Hillstead: A Complete Guide to Highland Homes New Construction in Lavon, TX

Hillstead is one of the most balanced new construction communities in the eastern Dallas area, offering Highland Homes quality in Lavon, Texas at a price point that families across Collin County find genuinely attainable. Located off Highway 205 in the Wylie Independent School District, Hillstead gives buyers the space of the eastern suburbs with the school district reputation and commute access that many relocating families are looking for.

If you are weighing new construction in Lavon or anywhere along the eastern corridor of the Dallas metro, here is everything you need to know about Hillstead, what makes it unique, and why it deserves a spot on your list.

Where is Hillstead?

Hillstead sits in Lavon, Texas, roughly 30 minutes east of Dallas, positioned between Lake Lavon and Lake Ray Hubbard just north of Rockwall. The community is anchored along Highway 205, which connects directly into the larger Wylie and Sachse corridor. That location is the heart of its appeal: it is far enough out to enjoy more house for the money, yet close enough for a workable commute into the metroplex.

Hillstead is a large, roughly 540-acre master-planned undertaking that will eventually hold about 1,000 homes. The Highland Homes sections are built out in phases, which matters for buyers: as in any master-planned community, pricing tends to edge up with each new phase, so the best lot selections and base prices are typically found earlier in the lifecycle.

The builder: Highland Homes

Highland Homes is a Texas-based builder with a strong reputation across the state for energy-efficient construction, open-concept floor plans, and a wide range of customization options. At Hillstead they build their "Hillstead 40s" series on 40-foot homesites, keeping the community cohesive while offering eleven distinct floor plans so most buyers can find a layout that fits their family.

Standard in every Highland home are energy-efficient windows, modern insulation, efficient HVAC, and smart home technology. The Highland Homes 1-2-10 warranty covers workmanship for the first year, major systems for the second, and structural components from year six through year ten. In Texas new construction, that warranty structure is the industry standard, and Highland has a solid record of standing behind it.

Floor plans and pricing

Hillstead offers eleven floor plans ranging from roughly 1,582 to 2,919 square feet, with 3 to 5 bedrooms and 2 to 4 bathrooms. Homes start in the high $300,000s, with most currently listed between roughly $383,000 and $563,000 depending on plan, lot, and upgrades. Here is a look at a few of the popular plans.

Carlton (1,582 sq ft): A single-story 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom plan near the entry of the lineup. It is a practical, efficient layout well suited to first-time buyers and empty nesters who want modern construction without extra square footage they will not use.

Preston (1,920 sq ft): A flexible single-story plan with room to grow. Its open great room and island kitchen make it a comfortable everyday layout for a young family, and it sits at a price point that keeps Highland quality accessible.

Easton (2,349 sq ft): A popular two-story plan with generous bedroom count and plenty of gathering space. Two-story plans like the Easton tend to attract growing families who want separation between the main living level and the bedrooms.

Lyndhurst (2-story, 3 bedrooms): An efficient two-story layout that packs a lot of function into a compact footprint, a strong option for buyers who want a second level without the largest lot premium.

Ellington (2-story, 3 bedrooms): Another two-story option that sits near the top of the price range, with upgraded finishes and a design that leans toward a slightly more premium feel.

Schools and education

One of Hillstead's strongest selling points is its placement in the Wylie Independent School District. For families relocating from other parts of the metroplex, Wylie ISD is frequently a deciding factor, and it is a big reason this community draws so much attention. Kreymer Elementary and P.M. Akin Elementary feed the area, with students continuing to Grady Burnett Junior High and Wylie East High School.

Because the homesites sit on 40-foot lots across a handful of phases, buyers coming into Hillstead should confirm their exact school assignment with their agent and with the district, as boundary details can vary slightly from one section to the next.

Amenities and everyday life

Hillstead is designed around an active outdoor lifestyle. The community includes a clubhouse and swimming pool, hike-and-bike trails that connect the neighborhoods, pocket parks, playgrounds, and scenic lookouts. As the broader 540-acre development fills out, pickleball courts add to the mix, giving families plenty of ways to stay active without leaving the neighborhood.

The surrounding area reinforces that lifestyle. Lake Lavon and Lake Ray Hubbard are close by for fishing, boating, and weekend recreation, and Lavon's position on the edge of the metro keeps everyday shopping and dining close while preserving a more relaxed pace than an inner-ring suburb.

What buyers should know before visiting Hillstead

The most important step before your first visit to any Highland Homes community is to register your buyer's representation. Highland Homes, like most builders, has a registration policy that can prevent you from adding your own agent after your first unaccompanied walk through. The on-site sales team works for the builder. They are professionals, but their job is to represent Highland Homes, not you.

We coordinate this for our clients every time. We confirm your representation on file before you visit, walk you through the floor plans and lots that fit your goals, help you weigh upgrades against resale value, and review the builder contract before you sign. Because the builder pays the buyer's agent commission on new construction, having us in your corner costs you nothing.

Is Hillstead right for you?

Hillstead is a strong fit for first-time buyers and young families who want Highland Homes quality at an accessible price, for relocators moving to the eastern Dallas corridor, and for buyers who specifically want Wylie ISD schools without paying Wylie's higher price tag. The eleven-floor-plan range and multiple build phases mean there is genuine variety in both layout and budget.

If you have your eye on new construction in Lavon or the surrounding area, we can help you decide whether Hillstead or another community is the better fit and get your representation set before you ever set foot in a model home.

The next step

Shannon and Scott Miles are your new construction buyer specialists at eXp Realty, representing buyers across Northeast Texas and the eastern Dallas corridor. We know the Highland Homes floor plans, the Hillstead phases, the lot options, and how builder contracts and incentives actually work.

Reach out before you visit the model, and we will make sure you are set up with representation from the start and help you make a confident decision that protects your investment.