First Texas HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst Texas Homes is a Texas-based homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• CB Jeni HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCB Jeni Homes is a Texas-based homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• HistoryMaker HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHistoryMaker Homes is a Texas-based homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Partners in BuildingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners in Building is a Texas-based custom homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Village BuilderscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVillage Builders is a Texas-based homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Westin HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWestin Homes is a Texas-based homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• American Legend HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmerican Legend Homes is a Texas-based homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Ashton WoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAshton Woods is a national homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Beazer HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeazer Homes is a national homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Coventry HomescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCoventry Homes is a Texas-based homebuilder partner at Hillwood communities.
• Building Homes for HeroesminorOthersHillwood Communities partners with Building Homes for Heroes to provide mortgage-free homes and ongoing support services to severely wounded veterans. Hillwood has donated land and coordinated with builder partners to build homes for veterans at Harvest, Liberty, Wolf Ranch, and other communities. The milestone of the 300th Building Homes for Heroes home was celebrated at Pecan Square and earned a NAHB The Nationals Gold Award for Building Industry Spirit.
• Tarrant Area Food BankminorOthersHillwood Communities partners with the Tarrant Area Food Bank through its Lifestyle by Hillwood community programs, with residents organizing food drives to support the food bank.
• North Texas Food BankminorOthersHillwood Communities partners with the North Texas Food Bank through its Lifestyle by Hillwood community programs, with residents organizing food drives and donating fresh produce from community gardens.
• Operation Finally HomeminorOthersHillwood Communities supports Operation Finally Home, which provides mortgage-free homes to wounded veterans and their families.
• Carry the LoadminorOthersHillwood Communities partners with Carry the Load, a nonprofit that honors military and first responders, through community events and support.
• Dallas CASAminorOthersHillwood Communities partners with Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to support children who have been abused or neglected.
• Heroes for ChildrenminorOthersHillwood Communities partners with Heroes for Children to support children whose parents have been lost to cancer.
• FirstService ResidentialminorOthersHillwood Communities and FirstService Residential were nationally recognized together in 2021 for their community management partnership at Hillwood communities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TRI Pointe Homes: TRI Pointe Homes is a national homebuilder and a Hillwood partner across multiple communities. It also operates TRI Pointe Solutions, an internal land development arm that competes with Hillwood for finished-lot supply in select markets.
• Taylor Morrison: Taylor Morrison is a top-five US homebuilder and a national Hillwood homebuilder partner purchasing lots at multiple Hillwood communities. It competes with Hillwood indirectly through its own land development arm in similar Texas growth markets.
• Lennar: Lennar is one of the largest US homebuilders and a primary homebuilder partner purchasing finished lots across multiple Hillwood communities. Lennar also operates Millrose Properties for land banking, making it both a major customer and an emerging competitor to Hillwood in finished-lot supply.
• D.R. Horton: D.R. Horton is America's largest homebuilder by volume and a key Hillwood homebuilder partner purchasing lots across multiple Hillwood communities. As the parent of Forestar, D.R. Horton is simultaneously a customer and a competitor for finished-lot supply in Texas growth markets.
• Toll Brothers: Toll Brothers is the leading US luxury homebuilder and a Hillwood homebuilder partner at Pomona and other communities. It also invests in the Avila Real Estate Capital debt fund alongside Hillwood, reflecting overlapping capital interests in residential development finance.
• PulteGroup: PulteGroup is a top-three US homebuilder and a Hillwood homebuilder partner across multiple communities. Its Del Webb brand also partners with Hillwood at Union Park for active-adult housing, creating overlap in the 55+ segment.

Emerging players

• Shea Homes: Shea Homes is a family-owned homebuilder and Hillwood homebuilder partner with selective exposure to master-planned community development. While smaller than the national public peers, Shea pursues comparable lifestyle-focused community positioning, making it an adjacent comparable for Hillwood's placemaking approach.

Direct peers

• Five Point Holdings: Five Point is a master-planned community developer focused on large-scale California communities including Great Park Neighborhoods in Irvine and Candlestick / The San Francisco Shipyard. Despite the geographic difference, Five Point's business model of entitling and developing large mixed-use master-planned communities sold to homebuilders is directly comparable to Hillwood Communities.
• Howard Hughes Holdings: Howard Hughes Holdings (formerly Howard Hughes Corporation) is one of the largest publicly traded master-planned community developers in the US, operating communities like The Woodlands (TX), Summerlin (NV), Bridgeland (TX), and Columbia (MD). It shares Hillwood's core business model of large-scale, amenity-rich, lifestyle-focused community development with builder partner distribution.
• Forestar Group: Forestar is a publicly traded residential land developer majority-owned by D.R. Horton that acquires, entitles, and develops finished residential lots for sale primarily to D.R. Horton and other homebuilders. It is a direct competitor to Hillwood Communities for finished-lot supply to national homebuilders in growth markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HillwoodCommunities
• Facebookfacebook.com/HillwoodCommunities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hillwoodcommunities
• Xx.com/hillwoodcomm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hillwood Communities